Ruger Mini 14 Tactical or Another AR15?

M

marathonrunner

Member
Joined
May 10, 2014
Messages
899
Reaction score
224
Seems like I can't make up my mind, but I have never considered the Ruger Mini 14 Tactical, but after looking at a lot of the reviews, it seems like a very fun rifle to own and plink.

That said, I also saw online, I can get a Windham SRC 5.56 for $545 dollars or I can get the Ruger Mini 14 Tactical for $745. If I get the Ruger, it basically needs nothing except maybe a red dot sight. If I get the Windham SRC, it is a great rifle but the stock trigger is meh and the furniture I would have to replace. Therefore adding new furniture and trigger, it will probably be more than the Ruger.

The one thing I do not like about the Ruger is the magazine is only 20 rounds and they are very expensive. I also don't like the fact the Ruger barrel is not chrome lined and it is most likely not even 4150 steel. The AR if I shoot out the barrel it will be cheap to replace where the Ruger not so sure it is something I can do myself.

If you were me, which rifle would you go with and why?
 
Register to hide this ad
5point5sixGUY said:
If you already have an AR or more than one AR I'd say get the Mini just to have some variety.
Click to expand...

I totally get what you are saying but the magazines for Ruger is so expensive, the aftermarkets I do not trust, not a fan of the Ruger 4140 steel, it's also not chromed lined, and the AR is just way more versatile and to have redundency can't hurt
 
The Mini has never been known as an accurate gun.
I would stick to the AR platform as that's what i have
been shooting for 30+years and i like it.
Save a little more and get a Colt 6920 magpul edition.
Of course your choice of optics is next.


Chuck
 
chud333 said:
The Mini has never been known as an accurate gun.
I would stick to the AR platform as that's what i have
been shooting for 30+years and i like it.
Save a little more and get a Colt 6920 magpul edition.
Of course your choice of optics is next.


Chuck
Click to expand...

yes that is correct they were never known for accuracy however, the new ones have a thicker barrel and tolerances have improved but have read and I think this applies to the older Mini 14 they lose their accuracy and harder to keep them from losing it than others
 
I used to have a factory folding Mini-14 years ago. It was fun to shoot and all that jazz, but in all seriousness in modern times the AR just offers more value for the money. They weigh less, cost less, there are more parts available, can be* more accurate, mags are cheaper, basically the AR is everything the Mini wishes it was. Like I said though, if you already have an AR or a few and are just wanting to broaden your gun collection and spice things up then get the Mini if your budget allows, otherwise stick with AR's.
 
In my humble opinion, get the Mini-14, just for the variety of it. I have one, (and a bunch if AR15 type rifles too) and the Mini it is a ball to shoot. It is coke can accurate and very reliable.

As far as longevity of the barrel is concerned, you would have to have a LOT of fun with it before that ever happens. In addition, how many shooters ever shoot the barrel out of a firearm anyway? For every one that says they do, there are hundreds, or more, that have not. Just depends on how many times you pull the trigger.

Ironically, I picked up mine in a trade for my PSA AR15.

PS: If you buy it, I know of a place that sells 20 round factory mags for 19.95 plus nominal shipping. Minimum order is three. PM me if you want the website.

Either way you go, have a blast!
 

Attachments

  • FullSizeRender-137.jpg
    FullSizeRender-137.jpg
    42.4 KB · Views: 89
Last edited:
Gripgrabber said:
Thinking out of the box, what about a mini 30 SS ranch, all weather? Or a M4 in 762x39 just a thought.
Click to expand...

I have a Windham SRC 7.62x39 with a Gissle G2S Trigger and it shoots 1 MOA but shooting brass ammo is so expensive. It is double the cost of 5.56 so not a big fan of 30 caliber. I also been told 7.62 is not good for home defense, especially if you live in a condo. been told shotgun or 5.56 softpoint is much safer
 
I forgot to mention, I have a Ruger American 5.56 bolt action rifle with a free floated barrel and a match Timmely trigger. Believe it or not that is very fun to shoot as well and considering when I go to the range, I usually only take 1 shot every 30 seconds to 1 minute, I can do without a semi auto like the mini 14. Do you guys enjoy bolt action rifles? I think they are a lot of fun too
 
If you only have one AR get another then add the mini. It took me getting 4 ARs before the mini 14. But I did not get the tactical though.
daca38ea44fc4c65e88e84dfa65367c3.jpg
b1996a71f3e97c631cd5487df368acec.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
moralem said:
If you only have one AR get another then add the mini. It took me getting 4 ARs before the mini 14. But I did not get the tactical though.
daca38ea44fc4c65e88e84dfa65367c3.jpg
b1996a71f3e97c631cd5487df368acec.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I feel exactly the same, probably only get a mini once I am sure I have enough AR's to hedge against them being outlawed. I think the choice to get a Mini would have been easier had Ruger chrome lined the mini, made it a heavy barrel profile, and put rails on it. The asking price of nearly 750 dollars is a bit much for this type of gun.
 
I would go with the Ruger Mini-14 but that's because I dislike pistol grips on long guns and I think that AR's are boring and ugly.

The Mini can be as effective a weapon as the AR but doesn't have the "evil gun" look about it. If there ever was another "Assault Weapons" ban, the Mini might not be included in that ban. If you ever needed to use a Mini in self-defense, a court might not look down upon it in the same way they would an AR or AK. That's something to think about.

The only real drawback to the Mini is that it's magazines are not compatible with AR's. But that shouldn't be an issue as the Mini has been around for so long that it's mags are common. Just stock up on mags now if you buy one and that shouldn't be a problem.

Another drawback is they may not be as accurate as the AR's. This was more true in the past but with the modern Mini-14 variants the gap between accuracy with the AR is closing.
 
Last edited:
marathonrunner said:
yes that is correct they were never known for accuracy however, the new ones have a thicker barrel and tolerances have improved but have read and I think this applies to the older Mini 14 they lose their accuracy and harder to keep them from losing it than others
Click to expand...

I have one of the first of the "new" 16" heavy barreled Mini-14s ( the special run "NRA" guns).......while still not a sniper rifle....... it groups in the 1-1.5" range at 100..........

While my AR needs are met; what I like about the Mini is it's low profile look....... mine now has a Hogue Gillie green stock and a Weaver 1-3x20 scope...... matched up with 5rd flush fit, 10rd really low profile; but still 10 rounds in the gun ............. and 20rd mags. for spares or SHTF.

If it's TEOTWAWKI........ AR with 20 ( in vehicle) and 30 round mags.....
 
Last edited:
With SWaMPy 15 OR guns at $800, I would be hard put to buy the Ruger.
I own an early Ruger Mini-14, no scope mounts. I own a SWaMPy Sport I.
Ruger has 30 round magazines available. Check on Magpul...any day now.
Geoff
Who notes the Ruger is a bit overpriced.
 
Everything I've heard about the newer Mini 14's and 30's is that they have drastically improved in the accuracy department.
From the 80's through the 90's I had three different Mini 14's. The first two were 'minute of paintbucket' accurate. The third did a little better.
As AR's began to be more common, I moved on to them, and even econo-models were way more accurate than what I experienced with the Rugers.
In their defense, they would feed anything nearly, even 'cull' reloads.

I do have a quantity of 7.62x39 ammo, so I am now just thinking of trying a Mini-30 one day.....
 
I only haveone semi auto rifle. Yep, an older mini 14. Now sports a nylon stock. It was never that accurate, but got a lot of improvement by threading the muzzle for flash suppressor, using a piece of 1/2" scheduled 80 pipe machined to just slide over the barrel and mate up against the gas port housing and when I tightened up the flash suppressor I made against the barrel "shroud" it puts the forward end of the barrel under tension. Groups dropped in 1/2.

If I want more accuracy I go to a bull barreled bolt gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top