Being a subject of the People's Republic of Massachusetts, we are no longer allowed to buy AR or AK-type firearms from dealers as of 7/20/2016, whether they are MA-compliant (by existing law) or not. There is a whole separate thread on that topic and we shouldn't get into the political/legal aspects of it here.

One of the curious things that came out of this anti-2A madness is the fact that the Ruger Mini-14 has become the Unofficial centerfire semi-auto carbine/rifle of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. While there are a handful of other semi-auto options that comply with the new "guidance", the Mini-14 is unique in its popularly, availability, assured legality (via AWB Appendix A) and at least semi-reasonable prices.

When the "illegal" ARs & AKs are finally confiscated via a turn-in program, the Mini-14 is the centerfire semi-auto that most of us will have left, at least for the time being until more unconstitutional extralegal madness bursts forth from our anti-2A office holders.

My question for today is what MA-compliant model do you like best. I'm mostly interested in the stainless vs. black choice and the wood stock vs. synthetic choice. There are a couple "tactical" options that are still MA-compliant, but I'm mostly interested in the materials of construction.

This is mainly a popularity contest, but if you have reasons (other than cosmetic preference) for one option over the other, please feel free to explain it.

Thank you!

Last one I bought was a "Ranch" version...is that standard yet?

Are you asking which looks better?

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My Ruger Mini-30 is stainless-steel with a camo synthetic rifle stock that I use for "walking-up" wild hogs on rainy days in the Florida swamps.

It is a good "all weather" semi-automatic rifle that is easy to carry all day long.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

Every one I've seen lately in local shops is called a Ranch Rifle. Don't know if they are all Ranch Rifles now or if that's just what we are allowed to buy here in moonbat Massachusetts.

Not necessarily. I'm asking which one you would buy.

Didn't know about camo being an option. Dang!

The newer Ruger 5819 "tactical" is the one I'd go with, if you can have it there of course. Stainless, synthetic stock, tough as nails sights and because they put a flash hider on it the barrel is already threaded in case you get to play with that end...new hiders, brakes or even suppressors. That of course is when you finally flee that place.

We are allowed to buy the Model 5848. Comes in black only.

Ruger® Mini-14® Tactical Rifle Autoloading Rifle Model 5848

I liked the stainless and wood one that I had and I also like the picture of the tactical you put up here.

Thanks for the info. I noticed that one local dealer post says that the black ones are black (finish) on stainless steel... but I didn't think that was right. Might have just been a typo.

So far in the poll, stainless is clearly winning. I'll even admit that I was leaning toward stainless but have concerns about quality control. For whatever odd reason, the black ones I've examined seemed to be a lot nicer finished than the stainless ones. Didn't make sense. It's one reason I decided to do this poll.

I prefer the wood and black version. Mostly because of what you're experiencing where you live. My 30-rd, 5.56mm rifle can't be nearly as dangerous as one of those AR thingies, can it?
Ask the guys I used to informally 3-gun with...

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Because of the metric system?

Well, the trade-off is a flash hider and a little less barrel length for giving up stainless steel. For whatever reason, that's how Ruger decided to offer them to us.

I don't think I want to make any purchasing decision(s) based on what the gun grabbers might think or do in the future. I say get what you want now and worry about what they will do to us next after your purchase!

This left handier is going to throw you a breaking curve ball...........

Mine is the "new" model with the heavier barrel profile ( sorry forget the #) ....... the 16.1 inch barrel "NRA"Model.... mine now resides in a Hogue Gillie Green stock w/ a 1-3x20 weaver scope........ and is generally carried with a 10 rd factory magazine .......no "evil black rifle for me"!!!!!!

OK I'll admit, it is ........backed up with 2 or more 20 round mags ( also a factory 5rd for an ultra low profile) in my grab and go set up!!!!!


The heavy barrel eliminates most of the stringing of the earlier "pencil" barreled guns.

TTSH, greatings from an allie in occupied Territory. For near about 20 years I had a stainless ranch model. I loved it. I sold it and bought a new tactical model 580 series. Now it's hot dirty sweaty lust!!!!! It has a heavier barrel, integral scope mount, and if you like open sites it has better sites More akin to a M 14/M1!

Don't all of them have the new and improved heavy barrel by now? I thought the old barrels went out of vogue right about the time the A-Team retired.

I bought mine at the Waxahachie gun show a year ago.
Beautiful walnut stock with Stainless!
Included lots of magazines, and I have added many more of the 30 round ones.
New and beautiful.
The ammo is ready for what comes in the next years.
Small towns in TEXAS all have the same attitude that I have.

Greetings right back at ya! But I see that you are a LEO and, as such, you can have anything you want, dastardly evil features, maxi-mags and all. I need to go by what Maura says I can buy as a non-LEO peasant.

So the only tactical I can buy is the Model 5848... which is not so bad at all except it does only come in black. Unless I am mistaken, I can't buy any stainless tactical model as a Massachusetts resident.

So it may come down to a choice of stainless in a traditional Range Rifle or black in a semi-tactical style. That's about where my brain is at right now.

No......... more like 2008

It's good to live in Texas. I worked there an awful lot during my career (I'm long retired now). Always enjoyed myself there.

Almost all of the wood stocks I've seen on Mini-14's are awfully damn nice. For some reason that kinda surprised me. But I am a synthetic guy through and through when it comes to rifle stocks. That said, if one rifle could convert me, it just might be the Mini-14.

My favorite mini-14 is a mini-30 cause it hits harder. It is black on black for decreased visibility with the 16" heavy barrel for maneuverability. The synthetic stock should better survive rough treatment like sitting in a muddy ditch. I use factory 20 round mags only.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I have an old style mini 14 that I put in a synthetic stock with pistol grip and it shoots great. The early guns were not that accurate because of the thinner barrels. I made a sleeve that fit over the barrel forward of the gad port piece and a flash suppressor. The flash suppressor threads on the barrel with 1/2 28 threads and when tight puts the barrel under tension. Problems solved. Probably wouldn't be "approved" in some states butt Montana could care less what I own and shhot.

Was it that recent? Hmmmm. That kinda shocks me.

Regardless, I'll be going for brand spanking new. The very few used ones available for sale around here dried up in hours after the big decree came down (as did any and all new ones in stock locally). They disappeared faster than Ryan Lochte's sponsors!

I should have made the poll more general and added the Mini-30 to the title. That will be my next major purchase after the Mini-14 as I've got a ton of 7.69x39 ammo too.

Yeah, I've got to be careful what I do to the Mini-14 in Massachusetts or else Maura will not be a happy anti-2A AG. As long as there is no pistol grip, I can have a flash hider (or vice versa). While nothing is 100% clear at this point, I wouldn't mess with the "dastardly evil features" criteria right now regardless of any of her "guidance" or FAQ's to the contrary.

I'd prefer one that is accurate. Mine ain't.

The more practical one for my area. Synthetic stock

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Bought a Series 185...stainless on wood.

Is it my preference? I never thought about it.It's a beauty and I don't think I need more than one.

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The Ranch Rifle is the standard version of the Mini 14, with a 18.5 inch barrel and no flash hider. They can come in wood or plastic and black or stainless, plus they usually ship with the 5 round mag instead of the twenty, but it looks like that can depend on the state. If you like fireballs when you shoot then this model is for you. I think the ranch models were the first ones that came with the dimples in the receiver for scope mounts.

The only difference with the Tactical is that it has a flash hider and probably comes with a twenty round mag depending on your state. My favorite Mini 14 is the NRA special edition, that came with a 16.5 inch barrel in a Hogue stock.

Is it a fairly late vintage model or an early one?

No question that the black synthetic stock has a certain sexy appeal to it. And I'm not usually a "wood-stock-on-a-rifle" kind of guy. But I have to admit that the Mini-14 looks pretty damn good with a wood stock too!

Very nice!

That's pretty much my understanding as well. I'm too late for the NRA special edition of course... and my budget probably couldn't have supported it anyway.

We won't even mention that the 30-round magazine(s) are illegal in my Godforsaken moonbat state.

I had a Mini30 that was in a Archangel stock. The full length rail on top was very nice, it made for lots of optics choices. It would be a great brush buster for a hog hunter.





I decided that one carbine was enough for me and kept the late Inland.

My all time favorite is the AC556

One of many full autos I wish I had never let loose of. I really liked it! And.........
I always wanted to get one of these....

I still may some day, never know......

My current Mini 14 is a GB model, which basically looks like the first pic, only no selector. According to Ruger, it was shipped to a US Govt agency, but they wouldn't tell me which one. Here is a pic of the additional "Govt" number, which Ruger says must have been stamped there after it left the factory.

Funny thing is though, the number was stamped before the receiver was blued and the font looks a lot like the number they stamped on it. Anyway, anyone got any idea which US agency received these. I really don't see what the big secret is.

My favorite is the plain old Ranch Rifle. It looks and handles like a slightly larger version of my actual favorite: my M1 Carbine. I only got the Ruger because .223 is a heck of a lot cheaper than .30 Carbine and it can mount a scope but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it carries and the accuracy. Much better than the one my Dad used as a patrol rifle back in the early 2000s. I like it with a Weaver 1-3x20mm scope and a 5 round magazine. They ship with 2. I wish they would ship with a 10 instead (MO max for hunting) but 5 is plenty really. With flush fit mags and the 'safari' scope it looks about as 'scary-tactical' as a No.1 single shot.

My favorite was my 1st one, stainless with factory folder. I wonder what flavor of kool aid I was sipping the day U traded it off? Oh, I remember, it was a Colt HBAR, prior to being called a preban.

I had the stainless and synthetic stock one. But rugers stainless almost looks like a paint. I know it's not, but it's very dull looking.

I like the stainless with wood combo.

Works very nicely for hogs and 'yotes.

Bob

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Mine is one of the early stainless guns, dura coated, choate synthetic side folder, extended mag release and choate "M-14" front sight / flash suppressor. Been shooting mini's since they first appeared, they are what they are. I shot this one two weeks ago, free standing,no sling at 100 yds and put a mag full of 223 into a "milk bottle" target. Not an AR, wasn't intended to be, but it serves a purpose for me.

I live in a state where I can have all AKs and ARs I want, and I still prefer the Mini 14. My friends think I'm crazy. I just replaced the front sight on my newest one and the accuracy got much better. I don't take the "Mini 14 bashers" very seriously.

...One of many full autos I wish I had never let loose of.

Ken L

Me too! The first machine gun I ever bought was an AC 556 folder from FJ Volmer out of Illinois.
I paid $1250 for it in 1991 and sold it for twice that a few years later.
It was the only machine gun the factory would still work on for an individual.
I bet Ruger won't do that now.

I still have it's semi-auto cousin ...



GF

At that point, they will claim they need to close the Mini-14 loophole.

True I'm afraid. The situation here is not good... and things could get a whole lot worse after November. Immeasurably worse.

Had a wood/SS Mini for many years, so it's my choice. I've had it since the 80's. It doesn't see much daylight these days. If I need a 223 sporting rifle, I reach for the AR.

I prefer the stainless steel with synthetic stock Mini-14 the stainless steel receiver contrasts beautifully with the dark synthetic stock in my humble opinion.

It's interesting how the poll turned out with more folks voting for the traditional "black on wood" look than any other option... however, the split between stainless and black (irrespective of stock type) is pretty darn even.

The most embarrassing thing for me is that my own personal choice for my first Mini-14 at this point (black on black - purely for the look) is the least popular of all. I guess people are right: I am a contrarian at times!

I think it's going to come down to this combo for me:

1. Go with a "black on black" Mini-14 now
2. Go with a "stainless on wood" Mini-30 later

Seems to go (more or less) with the idea of them as AR and AK replacements respectively for the loony moonbat state of Massachusetts and its brand new bans. And yes, I do know that AK's aren't usually available in stainless!

As always, money will dictate schedule and possibly impact my choices as well. One of my favorite local dealers can't even buy Mini-14's right now. Demand has gone through the roof. Even the "big boys" are having trouble getting enough of them and it's driving up prices at a lot of our shops. Importing may be the best option of all, at least for the time being.

I foresee a lot of "tragic boating accidents" in Mass. soon

that looks so good it almost makes me want to get one again.....