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YAGT: Ruger Mini-14 v. Mini-30 v. AR

roguerower

roguerower

Diamond Member
12/1/2011 UPDATE:

Pulled the trigger on my first rifle. Ended up going with a loaded Springfield M1A. It has a "national match" barrel, front sight, and an adjusted trigger assembly. Couple of pictures:

IMG_20111201_152407.jpg

IMG_20111201_155125.jpg

IMG_20111201_152500.jpg


Apologize for the shitty picture, I'll try and take another couple later. Looking forward to taking it to the range this weekend!

*snip*
 
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Look, frankly in my opinion the Mini-14 is for the people who cant afford the AR.

I consider the AR a better all around platform. Having said that, I also consider the AR one of the best weapons platforms ever developed.
 
I have both a Mini 14 and an AR-15. I like both guns but if I had to choose I would take the AR. The one thing the Mini 14 needs to make it a better gun is aftermarket sights because the stock ones suck. You could get the ranch model but I don't like scopes so I have the standard model in stainless.

The one nice thing about the Mini 14 is the action. It is the same action as used in the M1 Garand, the M-14, and the M1 Carbine. Very robust and easy to strip down. I have no idea what availability of high capacity mags is like for the Mini 14. I only have one 30 round but I have quite a few for the AR as they were much easier to find when I was actually actively into guns.
 
I've fired a friend's AR-15, and I own a Mini-14 in stainless, and have to say that I prefer my sights more than my friend's (but his aren't "stock" sights, I'm pretty sure). I can accurately fire out to 330 yards (300 meters, longest distance at the range I use) with stock sights on my mini-14, so I really don't feel they're a problem.

So far as the mini-14 being the poor man's AR, that's bull. They're designed for different uses, and nowadays you can build an AR for around the same price as a retail mini-14, so that's more of an opinion than a fact. 🙄

That being said, the reasons why the US military establishment decided to switch from the M-14 to the M-16 is that the ammo is lighter (allowing you to carry more rounds per pound), and the bullet is a small diameter, high velocity shell, with a pretty flat trajectory (when I'm shooting out to 300 meters, I'm not having to give the rifle any rise to compensate for the distance). The .30 caliber round that the M-1 and M-14 fired would do a lot of damage, and can plow through brush a bit easier, but they also dropped a lot more over distance.

Also, while ammo prices were sky high a couple years ago, they've come back down quite a bit, and you'll be able to purchase a lot more rounds of .223/5.56mm, than you will of .30 caliber.

You might also consider checking out an AK-74, which fires a 5.45 x 39mm round. A buddy has one, and he says it's a blast to shoot with. 😎
 
marvdmartian said:
I've fired a friend's AR-15, and I own a Mini-14 in stainless, and have to say that I prefer my sights more than my friend's (but his aren't "stock" sights, I'm pretty sure). I can accurately fire out to 330 yards (300 meters, longest distance at the range I use) with stock sights on my mini-14, so I really don't feel they're a problem.

So far as the mini-14 being the poor man's AR, that's bull. They're designed for different uses, and nowadays you can build an AR for around the same price as a retail mini-14, so that's more of an opinion than a fact. 🙄

That being said, the reasons why the US military establishment decided to switch from the M-14 to the M-16 is that the ammo is lighter (allowing you to carry more rounds per pound), and the bullet is a small diameter, high velocity shell, with a pretty flat trajectory (when I'm shooting out to 300 meters, I'm not having to give the rifle any rise to compensate for the distance). The .30 caliber round that the M-1 and M-14 fired would do a lot of damage, and can plow through brush a bit easier, but they also dropped a lot more over distance.

Also, while ammo prices were sky high a couple years ago, they've come back down quite a bit, and you'll be able to purchase a lot more rounds of .223/5.56mm, than you will of .30 caliber.

You might also consider checking out an AK-74, which fires a 5.45 x 39mm round. A buddy has one, and he says it's a blast to shoot with. 😎
Click to expand...

Ohhh, look at Mr Rolly Eyes!

I made it quite clear it was my opinion. Thank you for reaffirming that.
 
Mini 14? AR 15
Mini 30? AR 10.

I looked at AK 47s but hear that they are not very accurate.
AR 10 is my next rifle.
 
oldsmoboat said:
Mini 14? AR 15
Mini 30? AR 10.

I looked at AK 47s but hear that they are not very accurate.
AR 10 is my next rifle.
Click to expand...

Mini 30 and AR10 are not compatible rounds, so that makes no sense.

AR10 is not very common, which means expensive mags, parts, etc.

You could buy a 7.62x39 upper for the AR, I had one at one point from Colt. Much more versatile than the mini-x guns.:biggrin:
 
schneiderguy said:
mini14Humor.png
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Wow. That's a pretty resounding answer to my question.

M1A would be a sweet rifle to own, but I think at this point it might be a little overkill. Maybe next...unless someone can give me a really good argument for it.

Based upon the information given in the chart by rob_s, is there any point with getting a fully assembled AR made by a company other than Colt SP6940 or BMC M4?
 
roguerower said:
Wow. That's a pretty resounding answer to my question.

M1A would be a sweet rifle to own, but I think at this point it might be a little overkill. Maybe next...unless someone can give me a really good argument for it.

Based upon the information given in the chart by rob_s, is there any point with getting a fully assembled AR made by a company other than Colt SP6940 or BMC M4?
Click to expand...

BMC is so cheap I'm not sure why you'd bother. LMT and DD are alright too.
 
roguerower said:
Wow. That's a pretty resounding answer to my question.

M1A would be a sweet rifle to own, but I think at this point it might be a little overkill. Maybe next...unless someone can give me a really good argument for it.

Based upon the information given in the chart by rob_s, is there any point with getting a fully assembled AR made by a company other than Colt SP6940 or BMC M4?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't bother getting a $800 Stag or S&W when you can get a BCM or Colt for $150-200 more.

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6920

I've got a Colt 6920 upper on a Stag lower (most Colt lowers are on the banned list here in CA 🙁) and it's been flawless through about 500 rounds so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzfm4pYhIyY

Derp derp AR15 unreliable derp derp 😛
 
I own both a Mini-14 as well as AR-15s. The AR definitely gives you more flexibility in configuration, and there are far more choices available to dress it up however you want to (although the newer "tactical" Ruger has leveled the field somewhat). While high-capacity magazines are available for both, there are more (and cheaper) options for the AR. Also, you will find that any time you ask questions about the Mini anywhere but a site geared towards Ruger owners, you will get mocked like you did here. Personally I don't care, as my Mini has been flawless AND accurate, but to be honest I do grab an AR out of the safe far more frequently now.
 
schneiderguy said:
I wouldn't bother getting a $800 Stag or S&W when you can get a BCM or Colt for $150-200 more.

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6920

I've got a Colt 6920 upper on a Stag lower (most Colt lowers are on the banned list here in CA 🙁) and it's been flawless through about 500 rounds so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzfm4pYhIyY

Derp derp AR15 unreliable derp derp 😛
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Not sure why that moron keeps racking the charging handle between each new magazine. 😵
 
400-500 yards max? I think you're looking for something that shoots .308. Standard .223 rounds are only going to be accurate around 300 yards unless you buy special ammunition or make your own.
 
Scarpozzi said:
400-500 yards max? I think you're looking for something that shoots .308. Standard .223 rounds are only going to be accurate around 300 yards unless you buy special ammunition or make your own.
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I've taken Wolf to 300 yards. You can get factory ammo to run far beyond 300 yards accurately. That said there are better tools for the job. If I wanted a AR platform to go beyond 300 yards I'd go with a 6.5 Grendel.

Oh wait, I did. 😉
 
Scarpozzi said:
400-500 yards max? I think you're looking for something that shoots .308. Standard .223 rounds are only going to be accurate around 300 yards unless you buy special ammunition or make your own.
Click to expand...

Just throwing a number out there. Distances probably won't be anything close to that far. Thanks for the heads up though. Guess I'll save the long shots for the M1A 🙂
 
spidey07 said:
Because the bolt catch release is probably too hot to hit.
Click to expand...



He's wearing gloves though, and my experience was a slight tap would send the bolt forward. It just looks retarded and it bugs me since video games also include that racking back of the charging handle on M16 variants each time a magazine is loaded.

Just a pet peeve I guess.
 
roguerower said:
Just throwing a number out there. Distances probably won't be anything close to that far. Thanks for the heads up though. Guess I'll save the long shots for the M1A 🙂
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More gun doesnt make a better marksman.

AR15's with iron sights are routinely used in competitions out to 600 yards.

http://www.6mmbr.com/highpowerbasics.html

AR15's, or at least 223/556, are also used in 1000 yard competitions.

Dont underestimate the 223/556.
 
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