MP15 Sport or Ruger Mini-14

I think OR s pretty loose on gun restrictions. I know here in WA we could own silencers, but used to have to go across the border to actually use them legally.

I know this isn't specifically on the Sports, but the apple doest usually fall far from the tree.

S&W's M&P 15 Is One Rugged & Reliable AR

The barrel on the Sport alone is worth the extra 100 bucks, you get a much more accurate barrel plus all the adaptability and customizability (is that a word).

1sailor said:

I had been planning on buying a new Mini-14 as soon as I got a couple of bills paid off (getting very close). However, I see now where the MP Sports are available again and I can get one for about the same price as an entry level Mini-14 Ranch rifle.

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First and foremost, which one calls to you more? Sounds like you've wanted a Mini-14 for a while, and it's the one you really want. Get the rifle that calls to you, and you will never regret your purchase.

While I love my M&P 15-Sport, I do not think it's the end-all-be-all of rifles chambered in .223.

I was in the same situation as you. Until the advent of the entry level priced AR's, the Ruger Mini-14 was the affordable rifle chambered in .223.

2012 MSRP Mini-14 Ranch : $881
2012 MSRP S&W M&P 15-Sport: $739

I just happened to want an AR more than a Mini-14. I was able to acquire a 15-Sport for less than a Mini-14.

1sailor said:

So now I'm not sure which way I want to go. I actually like the fact that the Ranch Rifle just looks like a little carbine and, with the 5 round magazine could be mistaken for a .22. The newest series have some needed improvements over the earlier models.

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I definitely love the classic looks of a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch with a wood stock. There is just something about a wood stock that feels right. I'm a child of the 80's and the A-Team allure is strong.



I believe the improvements in the Mini-14 come from a heavier barrel & completely retooled manufacturing machinery. Tolerances are tighter.

1sailor said:

On the other hand the MP Sport would give me an economical opportunity to try a different rifle system then what I'm used to and, it is a Smith and Wesson (as opposed to several companies I have never heard of before). There is no sense though in considering a Sport unless it is at least as dependable as the Mini's have proven to be.

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1. The M&P 15-Sport is covered by an expressed limited lifetime warranty for the original owner. Anything breaks, call S&W, get a call tag, and send it back.

2. The civilian AR-15 platform has been around since 1963. The AR platform has received updates over the years to make it more reliable.

The Mini-14 is a gas-piston system. The AR is a direct impingement system. They both will get fouling, just in different places.

1sailor said:

For those of you who own one, what has your experience been. Are they finicky about the types of ammo they will feed?

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My 15-Sport cycles any ammo I've fed it from premium Hornady V-Max .223 to Russian steel case TulAmmo .223. It functions with the Federal 5.56 NATO I've fed it.

The gem of the 15-Sport is the 1:8 progressive,5R rifling. It gives me the widest option of projectile shape to use.

(It's the projectile's shape that determines which twist rate to use, not projectile weight. It just happens to be that boat tail projectiles are by nature heavier.)

This means that I can shoot the cheapest practice ammo found at my local Wally-World.

1sailor said:

The Mini's are capable of about a 2" to 3" grouping at 100 yards. I would hope that the MP would at least be similar.

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The 15-Sport is a completely different platform. There is a thread here where someone got a 1"-2" grouping from a rest @ 100yds.

Again, the 1:8 5R rifled barrel is the under rated gem of the 15-Sport.

If you read about mil-spec rifles, you'll read that they're chrome-lined. The chrome lining adds harness and corrosion resistance for barrel longevity. The issue is that adding a layer onto a barrel's rifling decreases accuracy.

If you read about match/target AR's they use a non-chrome lined barrel. No extra layer over the barrel's rifling lends itself to accuracy, but at the cost of corrosion resistance and barrel longevity.

The 15-Sport's barrel receives a Melonite Treatment. It's a salt bath nitriding process that imparts upon the barrel corrosion resistance and hardness similar to chrome, without adding a layer to the barrel.

1sailor said:

Any observations from guys who have owned both.

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I wish I could help you there. Ever since I purchased the 15-Sport, the urge to purchase a Mini-14 diminished.

Maybe a Mini-30...but then might as well just get an AK...

1sailor said:

Any issues with chronic parts failures?

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I haven't had any parts failures on mine. I haven't read about any chronic parts failures.

1sailor said:

What about parts availability

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The 15-Sport is an AR platform, minus the forward assist and dust cover. You can use any standard AR part on the market on the 15-Sport.

Additionally, you can easily utilize any AR aftermarket accessory (furniture) that is made for a carbine length, direct impingement AR, with an A2 front sight, and mil-spec collapsible stock.

1sailor said:

I know that the Sport is not a mil-spec rifle which doesn't mean much (hey, neither is the Mini) to me as long as parts aren't going to suddenly dry up.

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The great thing about the 15-Sport is that it is an AR platform. If there are any mil-spec parts that you absolutely must have, you can install them.

One 15-Sport owner here (apologies for not remembering who) replaced the 15-Sport's upper receiver with a mil-spec upper receiver that has a dust cover & forward assist.

A few of us are experimenting with different buffer weights & spring combinations.

Some have installed after-market trigger systems. Some (like me) tuned the stock combat trigger.

This is the truly addictive part of owning an AR platform rifle. It's the adult version of Legos.

1sailor said:

Will they use a standard AR15 magazine?

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Yes it does.

Depending on the firearms restrictions in your area allow it, the 15-Sport normally comes with a 30 round Magpul PMAG. This is considered to be one of the best, trouble free mags on the market.

I'll touch on one more subject that is important to me. Which one is less complicated to field strip & reassemble?

Ruger Mini-14:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93XmX2IIjQQ

AR-15:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btewvXGw8F0

Now see an 11 year old girl field strip & reassemble an AR-15 in 53 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irykjLjuKo8

Sailor, have both and will give you my experience for what its worth. My dad bought an early series 181 pencil barrel mini 14 in 1979, so I've used that one for over 30 yrs. The old mini's are not that accurate, I've spent a lot of time over the last couple of years trying to find the mini's preferred ammo and try to improve accuracy. At 50 yrds, from the bench using a rest, my mini averages 2-3 inch 5 shot groups. Occassionally I would shoot a 1 1/2 inch group but not normally. The new heavier barrel mini's have a better reputation for accuracy, but about the same cost as an AR now.

I bought the Sport last summer to give ARs a try. Shooting from the bench with the AR, at 50 yrds I wasn't doing much better, 2 to 3 inch groups. I put a cheap 4 power scope on the Sport and was able to shoot 1 inch groups at 50 yrds so the gun was more accurate than I was able to do with the factory sights (the LMT type). At 100 yrds using the Sport with a scope from the bench, I'm able to keep most of my shots within a 4 inch square, but haven't shot 5 shot groups with it yet. As far as reliability I have never had a jam with the mini 14 while using factory magazines, and have shot more rounds than I can count. I did have a few failures to feed with the mini using cheap Eagle plastic mags, so if you go with the mini definitely buy the factory 20 rd mags. I haven't shot the Sport that much in comparison, but I have had 1 reload get stuck in the chamber and not fire or eject. Mags are definitely cheaper for the AR.

I believe ARs are more accurate, mini's main claim is to reliability, use to be cheaper 223 rifle but not anymore. I bought the Sport at Academy for $599, if you look around long enough I hope you can buy one for around that. Cope dist was carrying Sports for $599 but they don't have any listed now, could call and ask them. If you decide to go with a mini, CDNN sells the tactical version (16.5 inch barrel) online for around $589 the last I checked.

ONe other long running knock ( if you want to call it that ) on the mini 14 is that aftermarket high cap mags all sucked. The factory ones were not available to john q public for the longest time but were the only ones that worked. The factory mags are now available at around $40 a pop for 30 rds. Supposedly TAPCO has some good poly ones at this time but figured I'd share

JaPes said:

First and foremost, which one calls to you more? Sounds like you've wanted a Mini-14 for a while, and it's the one you really want. Get the rifle that calls to you, and you will never regret your purchase.

While I love my M&P 15-Sport, I do not think it's the end-all-be-all of rifles chambered in .223.

I was in the same situation as you. Until the advent of the entry level priced AR's, the Ruger Mini-14 was the affordable rifle chambered in .223.

2012 MSRP Mini-14 Ranch : $881
2012 MSRP S&W M&P 15-Sport: $739

I just happened to want an AR more than a Mini-14. I was able to acquire a 15-Sport for less than a Mini-14.



I definitely love the classic looks of a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch with a wood stock. There is just something about a wood stock that feels right. I'm a child of the 80's and the A-Team allure is strong.

I believe the improvements in the Mini-14 come from a heavier barrel & completely retooled manufacturing machinery. Tolerances are tighter.



1. The M&P 15-Sport is covered by an expressed limited lifetime warranty for the original owner. Anything breaks, call S&W, get a call tag, and send it back.

2. The civilian AR-15 platform has been around since 1963. The AR platform has received updates over the years to make it more reliable.

The Mini-14 is a gas-piston system. The AR is a direct impingement system. They both will get fouling, just in different places.



My 15-Sport cycles any ammo I've fed it from premium Hornady V-Max .223 to Russian steel case TulAmmo .223. It functions with the Federal 5.56 NATO I've fed it.

The gem of the 15-Sport is the 1:8 progressive,5R rifling. It gives me the widest option of projectile shape to use.

(It's the projectile's shape that determines which twist rate to use, not projectile weight. It just happens to be that boat tail projectiles are by nature heavier.)

This means that I can shoot the cheapest practice ammo found at my local Wally-World.



The 15-Sport is a completely different platform. There is a thread here where someone got a 1"-2" grouping from a rest @ 100yds.

Again, the 1:8 5R rifled barrel is the under rated gem of the 15-Sport.

If you read about mil-spec rifles, you'll read that they're chrome-lined. The chrome lining adds harness and corrosion resistance for barrel longevity. The issue is that adding a layer onto a barrel's rifling decreases accuracy.

If you read about match/target AR's they use a non-chrome lined barrel. No extra layer over the barrel's rifling lends itself to accuracy, but at the cost of corrosion resistance and barrel longevity.

The 15-Sport's barrel receives a Melonite Treatment. It's a salt bath nitriding process that imparts upon the barrel corrosion resistance and hardness similar to chrome, without adding a layer to the barrel.



I wish I could help you there. Ever since I purchased the 15-Sport, the urge to purchase a Mini-14 diminished.

Maybe a Mini-30...but then might as well just get an AK...



I haven't had any parts failures on mine. I haven't read about any chronic parts failures.



The 15-Sport is an AR platform, minus the forward assist and dust cover. You can use any standard AR part on the market on the 15-Sport.

Additionally, you can easily utilize any AR aftermarket accessory (furniture) that is made for a carbine length, direct impingement AR, with an A2 front sight, and mil-spec collapsible stock.



The great thing about the 15-Sport is that it is an AR platform. If there are any mil-spec parts that you absolutely must have, you can install them.

One 15-Sport owner here (apologies for not remembering who) replaced the 15-Sport's upper receiver with a mil-spec upper receiver that has a dust cover & forward assist.

A few of us are experimenting with different buffer weights & spring combinations.

Some have installed after-market trigger systems. Some (like me) tuned the stock combat trigger.

This is the truly addictive part of owning an AR platform rifle. It's the adult version of Legos.



Yes it does.

Depending on the firearms restrictions in your area allow it, the 15-Sport normally comes with a 30 round Magpul PMAG. This is considered to be one of the best, trouble free mags on the market.

I'll touch on one more subject that is important to me. Which one is less complicated to field strip & reassemble?

Ruger Mini-14:

Ruger Mini-14 Disassembly - YouTube

AR-15:

AR-15 Field Strip - YouTube

Now see an 11 year old girl field strip & reassemble an AR-15 in 53 seconds.

McKenzie -11yo Girl Sets New Record for Field Stripping AR15 - YouTube

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JaPes...this is why I read your posts!!! Excellent Post!!

I appreciate all the time taken to help me with my decision. I will hold off on the Mini-14 till I've had a chance to examine a Sport in person. A new twist was added last night when my car failed to start after work. So, depending on the problem I may have to hold off a little while longer before buying either rifle.

M&P for sure. People have mentioned the numerous accessory options for the M&P. Not to mention mounting optics is much better on an AR, and mags are a heck of alot cheaper as well. I do like the looks of the mini and might add one some day.

xICEMANx said:

I do like the looks of the mini and might add one some day.

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I do have to admit, I was a huge A-Team fan as a kid and always loved the Mini's that they used.

sport accuracy

bench rest, 4-12x40 simmons scope, i've gotten, 1.276 moa with reloads, 55-65-75 grain.
i expect to reduce moa at least to a consistant one inch.
it's a fun gun to shoot.

xICEMANx said:

I do like the looks of the mini and might add one some day.

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Capt Crunch said:

I do have to admit, I was a huge A-Team fan as a kid and always loved the Mini's that they used.

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I might add one some day. If Ruger ever re-released the A-Team style metal, side folding stock I'd buy one in a heart beat.



I think I'll go use the "Tell the CEO" feature on the Ruger website. The last time I sent a message, Ruger sent me a ball cap & stickers. Gotta love Ruger.

JaPes I've seen a few of those come up in the resale section of the PerfectUnion web page (has a mini 14 section). Seems like they were $800 or so.

Both are fine rifles, but I lean toward the AR platform because I handled it for 22 yrs in the military 30 years total and do my own maintenance.

Wtex said:

JaPes I've seen a few of those come up in the resale section of the PerfectUnion web page (has a mini 14 section). Seems like they were $800 or so.

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I've seen the older production ones come up for sale.

My wish is for a new production Mini-14 with the retro A-Team side folding stock. It would be the best of both worlds. Classic looking rifle, made with the new tooling & better barrel.

M&P 15 Sport warranty is 1 year only!

I just bought an M&P 15 Sport and it came with a 1-year warranty only. It does not have a lifetime guarantee.

Both are fine rifles and would serve you well! BUT! I would go with the S&W M&P Sport. Replacement parts and acessories are more available and flexible. Besides with the price of the Sport you can go out and buy lots of ammo. Because without practice having either gun would be useless. Good luck.

oneyeopn said:

Sailor are you in a state that has serious gun restrictions? That could be why WallyWorld wont show up. When we lived outside of Aspen they weren't allowed to sell firearms because of some Law. Maybe it is the same where you are!

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Oneyeopn: I don't know about that my Kansas brother. I talked to the guy at walmart after finding that link back in January. He seemed to know his stuff (generally speaking) and he had no idea about the gun or how to get it. In fact he searched the Walmart computer and couldn't find anything on it.

Gadsden said:

I just bought an M&P 15 Sport and it came with a 1-year warranty only. It does not have a lifetime guarantee.

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Look on page 38 of your manual..."Smith and Wesson's Lifetime Service Policy begins after the warranty period has expired."

Jayhawkhuntclub said:

Oneyeopn: I don't know about that my Kansas brother. I talked to the guy at walmart after finding that link back in January. He seemed to know his stuff (generally speaking) and he had no idea about the gun or how to get it. In fact he searched the Walmart computer and couldn't find anything on it.

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The Walmart in Dodge has a Ruger SR556 and a Bushmaster in their rack. The first Sport I ever saw was in their rack. I held it and fell in love with the price. However you my friend, all you really need to do is head down to I70 and take a right. JoeBob Outfitters is in Hays.
I am glad you have a person in your WallyWorld who knows guns...our Wally World buys only Tullammo in .223 and just one case at a time. of course they sell out the day they come in. LOL

Interesting post. I was looking for something inexpensive, but could shoot 7.62 x 39. I wanted something that would be good for both zombies and deer. Someone recommended the mini14/30.

I wanted an AR but could not find anything sub 1500 that would take a larger round. Anyone familiar with the 14/30?