Mini14 Target Rifle- LOOK Out AR15s!!!

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Mini14 Target Rifle- LOOK Out AR15s!!!

Posted: 12/26/2006 2:47:21 PM EDT

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/mini_111606/

Posted: 12/26/2006 2:50:14 PM EDT

[#1]

www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/mini_111606/

Posted: 12/26/2006 3:01:19 PM EDT

[#2]

I read two paragrphs into the article and thought to myself, "this sounds like the ad-whoring Guns and Ammo magazine." Then, I checked the top to see that it is Guns and Ammo. It has been ten years since I read anything out of the rag. Great, now I have to start over again.

By the way, did G&A ever say anything about the Mini-14 having sucky accuracy until now when the new ad campaign that Ruger is gonna give them says the new Mini-14 is better. Still nothing about the workhorse's lousy trigger.

Posted: 12/26/2006 3:06:47 PM EDT

[#3]

You forgot to post any of these....

Posted: 12/26/2006 3:15:00 PM EDT

[#4]

3 shot groups.

Posted: 12/26/2006 3:20:41 PM EDT

[#5]

It needs a big stupid sleeve/bbl weight to shoot straight

Posted: 12/26/2006 3:23:04 PM EDT

[#6]

I thought the whole point of the mini-14 was a cheap beater rifle for in the truck. Keep your expectations reasonable and it's fine.

Posted: 12/26/2006 5:13:15 PM EDT

[#7]

"utterly reliable....workhorse"

horseshit is more like it. We've had no less than 5 Mini 30s over the last decade--my wife absolutely loves the ergos and prefers the 7.62x39 for hunting. Not a damn one of them could get through a magazine without a failure to feed. Minute of paper plate at 100 yds was the best 4 out of 5 could do....#5 would hit a beer can at that range, but it was the one with the worst feed problems.

NOBODY makes a reliable magazine for it--ours even had issues with the factory 5 round mags.

the one she currently has will shoot relatively straight, but won't feed from the left side of the mag reliably. Any ideas on a fix, or is she going to end up selling this one (at a loss) and buying yet another one in 6 months?

Posted: 12/26/2006 7:10:41 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
"utterly reliable....workhorse"

horseshit is more like it. We've had no less than 5 Mini 30s over the last decade--my wife absolutely loves the ergos and prefers the 7.62x39 for hunting. Not a damn one of them could get through a magazine without a failure to feed. Minute of paper plate at 100 yds was the best 4 out of 5 could do....#5 would hit a beer can at that range, but it was the one with the worst feed problems.

NOBODY makes a reliable magazine for it--ours even had issues with the factory 5 round mags.

the one she currently has will shoot relatively straight, but won't feed from the left side of the mag reliably. Any ideas on a fix, or is she going to end up selling this one (at a loss) and buying yet another one in 6 months?

TAPCO an SKS?

If the wife is so set on the Mini design, maybe find a gunsmith who specialized in them to make up an accurate one with a polished feed system.

If Ruger did come out with an accurate Mini-30, I would sell my SKS's. I just like how handy the guns are.

Posted: 12/26/2006 10:10:01 PM EDT

[#9]

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Ruger firearms, but the Mini is a piece of dogshit. It's the worst thing that company has ever put out and even the improvements are a step backwards.

Yuck.

Posted: 12/26/2006 10:43:16 PM EDT

[#10]

I have a mini, but it is a safequeen since the arrival of my ar. I just don't see the allure of having a top of the line version of a gun that wont shoot with a cheaper ar. The sky is the limit with the AR, but with the target Mini14, youre as high as you can go. That sucks. Plus is ugly as hell. That whole article pissed me off. They should rename the mini14 the faggot5, since they won't put any hicaps out for us lowly serfs.

Posted: 12/26/2006 11:55:16 PM EDT

[#11]

I find it hard to believe that Ruger put their engineers to work on improving the rifle and came up with something which looks like I made it in my garage after a trip to Home Depot.

Posted: 12/27/2006 5:06:13 AM EDT

[#12]

Why did they bother to turn out such a piece of SH*T?

Posted: 12/27/2006 5:12:38 AM EDT

[#13]

If you put a dress on a pig... it's still a pig.

Posted: 12/27/2006 7:28:26 AM EDT

[#14]

The only problem with this set-up is that shooters of shorty ARs and AKs will not get suckered by it like they do with my more conventional Mini.

My Mini has paid for itself outshooting other's short-barreled 5.56 carbines. Has your carbine done as well?

Posted: 12/27/2006 7:30:53 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I have a mini, but it is a safequeen since the arrival of my ar. I just don't see the allure of having a top of the line version of a gun that wont shoot with a cheaper ar. The sky is the limit with the AR, but with the target Mini14, youre as high as you can go. That sucks. Plus is ugly as hell. That whole article pissed me off. They should rename the mini14 the faggot5, since they won't put any hicaps out for us lowly serfs.

I know of a number of vendors who will sell Ruger-marked 20-rd mags right now. They are more easily obtained now then ever before.

Posted: 12/27/2006 9:01:26 AM EDT

[#16]

I gotta agree with the other guys the mini sucks pritty hard, I had a GB and the sights didnt hold zero because they were so cheap! Also the gasblocks have a big problem of not being torqued right which is one serious cause of loss of accuracy, along with the stupid non-chrome lined pencil weight barrel. If they upgraded to a pined on gas block with the new upgraded chrome lined mid weight 1/7 twist threaded barrel and kept the rest of the GB set up then I would buy another. Also even though we can buy LE marked 20 round mags they are still a stupid expensive $40

, and they are still only 20s ruger really needs to quit their stup LE only only shit.

Nate

Posted: 12/27/2006 9:18:12 AM EDT

[#17]

I sold a mini 30 that I had. It was the first gun I bought since getting back into firearms. I shot less then 60 rnds through it with ruger and after market mags and had more FTF then I care to think about. I added some money and got me a Bushmaster Patrolman to replace it. Never again will I buy a mini.

Posted: 12/27/2006 12:18:41 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Ruger firearms, but the Mini is a piece of dogshit. It's the worst thing that company has ever put out and even the improvements are a step backwards.

Yuck.

yep, and our prison keeps buying and buying the cheap shithorses....

Posted: 12/27/2006 12:47:33 PM EDT

[#19]

I am so glad I started this thread!

Posted: 12/27/2006 1:03:18 PM EDT

[#20]

This is a good one, taken from that BS G&A article:

"By at least one reckoning, if Bill Ruger and his engineers had developed the Mini 14 in the decade prior to when they first began to tinker with it in 1971, it might have become America's battle rifle instead of the M16/AR-15."

Give me a Fucking Break!

Posted: 12/27/2006 1:43:15 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
This is a good one, taken from that BS G&A article:

"By at least one reckoning, if Bill Ruger and his engineers had developed the Mini 14 in the decade prior to when they first began to tinker with it in 1971, it might have become America's battle rifle instead of the M16/AR-15."

Give me a Fucking Break!

I would buy that. If the mini had forged parts, and a thicker/stiffer barrel it would be every bit the battle rifle as the AR.

Posted: 12/27/2006 2:25:09 PM EDT

[#22]

and some decent sights.

Posted: 12/27/2006 2:36:38 PM EDT

[#23]

Ha ha ha, that's funny. If it is at all like the Ranch version....nevermind. lol Those coyotes are still laughing.

lawdawg430

"I'll give up my black when they ...buyme a modular." - Comandatte Marcos

Posted: 12/27/2006 3:31:16 PM EDT

[#24]

I would like to know how manny Mini-14 bashers have even shot one ? its a

as always.

Posted: 12/27/2006 3:54:49 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
I would like to know how manny Mini-14 bashers have even shot one ? its a

as always.

I've owned 2, they both were disappointing turds. Minute of pizza at 100 yards from a modern autoloader is, by any measurement, fucking embarassing. Ruger should hang their heads in SHAME producing rifles that shoot so poorly.

I'm bashing because I gave Ruger 2 chances to sell me a good one, I wasn't about to give them a third. The rifle is a crummy piece of shit....and I'm not quick to bash any rifle. Like I said, I love Ruger arms, own a whole safe full of them. No one wanted to like the gun more.

Posted: 12/27/2006 4:00:58 PM EDT

[#26]

I guess I am lucky, they are not my favorite rifles but they have been very serviceable in my (25 yr.) experience shooting them.

Posted: 12/27/2006 8:23:55 PM EDT

[#27]

James Sullivan did most of the design work on the Mini14 when he worked for Ruger.

If any of you fellas rememeber he was an assistant engineer to Gene Stoner along with Robert Freemont at Armalite way back when and did the drawings/changes to scale down the AR10 to the 5.56 AR15 platform,along with the AR16 308 to the 5.56 AR18. He followed Stoner to Caddillac Gage on the Stoner 62, 308 and 63, weapons system.

His best piece of work was probably the Ultimax 100 constant recoil 5.56 LMG. He also had an impressive 22LR. Belt Feed.

I'm sure he was strapped with budget restraints at Ruger. His design was the original obsolete 180 model, with a roller bearing on the lug like an M14, also other differences in op rod and gas system. Ruger looked for ways to manufacture the Mini cheaper in the late 70's, solid bolt lug,revised gas system/op rod, ect, ect,.

Posted: 12/27/2006 8:39:07 PM EDT

[#28]

Posted: 12/28/2006 10:56:26 AM EDT

[#29]

Oh gosh, it IS ugly. What are they thinking?

Posted: 12/28/2006 11:19:22 AM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is a good one, taken from that BS G&A article:

"By at least one reckoning, if Bill Ruger and his engineers had developed the Mini 14 in the decade prior to when they first began to tinker with it in 1971, it might have become America's battle rifle instead of the M16/AR-15."

Give me a Fucking Break!

I would buy that. If the mini had forged parts, and a thicker/stiffer barrel it would be every bit the battle rifle as the AR.

It would never have happened. The military was getting away from the M14. It wouldn't have helped it by scaling in down from .308 to .223.

Posted: 12/28/2006 11:21:27 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Ruger firearms, but the Mini is a piece of dogshit. It's the worst thing that company has ever put out and even the improvements are a step backwards.

Yuck.

You and I don't agree on alot but you've hit the nail on the head with this one.

Posted: 12/28/2006 12:54:01 PM EDT

[#32]

I love telling my mini-14 story...

I used to have 2 Mini-14 Ranch Rifles back in the late 80's and early 90's. I thought they were the neatest things since tutti-fuitti dental floss.. They never screwed up.... never..

I had little redfield mini scopes on them.. and I took them PDoggin..

I could routinely hit PDogs at 300 yards with them by watching the dust kick up behind the mounds as I walked the bullets into the hole.. At 300 yards it would take 30 to 60 rounds, maybe more, to hit a pdog at 300 yards.. but I had a blast and I loved those Minis.

Back in 94 a FFL friend of mine said he was going to buy some AR's before they "banned" them and he asked me if I wanted to go in with him and get one. I said yes... and... before I knew it I was the proud owner of a Colt AR15 Sporter II.

After just one day at the range with my new AR15 I went home and burned my Mini's (Metaphorically speaking).

Compared to the AR.. the minis are just toys...

Having said that.. If I found a mini-14 Ranch Rifle that was priced right.. I'd buy it..

Yeah, mini's ain't as accurate as ARs.. but they are still a blast to own and shoot.... I'd even doll one up for 3-gun just for the fun of it...

A guy can never have too many toys..

Posted: 12/28/2006 6:33:40 PM EDT

[#33]

If they were still $250 like they were back in the day, I'd pick one up just to have one. My dad has a couple and they're fun enough to shoot, even if you can't hit the broad side of a barn with them. But the cheapest I've seen them at the funshows is $400 or so, and I can put together most of an AR for that.

Posted: 12/29/2006 5:45:01 AM EDT

[#34]

Mini's are kind of like the Elmer Fud of the evil black rifle world

Posted: 12/29/2006 10:06:20 AM EDT

[#35]

If I was stuck in CA where I could not own a detachable mag AR, I could almost see owning a Mini-14. Most likely I would arm myself with a M1 Garand or a M1A.

I had Mini-14 during the ban, thought it was the shit till I got it to the range. My SKS's and AK both out shot it @ 100yds. Only mags that would feed were the factory low cap mags @ hicap factory mags were not worth buying @ $80 to $100 each.

Even now that factory Ruger mags have come down in price -- ($40 to $50 each) I still would not buy another mini-14.

Posted: 1/1/2007 5:18:55 AM EDT

[#36]

Nice of you to bring up this info pappyo, Sullivan was a true genius.. He invented the BETA mag also. I always thought he deserved a lot more credit then Stoner for many of the listed weapons.

As for the mini, it seems they're very smart, honest and experienced people on both sides of the issue. Personally I think the mini is a reliable and handy little carbine, every once in a while someone lucks out a gets a decently accurate one but for the most part they don't shoot very straight.

The mini will never be on the same level with the AR but yes it could have been. When the M16 was being tested as a replacement for the M14 Winchester and Springfield both entered .223 carbine's into the competition. The Springfield was very much a scaled down M14 while the Winchester design would be very close to the Ruger Mini-14. The M16 was further developed and thus won the competition.

An interesting fact is Ruger actually tried to make a mini-14 type in .308.. It was to be called the XGI but they were never able to get the rifle to run correctly..

Quoted:
James Sullivan did most of the design work on the Mini14 when he worked for Ruger.

If any of you fellas rememeber he was an assistant engineer to Gene Stoner along with Robert Freemont at Armalite way back when and did the drawings/changes to scale down the AR10 to the 5.56 AR15 platform,along with the AR16 308 to the 5.56 AR18. He followed Stoner to Caddillac Gage on the Stoner 62, 308 and 63, weapons system.

His best piece of work was probably the Ultimax 100 constant recoil 5.56 LMG. He also had an impressive 22LR. Belt Feed.

I'm sure he was strapped with budget restraints at Ruger. His design was the original obsolete 180 model, with a roller bearing on the lug like an M14, also other differences in op rod and gas system. Ruger looked for ways to manufacture the Mini cheaper in the late 70's, solid bolt lug,revised gas system/op rod, ect, ect,.

Posted: 1/1/2007 5:53:57 AM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is a good one, taken from that BS G&A article:

"By at least one reckoning, if Bill Ruger and his engineers had developed the Mini 14 in the decade prior to when they first began to tinker with it in 1971, it might have become America's battle rifle instead of the M16/AR-15."

Give me a Fucking Break!

I would buy that. If the mini had forged parts, and a thicker/stiffer barrel it would be every bit the battle rifle as the AR.

It would never have happened. The military was getting away from the M14. It wouldn't have helped it by scaling in down from .308 to .223.

So you think that the military wouldnt go with a rifle (if it could be made to tough enough for the military) that had similar ergonomics to the rifles it allready issuied, similar manual of arms, only in the new caliber that maybe they didnt want to go to, but were being pushed into. Instead they would rather not only go with the new caliber, but an entirely new platform that most of the troops would not be familar with.

We will just have to agree to disagree on that I guess.

Posted: 1/1/2007 6:08:42 AM EDT

[#38]

Ruger just cant get it Right.

All they had to do was make something like this..........

www.accuracysystemsinc.com

Posted: 1/1/2007 6:25:06 AM EDT

[#39]

That's a big plus 1 AK! I mean God Lord how hard is it? Everyone from really blue collar Joe's to a private company like accuracy systems can figure it out..

Do all these gun companies have a bunch of tards in R@D? Look at the SIG 556, the HK45.. What the hell are they thinking?

Ruger, hire me, I can tell you what people want and how to exicute it!

Quoted:
Ruger just cant get it Right.

All they had to do was make something like this..........

www.accuracysystemsinc.com

www.accuracysystemsinc.com/img/index_b.jpg

Posted: 1/1/2007 8:18:36 AM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
Ruger just cant get it Right.

All they had to do was make something like this..........

www.accuracysystemsinc.com

www.accuracysystemsinc.com/img/index_b.jpg

No, all they need to to is go back and release the pre 2004 GBs in both fixed and folding stocks and normal capacity magazines. Nobody wants a target Mini.

Posted: 1/1/2007 8:21:35 AM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:

Do all these gun companies have a bunch of tards in R@D?

Yes

Posted: 1/1/2007 12:13:07 PM EDT

[#42]

I took my Mini out shooting yesterday and had a ball with it and will someday hand it down to our daughter as it's quite unusual. When I was stationed in Utah I went to a SLC gunshow amd bought this blued factory-folder with an AC-556 barrel, gas block front sight, Danish (so I'm told by a Ruger "expert") proof marks on the receiver and an engraved # signifying it was with the Carson City Indian Reservation Police Department the dealer I bought it from said. It's got some kind of big flash hider on the end of the barrel that looks like something Tapco used to sell years ago.

Also took my AC-556 out plinking for the first time and it purred like a kitten and hit everything I was aiming at and was very controllable. I only took one Thermold mag and the feed lips seemed to be just a touch high as the bolt wouldn't slide forward, rather than cycling the bolt and shaving a little off the top of the Thermold, I just took out the Ruger 20 round mag it came with and it worked great. The semi/3 round burst/full auto option is real nice for a newbie until they learn trigger control and hope my wife will take a liking to shooting the AC for that reason and be more comfortable to try the other "toys". Next on the list is to get the Ciener .22lr conversion for the Mini/AC and really have some fun.

Nothing wrong with AR's as I have them as well but I also enjoy shooting the Mini and REALLY ENJOY the AC-556 for what I paid for it.

Posted: 1/1/2007 2:38:42 PM EDT

[#43]

I owned ONE Mini-14 and bought it for $350 back in 1989. Got rid of it in 1999 for $350 so I owned it for free. I'm glad I dumped it and built myself an AR-15. The Mini was just not accurate and magazine feed was completely unreliable. My AR is much better and more accurate. Ruger wasted my money and the only thing keeping further waste from happening was selling it.

Posted: 1/1/2007 2:51:23 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
I thought the whole point of the mini-14 was a cheap beater rifle for in the truck. Keep your expectations reasonable and it's fine.

I don't really understand what a Mini-14 does (as a 'work' rifle) that a lever action.30-30 or .336 Marlin won't do just as well or better.

Jim

Posted: 1/1/2007 5:18:55 PM EDT

[#45]

Ruger makes a lot of good products. 10/22, MkII, 22/45 and revolvers. But the Mini is just a POS.

Posted: 1/1/2007 5:39:59 PM EDT

[#46]

Posted: 1/1/2007 8:36:24 PM EDT

[#47]

Mini 14 = Crap

Mini 14 improvements = Twice nuthin is still nuthin.

Posted: 1/1/2007 10:05:43 PM EDT

[#48]

I like my Mini.

I like my ARs more, though.

Posted: 1/2/2007 8:06:54 AM EDT

[#49]

Quoted:
Ruger just cant get it Right.

All they had to do was make something like this..........

www.accuracysystemsinc.com

www.accuracysystemsinc.com/img/index_b.jpg

A friend of mine has one of those.. I've shot it.. and it rocks.. with the right ammo..

Since he reloads he always has the "right" ammo for it...

It makes a great PDog gun..

Posted: 1/2/2007 3:42:37 PM EDT

[#50]

The only issues I had with a Mini-14 was when I was shooting Russian ammo (can't remember the brand name). Other than that, they were fun as hell to shoot. If I had extra cash lying around-which I don't-I'd pick one up for the right price.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Mini14 Target Rifle- LOOK Out AR15s!!!

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