Ruger Mini 14

Engine49guy said:
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/…Btw have seen one other 187 series like BB57's bottom gun in post 12 above,
Great looking gun but my bet is the upgrades push its cost past a factory M1a or a nice old Ruger 44 carbine.

On a side note Samson makes Ruger accessories and replicas of the factory side folding stock, they also make one for the 10-22 for around $350.
Samson Manufacturing
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The 187 series was an NC DOC surplus gun acquired for $400.

The Choate flash suppressor was $50, the Accu Strut was around $100, a gas port bushing is around $8, and the tech sights rear sight is $80. That’s $238 on top of a $400 rifle.

Even at the time (5-6 years ago) you could not have come close to an M1A for $638.

Several recent completed GB sales of skinny barrel Mini 14s averaged $765. Add $238 to that and you are right at $1000.

Looking at GB completed sales for M1As I found one that sold for $1175 and another for $1299, and the rest were north of $1500.


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I have a Samson folding stock on my 184 in the post above.
 
Narragansett said:
I can't comment on the Mini-14, other than to say they do not appeal to me, AR's either.

I guess my question is, why would someone lay out the money for the gun and scope when there are known accuracy issues? But then it is not my rifle or my money, but one would never have a place in my safe. :confused:
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- Superb reliability, without having to constantly break ot down for cleaning;
- Nice balance and handling; and
- looks that don’t scare people like an “evil” AR-15.

There are known issues for the 181 to 580 series Mini 14s, but there are also known solutions.

And to be fair, there are a lot of M4geries out there that don’t shoot any better then a stock skinny barrel Mini-14, and both my modified Mini-14s shoot just as well as my Colt SP1 (1.5 MOA 5 shot groups).

——

To put the reliability issue in perspective, I own Mini 14s, AR-15s an AR-180B and a Galil in .223.

If I were in a situation where reliability was essential, I’d choose the Mini-14 or Galil in that order followed by the AR-180 in a distant third placeand any of my AR-15s would be in a distant fourth place.
 
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I bought one of the 1st "SS RanchRifle" on my FFL. Shot it a lot when .223 was $3/box 20. Worked as intended. Sold it maybe 15 years ago for $600 and bought a Colt's 6920 for maybe $1100. Now the Ruger is worth double and the AR is worth half. Story of my life; sell low, buy high. Joe
 
BB57 said:
The 187 series was an NC DOC surplus gun acquired for $400.

The Choate flash suppressor was $50, the Accu Strut was around $100, a gas port bushing is around $8, and the tech sights rear sight is $80. That’s $238 on top of a $400 rifle.

Even at the time (5-6 years ago) you could not have come close to an M1A for $638.

Several recent completed GB sales of skinny barrel Mini 14s averaged $765. Add $238 to that and you are right at $1000.

Looking at GB completed sales for M1As I found one that sold for $1175 and another for $1299, and the rest were north of $1500.


—-

I have a Samson folding stock on my 184 in the post above.
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I had no idea that those flat heel 187 series wood stocks were oem, totally changes the look to be more like the M1A.

Been tempted to install one of those Choate long birdcage on my Mini but gonna keep it oem
 
Retired W4 said:
Bought one of the first ones in the late 70s. It was a lot of fun, but it was not a target rifle.
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Nope...and it wasn't marketed as one. My 187-series Ranch Rifle is nowhere near as accurate as my Colt AR-HBAR, and I don't expect it to be.

My Mini-14 shoots into about 2" to 3" at 100 yards...that's acceptable real-world practical accuracy, useful for hitting anything bigger than an x-ring.
 
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Skeet 028 said:
All that being said and some is actually correct..I already have a Bushmaster varminter as said. it is almost as accurate as my used to be 700 Rem...But the Bushmaster is a rifle...a bit heavy a bit ugly but acceptable. I have had 4 or 5 A4 style carbines..my wife's shoots ok and was essentially a free"purchse". I also have another A4 style carbine new upper and lower I have about 350-375 in. It shoots ok also. I have never seen an A4 style that shoots a whole lot better than the Rugers(except some of the original Rugers). yep you can make 'em shoot better but not match rifles. Neither are the Rugers. I guess the reason I wanted a Ruger is kinda the same reason I always liked the M-1 Carbine. It's mostly steel and wood. And they don't have the "hate" attached to them by many non shooters. BTW the Carbine isn't all that accurate either...but people love 'em too. I'm really not anti anything either.
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You can do your research and make your own mind up so if you feel the current run of mini-14's serves your need just buy it . I meet a guy at a area range with a brand new mini 30 a couple years back with some 3-9 scope on it he had several brands of ammo to hunt with and he was pleased with the hornady ammo shooting 1.78 to 2.14 groups inch groups so they are what they are far to often .

I'm 67 years old and never had an AR15 till about 11 to 12 years when I assembled a couple of AR's ,one for me and for my wife using Aero Precision uppers and lowers when they first went publif with uppers and lowers only . Tool craft BCG as there just down the mountain , Criterion barrels and hyperfire trigger sets and nikon scopes all bought over time on holiday sales with free shipping back then . Nice to have a couple AR's that are very close to .500 moa shooter .

Never cared what other non-gun types think as I never run in to any when coyote hunting or hog hunting and barnes tsx bullets are hail on hogs .

I like m1 carbnes too but a would not buy one today or the ruger mini . Good luck

Good luck with your ruger and hope you find it to shoot group you can live with
 
Engine49guy said:
I had no idea that those flat heel 187 series wood stocks were oem, totally changes the look to be more like the M1A.

Been tempted to install one of those Choate long birdcage on my Mini but gonna keep it oem
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The aftermarket stock was nothing to do with the accuracy - it didn’t improve when I swapped stocks, so I didn’t include it in the cost break down. Even then it’s still not in M1A territory.

I frankly doesn’t get your continued insistence on comparing it to an M1A. They are different rifles, in significantly different calibers, with significantly different capabilities, for significantly different purposes.

Compare these three against one another, sure. They were all made for the same purpose and all of them evolved from the M1.

But comparing any of them to the Mini-14 is a bit of a reach.

IMG_1333.HEIC
 
FWIW: Back when the Mini was first introduced, Ruger billed it as the worlds most expensive plinker. Also, Clint Smith is fond of pointing out that a 2 MOA rifle will still group 10 inches at 500 yards. I don't recall off the top of my head what the service acceptable grouping of the M1 or M14 was, but it certainly wasn't 1 MOA. Writers in hunting magazines of the 1950s seemed happy with 2-3 MOA groups.

SFA reliability, again back in the late 1980's I got tasked with cleaning the Minis we had dedicated as training rifles prior to graded response exercises. I found carbon on the gas pistons so old/hard I had to use a carbide lathe bit to scrape it off. Drill bits cleaned out the cavity in the slide, holes in the gas pipe & piston. There was other evidence of really poor cleaning practices. BUT: they'd still been running like Swiss clocks.

A later conversion to ARs produced a new dedication to proper cleaning after use.
 
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hardluk1 said:
You can do your research and make your own mind up so if you feel the current run of mini-14's serves your need just buy it . I meet a guy at a area range with a brand new mini 30 a couple years back with some 3-9 scope on it he had several brands of ammo to hunt with and he was pleased with the hornady ammo shooting 1.78 to 2.14 groups inch groups so they are what they are far to often .

I'm 67 years old and never had an AR15 till about 11 to 12 years when I assembled a couple of AR's ,one for me and for my wife using Aero Precision uppers and lowers when they first went publif with uppers and lowers only . Tool craft BCG as there just down the mountain , Criterion barrels and hyperfire trigger sets and nikon scopes all bought over time on holiday sales with free shipping back then . Nice to have a couple AR's that are very close to .500 moa shooter .

Never cared what other non-gun types think as I never run in to any when coyote hunting or hog hunting and barnes tsx bullets are hail on hogs .

I like m1 carbnes too but a would not buy one today or the ruger mini . Good luck

Good luck with your ruger and hope you find it to shoot group you can live with
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You now...I live in rifle country. I see the same sense of superiority all the time...esp from the long range aficionados. You know the ones who want to kill an elk at 1500 yds. And are certain they can do it. 99% really can't but they consider their equipment and themselves better than most just because they have the equipment to do so. Still the good hunters usually keep their shots under 400 yds. When I lived back east I shot deer wholesale for farmers with crop damage permits. I set up a slug gun to shoot deer at 250 yds. Long range in the eastern woods where you could only use shotguns. I found though even if the equipment would do the job 98% of the time the average shot was 30-35 yds. So I just decided to wait for easy shots. Really accurate rifles are fun. had plenty. Found I wore half the bore life out looking for the best accuracy. Lot of work...and it can be fun. I don't intend the mini for 500 yd shooting. Just carrying on the 4 wheeler or in the truck. Shoot coyotes and plink around the ranch here. rough shooting...not benchrest. A 2 or 3 inch shooter is all that's necessary. I just find myself gravitating away from ARs. Do I dislike them? no of course not but the average A4 carbine really isn't a whole lot more accurate in the average shooters hands. Enjoy yours. Try 'em over the hood of a truck if you ever shoot them that way. BTW I built a M-1 carbine as a thumbhole sporter many years ago...made it pretty. lots of work. Still shot like a carbine...but I had fun with that thing...lots of fun. Literally wore it out(free ammo)
 
Retired W4 said:
Bought one of the first ones in the late 70s. It was a lot of fun, but it was not a target rifle.
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Yep, same here. Got an early model around ‘79 or so. Fun to shoot but no target rifle, even at 50 yards. Could have been me and not the rifle….but I doubt it….;)
 
I have a 1994 vintage 181 stainless ranch rifle. When I first bought it I shot it next to a guy on the range who had an AR. At that time I had no idea AR's could be so accurate at 100 yards, but I quickly learned how inaccurate my new rifle, or I, was.

I have only shot it periodically over the years with years between since my last time out with it and today. Earlier this week I was literally thinking about getting my Mini 14 and my 6920 AR out on the range for a bit of a head to head. After reading all of these posts I think I may invest in an accu-strut after I shoot it to see if I can tighten things up a bit.
 
My 182 has an Accu-strut and a Techsight I installed a couple of years ago. I have a set of smaller bore gas bushings incoming, (thanks to this thread). If I can get sub 3” groups out of it (In my hands) it will more than serve my purposes! Great thread!

OZ
 
Can't hunt with a semi here in Pa.......... so ARs and Mini's are not "deer or Coyote " rifles here. But they could be more than "range toys". While the EOTWAWKI role is better served with an AR ,IMHO, my Mini setup is "low profile" vs "Tacticool"..... for urban SHTF!

If I'm after MOA or better I grab one of my scoped CZ 527 bolt guns in .223/5.56 [ and a handful of 5rd mags... yes CZ says, in their manual, that you are good to go with both!!!!! 8 years on High School and College Rifle Teams made me appreciate a good bolt gun and a sling..... scopes are just gravy for older eyes!!!!!!
 
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BB57 said:
The aftermarket stock was nothing to do with the accuracy - it didn’t improve when I swapped stocks, so I didn’t include it in the cost break down. Even then it’s still not in M1A territory.

I frankly doesn’t get your continued insistence on comparing it to an M1A. They are different rifles, in significantly different calibers, with significantly different capabilities, for significantly different purposes.

Compare these three against one another, sure. They were all made for the same purpose and all of them evolved from the M1.

But comparing any of them to the Mini-14 is a bit of a reach.

IMG_1333.HEIC
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Ok so that stock is aftermarket ...another $200?

Nice pic, I have a Garand , The BM59 was an attempt to bring the old M1 design up towards the M14 on a budget,
The M14 is better than both in every way so the best of three.

The M16 platform was cheaper to build than the M14, enabled the soldier to carry more ammo and had other advantages but when it was realized it couldn't reach out as far or penetrate mud walls in the open terrain of Iraq and Afghanistan M14s from the early 60's were pulled from storage, tuned and issued as designated marksman rifles.

Prices are affected by supply and demand.
In the 70's-80s when a Colt Sp1 was $400-$500 a $300 mini knock off of the M14 (Mini 14) made sense as a cheap plinking alternative but it is a cheap knock off of the superior M14 design and inferior to the M16/M4 in every way.
Fast fwd to today when so many co's make Ar15s that decent versions from PSA or Anderson etc are abt $450,
When Mini 14s are bringing $750 -$1k Imo it's hard to justify one especially if dropping more $ to bring it up to M4 standards and approaching the price of an M1A .

In summary:
The Mini 14 made sense when it was cheap but Ars are less today and still a better design.

If a buddy of mine hated the M16/M4 look that much they were willing to pay 2x for an inferior Mini 14 I'd tell them to spend a little more and get an M1A .

If I had to choose one rifle to bring to a hostile alien planet where the biggest threat was the size of a goat Im going M16
If the threat is bear sized but smaller than a Cape Buffalo I'm choosing the M14.

The best solution is to have one (or more) of each, all just Imo and worth every cent u paid for it.
 
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I found a used mini years ago for 600 bucks, the story the LGS had was a customer bought it new, walked it over to the gunsmith counter and had a
Krieger Barrel put one, gas port bushing changed and some other work done on it. The customer shot it from inside his truck and broke a window with the empty case. I heard it from the salesman and the gunsmith.
I took it and went to the range, it is a target rifle.
best $600 dollar gun I ever bought..
The original owner had twice that into it.
 
People put a scope on a rifle and then expect great things from it . Things it was never expected to do . Then when it doesn't live up to their expectations , they go on the gun boards and post the same old rhetoric .
 
Mine is my only semi - not my usual cup of tea but it has a prime spot in the front of a safe as a defensive grab gun. I put it in a cheap but useful ATI Tech folding stock and stuck on a red dot and light. Made me feel unclean putting all that plastic alongside my walnut babies :Q (original stock was black polymer so no great change).

Love the reliability and appreciate the design lineage. Do not like the way the charge handle dents every case despite all my efforts to tame the extraction with smaller gas bushings. No biggie, just single cycle for zero and practice with steel cases.

It just works, no matter how dirty or how I feed it, and that helps me sleep better.
 
I never really thought of the Ruger as a house defensive rifle...but bet it would work better than a handgun at 25 yards lol. I shot the Ruger at just about a 100 yds yesterday with some of my reloads with 55 gr Ballistic Tips and 22 gr of 4198. Better than I expected and think it'll be a fair yote getter at 150 yds. Farther is for the 243 anyway
 
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I paid $250 for the Mini 14 when somebody I knew needed cash for car repairs after I had just bought a Ruger GP100 for $250 from him a few days before. I changed the stock and shot it with my sons. My oldest son wanted it and has it now. We got 2" groups that opened to 3" when the rifle warmed up.

 
Well if I was going to fork out $1000 from a Mini.. I guess I'd get the stainless 'Tactical' one in 7.62x39 (make it a deer gun.)


Mags would be the hardest to find (you would be wise to stick with Ruger mags.)

But I can do a lot with a G and the AR platform.
 
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