Which Mini-14 do you prefer?

[loc n load]

Ruger Mini

Mine is one of the early stainless guns, dura coated, choate synthetic side folder, extended mag release and choate "M-14" front sight / flash suppressor. Been shooting mini's since they first appeared, they are what they are. I shot this one two weeks ago, free standing,no sling at 100 yds and put a mag full of 223 into a "milk bottle" target. Not an AR, wasn't intended to be, but it serves a purpose for me.

 

[gen3guy]

I live in a state where I can have all AKs and ARs I want, and I still prefer the Mini 14. My friends think I'm crazy. I just replaced the front sight on my newest one and the accuracy got much better. I don't take the "Mini 14 bashers" very seriously.

 

[GF]

...One of many full autos I wish I had never let loose of.

Ken L

Me too! The first machine gun I ever bought was an AC 556 folder from FJ Volmer out of Illinois.
I paid $1250 for it in 1991 and sold it for twice that a few years later.
It was the only machine gun the factory would still work on for an individual.
I bet Ruger won't do that now.

I still have it's semi-auto cousin ...

GF

 

[Brian in Oregon]

...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. .....

At that point, they will claim they need to close the Mini-14 loophole.

 

[TTSH]

At that point, they will claim they need to close the Mini-14 loophole.

True I'm afraid. The situation here is not good... and things could get a whole lot worse after November. Immeasurably worse.

 

[Donn]

Had a wood/SS Mini for many years, so it's my choice. I've had it since the 80's. It doesn't see much daylight these days. If I need a 223 sporting rifle, I reach for the AR.

 

[mg357]

I prefer the stainless steel with synthetic stock Mini-14 the stainless steel receiver contrasts beautifully with the dark synthetic stock in my humble opinion.

 

[TTSH]

Had a wood/SS Mini for many years, so it's my choice. I've had it since the 80's. It doesn't see much daylight these days. If I need a 223 sporting rifle, I reach for the AR.

I prefer the stainless steel with synthetic stock Mini-14 the stainless steel receiver contrasts beautifully with the dark synthetic stock in my humble opinion.

It's interesting how the poll turned out with more folks voting for the traditional "black on wood" look than any other option... however, the split between stainless and black (irrespective of stock type) is pretty darn even.

The most embarrassing thing for me is that my own personal choice for my first Mini-14 at this point (black on black - purely for the look) is the least popular of all. I guess people are right: I am a contrarian at times!

I think it's going to come down to this combo for me:

1. Go with a "black on black" Mini-14 now
2. Go with a "stainless on wood" Mini-30 later

Seems to go (more or less) with the idea of them as AR and AK replacements respectively for the loony moonbat state of Massachusetts and its brand new bans. And yes, I do know that AK's aren't usually available in stainless!

As always, money will dictate schedule and possibly impact my choices as well. One of my favorite local dealers can't even buy Mini-14's right now. Demand has gone through the roof. Even the "big boys" are having trouble getting enough of them and it's driving up prices at a lot of our shops. Importing may be the best option of all, at least for the time being.

 

[nocents]

.................



When the "illegal" ARs & AKs are finally confiscated via a turn-in program............

I foresee a lot of "tragic boating accidents" in Mass. soon

 

[nocents]

that looks so good it almost makes me want to get one again.....

 

[Rastoff]

I actually prefer the stainless with the laminate stock:

Mine was the first of the new style. I think the prefix is 580. I got it in 2008. Didn't know they had made the barrel change and just got lucky to get a good one. Mine shoots about 1.5MOA right out of the box with mediocre ammo.

 

[TTSH]

I foresee a lot of "tragic boating accidents" in Mass. soon

Things are getting even worse here in MA just in the last couple days. Crazy AG lady is now going after everybody in the industry trying to make a national name for herself. It's bizarre.

that looks so good it almost makes me want to get one again.....

Better hurry before us long-suffering Subjects of Massachusetts buy them all out!

 

[Farmer17]

Oklahoma Highway Patrol was one of the first agencies to give rifles and training to every trooper since they had 3 troopers killed by escaped convicts with long guns in about 1975. They started with the standard blue Mini-14 and 20 round mags but I remember being in a car wreck in about 1983 and the troopers had stainless Mini-14s with factory folding stocks carried upside down on U shaped brackets that were screwed to the bottom of the drivers door. The car doors were a lot bigger back then and were flat, they didn't have any plastic map compartments

 

[serger]

FWIW, Gun Broker has 268 Mini-14's and 49 Mini 30's for sale if you are having a hard time finding one in MA

Years ago in the magazine American Survival Guide there was a company out of Colorado who sold a "pull release" device that allowed the Mini to fire a shot every time the trigger was moved. You pulled the trigger, the gun fired. You released the trigger, the gun fired. They had at that time a letter from ATF saying Mini's with this device in them were not machineguns because they fired 1 round with each trigger manipulation.

I don't know if BATFE changed that ruling.Given todays political climate I would think they would.

Here is a youtube link to that device which later became known as "the staple trick" :

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhuQOZSwFvY[/ame]

Here is another youtube that questions that devices legality and safety:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7BtQ9iydCE[/ame]

Just something for you folks in MA to think about as another way for your state government to screw with you.

 

[TTSH]

FWIW, Gun Broker has 268 Mini-14's and 49 Mini 30's for sale if you are having a hard time finding one in MA

That's a lot of Mini's!

At this point, I'm all set with my Mini-14. It's on the way and I should be able to pick it up either Wednesday or Thursday.

As for the Mini-30, economics will dictate schedule. There is a ton of crazy stuff going on in my sorry life right now and all of it involves money that I don't yet have. Bottom line is that I'll try to get it before the election but it could be awfully tight.

Here is a youtube link to that device which later became known as "the staple trick"...

... Just something for you folks in MA to think about as another way for your state government to screw with you.

That's all Maura (our dictator AG) has to see and she'll be right back to banning even more guns. No thanks. We have more than enough trouble to deal with here already.

 

[Bigdog357]

I've had a ranch in wood and black and I currently have the Target version, much better accuracy, but heavy. I liked them both, just plain fun to shoot

 

[serger]

TTSH, don't forget the magazines. It's nothing but a single shot without them.

 

[TTSH]

TTSH, don't forget the magazines. It's nothing but a single shot without them.

Already secured a couple certified pre-ban 20-round magazines for the Mini-14. Paid a king's ransom for them but such is life in moonbat Massachusetts.

 

[jframejoey]

"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."

Ive seen a bunch of new stainless minis with synthetic stocks in lots of gun shops from Metro Boston to Metro West and but not sure if tactical or not. Best price for blued/synthetic brand new combo Ive seen is $729!!! lots of places are asking close to a grand!

 

[TTSH]

Ive seen a bunch of new stainless minis with synthetic stocks in lots of gun shops from Metro Boston to Metro West and but not sure if tactical or not.

If those stainless ones are tacticals (Model 5819), someone has been doing some magazine switching!

Best price for blued/synthetic brand new combo I've seen is $729!!! Lots of places are asking close to a grand!

That's essentially what I paid. Yeah, some shops are gouging a bit right now. Unfortunate, but who knows what they had to pay to get them in?

Mine finally came in a few days late. Now, I've got to start saving up for my Mini-30. November is coming at us awfully fast now.