Which Mini-14 do you prefer?

[TTSH]

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.

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.

 

[Peak53]

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.

 

[steelslaver]

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.

 

[TTSH]

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

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!

 

[TTSH]

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.

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.

 

[TTSH]

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 but Montana could care less what I own and shot.

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.

 

[gregintenn]

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

 

[Arik]

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

The more practical one for my area. Synthetic stock

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[coltle6920]

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.

 

[Tbat]

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.

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.

 

[TTSH]

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

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

 

[TTSH]

The more practical one for my area. Synthetic stock.

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!

 

[TTSH]

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.

Very nice!

 

[TTSH]

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.

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.

 

[JohnRippert]

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.

 

[KEN L]

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.

 

[.455Eley]

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.

 

[model70hunter]

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.

 

[kbm6893]

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 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.

 

[Voyager28]

Works very nicely for hogs and 'yotes.

Bob