Mini-14: Why do people hate it so much?

zouave,

All of my centerfires are very loud and hearing protection (and eye protection) is always a must! If I ever need to fire it in anger, I won't be worried about how loud my Mini is!
 
I bought my Mini-14 ranch rifle in stainless and black plastic in 1999 as home defense in case of that Y2K meltdown thing for just under 500 bucks. I can control my street with it if I have to and that is all I care about. Thank God things went okay.

I recommend a ranch rifle with replacement peep sites. This is really an improvement of the WWII vintage M1 carbine and I think that Ruger intended for this rifle to be just that. Putting a scope on the Mini-14 is well, overkill. But the ranch rifle is an improvement over the original Mini-14 and so getting a good peep sight replacement makes it all the better.

Recently I saw a base Mini-14 for 379 bucks. Man, you can't beat that for what it is.

A good buddy of mine, who shoots everything under the sun including Ar's and .50 cal Brownings, adviced me that the Mini-14 is a good rifle for it's intended purpose and then remarked if you want great accuracy get a scoped .30-06 or .308 bolt action.

I don't think anyone hates the Mini-14. They are what they are.
 
bad dad brad:

What kind of replacement peep sights are you talking about for the ranch rifle?

I personally prefer the plain Mini 14 to the ranch rifle, because the rear sight on the standard model is more rugged and easier to adjust. The little flip down sight on my ranch rifle kept getting loose and flying off the gun while shooting.
 
My experience with the Mini was the same as Soda Pops. I easily achieved 2 inch groups with good ammo. The average AR15 light barrel rifle does no better. WE are not talking heavy barrel AR15. We are comparing apples to apples. Trigger pull of Mini 14 I have found to be superior to the stock AR-15. Reliablity, no debate here the Mini 14 is superior. I have had more than one AR15 jam up tighter than a drum when shooting in the rain. The rain mixed with the burnt power that gets sprayed all over the action and if you have not lubed the hell out of your AR you can count on having problems.
The only real problem I have ever had with the Mini is when I once shot a match with it. I came in second competing against some 2,000 dollar AR15's but later in the week when I was practicing all of a sudden my groups went from 2 inches to 6 inches. I found out that by using the sling in a very tight postion that it actually pulled apart the soft steel barrel band of the Mini-14. I fixed it very easily by taking the gun apart and pounding the soft metal back together again but after that I never used a sling on the gun again. I only used it once in a match just to see what I could do with it. It was only an experiment to see if I had a chance against the super guns but less than super shooters. I have mixed emoitions about the Mini 14 but if that is all you can afford it is not a bad value for the money. I still own mine after almost 21 years of use. W.R.
 
I don't get the complaining about the Trigger pull on the Mini's. From what I have been told by ( think Art Eatman) the new Mini's have a 5lb trigger pull. My Mini is a hell of a lot lighter than my Model 70,FAL and SKS. I have fired 3 AR rifles in various configurations So far and about a total of 150rds out of all 3 of them. 2 of them Jammed while I was standing next to the owners. One was in the process of being broken in so I can't complain about it. I still might get an AR someday but I have seen an awful lot of Jams and Malfunctions.
 
It's REAL easy to understand.

Fills the same niche as a SKS.

Shoots WORSE! :barf:

COSTS FIVE TIMES AS MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:mad:

Winner by $400 is the SKS.
 
Witness

Or maybe it should be the Witness Protection Program:)

I can verify Soda Pop's claims shooting tight groups with his Mini 14. I was there and saw the groups with my own myopic eyes. Claims that the Mini 14 is not accurate just don't hold water.

Soda, put the target on the web and end the argument.

PS I hope you weren't referring to my AR. When you shot it it did not jam. And it was only it's third trip to the range:)


Geoff Ross
 
Geoff,
When I was talking about the AR that was being broken in I was talking about your AR. My FAL jammed 3 times on my the first time I took it to the range but It didn't last time I was there. I realise every gun has a break in period.
I scanned the pictures of my FAL shooting 1 MOA and My Mini shooting 2 MOA but they are scanned at too high of a resolution and this site won't accept it:mad:
I should have gotten "Dead" to take the pictures with his Digital Camera.
 
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While we are on the subject

In looking around about Mini-14 Ranch Rifle peep sight replacements I found a very interesting one from New England Custom guns that mounts on the intergal Ruger scope ring mount. But they market only for the 77 and the model 1.

So I sent a note to their customer service rep, asking them if it would work for a Ranch and got a lame answer, that I would have to mount the sight and see if the front sight was tall enough. Seems like it would be if it works for the 77?

Anyway this thread seems to have gotten the attention of a lot of Mini-14 fans so maybe one of you out there has done this. This sight is 80 bucks so I would like to be sure.

Oh well, if it didn't work I could always get a higher front sight or use it as in excuse to spend even more money and buy a model 77 in 30-06, something I have always wanted anyway.

Go to www.newenglandcustomgun.com to read more.

Here is a picture mounted on a model 77 and 1:
 

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ART EATMAN

You talked about your factory 10 round Mini-14 mag. I too have a 10 round Ruger Mag. When I called up Ruger to try and buy more, they told me they never made a 10 rounder, and that, awhile back someone was making counterfit 10 rounders, complete with Ruger logo on the bottom. I suspected that it was a line of s**t just to get me off the phone. I like my 10 rounder and it works flawless, its nice to be able to get under the gun for proper support. Its my Keep it in the gun mag. Anyway, where'd you get yours at? I found mine by accident at a gun show and snapped it up for 25.00-- Will buy more, counterfit or not, who cares as long as it works! Have you (or anyone) ever heard the counterfit story?
 
Oh, did I fail to mention that the 4" groups at 100 yards was with iron sights?
Also, where'd you get the replacement peep sight for the ranch?
 
Edward, never heard the "counterfeit" story. Mine came with a used Mini I bought back around 1985 or so...The story I heard was that Ruger--for some unknown reason--just quit making them.

That's all I know about the 10-round mag.
 
I am on my second Mini 14 now. This one is a SS/syn ranch. 150rds so far without a bobble. I have noticed that accuracy to 60yds is great but begins to drop off very quickly after that. That makes me wonder about the barrel heating/moving theory. Seems like it would effect accuracy at shorter distances also. Anyone else noticed this? I also would like to hear Mini 30 vs Mini 14 shooters comments from those that own both.
 
My Mini14 Rancher has been accurate enough. 1.5" with Federal American Eagle 55gr. BTFMJ and with FN SS-109. Old PMC brown box M-193 approaches 4". Bought it around 1983, one of the first Ranch Rifles with the shotgun buttplate and higher comb. The metal finish was definitely better back then.

I have had the barrel so hot in my younger, less wise days that melted plastic and scorched wood when laid down and it is still accurate as originally.

Said I would sell it after I bought the AR, but just can't. After all, since it has a wood stock and traditional scope it is not an evil assault weapon and is low key.

I have heard, the 10 rounders were made for foreign export to military and police.

When I bought mine, I bought 3 20 rounders for $12 each with the rifle from Ruger. The gun was $240 or so.... Inflation. ;)
 
different barrel?

I'm hearing a lot of people saying that it's the barrel. I checked around and a heavier barrel would cost something like $300. -Rip off.

People saying the AR barrels are so much heavier... is this true? Can't someone make a heavier barrel like an AR barrel for about the AR barrel cost?

If the mini was a .5"-1" shooter, it would be a perfect rifle. AR accurate and more reliable.

Coop
 
As an alternative to the Ranch rifle's funky peep sites, I tried a Leupold-Gilmore Red Dot on a Weigand Weaver scope base (attaches to Ruger scope mounts). Works great and I believe it has improved my results.
 
I shoot my mini 14 RR every week using 20 round mags and am very happy with it. Doesn't malfunction and is easy to clean. I guess it's just as well we don't all like the same things.:)
I would add though, that I never found a USA mag that functioned and I use PMI mags that don't malfunction.:rolleyes:
 
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