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Mini-14s
callktulu
Member Posts: 3,451 ✭✭✭
What's the general opinion around here of Ruger Mini-14s? I've always wanted one since growing up watching "The A Team." Even though thy never hit anyone with those rifles, I still thought they were cool.
Pros? Cons? Opinions?
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Comments
Not a bad little rifle but not the most accurate for sure. Prices now are too high to make one worth what you will have to pay.
I had one years ago. I liked the size, balance and operation but it was the most inaccurate modern rifle I have ever shot.
Traded it for a sunken boat and I got the better part of the deal.
I read Ruger, later, did something to fix the accuracy but I don't recall exactly what.
Someone on here will surely have an update....?
The accuracy on the newer models is very good. They also have many more aftermarket stock choices than they used to. As was said above now the prices have climbed to the point where the value is just not there. If you really want one just wait a few months and monitor the ones for sale. Eventually you might see one thats a deal.
They are like a grand now, not the time to buy unless you don't care about that. Mini's are sure very, very reliable and in the dozen or so that I have owned, nary a failure of any kind. YMMV.
The A team fired thousands of rounds and never hit anything. The Mini 14 looks cool. The older ones were blasters that weren't very accurate. I understand the newer ones are better. In my opinion anything a mini 14 or 30 can do an AR-15 can do better. And cheaper most likely.
I have had probably 6 or 7 of them over the years. My main complaint besides accuracy is that they are LOUD! AR15s shooting the same ammo seem to be a good bit quieter. JMHO
I saw a couple of them at a gun show last weekend, priced as if they were made of unobtanium!
I have a GB Mini-14. I'm a great shot, it isn't.
Damn I hate it when you agree with me. Makes me think I must be wrong.
i have both a mini 14 and a 30. never had any problems with either one. i like the way they look and feel. as for accuracy, both of mine shoot within three inches or less at a 100 yds and for what they are thats plenty good enough for me. as for the AR's i just never liked them on any level. they are probably fine guns, they just dont appeal to me.
the original ruger'es were plinker's they even owned to to that I think just a fun gun to shoot never any thing about tack driving I did hear the last generation the did improve the barrel and mounting and what ever else now thy hold a lot better groups
back before the 94 gun ban I had saved enough money and talked the wife into allowing me a few extra $$ to fund it I wanted to buy a AR -15 so the next gun show I headed out
but I came home with a NIB Ruger mini 14 ranch ( ss ) rifle and a ruger mini 30 also SS NIB about eight or ten 20 and 30 round mags and even ammo for the price of one Ar15 ( COLT ) at that time
at that time I had a couple mini 14's and they were considered the poor mans AR so as time moved on the next big panic I sold both them on GB still in the box never fired but by then the AR-15 had dropped in price so I bought a AR-15 colt h-bar so now the market is flooded with AR-15 based rifles and pistols every one was cranking then out so then what the mini 14 because they look more traditional wood stock not scary and the flood of black rifles the ruger mini series have went crazy on the market so much for my insight LOL
should have kept the rugers . I still have one SS mini 14 I thing just the standard version I put a nice aftermarket thumb hole stock on it
I will add I made a few dollars of the ruger mini 14 the factory 10 20 and 30 round mags I was getting 100 to 175.00 each same with the factory folding stocks ( as in A- team style ) I sold more than a few for over 400.00 every time I would get one the e temptation to sell it was too much so I never kept one wish I had . also during the panic after 94 a few months ago last time I looked they were back down to about 30.00 but that was before this panic hit
I still have a few 20 and 30 rnd in the orginal card board shipping boxes from ruger but plans are to just keep them to pass along with the rife to one of my sons
Love mine it is reminiscent of the larger one I carried for years.
mags are costly
I have had 2. a blued one and a stainless with a folder. Neither was worth a crap. Inaccurate, jammers and the blued one the trigger group would fall out when shooting it.
I wanted to like them but I would not have one.
I've had a few of the older ones. Just keep shooting at the target..you might hit it.
I have a stainless ranch rifle. I like it for what it is, a ranch rifle. I have always wanted a Mini-30, never found a good enough deal though. I love anything that shoots 7.62x39.
I bought a Ranch model for $400, sold it for $700. I wish I had kept it.
i I didn’t know about the inherent inaccuracy until I put a good scope on it and tried to make a ground hog gun out of it.
I have never seen any documented reason as to why the were so inaccurate.
Wanted one for years . My cousin died and his widow got gifted all the cousins their choice of two guns from his collection . I took a mini 14 fun gun but not really good for anything. Minute of barn door accurate. Did I mention it was FUN! Good light weight woods walking rifle and I guess would work well to lay down suppressing fire lol
The ones I owed in the past were better than minute of Coyote at 100+ yards......Under 3" at 100 yards...Good enough for the intended purpose..
They suck.
Ok, I will admit the newer ones are more accurate, but their reputation is what it is.
Worse thing Ruger has made to date IMHO
Just be CERTAIN you don't get a 180 series mini-14. Ruger doesn't support them, there are parts that break easily, & NO replacement parts or stocks. They make a very clumsy golf club. I sold mine about thirty years ago when I couldn't get a replacement stock. Someone had made mine into a folder & I didn't want to register it here in the DPRK at that time. I found out later about the other parts problems.
I had a GB stainless model (the A-Team gun) back in the 90s. I bought it from a friend of mine. I never even shot it. I got into financial straits and needed to get the money back so I sold it back to my friend. I will say that it was a VERY COOL gun. Can't speak to accuracy or function............but I wish I still had that one for sure.
I've had a 181 series for about 35 years. The damn thing eats whatever ammo you feed it with no cycle issues, nothing falls out or off, and 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" groups are pretty standard. Magazine prices seem to be close to AR's.
Bought a Tactical a few 5-8 years ago. Works goods, significantly more accurate than the one I had during the 1990's.
That being said, a barrel stabilizer and better sights ought to fix some of the accuracy complaints of the older models.
https://www.tech-sights.com/mini-products/
Thanks for all the comments and info, much appreciated!! Looks like I'll pass... ;)
Problem is that by the time you add all the things that improve this rifle, you could buy a rifle that doesn't need any of that for pretty much the same investment.
They're fine. Just don't expect them to be tack drivers. They work well enough to keep the critters on the farm under control.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
The 60-odd minis our office issues are tough, reliable rifles that get carried a ton in dusty trunks from the desert to the mountains daily. They function with minimal maintenance when pulled out for range, etc. I truly hope we never have to use one in a lethal encounter, but I have faith that the mini will serve its purpose if called upon to end the threat.
I have a personal SS mini 14 ranch in a Ram Line camo stock and a blued mini 30 in a wood stock that I plink about with. These have both been good guns for the 25-odd years I’ve owned them.
Now if you’re looking to shoot fingernail sized groups or accessorize up with lights, optics, handgrips, etc. the mini won’t keep up with an AR, but if you’re in a restricted State or don’t want the look of the AR style rifles, the mini will work for you.
Stick to factory mags for the best reliability. Aftermarket mags are really hit or miss... mostly miss.
Stay safe.
Had a 90’s era Ranch version. Was fun. Use Ruger mags only if you want no jams. Pro mag and Triple K couldn’t get through a full mag without a jam.
Off topic a bit here, but what happened to bustedknee??
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
It is way off topic. He has departed for greener pastures.
Best.