M14 and it's little cousin

K

Kaylee

New member
So here's a question.. in TFL land, the M1A/M14 design seems to be almost univerally venerated. At the same time, Ruger's Mini-14 seems to get widely badmouthed. So my question is -- what's the actual **MECHANICAL** differences between the two that causes this?

It seems to me that given the popularity of the M1A, a "properly executed" 5.56/7.62x39 carbine on the same pattern would be much more widely regarded. And yet, it seems few civilian shooters like the thing, and I've yet to hear of a military unit going for it on a wide scale.

So -- is there anything that would sway the M1A lovers over to the Mini as a light carbine? Say... a heavier barrel and a magazine release closer to the original?

Or am I missing something here?

-K
 
Kaylee, I really don't know that much about either rifle's mechanics. I just got a M1A, but I shot a Mini-14 a few years back and thought it was a kick to shoot! I really had fun and the weapon functioned flawlessly. The 30 round mags (or were they 40-s?) were really fun!
My only problem with the Mini-14 was at the time I was living in California and they made it illegal... so I couldn't buy one. Shame on California.
 
FWIW, the Mini series suffers from two problems. Lack of full capacity magazines and some examples have poor accuracy. Most have minute-of-coyote accuracy at 100m, but the Ar series is simply more accurate .

I would like a Mini, even with a 10 round magazine, but the 5 shot mags and high price of the full caps, keeps me from it.

Giz
 
The Mini-14 is a fine gun, but way too expensive. You can get a decent AR nowdays for around $600. Mini-14s go for $400-500. That's way too much for a gun with crude sights, expensive magazines, and decidedly average accuracy.

If the Mini-14 only cost $250, or if it took AR15 mags, or if it could shoot 2-3"/100 yards out of the box, then I'd probably have several.

Later,
Chris
 
Kaylee,
Maybe I missed something. You make mention of M1A and that is a .308. Mini 14's and AR's are .223 and alot more compact, less recoil, lighter and cheaper to shoot.
Given the choose between Mini14 and a basic AR, I would get the AR. Mags are way less expensive and depending on the model accuracy as well. If you want the basic AR at a deal look up the AR15.com M4 for $660, shipped. If you want to buy just one (like it happens) check into http://www.dpms.com or a Vmatch from Bustmaster.

Good Luck

Karsten
 
actualy the M-1 carbine is a lot better design than the Ruger due to the machined in the barrel gas piston lug while the Ruger is a bolt on deal. Full size mags are a dime a dozzen for the carbine while like hens teath for the Ruger. Plus the Ruger is the worst shooting 5.56 I have ever seen in my life, the AR is 10 times the gun and at the price on a mini its not much choice on what to buy.:) I have had 3 of them and would buy another if they where 5 bucks as I always need tent pegs.:)
 
Karsten,
I've been able to find surplus .308 ammo cheaper or as cheap as surplus .223 ammo. New ammo is a different story....
 
Q-Man
Come on now, share the info on this cheap .308 surplus. I have looked and looked and haven't seen it that cheap ;)
 
The real Problem with the Mini 14 that rarely gets discussed is the fact they are manufacture by RUGER. If Ruger wanted to improve the Rifle they could do it. "They just don't want to". I've heard all the Urban Legends and all of the stories about Improved Mini 14's but Bill Ruger Doesn't want to do it. A lot of us don't understand why the Mini 14 isn't as good as the M14/M1A, and the Answer is "It Could Be"!

I still Love My Mini 14!!
 
Perfect Rifle?

I've thought this for a long time: the essentially PERFECT small-bore rifle, IMHO, would be:

Take a Mini-14. Keep the ergonomics and and operation (perhaps some internal changes to the action, though), and change the following:
-> accept AR mags
-> Thicker barrel
-> Make it accurate
-> Sell it for $600

They'd sell like the proverbial hotcakes, I'm sure!

Why doesn't RobArm or some other US manufacturer do this???

grrrr!


[added later]: In the mean time, we'll just shake our heads and buy AR's...

[Edited by abrahamsmith on 04-23-2001 at 07:33 PM]
 
A rex Minis are PRK legal

I was in a gunstore today and saw a rack of the minis, all configurations.

THe mini is NOT illegal in PRK. It has zero evil features.
 
How is the Mini Gas Block Different than the M1A gas Block?
Why the heck can't they just make a .223 M1A what the heck is so difficult about it?????????????????????????? Even if they cost $800 and could take USGI Mags people would still buy them! M1A's cost as low as $1100, AR's cost as low as $700. I'd buy an M1A in .223 for $800. Springfield Armory needs to look into it.
 
abrahamsmith & SodaPop --

pretty much what I was thinking. I just picked up an M-14 knockoff myself, and love the thing.. it just seemed to me that a .223 in the same basic action would be an ideal carbine... reliabilty on a par with the AK, and good sights and balance. Heck, I'd love even an M1 carbine in .223.. if it shot straight.

DonQatU
The weak point of the Mini then is the gas block? Hrmm.. presuming they had a mind to it (and weren't wusses about magazines) -- how much extra machining is involved in bringing the block up to spec? Seems with all the other operations involved in putting a rifle together, it couldn't be that much more...

Thanks for the information all!

-J

as an aside... I wonder if an M1 carbine could be tweaked to use 7.62x39?
 
Quote from kaylee
"as an aside... I wonder if an M1 carbine could be tweaked to use 7.62x39?"
pressures are too high for that, however frank c barns if i recall correctly has made m-1 carbines in 30 Kurtz. velocity gain is small, as pressures must be kept down, but you use slightly heavier pointy bullets for better downrange ballistics. just a note. also i think their is a round called 22 iver johnson or something like that. something in the area of light loaded 222 velocity. basically a 30 carbine necked down.
 
There's a good article on what's "wrong" with the Mini-14 by C.E. "Ed" Harris, posted various places on the internet. You should be able to find it with NorthernLight or Google. As mentioned, there's nothing you can do to improve it without a complete overhaul of the gas system. It's too bad...I have an M1 carbine that shoots groups (just plain ol' ball ammo) that are 1/4 to 1/6 the size of what I get out of my Mini.
 
mini-14

Gun Tests or a similar formatted paper did an accuracy job on an Mini several years back. When they were done all they had left from the original gun was the receiver. That told me all I wanted to know.
mac
 
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