Which Mini-14 do you prefer?

Which Mini-14 do you prefer?

  • I prefer traditional black on wood. :-)

    Votes: 28 26.9%

  • I like stainless on wood better.

    Votes: 20 19.2%

  • My choice is black on synthetic.

    Votes: 3 2.9%

  • I'll go with stainless on synthetic.

    Votes: 10 9.6%

  • Hell, I love them all.

    Votes: 16 15.4%

  • It depends more on features than materials.

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • Me? I don't like any of them. :-(

    Votes: 16 15.4%

  • Just get out of Massachusetts and buy an AR!

    Votes: 10 9.6%
  • Total voters
    104
  • Poll closed .
TTSH

TTSH

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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. :mad: There is a whole separate thread on that topic and we shouldn't get into the political/legal aspects of it here. :o

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. :o

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! :D
 
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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.
 
44wheelman said:
Last one I bought was a "Ranch" version...is that standard yet?
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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. :confused:
 
Rangerpat said:
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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Didn't know about camo being an option. :confused: Dang! :o
 
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.
 
inspcalahan said:
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.
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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.
 
W.E.G. said:
Get the stainless.

The gas system blows carbon into the forward end of the op-rod. The carbon is hygroscopic. The gas nipple and the recess in the op-rod will rust in no time if this area is not cleaned. The only way to clean it is to take the barreled receiver assembly out of the stock.

Ask me how I know.

Hopefully the stainless will not turn into a mass of rust as quickly.
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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. :confused: Might have just been a typo. :confused:

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. :confused: Didn't make sense. :confused: 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...
 
fyimo said:
I liked the stainless and wood one that I had and I also like the picture of the tactical you put up here.
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Well, the trade-off is a flash hider and a little less barrel length for giving up stainless steel. :confused: For whatever reason, that's how Ruger decided to offer them to us. :)
 
petepeterson said:
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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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! :p
 
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"!!!!!! :D

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.
 
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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!
 
BAM-BAM said:
The heavy barrel eliminates most of the stringing of the earlier "pencil" barreled guns.
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Don't all of them have the new and improved heavy barrel by now? :confused: I thought the old barrels went out of vogue right about the time the A-Team retired. :p
 
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.
 
jframejoey said:
TTSH, greetings from an ally 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!
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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. :cool: I need to go by what Maura says I can buy as a non-LEO peasant. :o

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. :o

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