Mini 14

[Sturnovik]

I keep shooting a buddies Ruger and to be honest, while its not an AR, the shooting I do at the farthest point is usually 150 yards. I'm really liking how this thing feels! Great feel and trigger, much better than some other rifles I've tried out. I was wondering if you guys liked yours? I just picked up a .30 30 but I'm having some horrid problems with my keltec Su16ca. I figure I'd go the 5.56 route and get a Ruger mini 14 or AR. Can a flashlight attachment and optics mount be mounted with ease nowadays?

I'm shopping around for 10 rounders as we speak. What do you guys think? I know the range isnt as far as other rifles, but I dont shoot far as it is.

[russ69]

Minis are a lot of fun.

[Oneaudiopro]

My Mini

I've owned my mini for about 20yrs now and is by far my favorite rifle. If you read the posts on minis they sometimes are hit and miss as far as accuracy goes. I took mine out 2 weeks ago and was hitting 5 out of 5 at 500yds with open sights............I'm sure I lucked out finding one of the good ones. I think you would love having a mini AND.......NO bullet button! Lets us know what you decide.

[Sturnovik]

I've owned my mini for about 20yrs now and is by far my favorite rifle. If you read the posts on minis they sometimes are hit and miss as far as accuracy goes. I took mine out 2 weeks ago and was hitting 5 out of 5 at 500yds with open sights............I'm sure I lucked out finding one of the good ones. I think you would love having a mini AND.......NO bullet button! Lets us know what you decide.

Good to hear. I like that theres no BB, granted its a whole different beast though. I like the look, my buddy has the all black synthetic model with stainless barrel and parts. It shoots very nicely. My only question is that if I was to add an optic, say an EOtech/Aimpoint down the road for fun, my Gf likes shooting optics, and maybe even a flashlight on it, is it doable?
Are mags expensive?

[JAGGUY]

I've had my mini 14 for 30+ years and have no plans on getting rid of it. I like the classic design of the action and all my "standard" cap magazines.....

[ap3572001]

My department still has a bunch of Mini-14's (GB) rifles. I own at least one mini since the mid 80's. Its accurate enough to hit a B-27 target everytime at 100 yards. Shooting standing . Works everytime too.

[Sturnovik]

My department still has a bunch of Mini-14's (GB) rifles. I own at least one mini since the mid 80's. Its accurate enough to hit a B-27 target everytime at 100 yards. Shooting standing . Works everytime too.

I use those B27's all the time! Good to hear. Yea the absolute max I push rifle shooting is around 200 at my range. I'm glad it has the ability to reach out that far.

I've had my mini 14 for 30+ years and have no plans on getting rid of it. I like the classic design of the action and all my "standard" cap magazines.....

Once again good to hear, I didnt know to many departments still had them. I'm sorta going between a stainless model and the black. The Stainless is around a 100 or 100+, so I'm kinda wondering if I should or not. Its nice having some corrosion resistance. Trying to find some rails and stuff to get optics and lights on it.

[damon1272]

I love the design and feel of the mini but I sold mine when the best groups I could get were around 6" @ 100. Sent it back to ruger and they got them down to 5". I understand the new mini 14's are much more accurate but I am so deep into AR's it is not worth going back to.

[Mossy Man]

Mini's get a bad reputation sometimes, but for their intended use, accuracy is fine and reliability is awesome.

I recently dumped a bunch of crap off of my pencil barrel and it's plenty accurate for realistic shooting.

[Sturnovik]

Mini's get a bad reputation sometimes, but for their intended use, accuracy is fine and reliability is awesome.

I recently dumped a bunch of crap off of my pencil barrel and it's plenty accurate for realistic shooting.

Yea I've heard the newer barrels and chambers are better quality and much more accurate then they were when they came out. I'm hoping for 3-4 inch groups at 150 yards. If there slightly bigger, I can live with that, I shoot up close typically. 100/80 yards.

[Drivedabizness]

I just sold my Mini ...had a trigger job done and installed new optics...it held 2in. (or so) groups for me.

Used the $$$ to upgrade to a new S&W AR....but it was nice and I'll miss it.

[Mossy Man]

Yea I've heard the newer barrels and chambers are better quality and much more accurate then they were when they came out. I'm hoping for 3-4 inch groups at 150 yards. If there slightly bigger, I can live with that, I shoot up close typically. 100/80 yards.

mine is a 196 series with a pencil barrel, and i manage about 4" groups @ 100 yards. But i'm not a very good shot, either. So i'm sure the gun itself is better than 4".

Here's a pic of mine:




mods are: williams' WGRS rear peep sight, choate ventilated handguard, accu-strut barrel stabilizer, and matte painted buttplate. oh and wife's white nail polish on the front blade mod.

The reason I painted the buttplate is because it comes shiny and slippery from the factory, and a little matte black spray paint fixed most of the slippery feel.

Using John Masen 10 round blued steel magazines with 100% reliability and last shot open.

Shoots good, I like the shorter LOP from the factory stock compared to my old hogue stock (makes it feel more CQB ready. Also removed an old sling; i may invest in a specter CQB sling at some point but right now i'm fine with this.

[Coyote Brown]

Pro mags are gtg.

[AR87]

Mini 14s are either well liked or hated, it seems. Mine shoots good for the first 3 shots, and then the thing starts tossing bullets everywhere. Think it has something to do with the barrel heating up. Haven't heard this from too many people though. So they are probably a solid platform, I just got a bad egg. I hope... Just my .02

[Mossy Man]

Mini 14s are either well liked or hated, it seems. Mine shoots good for the first 3 shots, and then the thing starts tossing bullets everywhere. Think it has something to do with the barrel heating up. Haven't heard this from too many people though. So they are probably a solid platform, I just got a bad egg. I hope... Just my .02

had the same problem with fliers after the barrel heated up

after the accu-strut, most of the problem was solved.