Gun shop sells out of Mini-14s after terrorist attacks--but why Minis?

E

elector

New member
The owner of the local gunshop told me Saturday that he sold all of his Mini-14s (about half a dozen of them) and .223 ammo after the terrorist attacks last week. He didn't know or didn't say why.

I'm not especially knowledgeable myself, so (leaving aside any likes or dislikes for the Mini itself) I'd seriously like to inquire why these folks bought .223 rifles, and Mini-14s in particular, in response to the threat of terrorism. I guess their choice of Minis could be partially explained by the fact that the gunshop was out of ARs at the time! But I figure there's got to be more to the purchases than just that--why these folks believed that the Mini could be particularly useful in the context of current events.

Opinions? TIA.
 
My guess is that they're semi-auto carbines, hence useful in an invasion against an Afghani horde (ahem..), and yet with a stock pattern similar to the sporting/hunting rifles Joe Public is accustomed to. And they're (as a general rule) cheaper than ARs.

That said.. I think "out of ARs" answers most of your question.

-K
 
Hopefully they're not the same Mini 14s the A Team used because they never seemed to hit anyone with those things. ;)
 
Well, assuming most of these panic-shoppers are former-anti's or frightened sheep...

The most common sales pitch I hear from gun dealers is: "you know, this here rifle shoots the same bullet as the M-16!" blah blah blah...

The astounded shopper then proceeds to "Oooh" and "Aaah" over this amazing weapon as he pulls out his credit card...
 
They should be buying SAR series rifles. Cheap gun, cheap mags (well not for SAR3), cheap ammo..... What more could one ask for??
 
Not everyone wants to or can spend double for an AR15. Another way to look at it is that they wanted reliability.
 
Probably the answer is "D": All of the above.

In my experience, Minis are especially beloved by folks that don't know much about rifles, and/or are not concerned about precise accuracy...:D

Hell for reliable, though...
Tom
 
Maybe the mini14's are bought by people who don't know all that much about guns. I hope that's the case. I hope they're being bought by newbies, antis, etc. And, with luck, they'll learn how to shoot safely, and accurately. And maybe have some fun doing it.

My SAR1 with iron sights shoots with minute of pieplate accuracy (or maybe it's me), and I'm just as happy with it as with my 03 Springfield or the AR, both of which shoot tighter groups, even with iron sights.

Coincidentally, I met a guy at the range last Friday pulling a mini30 (7.62x39) out of the box, brand new. He started at the 25 yd range (with advice of the range officer), then the 50, finally at the 100 and was hitting 12"x12" paper. It was his second gun, the first was a .22. I didn't think to ask if he got it because of the current events.

Running out of guns? Good! We can get more.
 
I fit into Swifter's catagory a few years ago and bought a Mini-30. It was plenty of fun but I soon realized that what I really wanted was sub moa accuracy. I think folks are a little nervous and looking to get some fire power close at hand.
 
The Mini-14 is:

Simple.
Very reliable.
Fires the common .223.
Combat accurate to 100 yards.
Cheap price.

I have a Mini-14, but I want an AR. That said, I am satisfied with my Mini-14 and will not trade it in when I buy my AR (which I am thinking I should do soon!)

My first rifle besides boyhood .22s was a Ruger 10-22 and impressed with this gun, I went for a Mini-14 for my first "serious" weapon.
 
I have both....

Have an AR & mini-14 ammo compatability is great. Also mini-14 is less likely to be on any ban list ect. The mini-14 was my first real rifle. I could not afford an AR are at the time. DAROGUE1
 
Perhaps he sold them out becuase that is all he had left in stock. All of the better rifles are harder to get, and hard to keep in stock.
 
I like the idea these non gun owners bought guns any guns. Maybe some will actually shoot them and enjoy themselves. Thats just more people on our side! You gotta remember alot of these folks have been brainwashed by the antigun crowd. The mini looks about as polliticaly correct as you can get for a 223 selfloader. Around me they started with the mini,s also but my FFL also sold 3 BUSHYS, and some ROMO sks,s. Myself I think most of,em would be better off with pump guns! But for sure like Y2K they,ll be some for sale soon.
 
But for sure like Y2K they,ll be some for sale soon.
Click to expand...

We hope. Seeing as how the other option is they discover they actually NEED them... scary thought.

And hey, the Mini is a wonderful little carbine, given its limitations. Granted, I don't expect more than 50-yard accuracy outta mine... but I know it'll go bang every time, even if I forget (or can't) clean it. That makes me happy.

-K
 
I really am amazed at how inaccurate everyone says their Mini 14's are! My standard Mini with a Ranch Products Scout scope mount and a Swift 2x pistol scope allows me to hit a steel ram at 200 meters, offhand, with every shot. That's not sniper territory but it is acceptable, and practical accuracy in a VERY reliable gun. I shot a coyote with it at about 120 yards and guess what? It STAYED DEAD! Come on guys, it's not a Chandler Rifle for cryin' out loud so let's not hold it to standards it was never meant to achieve!

BTW, Mec-Gar is now making RELIABLE 10 round mags for the Mini 14 and 30. I have seen these and used one briefly. Function was perfect and they are, like other Mec-Gar mags, just as good as factory.
 
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How do you protect yourself from a maliciously steered 767 with a rifle?

Afghan hordes?! The salary of a Taliban soldier is $1.20 a month! That's not even enough to buy a half a box of Wolf 7.62x39 on sale! Do they even have planes? They'd have to swim across the Atlantic to get here!

I think people just need excuses to buy guns.

BTW, hitting steel rams at 200 meters using a scoped rifle is really not that impressive. Most "marksman" should be able to hit a steel ram at 300 meters using iron sights.

Anyhow, 767's are a little larger than rams so I guess a Mini-14 will do.
 
I love the AR vs Mini 14 debate.

I'll take reliabilty over unnecessary 200 yard 2 inch groups (which most people who own AR's can't do anyway).

Consider the odds of having to fire a rifle in self defense.

Then consider the odds of having to fire it at 200 yards.

Then consider the odds of having to get 2 inch groups at 200 yards.

Face it - the AR's are for people who like shiny black "evil" rifles.

Bowser.
 
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