Any Mini 14 Fans?

I've always been a fan, but they always end up having to go to cover my arse. And with the prices getting steeper and ARs getting cheaper I can't see I'll be getting another one.
 
Used to have one in the early 80s before I went into ARs. Had M1 Carbines and Garands at the time too. Seemed the Mini was the loudest and least accurate. Still only one manufacture of the them and one source of parts. Ever try to get Ruger to sell you a spare bolt?


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I grew up shooting a first generation Mini, wood hand guard and all. I've been giving the thought to buying a newer one with the barrel dampener a whirl, but AR stuff is far more easy to come by and magazines are no where near as pricey.......
 
I love them but they can't compete with ARs in this market. Ruger is pretty good about releasing different variations on their stuff, if they re released the factory folder model (aka the A team model) and it was less than $1k+ I'd get one.
 
I want to like them so much. I had a newer model .223 Ranch Rifle, wood stock.

I like to keep my HD rifle with a mag loaded, chamber empty. The mini would dent the hell out of the brass shoulder doing that.

It just can't compete with an AR, and with the price of their mags, stocking up would cost a fortune. I can't bring myself to try another one yet
 
My dad is a Ruger nut. He has a gunsite scout rifle, several .22 pistols by Ruger, a Ruger 1911 that I bought him, and an all weather mini 30. He wants a mini 14 to match his mini 30, but when he bought his mini 30 in the early 90's he only paid about $400 for it new. He can't spend the kind of money they're asking for them these days
 
I like the Mini but the AR has many more accessories and is a lot cheaper. I got this one much cheaper than what entry level AR's are going for now. One of the main things that I have always liked about the Mini over the AR is the lack of a buffer tube. Damage the tube on an AR and you've got a problem. Break the stock off a Mini and keep on shooting.
 
A couple I got to shoot back in the 80's were horribly inaccurate, 12" groups at 100 yds. were common. Didn't seem to matter what type of ammo or technique. After O'l Bill came out in favor of the AWB, I never looked at another.
 
As a youth of the 80s I am sure the A-Team subliminal conditioning was a big factor :), but I have always liked the old-school ranch rifle look and just have never felt a draw to the AR.

Between that and a very bad first impression of AR reliability when one was offered to me to try out, a Mini-14 became my first rifle purchase a few years ago. I am slowly setting it up for home defense.

I get the objections on potentially limited parts and accessories, but it hasn't been an issue for me. And yeah it was more expensive comparing straight features, but when I plan on having something for several decades it makes a few hundred bucks easier to invest.
 
I picked up a used 2014 5.56 model last month and even at what I considered a great price(550.00)with a scope included,these days that's more than the cost of a new entry level ar. I knew what I was getting all though it will never replace the AR it's a great addition to any collection
 
Used to have one, and traded it for something else back when I was young and had to trade every time I wanted something else. It was ok, but I like ARs better.
 
I had one that I had sent to John Baker in Montana for a bunch of work. Added rail, strut and a red dot. Trigger was great and shot excellent. After I acquired a few AR's it just sat. So I traded it for a 44mag lever gun. Probably took a bath on that deal. Oh well, at least both guns are getting used now.

Mini's take some work to get good, but they can be accurate and they do run. And run and run.
 
I picked up a LE trade Mini-14GB a couple of years ago from Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. It was luck-of-the-draw, but I happened to get a stainless GB, so I was pretty happy. It was a great deal at $400.

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If I was only going to have one semi-auto centerfire rifle, I don't know that I would pick a Mini-14. But it's a fun little gun, so I'm hanging onto it.
 
jcalvinmarks said:
I picked up a LE trade Mini-14GB a couple of years ago from Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. It was luck-of-the-draw, but I happened to get a stainless GB, so I was pretty happy. It was a great deal at $400.

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If I was only going to have one semi-auto centerfire rifle, I don't know that I would pick a Mini-14. But it's a fun little gun, so I'm hanging onto it.
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these are bringing good money if you find the right buyer, 700 to 800 range, my self, I don't care for the shorter sight radius, but that's just me, they're collectable because for a time the were leo, next scare it'll bring good money
 
I've had a few, and still have a late 80's stainless model. The size and shape of them make them very handy and easy to control. I really like their ergonomics. I find them easier to shoulder and fire than an AR, and I love AR's. My mini is very accurate for the first 3-4 shots, but the barrel heats quickly and it starts to open the group up, but this is a problem that every thin-barrel mini 14 has.

With the price of mini 14's being as high as it is, and AR's still coming down, I can't see Ruger selling many new minis in the next few years. Overall, I think the AR is a superior rifle, but the mini 14 does have its charm, and its very fun to shoot.
 
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I have always liked them. Wouldn't mind owning but, but it's so far down on the gun acquisition list, I don't see it ever happening.

But if they were 400$ I would have one!
 
RedneckFur said:
I've had a few, and still have a late 80's stainless model. The size and shape of them make them very handy and easy to control. I really like their ergonomics. I find them easier to shoulder and fire than an AR, and I love AR's. My mini is very accurate for the first 3-4 shots, but the barrel heats quickly and it starts to open the group up, but this is a problem that every thin-barrel mini 14 has.

With the price of mini 14's being as high as it is, and AR's still coming down, I can't see Ruger selling many new minis in the next few years. Overall, I think the AR is a superior rifle, but the mini 14 does have its charm, and its very fun to shoot.
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Yeah the old thin barrels were an issue. The newer versions are far better. Add a strut to help as a heat sink and they are really pretty good. Then agin they aren't really target rifles so they don't need to be as accurate as some people expect. They seem like a nearly oerfect farm/ranch gun. I might grab one again some day if I stumble in to the right deal.
 
S4f said:
I don't care for the shorter sight radius
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Functionally, I agree. But practically, I'm not sure that the extra sight radius is really going to make an appreciable contribution to accuracy with a Mini-14. And aesthetically, the flash hider and front sight block/bayonet lug make the rifle look so much more graceful and balanced. Much better than the Ranch Rifles with a plain front sight blade awkwardly stuck on like an afterthought.
 
Scotta320 said:
Picked one up a while back, 83 model if I remember right. Always liked the way they looked. The wood stock was in near perfect condition so I replaced it with a Hogue. Added a rail to the front and a red dot. Shoots pretty well, used it in a few competitions and was happy with it.

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Looks great and that is along the lines of what I'd like to get to... Which rail did you add and can you use your iron sights with the rail and red dot in place?
 
I love them but its true the AR is more accurate. But the m14 is better looking and possibly more reliable. The reliability comment is based off my soul hate and totally biased opinion of ARs so it might not be true.
 
DurhamDad said:
Looks great and that is along the lines of what I'd like to get to... Which rail did you add and can you use your iron sights with the rail and red dot in place?
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It's called a Mini Scout Mount. It replaces the entire forward upper cover. The rail has a groove down the center so you could see the irons if you mounted a scope with the proper rings but with the red dot mount they're completely blocked.
 
It was a sad day that the Mini 14 was removed from the NC prison system. I agree with the merits of the AR platform, and we use them too, but the old Mini's hold a special place in my heart. Back in the early 2000's one was used to stop an escape after another officer had emptied an 870. Had to have been a 150 yard shot on a running felon, DRT....
 
I had two in the late 80s. I wish I still had a particular one just for sentimental reasons.

Currently, I have a mini 30 and really enjoy shooting it. Accuracy is fine, but I won't be neutering gnats with it.
 
I'd love to get one and set it up the way I like it, but I could probably get a pair of ARs for what it would cost me.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
I'd love to get one and set it up the way I like it, but I could probably get a pair of ARs for what it would cost me.
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At least a pair of uppers in different configs with one lower.

$775 is what I am seeing on poly stocked Minis in 223. $60 more gets your a field grade M1 from CMP.....if you must have a Garand type action
 
Ikarus1 said:
At least a pair of uppers in different configs with one lower.

$775 is what I am seeing on poly stocked Minis in 223. $60 more gets your a field grade M1 from CMP.....if you must have a Garand type action
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Part of it is the handling. I just find the Mini series really comfortable and handy, but between the skyrocketing prices, mag prices, needs tweaking to function as well as an AR...... I still want one lol
 
NCLivingBrit said:
Part of it is the handling. I just find the Mini series really comfortable and handy, but between the skyrocketing prices, mag prices, needs tweaking to function as well as an AR...... I still want one lol
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For a quick handling Carbine, I would choose the Ruger 44 carbine over a mini at the same price range.
 
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