1sailor
Member
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. 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. 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. For those of you who own one, what has your experience been. Are they finicky about the types of ammo they will feed? 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. Any observations from guys who have owned both. Any issues with chronic parts failures? What about parts availability. 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. Will they use a standard AR15 magazine?