Posted on 03/29/2012 4:54:07 PM PDT by pfflier
Do any Freepers out there have an opinion on the Ruger mini 14 .223 ranch or tactical carbine? I researched online and comments are good.
I have a couple of friends who have them. They’re OK, but they can’t compare to an AR-15 as far as accessories or flexibility is concerned.
Get a Ruger 10/22, then replace it with a mini-14 stock. It’ll look like a mini-14 carbine, but will give you a way to shoot very cheaply to work on marksmenship, and for small varmits. I said small varmits.
As mentioned by others, get an AR-15 for a little more if you want range and accuracy.....and one-size-fits-all varmits.
I have one in stainless for years that I bought on sale. I am not a .223 fan, but the rifle is fine. It is a little loud. I like the .30 M-1 carbine better for shooting. The kids also like it better.
If you can buy one for a good price go for it.
I own a Ruger Mini-14, a Bushmaster Xm15-e2s, and a WASR10 (cheap AK47 clone). In terms of reliability, I would rank the Mini-14 with the WASR10. I have never had a jam with either weapon. The Bushmaster has jammed one time and it was because of a bad magazine. In terms of accuracy The Bushmaster is the best, then the Mini-14, and the WASR10 is only accurate to about 75 yards(for me). I can clean and reasamble my WASR10 in about 5 minutes, the Mini-14 in less than 10 minutes, and my Xm in about 15 minutes. Both the WASR10 and the Mini-14 lose accuarcy as they heat up, my Bushmaster seems not to have any problem with heating up. I have shot 1000’s of rounds through each of them and I love them all. The WASR10 was the cheapest, and the Mini-14 was a lot less than my Bushmaster. If you want a Mini-14 get it, it is fun as hell to shoot. I am a US Army Expert and a NRA Sharpshooter with 1 bar, and I can tell you that no weapon is perfect. So buy as many weapons as you can afford and find out what works for you.
It's not like any M14 I ever fired.
I don't own one, but went over one very closely at the gun shop looking for an M14 like rifle. This was not it.
Now the Springfield Armory M1A is a different story. It is an M14 without semi auto capability.
Spend a little more for the harmonic damper on the heavier barrel and it is accurate.
Thats funny.
Cabela’s also sells multi round clips 10s , 20s , 30s , and 40 rounders , folding stocks and other accessories .
Get an AR 15.
The Ruger Mini-30 does look like a larger caliber alternative to the Mini-14.
In this video the guy firing his Mini-30 is hitting a target out at 420 yards. Not bad!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4SVwSGPLOc
Fun, reliable, not too accurate. I know several people who keep them in boats.
You can modify M4 mags to fit with a dremel tool.
It’s based on the M-14 M1-garand. The mechanism is kind of clunky and noisy.
I uses it for zombies. An AK-47 knockoff is the nearest competition.
The article you posted doesn’t seem to say anything about Mini 14s, though several of the comments address it. I’ve shot 5.56 NATO in a Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle for years.
The Mini 14 is a very good carbine, if used as a carbine. It is quite accurate with its iron sights out to 200 yards (I routinely put all my shots within an 8-inch circle at that distance with that little carbine). It is not a tack driver, nor a long-distance rifle. It’s intended use is for relatively close work within 200 yards, and especially within 100 yards.
Comment #19 by The KG9 Kid summed it up very well. It’s a real good comment about the Mini-14.
You don’t have to go with an AK clone to get a good AK carbine. Saiga is an AK that meets US “sport” standards and is made in the AK factory in russia. I have the 5.56/.223 carbine and love it. Paid just over three hundred NIB.
Get the mini 30. Ammo Is cheaper. You may have to put a heavy duty Wolff hammer spring if you want to shoot the hardest ruskie ammo. But that is an easy mod.
I’ve had the mini 30 for five years. I love it.
Ati makes a great after market stock called the strikeforce. Get the aluminum upgrad kit. Put on an eotech holo site and you will have an excellent tactical weapon that shoots cheap ammo.
I love the gas system which was copied from the M1 Garand. Easy to breakdown. Easy to clean. Fun to shoot.
One more mod. Adjustable gas block
Great gun.
Reliable as hell, but accuracy is wretched. Seems ok with iron sights, but put a scope on it and you’ll swear there is something wrong with it.
If going for a Ruger mini-14. 7.62x39 is the way to go, more punch for lunch than .223.
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