My AR went bye bye

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welder

Buckeye
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Sep 2, 2007
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western ky usa
I did it. I sold my last AR this week to a co-worker. I am now a Mini 14 guy through and through. I recently bought a Ruger 5820 to go with my other Mini and I really like it. I have a tall stack of Ruger mags, a few spare parts and a bit of ammo. :wink: I am set. They are backed up by the Ruger Scout and my Mossberg 590A1.
I have absolutely nothing against the AR, they are fantastic guns but just not for me. I never had a failure in any of the four I owned, they were accurate, reliable and solid, I just shoot and like the Ruger better. I have thought about going all Mini for several months and after my buddy made me an offer I couldn't refuse the decision was easy. I will hold on to the new in package mags I just bought for the AR for a bit but I believe I am through with them.
Here's my latest Mini along with my old 197 series:
Guns010.jpg
 
I, too, sold my AR and I am a Mini 14 guy now. Same feelings about both rifles. In my opinion, if old Bill had introduced the Mini a few years earlier there never would have been an M-16.

Your Mini 14s are good looking rifles, by the way.
 
I agree. If he had supported it with good available mags it would be much farther down the road too. I do wish firing pins were available from the factory even though I have never seen one fail and I have it on good authority that barring abuse I never will. I may not have a spare pin but I do have a spare Mini. :P
 
Ruger believes the firing pin should be installed by a good gun smith, 'factory adjusted' ... you can buy them on line through various dealers, but I don't know how to make sure it is hitting right and so would let a smith install it anyway. I suppose one could learn how to do it if need be.
 
If the Minis were accurate they would have a bigger following. I don't like the ARs either.
 
I am another one back to the Mini. Granted the AR's I have had run between 0.5-2 MOA, and the the Mini's 1.5-6MOA, I still perfer the Mini. The current Mini I have is a 1995, and it will run right at 2MOA with Hornady Z-Max, and about just over 3 MOA with cheap steel case HP's.
 
Mine does just over 2 MOA with iron sights, 63 grain Sierra JSPs, and 25.5 grains of 748. It would probably do better with scope and a bit more load development.
 
Love my Mini, too. ARs just seem like work guns.

mini1.jpg


Mine was kind of a project gun, and I have it just how I want it now. I expect it to be able to hit a person in the chest at 50 yards if I do my part, and it is certainly capable of that. I suppose it would even do that at 100 yards, and probably farther.

I also use it to shoot rocks in the desert, a feat it accomplishes handily.

I have put about 2,000 rounds through it since I got it a couple years ago. It has never jammed, not once. That was with a wide variety of ammo, from 55 grain FMJs and SPs, to 62 grain Partitions, to green tip penetrator stuff, even some old PMC ball in swollen boxes that had gotten wet somehow. The cases were half green, but they feed like they were greased.

I know the Mini gets bashed for being inaccurate. Maybe mine is, or maybe it's not. It did a nice small group on the side of a box at 50 yards when I sighted it in. That will probably be the only paper it gets shot at.

Nice AR vs Mini article: http://www.ar15.com/content/swat/200203-AR-15_vs_Mini-14.pdf
 
That's about what I do with mine. I routinely hit 6" steel at about 85 yards, open sights and while that is not fantastic shooting it is well within my requirements. I have never mounted a scope to a Mini and prefer the iron sights but that may change sometime soon due to age. Each year it gets a bit harder to see those little plates but I still manage. When i pick up the Mini it just shoulders perfectly for me. I like the lines and the reliability has always been there. My buddy who bought my last AR told me there is another 197 series SS Mini 14 at our LGS with a Nikon Prostaff scope in mint condition for 599.00. I plan on going over Tomorrow after work and see if it's still there and who knows maybe this time tomorrow night I'll have a third one. :?: :) :D
 
Well the Mini was indeed there today and is now on lay away. It is a Ranch SS 197 series and the scope is in excellent condition. This makes number three. I will post a pic when I get it out. My other 197 series will now become my truck gun. One for the truck and two for the house. I'm good to go.
 
I like my mini-14 GBF-SS as well as the AR I built (18" SS heavy barrel, blah, blah...). Each has it's place for me and both will hit any practical sized target I desire. I'm not going to choose between either any time soon or ever.
 
I am pretty happy with my Mini. I keep thinking about trading it in to get a AR...but somehow it still hasnt happened.


DSC03611.jpg




Probably because it shoots like this with an El Cheapo Red dot at 100yds

DSC08645.jpg
 
That's a good looking rifle and the target speaks for itself. Great shooting with your "el cheapo" red dot.

I had mine out yesterday shooting my standard 26.2 grains of 748 behind a 55 gr FMJBT in mil brass, and it was doing really well. Until I use up all of the 55 gr pills it will be what I shoot for a while. I sure love shooting my Mini.

That same load, incidentally, grouped MOA at 100 yards from my old Browning A bolt Micro Medallion with a 4X cheap scope. The first two rounds punched holes touching each other in each group. Not too shabby from a pencil weight barrel.
 
You are the first I have heard to sell their ARs in order to get mini 14s. I am glad to hear this as well, think you may have just convinced me to purchase one. I have been debating getting one over an AR. I love the look of the mini 14a much more so than the AR. And the traditional hold of the stock is much more appealing. I hear the improvements made to the newer mini 14s are also quite substantial. Mini 14 it is I think.
 
Well, I must confess, I was at my LGS and there was a SS Ranch model Mini14 from the 197 series. I have a regular series 197 Mini14 already and now it has a stable mate. It appears unfired and comes with a Nikon Pro staff scope that looks brand new. I will try to get a picture up soon. This makes three and counting. Time to buy more mags. :shock: :D
 
You seem to know a good amount on mini 14s, mind if I ask you a few things that are a bit hazzy for me?

1) The bolt locks back on the last round right? I hear people some times have trouble with this not occurring every time.

2) What mags do you run? Factory ruger only? Have you tried the GEN II Tapco mags (nutnfancy seems to adore them). How did you get over the "mag availability versus AR mags being everywhere."?

3) What are your thoughts on strut bars?

Thanks in advanced. I am envious that you will have two minis. I think the mini 14 tactical (with traditional style stock) looks amazing.


Sargents1~your mini 14 looks great, similar to how I would set up one. How do you like that strut bar and that Amega scout rail?
 
Yes you bet. The bolt does lock back on the empty mag.

I have not tried the GENII Tapco after being burned on so many other brands that would never feed. But I am open to try one of the new Tapco's. Hopefully someone besides Ruger has figured out the issues and will offer a better priced mag that will work. This would go a long way in helping sell the Mini to more folks.

I currently only use Ruger 20 rd. factory mags. They have been 100% trouble free for me, and I have about 20 or so. The price and availability issue is no where near as good as the AR's and probably never will be. I suppose I like the Mini enough to overlook this drawback but it is a hurdle. I try to pick one or two up when I have a few extra bucks.

The strut bars:
I am actually researching them now. I am just about convinced that they would help the thin barreled Mini's a great deal. They are quite popular over on www.theperfectunion.com forum. Plus they just look good to me. I am also toying around with the adjustable gas block for range use. I would like to try one along with my already installed Wilson buffers to tame the ejection down a bit. The Mini in it's factory original state can be pretty hard on your brass. I never use steel case ammo in anything so reloading is a big plus to me and I need my brass to be in good condition.

I would recommend a Mini to just about anyone in the market for a good solid reliable shooter. I realize they will never shoot on par with an AR in the accuracy dept. but for my requirements they fill the bill easily. Hope this helps a bit.
 
welder said:
I recently bought a Ruger 5820 to go with my other Mini and I really like it.
Click to expand...
Does your serial # start with 582-xxxxx? The Ruger site doesn't show mini serial numbers above 581-xxxxx. Is it a tactical or ranch? The picture looks like the 16" barrel of the tactical but no flash hider.
Found your gun gun listed on Rugers Law Enforcement page. It is called a Patrol rifle. I was looking at their civilian site earlier. On Rugers LE site the barrels on these guns look like the earlier barrels, not the newer tapered barrels. Do you have to be a LEO to buy these?
 
Mine is a 581 series, Ranch model with no flash hider. It has the new thicker tapered barrel. I saw it featured in a Davidson's ad and did not know they were made until then. They are not restricted and the one I have shipped with two 20 round mags and a pretty good sling. Shorter barrel and stock otherwise a typical Mini. I am embarrassed to say that it has yet to be fired by me, just really busy this year.
 
I have been back and forth on AR's and Mini's. I sold my Colt SP-1 to add a Mini-14 Ranch to my standard Mini years ago. I eventually sold the Ranch and kept my 183 series Mini; eventually added on Olympic AR-15 and a dedicated CMMG lower with a Chiappa .22 dedicated upper. I just recently added a 581 series Mini-30. The long and short of it is that I like both AR's and Minis. I also like my AK and SKS. They each have a purpose and all make me happy. Is that wrong?
 
I have been back and forth on AR's and Mini's. I sold my Colt SP-1 to add a Mini-14 Ranch to my standard Mini years ago. I eventually sold the Ranch and kept my 183 series Mini; eventually added on Olympic AR-15 and a dedicated CMMG lower with a Chiappa .22 dedicated upper. I just recently added a 581 series Mini-30. The long and short of it is that I like both AR's and Minis. I also like my AK and SKS. They each have a purpose and all make me happy. Is that wrong?
 
Not to diss you guys but I have a real hard time understanding the love affair with Mini14's....

I've tried a couple and the best they would do was around 3+ inches at 100 yards with high quality ammo (that was with a good scope).

Every one of my AR's will do under an inch and a couple will go under 1/2" if I do my part. Now add to that all the parts / accessories the AR platform has such as match triggers, excellent sights, scope mounting systems, free float hand guards, endless stock options, easy barrel swaps,etc...

Why would I want Mini14? I don't... Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of Ruger products. I have some great Ruger bolt actions and handguns but I'll never go down the Mini14 path again. IMO they just don't compare to an AR.
 
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