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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,171
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,171 |
Why have a mini 14 when you can have a AR-15? The only reason I can come up with is that you already bought the koolaid like I did. A mini 14 works but a bolt action 223 is a lot better truck gun, and a AR-15 is a lot better self-defense weapon. All guns are good, some are just better than others.
Life is good live it while you can.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,520
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,520 |
I have long owned a Ruger GB Mini-14, 182 series, Shoots just fine for me. 'Course, I'm not looking for cloverleaf groups: 1½" groups are okay by me. If that won't do, I'll just have to "Spray & Pray." L.W. Nothing wrong with the accuracy of modern Mini-14s. Different animal from the 1970s and 1980s models. Why suffer the Mini 14 compromises in ergonomics, reliability, and suppressor use when compared to the AR-15? From a practical standpoint none. From a collectible standpoint and when you already have a dozen or so AR’s it’s a cool niche gun to own. Collecting is not my thing but I can see if that's your jam it is a neat niche rifle. It would almost be more interesting as a 5 MOA rifle. To each their own. It's not an either/or proposition. I have and prefer an AR, but when you can get a brand new one for $399, as a rifle nut, you are duty bound to buy it.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,535
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,535 |
I have a mini-14 because I wanted a mini-14. I don't bash them because I believe they are a well made design.
I also have ARs and FALs
The mini-14 is pretty straight forward and easy to use, highly reliable from my standpoint. I didn't buy it to pick off prairie dogs at 200 yards, Its a Kyle Rittenhouse weapon for me.
Last edited by KFWA; 09/21/20.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,706
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,706 |
$1200 for a Mini 14 is not so unreasonable as it looks, all things considered. My old 188 series Ranch Rifle is not leaving the barn though. I think highly of it. Good trigger, accurate, dead nuts reliable, is not particular about ammo.
Sam......
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,205
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,205 |
The newer Mini's are much more accurate than the earlier ones. I know a fellow who's quit using his AR , and started using his Mini-14 as his truck gun, because his Mini was a better shooter.
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,954
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,954 |
I have a mini-14 because I wanted a mini-14. I don't bash them because I believe they are a well made design.
I also have ARs and FALs
The mini-14 is pretty straight forward and easy to use, highly reliable from my standpoint. I didn't buy it to pick off prairie dogs at 200 yards, Its a Kyle Rittenhouse weapon for me.
It's a "KR-14" !!!
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,286
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,286 |
I have two. One has been stellar for reliability, and is accurate enough to be worth keeping. One is a ss folder I got for free and don't think I've ever shot. Neither an AR nor a Mini are hard to teach someone to shoot. My children are proof, and they've used both on quite a few coyotes.
As to the truck gun comment it's pointless. A truck gun can be about anything for many different reasons depending on situation, expected uses, range to target, season, etc. I've used a mini, AR's, .22-250's, and bigger bores, some with short barrels and some not. Favorite right now is an AR pistol.
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.” Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,535
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,535 |
I have a mini-14 because I wanted a mini-14. I don't bash them because I believe they are a well made design.
I also have ARs and FALs
The mini-14 is pretty straight forward and easy to use, highly reliable from my standpoint. I didn't buy it to pick off prairie dogs at 200 yards, Its a Kyle Rittenhouse weapon for me.
It's a "KR-14" !!! we should all call it that from now on and see if we can get Joe Biden to try to bring it up during a debate "we don't need no KR-14's in the hands of yutes"
Last edited by KFWA; 09/21/20.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
Scoff if you like, but I at least know one fellow that would disagree with y'all.
There is a fellow that we know. I'm forgetting the exact details here. However, he served in some form of Special Forces in Vietnam, Panama and Grenada. In Nam, his group actually preferred Mini-14 over the M-16. He said they found them easier to operate and more reliable. The accuracy issues were not a problem; it was fine for the close ranges they encountered.
I never got the full skinny on what he did in Vietnam. However, I do know he caught a bayonet in Grenada and manage to return the favor to the Cuban that was on the other end. The vet guys in our group agree he is the real deal. He keeps a poodle as a service dog, and is squirrelly from serious PTSD.
We own 2 stainless Mini-14, of early 2000's vintage. One is scoped the other is not. At 100 yards and under, we get good accuracy out of both. This was before the design changes. #2 son acquired a Min-30 a while back and was ringing a gong at 200 yards on his first attempt with cheap ammo. I honestly don't see why all the hate.
I'm a relatively new AR owner. I acquired one over the winter. I can see pros and cons to both. As a guy who is used to hunting rifles and an M1 Garand, the Mini-14 is a bit more comfortable to hold and operate. I like them both. KYHillChick loves her Stainless Ranch. It's her favorite. His group must be time-travelers then because the Mini didn't come out until 1973, which was the last year of the Vietnam War. You may be thinking of the M-14 which was used extensively in the early days of the conflict. The Mini is designed from the M-14 but is significantly smaller.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,114
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,114 |
If that guy had been shooting one of the old A2HBs I doubt that it would have been much of a contest. The A2HB that I had was very accurate. So only none guy watched it. To be fair Bristoe, they were both older models. An A2HB would have to pitted against the newer Mini 14 or that target model they made a few years ago.
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,294
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,294 |
Stock ranch rifle stainless synthetic sell for 1,225.00 on gunbroker. Dang, just bought a used 580 series last week for $350. Put a red dot on it and it will do 2" @100 with my old eyes using federal fmj ammo viking was right...a lot of bullchitten going on here
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,520
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,520 |
If that guy had been shooting one of the old A2HBs I doubt that it would have been much of a contest. The A2HB that I had was very accurate. So only none guy watched it. To be fair Bristoe, they were both older models. An A2HB would have to pitted against the newer Mini 14 or that target model they made a few years ago. I have never seen him before. I like his style.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,237
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,237 |
The newer Mini's are much more accurate than the earlier ones. I know a fellow who's quit using his AR , and started using his Mini-14 as his truck gun, because his Mini was a better shooter. This is true. I have witnessed two of the new mini's repeatedly shooting 1- 1.5" groups at 100 yards. Some folks choose mini's because they look more like a rifle than an erector set shooting contraption. AR's are uglier than a hat full of ass holes.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,114
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,114 |
Some mini 14’s are hideous, I know I had one in the late 80’s. It was the Ranch rifle.
But the newer ones are a huge improvement. For urban/conflicts it’s more than capable. 0-150 yards etc etc.
The stone cold rifleman here think they are going to sling up, settle in and concentrate on breathing when chit hits the fan. Oh yeah right before they fill their 7 day pill organizer and adjust their suspenders.😂. Honyockers.
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,294
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,294 |
Some mini 14’s are hideous, I know I had one in the late 80’s. It was the Ranch rifle.
But the newer ones are a huge improvement. For urban/conflicts it’s more than capable. 0-150 yards etc etc.
The stone cold rifleman here think they are going to sling up, settle in and concentrate on breathing when chit hits the fan. Oh yeah right before they fill their 7 day pill organizer and adjust their suspenders.😂. Honyockers. LOL also their target will stand still in the open holding a wind flag and even allow the guy to set up a portable bench to shoot at him
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,794
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,794 |
I had one back in the eighties that was inaccurate and happily sold it.
Thought about getting a newer, more accurate one in the intervening years, until I noticed out of he corner of my eye that it was a standard issue item to French police as a long arm, That ended that little quest.
Carry what you’re willing to fight with - Mackay Sagebrush
Perfect is the enemy of good enough
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,214
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,214 |
I bought two years ago, one wouldn't shoot for beans, the other shot quite well. I sold one of them! Love that action though!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,483
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,483 |
Some mini 14’s are hideous, I know I had one in the late 80’s. It was the Ranch rifle.
But the newer ones are a huge improvement. For urban/conflicts it’s more than capable. 0-150 yards etc etc.
The stone cold rifleman here think they are going to sling up, settle in and concentrate on breathing when chit hits the fan. Oh yeah right before they fill their 7 day pill organizer and adjust their suspenders.😂. Honyockers. Viking, I haven't heard anyone call someone a "Honyock" in a long time. Made me chuckle.......
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 |
Bill Ruger laid a major egg when he didn't design the mini-14 to accept AR magazines.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,627
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,627 |
Bill Ruger laid a major egg when he didn't design the mini-14 to accept AR magazines. He wanted the mags to rock in like those on the M-14, the design it was intended to mimic. AR mags insert straight up.
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