Should I want a Mini-14 or Mini-30?

2808 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Wolfgang, Jan 28, 2005

Major PITA

Discussion Starter · Dec 7, 2004

I must be nuts.

I have more guns than I can ever possibly wear out.

I need to pay off my credit card.

Christmas is here.

I'm beginning to think that I just have to have either a Ruger Mini-14 or Mini-30 or one of each.

Somebody talk me out of it! Somebody please convince me that they're junk.

I heard somewhere that Ruger is getting ready to redesign the front sight and the sear somewhat.

Maybe I can wait...but no...HELP!

Somebody please tell me what's wrong with them or what I should watch out for so I won't want one.

HEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPP!

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

mustanger98

· #2 · Dec 7, 2004

I have a Mini-14 (blued/wood). It's fun to shoot. Nothing wrong with it that I can tell. Sorry. Can't help ya. :lol:

Bigchoad

· #3 · Dec 7, 2004

Go with the mini 14 Hi cap mags are available and its just a fun, inexpensive gun to shoot

Its calling to you
You must obey
besides view the credit card as saving up for it After the fact

Major PITA

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 7, 2004

Bigchoad said:
view the credit card as saving up for it After the fact

That is a low blow! That's like telling an alcoholic that wine helps prevent heart attacks!

:lol:

Like one of my friends has said, "Yeah, when I drink I'm just doing my part to prevent a heart attack."

Another friend replied, "Well, you oughta be more than caught up!" :roll:

crazy308

· #5 · Dec 7, 2004

I have a mini 14 and it's great, im now looking to get a mini 30. So my advice is to get both. there great guns.

Templar

· #6 · Dec 7, 2004

Ruger is redesigning the Ranch rifle so that it will have a winged front sight, and an apature rear sight that is vastly improved over the flip up rear on the Ranch as it now, and also on the sight of the Mini-14 Standard.

They are also trying to work on the accuracy issues, but the gas system/op rod are the real culprits on the lack of repeatable, consistant accuracy.

Looks like Ruger is trying to improve on the rifle.

We have new 20 round Ruger LE Mini-14 magazines for sale, they are out there now and a whole lot less than a year ago.

The Mini's are fun little rifles, but stick with factory mags whenever possible, and don't expect them to shoot as well as an AR-15 as far as paper punching accuracy goes. Having said that, they are perfect little carbines for what they were designed for and they are a fair amount of bang for the buck.

Texas Patriot

· #7 · Dec 7, 2004

You're asking the wrong guy. I've got 2 Mini-14's. A ranch model and a regular model. Both in stainless.

Have also acquired a BC Folding stock and a Hogue overmold stock in addition to the 2 factory wood stocks that they came with.

You need to get a Mini 14, but I'd wait for the newer model if I was you.

Lfox

· #8 · Dec 7, 2004

JR and I each have a mini-14 and we love them both for plinking! My daughter, T-Fox shot up a battlepack of ammo and came looking for more one day at the range!

Texas Patriot

· #9 · Dec 7, 2004

Some Mini-14s are very inaccurate out of the box, as was my ranch model. By inaccurate, I mean it would shoot a pattern and not a group at 50 and 100 yards. We're talking 8-10" at 100 yards.

But for about $75, I got a trigger job, bedded the receiver, installed a muzzle thingy, replaced gas port with a smaller one, and sampled the best ammo for my Mini. Now she shoots nice little 1.25" groups at 100 yards and I am quite happy to take her anywhere.

I probably ought make a separate thread on this since accuracy is the main problem most people have with Mini 14s. They are extremely reliable, but suffer greatly in accuracy when compared to AR type rifles or even other military style guns.

mustanger98

· #10 · Dec 7, 2004

I sometimes talk about how good my Mini-14 is, and especially with my preferred handload of 68gr BTHP at 2600fps, but I'm planning on a trigger job, flash hider or muzzle brake, and a recoil buffer too. Take a decent group and make it better.

That same gun, with S&B's 55gr FMJ's, the accuracy ain't as good, but it's still better than "Minute of Bad Guy". Now, if I could get 68gr BTSP's...

Texas Patriot

· #11 · Dec 7, 2004

mustanger98 said:
I sometimes talk about how good my Mini-14 is, and especially with my preferred handload of 68gr BTHP at 2600fps, but I'm planning on a trigger job, flash hider or muzzle brake, and a recoil buffer too. Take a decent group and make it better. That same gun, with S&B's 55gr FMJ's, the accuracy ain't as good, but it's still better than "Minute of Bad Guy". Now, if I could get 68gr BTSP's...

I know what you mean. A LEO friend of mine was at the range the same time I was there doing my first firing after the mods I made to my ranch model. He referred to the Mini-14 as having "minute of car door" accuracy. Sounds like he was referring to mine BEFORE I made the enhancements. I showed him the 0.49" group (50 yards) with my handloads and he became a quick believer that it could be better.

A few $$ and a little time can make it a real winner.

kibblekrunch

· #12 · Dec 9, 2004

What each of these fine gentlemen are saying regarding the Ruger rifles is right on. However, if you're trying to eliminate your credit card debt (or any other debt matter), and are afflicted with the modern seasonal crap of what passes itself off as Christmas, then my advice is this:

1. Take three of your favorite rifles to the range and go hog wild. Spend hours cleaning them later.

2. As good as they are, your rifles are no better and no worse than a Ruger Mini-14. Don't convince yourself you have to buy one..remember, you might not like it once you've worked with it.

3. Pay off your debt now, as in today. The best investment of all is to pay off all debt.

tygerpaw

· #13 · Dec 9, 2004

I would stay away from the Mini-30. I bought one to be able to shoot the cheap Wolf ammo, but about 1 out of 10 shots would not fire. I called Ruger and they told me that I was not to shoot ANY military type ammo with hardened primers. They told me the only ammo authorized for it was Federal 125 grain softpoints. The only place I could find them was some store quite a ways from me and they were $ 18 a box. I sold it and bought a Mini-14. Should have done that to begin with. If you want a 7.62x39, get an SKS.

green grunt

· #14 · Dec 26, 2004

the best question would be , what do You like ? shoot what you like and what YOU can handle best ! that said , being in the PRC...I had to (choose to) sell my AR's , in the safe rest a M1A std / Scout squad / and a std Mini 14.............they all fit togeather in training and handling , the AR's are fine rifles and do have a edge in smaller groups out of the box........but if you like them and like a solid feeling rifle ...buy the Mini 14 ...mine is box stock and will shoot into 2.5 @ 100 , ...........buy what you handle best and shoot it shoot it and shoot it some more , they don't seem to wear out either..........JMHO[/quote]

24kshooter

· #15 · Dec 28, 2004

You have a serious rifle problem. You need to get on the one step plan. I have 2 Mini 14's Ranch (SS) and Standard (blue) and a Mini 30 (blue) that I acquired one step at a time. The comment from tygerpaw on the mini 30 is right on except that for about $10 you can fix it. Wolf spring - this is all you need - I do not know why Ruger does this but they do so plan on the spring fix if you buy the 30. I recommend the 223 ranch as your first rifle. Do not worry about the sights as you will scope the rifle. The standard mini sucks in this area. My ranch rifle will shoot the center out of the target bull at 50 to 60 yards with an 8 X scope and most brands of ammo then opens up to 5 inches with an upwards string at 100 yards if you shoot more than one shot per minute. One shot will be great and the next poor and the next good and so on - which frustrates me to no end. This is not a shooter problem as the scope and solid bench rest gives me a steady hold - so if you care about MOA accuracy plan on spending money. Get the mini 30 as your next step - it will out shoot the AK's I am famaliar with except a Robinson Veper. High capacity mags are available and once again plan on putting a nice 1.5 to 5 or so scope on it. I would skip the standard mini unless you need a truck gun - as it is a compromise on all levels. All 3 rifles bring shooting fun with them and I think you would miss out not owning at least one of them. You can always pay off the credit card when you retire.

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Wolfgang

· #16 · Jan 28, 2005 (Edited by Moderator)

Do like me... Get both.

MUUUAHHHHHH!

I ahve a stainless Mini 30 and a Blued Mini 14 Ranch. All done up with Butler Creek stocks.

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