AR-15 vs. Mini-14

[MMH]

Saw a Mini-14 at Gander Mtn for $800. Have not thought about a Mini-14 in a long time. So how would it stack up? Offhand I would guess that it would be less accurate & harder to mod, but more reliable?

Comments anyone?

[Koli01]

First, I think $800 is too much for a Mini-14. You can get a del-ton ar 15 for that.

Accuracy, the mini is altered the ar wins hands down.
Accessories the ar wins hands down.
availaibility of parts the are wins hands down.

ease of cleaning and maintenance mini wins
reliability, i would have to say the mini wins (very simple system)

just my opinions

to add
mini's are fussy about the mags you use.

[MMH]

Yep, that's the way I had it fiugured too. Also, minis required their own mags & can't use AR mags.

So the only advantage is reliability/ease of maintenance.

Originally Posted by Koli01

First, I think $800 is too much for a Mini-14. You can get a del-ton ar 15 for that.

Accuracy, the mini is altered the ar wins hands down.
Accessories the ar wins hands down.
availaibility of parts the are wins hands down.

ease of cleaning and maintenance mini wins
reliability, i would have to say the mini wins (very simple system)

just my opinions

to add
mini's are fussy about the mags you use.

[Koli01]

Generally Mini's cost less than ar's. Like i said, i believe $800 for one is way too high. Maybe that has changed. You used to be able to get a mini-14 for half the price of an ar 15.

[nfafan]

Originally Posted by Koli01

<snip>

ease of cleaning and maintenance mini wins

just my opinions

<snip>

Agree with everything said but I ask a question of the above..

N O T E: The Mini-14s are nice, but I do NOT own a Mini nor have a massive desire too, but in handling them many times - they have somewhat of a baby-Garand action - correct?

If so, I find the AR a million times easier to clean - and from the chamber end no less, than I do the can-only-clean-from-the-muzzle Garands.

Is there a trick to cleaning the Mini-14s?

Also - forgot to mention to wait for the gunshows; typically see them for $600.00 and below. I recall handling one at the last Wash Cty show, sat there for 2 days at $500.00. Who knows, may have sold late on Day 2, but not to me at $500.

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by nfafan

than I do the can-only-clean-from-the-muzzle Garands.

I never clean mine from the muzzle end...I never clean any gun from the muzzle end.

As for reliability between AR's and Mini 14's, how much of a difference can there be to choose the 14 over the 16?

[Koli01]

I'm thinking about tearing it down and cleaning everything. Yes the mini is build as a mini garand/m14 action. large parts and few of them. ar has many little delicate parts.
use the otis system for chamber to muzzle cleaning or a string and a weight.


for hawk
again few large parts to many small parts
you never hear: mini's have to be run wet., my lube froze up/got gummy in the cold., there was a piece of dirt in my bolt./had to scrub it so it cycles now and so on.

only problem i've found is that you have to have high quality magazines.

[Tomcat088]

I agree with the assessments made here. $800 is too high for a mini, and that even accurized they probably aren't going to be as accurate as an AR. The Mini's are a piece of cake to clean, and you can't hardly get one to stop running. I've seen so many carried around this country (all dirt, and always blowing) with thousands of rounds down the tube without cleaning, they just keep shooting. Just to give you an idea of how dry it is here, the humidity has been in the teens this winter. I've never seen one fail, and I've been around them quite a bit, my dad has one of the originals (not a ranch rifle). I hear that the "new" mini's are actually a bit more accurate than the old ones, and just as reliable. Most of the 30 round magazines will NOT work unless they're Ruger's, or the expensive ones. Even some of the cheaper ones, as long as they're 20 rounds or less are kind of hit miss. All the ruger magazines work well in my experience. Anyway, just something to consider.

[Mtbkski]

Try to find a magazine over 5 rounds for the Mini one time. They are just about impossible to find. I had one large capacity magazine, and that ran me around $35. And that was almost 3 three years ago. Go with the AR if for no other reason, that one.

[Koli01]

ruger is now making and releasing for public consumption 20 round magazines.
(they used to only be available to police and such)
I have a 30 round pmag that works really well in mine. I saw some 20 round pmags yesterday and really would have like to try one but can't afford it to just try out right now.