Posted: 11/2/2006 12:54:42 PM EDT
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i have been debating my next rifle and i was thinking about the Mini 14. BUT, i want a 7.62 and the Mini Thirty came to mind. what do you guys think? anyone shot one? how does it shoot? reliability and so forth. thanks in advance for the comments. |
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My brother had a Mini-14 for a couple years. It really wasn't anything particularly special. It was pretty reliable, but didn't like Wolf and other cheap ammo. We had to kick it open a couple times after the laquer sealed it shut. It could plink, but accuracy wasn't the best. Mags were more expensive, and weren't super reliable. A blued, no frills Mini-30 will set you back what, $450ish+? Then there's the difficulty of tracking down good mags, their cost, etc. I think all toys are cool, but I would probably recommend getting an AK over a Mini-30. Fot the amount of money you'd need to get a 30 and a couple mags, you can get a mid-grade AK (not just a WASR), a fair number of mags, and maybe even some ammo. Accuracy will probably be about the same, maybe even better out of the AK. If you want to go bigger, get a 7.62 NATO. I would second getting an FAL, but the HK platform is okay too. The following is a series of my thoughts on why the Minis didn't pan out. You can disagree, and if I have major problems in my facts, go ahead and correct me. I'm deliberately using generalities because I don't know specifics, and this is my interpretation. OK, disclaimer done. The Mini-14/30 were designed to make a cheaper/more easily accessible semi-auto centerfire rifle to the American public. If you think about domestic produced firearms only, what was there when the Minis came on-line? AR/M16 (still relatively new at the time) with limited numbers being readily available to the public, M-14/M1A, Garand, and M1 Carbine. I think what killed the Minis was an influx of foreign Semis, both cheap (Chi-com AKs for one) and nicer (FALs and HK marketed by Springfield and others) that started to hit the market not long after the Minis were introduced. You could either pay less, and get equal performance, or pay a little bit more, and get a lot better performance. Just my thoughts. |
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I like the Mini-14, sorta how I like Muscle Cars. They have a style, but their purpose has long since been surpassed. I have a Mini-14 that I chopped and fitted with a nice FH and makes the thing handy, and I have decent magazines for it so it runs well enough to suit me. But for the money, get an AR if you want .223 and get an AK or SKS if you want 7.62x39. Both are more reliable, cheaper (in the long run), easier and cheaper to find parts, and more accurate - plus MAGAZINES. AR/AK/SKS mags are dirt cheap and plentiful. Mini-14/30 mags worth owning are not. |
The mini 14/30 are reliable, but not what anyone would call accurate, if you happen to find one that will do 2.5 inches at 100yrds keep it, 'cause finding another that will shoot like that will be like winning the lotto. Also, be aware that these are commercial guns and as such will not take the abuse of an average LCR (don't ask). When the brl heats up, expect patterns not groups.....The brl will heat up after about the 4th or 5th round because they are made with a very thin brl. The sights are not easy or convieneint to adjust either. Try mounting a scope, and you may end up with function problems, unless it is mounted in the scout manner over the brl. This is because the rifles were not initialy designed to be able to mount a scope at all, and the ensuing mounts made for them usualy cause stovepipes or some kind of ejection problems. the ranch rifles are the answer to this problem. They are a bit of a pain to take down and clean thoroughly and they are dirty. Other than that, hell they're good to go........
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I've read of a couple different companys who've had success in accurizing the minis. googleing.... www.accuracysystemsinc.com/ www.clarkcustomguns.com/m14parts.htm outlands.tripod.com/armory/mini-14.htm www.bajaarizona.org/mini14/mini14.htm I'd imagine similar info is available for the 'turdy'. 
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