which would you prefer?

IMHO, take the Mini.

People bitch all the time about the long range accuracy of the Mini 14 (not a problem with the 2 that I own)

However the SAR3 that I've shot had a trigger slap that made you think that your trigger finger was covering the muzzle - buzz and sting like a SOB.  That and the sharp edges from the crappy assembly job put me off on the SAR3 forever.  If you want the 7.62x39 round, get a Mini 30 instead.

sar3 is chambered for .223
sar1 is chambered for 7.62x39

SAR 3, Trigger slap can be fixed with a Dremel, and high cap mags for the sar are easier to find and the damn thing only costs around $ 300 ...

Quoted: sar3 is chambered for .223 sar1 is chambered for 7.62x39

I apologize - beer has apparently affected my abilities.

IIRC correctly the SAR that Juggernaut had was a 5.5?? - not a 223 but slightly different - you AK guys should know the round.  Trigger slap was a bitch though!  Juggy said that it could be fixed as well, but in the long run - Sayonara SAR.

SAR-3, the trigger slap can be fixed with a $60 Red Star Arms fire control group, which is significantly better than a mini-14, IMO.

Juggernaut may have had a 5.45, which is the equivalant of a SAR-2. A SAR-3 is a true .223 caliber rifle.

I really can't think of any advantages of one over the other, except the SAR-3 is a much cooler looking rifle.

SAR-3 with RSA trigger and AK-74 brake.

SAR-3 is going to have better reliability.  The hi-caps are easier to find and cheaper.  You can get any and all parts you need, and replace most of them yourself as opposed to sending it back to Ruger to get anything fixed.  Acccuracy is about the same with either gun.  The SAR-3 will thrive on cheap ass steel cased ammo.  Overall for a gun, mags and ammo, the SRA-3 comes out much cheaper.

Ross

mini 14 will run off of cheap steel cased ammo but and its a big but

the mini 14 isn't as sturdy in my opinion as the AK family.  just look at the feed lips on the AK vr the Mini.

sar 3 everybody should have at least one AK.
much cheaper and built like a brick sh*thouse, if you run out of ammo you can use it as a club.

SAR-3 definitley. Mini 14 are cost too much for too little.

Mini

I have an SAR3 and I love it. I actually got talked out of the mini due to high priced hi cap mags and them being finiky at times. With the SAR3 I run tons of wolf and tracer rounds through it with out a problem. I've also run across a 100rd drum for the SAR3 for 150bucks. Only problem was they were out. Still tring to find another drum.

As far as trigger slap, you can either get a RSA trigger for like 80 bucks i think, or do a little dremel work for free. My SAR1 had slap, real easy to do. Accuracy is the normal 3-5" grouping. But hell it's an AK.. drop it, bump it, over heat it, feed it crappy ammo... And It'll still keep running.

SAR-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We can help "guide you towards a heightened consciousness" over on the AK section, Mao style of course.

The SAR-3 will probably match or outshoot the Mini-14, and magazines are much easier to acquire (30 round E. German Steel Weigers from Interordnance are $20 a mag). The SAR-3 uses a Bulgarian barrel, which is very high quality built on Steyr equipment.

The trigger's hammer poses a problem on the SAR-3, but the simple solution is to spend $80 and purchase a Power Custom (formerly Red Star Arms) trigger specifically made for the SAR-3. If you want an AK-74 type brake, AK-USA makes an adaptor to put on the front sight base for one of their Bulgarian copy AK-74 brakes. You can really turn this into a great rifle, and some people have claimed 1-1.5 MOA groups with these guns with the right ammo.

I would definitely add a polymer stock from K-VAR as well. AK-USA offers refinishing too.

Sar-3 It's cheeper and fairly easy to find good mags for.

I'd choose the Mini 14 hands down.  There are lots of ignorant people out there who bash it and have never even owned one let alone shot one.  The Mini that I have is quite accurate and I can get 2" groups with XM193 at 100yds.  It's very reliable also.  The mags are hard to get but if you look hard enough good ones can be found.

-General Lord