advice needed: Springfield M1 or custom Mini14

[koiloco]

Hi guys,

which one do you you recommend? springfield M1A or Mini14?

which one is more accurate? (i know M1 has more power)

I really like my Savage .223 accuracy (.5MOA most of the time) and looking for at least the same level of accuracy.

My limit is $1600.

Thanks.
Ben

[Satex]

Do a search on the Mini 14, you will see that many complain about its accuracy - or lack of.

[ohsmily]

Hi guys,

which one do you you recommend? M1 or Mini14?

which one is more accurate? (i know M1 has more power)

I really like my Savage .223 accuracy (.5MOA most of the time) and looking for at least the same level of accuracy.

My limit is $1600.

Thanks.
Ben

I take it you mean an M1A and not an M1 Carbine or M1 Garand.....get an M1A....you will spend more on the Mini-14 and accurization to get it to the potential of an M1A. (neither will ever be "tack-drivers" unless you go for the really high end setups).

[Blue]

M1a hands down.

[koiloco]

what kind of group would be expected from a M1A?

[ohsmily]

A standard model Springfield can be anticipated to shoot around 2 inches at 100 (optimistically). It will reach out a long way too. But the M1A design isn't prone to hair splitting accuracy (due to the way the gas system is designed and the huge op rod that goes flying around every shot).

You keep talking about group size...If you want small groups, get a bolt gun or an AR type rifle. Get a Remington 700 varmint or Police model. The WORST that will do with match ammunition is 1" at 100 yards. And you can even anticipate a 1/2 MOA gun (using match ammo) in those heavy barreled 700's.

[koiloco]

I have a Remington 700 bolt already and JP CTR-02 and quite a few lowers

Just really like the M1A and the custom Mini14 but could not decide between the 2.

Now I am a little clearer. Almost sounds like none of them really fits what I am looking for

[ohsmily]

The M1A is a fantastic battle rifle, not a high precision semi auto that you can expect to be punching sub-moa groups with. (Until you get into the national match and super match models). If you are looking for a HIGH precision semi auto in a heavier caliber, a match AR-10 would be the way to go...but, unfortunately, those are not available to us in CA with the exception of the Hesse lower and the interchangeable magwell setup that isn't out yet for the 308 version.

[koiloco]

exactly why I am sad

I guess I'll stick with .223, .204.

[shopkeep]

M1A hands down no questions asked. I've never heard of anyone competiting in a match with a mini-14 but many people use the M-1A/M-14... especially in the PRK. The AR-15 is still the rifle to beat in matches, but people are getting closer all the time with M-14 pattern rifles.

[xenophobe]

An accurate M1A can get 2" groups at 100 yards with iron sights consistently.

With a Mini-14 and irons you're lucky to hit a coke can consistently @100...

[EBWhite]

I would get a m1 garand from cmp if your still deciding.... but if thats not what you want. get the m1a hands down over the mini 14...i dont care for my mini 14 much

[Creampuff]

I have an accurized mini-14, that I purchased before the off list lowers craze.

http://www.accuracysystemsinc.com/ruger_mini_prices.html

The mini cost about $500, and the work done cost about $800+. Overall, I am very happy with it. I only have iron sights on it, so I can't vouch for the 1"MOA or better guaranteed accuracy. But even with iron sights, I wasn't having the reported skinny-barrel-heating-up-leading to 6"MOA-groups-issue, that the standard mini-14 has.

But I am not sure if I would recommend people to take the route I took, if they were deciding between an M1A vs mini-14. Back then I wanted a semi auto platform, in .223. But I wanted more accuracy than the out of box mini14and SU16. So I went this route, however, I now have a carbine that is very very heavy. More heavy than my off list built up AR15. The mini14 also does not have as much after market options as the M1A does. In addition, in CA you are limited to either the ruger 5 rnd mag, or the Masen or Promag 10 round mag. The other cheaper 10 round mags, I am not sure I would trust in the mini14.

I am happy with my accurized mini14, and it has proven to be a reliable rifle. Having a detachable mag, makes it even more fun. I couldn't believe I was actually top loading my mini-14 recently!!! California has me brainwashed.

[Major Miner II]

I also have an accurized mini from accuracy systems, and it's an awesome gun. I have it scoped so I can definately attest to the sub-MOA groups that I can shoot with it. One of these days I'll have to get a pic of a target or two posted.

I also have a SOCOM 16. It's another awesome rifle. But totally different.

In the end, it boils down to what you want to do with it.

I paid about the same for both rifles, and I've made a few upgrades to the SOCOM (better recoil spring guide, gas piston, scope mount) that I didn't have to make to the Ruger.

For a varmint rifle, I'd take the Mini any day of the week. For fun shooting, larger game hunting and CQB rifle, I'd take the SOCOM.

[CSkyhawk72]

M1A all the way! She's a wee bit more expensive to feed than the Mini-14 though. I got my first M1A Socom from a fellow CalGuns.Net member, and am just amazed at the accuracy of that thing with the shorter barrel. the -1A or Garand are even better!