Ruger mini 14 ranch or Century Fal??? UPDATE

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ruger mini 14 ranch or Century Fal??? UPDATE

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:11:04 PM EDT

I have a trade offer, which would you pick?

The mini is in great shape

The Fal is a century inch model in good shape

Help me decide.

I went with the fal, very nice , going to shoot it a couple of hours.

Thanks for the help night crew

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:13:47 PM EDT

[#1]

mini-14 = PFFFFFFT

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:14:24 PM EDT

[#2]

FAL, no question.

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:16:25 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
FAL, no question.

Even though its a century made in canada model?

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:20:49 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Quoted:
FAL, no question.

Even though its a century made in canada model?

You could always use it as club.

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:21:00 PM EDT

[#5]

^^^^^^^^^^

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:22:45 PM EDT

[#6]

Anything Century is pfffft.

<---- CETME owner

- BG

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:25:55 PM EDT

[#7]

the polls look like the Bush-Kerry race.

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:27:29 PM EDT

[#8]

I know and I wonder what pffft means

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:28:50 PM EDT

[#9]

I would go for the FAL, even though it's made by Century.

Side note: I have a Century CETME, and the only problem I've had is the mag would keep falling out of the mag well. Gunsmith fixed it in 10 minutes, free of charge, works like a charm now.

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:30:47 PM EDT

[#10]

Even if it was assembled by the angry beavers at Century, its better than a Mini14.

I have been told that metric mags will _sometimes_ fit an inch FAL, and if it does not you can mod the FAL to take them.

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:31:46 PM EDT

[#11]

I like the Ruger, but I like lightweight carbines. Those are really 2 different guns. Do you like a lighter carbine or a heavy battlerifle?

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:33:59 PM EDT

[#12]

FAL... mags are cheaper, and you'll have better accuracy.

Mini-14s are nice, don't get me wrong, but don't expect a good Mini out of the box.

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:34:13 PM EDT

[#13]

A Mini-14 is the only gun I have ever sold, and will ever sell.

Get the Fal, even if it stops working you can hang it on your wall

Posted: 9/5/2004 9:38:49 PM EDT

[#14]

They both suck.

Century made guns in Canada

Posted: 9/5/2004 10:15:28 PM EDT

[#15]

go with the FAL. as far as the mini-14 unless you buy factory you'll never find good mags.

Posted: 9/5/2004 11:19:52 PM EDT

[#16]

Get neither!

wganz
¶

Posted: 9/5/2004 11:25:15 PM EDT

[#17]

I have a STG58 FAL and a Mini-14. The mini hardly sees range time. It is good for eating all that Wolf .223 I bought though. It shoot MOB (minute of barn) but very reliable as long as you can find good mags.

Posted: 9/5/2004 11:27:08 PM EDT

[#18]

Mini!!! the ctme only looks like a "FAL".

Posted: 9/5/2004 11:39:13 PM EDT

[#19]

disregard one of the FAL votes.

I just wanted to see what the score was.

Posted: 9/5/2004 11:39:40 PM EDT

[#20]

Depends what you're trading for. Alot of times if the deal is good I'll trade for something just to trade for something else. If you're making a gain $$ wise go with whichever you can get more out of later. If you're trading to get a new gun, email me, if you have anything worth a shit I'll give you something better than a mini or century gun. If it were me.....I'd probably keep searching for other trades.

Posted: 9/5/2004 11:42:16 PM EDT

[#21]

I'm trading a SW mod 640 in .357

Posted: 9/6/2004 12:38:01 AM EDT

[#22]

This is like asking if I would prefer a club to the head or a kick to the crotch. I believe this will be the 1st time this has been uttered on ARFCOM.... Get NEITHER.

S.O.

Posted: 9/6/2004 12:42:35 AM EDT

[#23]

Only fal I would buy or own is a DSA

Posted: 9/6/2004 12:48:00 AM EDT

[#24]

I like my Mini just fine but it's use is very limited. The 5 rounds mags are the only ones I have been able to find that are reliable, but that said they are utterly reliable. As far as a neat lightweight carbine goes, the mini is pretty damn cool.

Posted: 9/6/2004 1:25:39 AM EDT

[#25]

Id go with a FAL but I might throw down the dollars and get one by a more respected manfacturer. Im looking for a DSA one here.

Posted: 9/6/2004 4:32:59 AM EDT

[#26]

BTT

Posted: 9/6/2004 5:08:01 AM EDT

[#27]

I got rid of both of these this summer. I have a SKS that will do everything they could and it was much cheaper. I used the proceeds of the sales to buy a Savage 223 bolt gun with the accutrigger that is a real fine shooter. John

Posted: 9/6/2004 5:28:08 AM EDT

[#28]

one thing about a century fal, if you give it a little tlc and replace a few cheap parts it will run as well as a dsa. Just don't expect them to be 100% out of the box. Century has built so many fals that most of them are decent shooters now. You will likely have to replaces the gas plunger and trigger group with new parst but that is cheap and easy.

mike

Posted: 9/6/2004 5:30:16 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
one thing about a century fal, if you give it a little tlc and replace a few cheap parts it will run as well as a dsa. Just don't expect them to be 100% out of the box. Century has built so many fals that most of them are decent shooters now. You will likely have to replaces the gas plunger and trigger group with new parst but that is cheap and easy.

mike

Mike little did I know it had already been tweaked. Its good to go.

bbtw thanks for all the help.

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:06:03 AM EDT

[#30]

I like Rugers in general but my Mini-14 sucks big time. I've got the SS/Syn Ranch model with a nice 50mm scope. Can't achieve even minute-of-beer-can accuracy at 50 yds. Someone on one of the boards here refered to the Mini-14 as a good minute-of-trash-can-lid rifle. My advice would be to keep the S+W until you can trade for an AR variant. Or keep it and buy an AR. I'm glad I finally got in the game. There is no such thing as "too many guns"!

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:09:38 AM EDT

[#31]

Century

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:10:03 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
one thing about a century fal, if you give it a little tlc and replace a few cheap parts it will run as well as a dsa. Just don't expect them to be 100% out of the box. Century has built so many fals that most of them are decent shooters now. You will likely have to replaces the gas plunger and trigger group with new parst but that is cheap and easy.

mike

+1

Even a FAL that needs tuning is better than a Mini14. Minis SUCK. The Ranch Rifle has "iron" sights that are truly the cheapest junk I've ever seen on a firearm.

Century has totally trashed their reputation, but there are tons of parts and knowledgeable people to get a FAL sorted out.

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:17:37 AM EDT

[#33]

If it's a Century FAL built on a Century in House reciver, pass on that TURD. If its an Century with a Imbel reciver then you figure it still isn't going to work and have a few WORN out parts on but you can atleast spend some money and fix it. The Mini 14 are good rifles in general. Just not tack drivers unless you do alittle work on them. They will eat ammo that will choke an AR 15.... Been there and done that. But Like the other said, get a good SKS or AK or AR . WD

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:21:21 AM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
If it's a Century FAL built on a Century in House reciver, pass on that TURD. If its an Century with a Imbel reciver then you figure it still isn't going to work and have a few WORN out parts on but you can atleast spend some money and fix it. The Mini 14 are good rifles in general. Just not tack drivers unless you do alittle work on them. They will eat ammo that will choke an AR 15.... Been there and done that. But Like the other said, get a good SKS or AK or AR . WD

thats funny.

I have a century build that will shoot on par with every dsa i have seen. I have under 500.00 in the rifle. Yep had to do a little work, refinish, replace trigger group and reset headspace. Still FAR under the cost and every bit as good a shooter.

So reccomend a 7.62x39 over a .308? Sorry i will will take a real battle rifle cartridge.

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:50:25 AM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
[

thats funny.

I have a century build that will shoot on par with every dsa i have seen. I have under 500.00 in the rifle. Yep had to do a little work, refinish, replace trigger group and reset headspace. Still FAR under the cost and every bit as good a shooter.

So reccomend a 7.62x39 over a .308? Sorry i will will take a real battle rifle cartridge.

Thats exactly what Im talking about. You most likely will have to do alittle ( alot in most cases )work on the Century. The Cast Century recivers can be OK to an paper weight. Had one that was actually twisted. Boat anchor. The Century's with the Imbel reciver is the ticket. I couldn't pay the Big $$$ for a DSA either. I shopped good quality parts up and had them built. Paid more than a century FAL but not as much as a DSA. I personally like the 308 but from what he was asking for the 7.62 39 would fall right in between.Plus the cost of Nato 7.62 is going Up and up and up .... the cost of 7.62x39 is cheap , and cheap and cheap. Here shortly, you can just about buy 3000 rounds of 7.62x39 vs 1000 of 7.62x51 . If he wants a good Battle rfile the FAL is the ticket.. If he want's a Great battle rifle he needs a M14

WD

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:57:19 AM EDT

[#36]

gottcha

check your IM regarding GOOCH.

mike

Posted: 9/6/2004 6:57:44 AM EDT

[#37]

I have a 182-series Mini-14 bought new many years ago. About 500 rounds put thru it.

I'm looking at selling it off. It just doesn't get used.

Posted: 9/7/2004 9:08:19 AM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Quoted:
FAL, no question.

Even though its a century made in canada model?

I'm thinking you can fix the FAL, whereas the mini-14.............

Posted: 9/7/2004 11:01:11 AM EDT

[#39]

I have a century fal.. and I love it.. it is a sporter version of the C1A1. The only thing i did was dump the rear flip up sight and added the israeli rear hooded target sight.

right now its up on blocks waiting for the awb sunset.
for this..
www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=00116CREP&storeid=1&image=feelite.gif
and a folding stock!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ruger mini 14 ranch or Century Fal??? UPDATE

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