Ruger Mini-14 SS Ranch Syn. HELP w/ Purchase

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wdigeorge

New member
Hello Everyone,

I want to first say that I am new to the firingline.com and this is my first post so if I make any mistakes please forgive me. I am also new to the world of rifles and looking to purchase my first rifle and needing your help/opinion on my selection and price.

I am looking to purcahse a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Stainless Steel w/ Synthetic Stock for $469 + $20 shipping. Is that a good price? If not, where can I find one for a good reasonable price? I live in CA so as I quickly find out that my options are very limited in terms of rifle selection. I also look into the Sprinfield M1A1 but I don't think I can afford the $1400+ price especially I've never shot a rifle before. Are there any other models I should look into other than these two that I just mentioned?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you all.

George
 
$469m for the stainless Ranch is a good price. I actually had to pay a total $500 for mine in Illinois.

What is it about the Mini-14 and the M1A1 that attracts you to them? Look? Feel? Accuracy? Semi-Auto? What are you going to use it for?

If accuracy is a concern, the Springfield M1A1 is an accurate rifle. The Mini-14 isn't the most accurate rifle in the world. But it is an affordable alternative for those who want a high-powered semi-auto for the purpose of home/land protection or just some fun plinking.
I would say look at AR15s, but you say you live in CA, so you may not want to deal with having an AR15, because of the state laws there.

Is caliber a concern? Since you say you never shot a rifle before, why not go for a Ruger 10/22 .22cal rifle. They are pretty accurate, especially the target models with the heavier barrels.
The 10/22 would be cheaper and so would the ammunition.

As I don't know for what purpose you want a rifle for, it is hard to give you many choices.
 
Thanks for the advise. I am actually looking for the Mini 14 for practice plus I like the look of the mini 14 ranch in SS and black stock. I was told that the 223 is not too expensive to shoot, that's why I went with the Mini rather than the Mini 30.

As for the M1A from Springfield Armory...I wanted to get one of those too as my "good" rifle to keep around since I don't know when CA is going to ban more guns again. I want to have at least ONE decent rifle to keep. I am kicking myself for not getting into rifles, handguns, etc. earlier. I've always been interested in them. Been out shooting w/ my father and friends but never thought of owning one until now. Then I find out just about everything I like are BANNED! :( I'm two years too late.

George
 
i have one for sell

I have one for sell with less than 200 rounds thru it if you are interested. ss/syn ranch - 3 factory 5 rounders, 2 Masen 30 rounders, and tasco 3x9 scope for $500 + shipping. JKC
 
About a year ago I paid about $475 for a SS Mini-14 ranch rifle with factory plastic furniture. It was a brand new model from Ruger for that year.

I find this little rifle quite accurate within 100 yards. 1 to 3 inches. That is certainly good enough for what I bought it for. Home defense.

Complaints are about the thin barrel heating up and affecting accuracy. Also, some complain about the trigger and the cheap peep sight.

Perhaps it is just my rifle, but I find the trigger very smooth, with little take up, a crisp break, and always predictable at about 5 pounds. The peep sight works for me. If I scope it, it will be with something low powered.

I really like my Mini-14. I have considered an AR-15 but for no other reason than I think they are cool. I am not going into combat, and believe me, the Mini-14 will handle just about any kind of home defense scenario save Somalian Warlords trying to break into your house.

It is a good solid semi-automatic .223 rifle with close combat accuracy and it is a totally reliable weapon. And it is relatively inexpensive.

If you do decide to get an AR, keep your Mini. They compliment each other very well.
 
Thanks for your input. I looked at the AR's and like them alot simply for their "looks" since I have never shot one before. I would love to get one but I live in CA and I think it is banned here :(

Do you know of any good rifles that is CA legal that is not a Ruger mini or a Springfield M1A? I just want to know what other options I have....it can't be only between these two models...could it?

George
 
I have a Ranch in 223 and I really like it. Accurate enough at close range, throws alot of lead real fast, will eat any kind of ammo you feed it, and to clean it all you have to do is swish it around in the creek. As an added bonus, your right flank is protected as anyone getting within 30 feet is likely to end up with dents in their head from brass being ejected at high speed.
 
I live in LA and found myself faced with the same situation. It has been more than just a couple of years with the
"assault rifle" ban in CA. My resource for information is "How to own a gun and stay out of jail" CA edition.
Any semi-auto rifle that can accept detachable magazines cannot have a pistol grip. That is a result of the features
based ban. All AR and AK "style" rifles have been specifically banned unless you owned them by '92 or earlier AND
registered them by some date '95 I think.

So I bought a bunch of 30round hi-caps while I could and saved up for a stainless MINI-14 ranch. I just got the rifle
recently and luckily the PMI hi-caps work perfectly. It is a great little rifle. I am planning to get an aftermarket barrel
eventualy. Then I will have a light .223 carbine with AK like reliability and AR like accuracy. I definitley recommend
buying one. Get one while you can. They will probably outlaw these after awhile.:(
 
A Mini-14 ranch in stainless/plastic new for $469 + shipping? Why haven't you bought it yet?!? That's a very good price. At Wally World the same item goes for $525-$550. Make sure you get the scope rings-they are included at no charge.
Now, last year I got mine ("standard" model in SS/plastic) "used"-the guy bought it, found in his state it couldn't be used for deer, and traded it in on something bigger. My son saw it and snagged it-$379+tax.
It's a fun little weapon that packs some punch , and it eats anything you want to put in it, and it goes bang each time you pull the trigger.
If you don't expect too much from it, it will serve your needs and then some.
Enjoy!
 
Follow-up question for you Mini-14 owners: can you use milsurp .223/5.56 ammo in the Mini-14. Any issues with the higher pressures, etc.? Thanks.
 
Is military ammo all that different?

Prof,

Military surplus? Don't really know. I do know that I fired a lot of SWAT service ammo through my Mini-14 with no problems. (Service as opposed to training ammo).

I would also think that the age of the ammo has a lot to do with it. If you're talking Viet Nam area stuff, it might not have as much punch as say late 90's stuff.

Is military ammo all that different from commercial ammo, with the exception of tracer rounds?

B.L.
 
Buddy:

Yes, the military 5.56 is loaded to higher pressures than the civilian .223. Shooting milsurp 5.56 in bolt action commercial rifles is advised against. Since the Mini-14 is gas operated, I was wondering if the pressure would be a problem or not.
 
The Mini will eat just about anything you care to run through it. So far I've run Wolf, Remington and Winchester through mine-a friend has a VERY old one, and it always fires whatever is put in it. The better ammo will deliver better accuracy, of course. Don't know about the MilSurp.
Just don't try it with cheap aftermarket magazines.
YMMV
 
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