Galil vs mini 14?

[krashmania]

Not trying to spark a giant debate, but just curious. I think I'll get something in 5.56 eventually, but just don't have the desire for an ar. Dont really plan on going wild with aftermarket nonsense, but might do an optic due to poor eyesight.

I hear a lot of positives for the mini, and people talking of building galils, and both interest me.

I'll probably get both eventually, but how about some votes for which first?

Maybe worth mentioning, but I usually shoot a saiga, which I'll be converting soon, so perhaps something could be said for familiar manual of arms...

 

[BLACKTALON]

Not trying to spark a giant debate, but just curious. I think I'll get something in 5.56 eventually, but just don't have the desire for an ar. Dont really plan on going wild with aftermarket nonsense, but might do an optic due to poor eyesight.

I hear a lot of positives for the mini, and people talking of building galils, and both interest me.

I'll probably get both eventually, but how about some votes for which first?

Maybe worth mentioning, but I usually shoot a saiga, which I'll be converting soon, so perhaps something could be said for familiar manual of arms...

I have had alot of Saiga and loved them the cheap route is a Mini around 600 bucks the expensive route would be a galil SAR kit from apex made on a cnc warrior receiver made by tangalil I wanted a micro for a long time but the parts kit alone was as much as 3-4 saiga's lol

 

[rj1974]

Ive never messed with a Galil but I have a few Minis and love them , never had a problem out of them and they eat any ammo Ive put in them .

 

[erwos]

I'm one of those Galil builders. Let me give you my opinion.

Building a Galil properly is expensive. The parts kit is $300, the receiver is $400, a barrel worth using is ~$175, Tapco G2 for $25, and build costs will run you $300-$500 (FYI, Tenngalil is nearer to the top of that scale). This route is probably going to run you closer to $1400, and even more if you care about working night sights, AR adapter, lightening cuts, engraving, or want a different handguard. Want an SAR or an ARM? You're probably going to run straight to $1800-$2000 by the end of the project. Now, mind you, you're going to have one of the best built Galils on earth, better in most respects than the IMI originals. But this is not the cheap route. It's a lot cheaper to go with a Golani and then send it to TennGalil for fixing, but at the end of the day, it's still a Golani, it still has a mediocre barrel and a questionable receiver.

You mentioned optics. The optic situation on Galils is not great. The PRI scope mount sits real high. The FAB Defense handguard sits far forward and is plastic/polymer, but most people find it tough enough for serious use. And, of course, there's the MI rail, which is aluminum but more expensive. I am not mounting an optic to my Galil SAR.

Now, Mini-14s... I know that Lou was selling nice Mini-14s for like $450. Buy one of those, slap a Troy chassis on it (the complete one with sights), and you've got a pretty sexy weapons system for ~$1100. It also gives you a full rail to mount optics up on. IMHO, for the "I must have a piston in my AR" crowd, it's worth a look. The magazine situation is less than optimal, though; no super-cheap pmags for it.

To be perfectly honest, though, if you need optics and 5.56, I'd stick with an AR-15. It's cheaper, and in many ways, better. Sure, it's a cliche... but there's a reason so many people own them.

 

[krashmania]

I'm one of those Galil builders. Let me give you my opinion.

Building a Galil properly is expensive. The parts kit is $300, the receiver is $400, a barrel worth using is ~$175, Tapco G2 for $25, and build costs will run you $300-$500 (FYI, Tenngalil is nearer to the top of that scale). This route is probably going to run you closer to $1400, and even more if you care about working night sights, AR adapter, lightening cuts, engraving, or want a different handguard. Want an SAR or an ARM? You're probably going to run straight to $1800-$2000 by the end of the project. Now, mind you, you're going to have one of the best built Galils on earth, better in most respects than the IMI originals. But this is not the cheap route. It's a lot cheaper to go with a Golani and then send it to TennGalil for fixing, but at the end of the day, it's still a Golani, it still has a mediocre barrel and a questionable receiver.

Oh goodness... Well, I suppose I'll be waiting until post med school for that galil...

 

[-Z/28-]

MINI-14.

I love my mini. Very rugged and reliable. Simple operation and disassembly. Ruger made in the US quality. The only possible downside would be the proprietary mags, which are expensive and look deceivingly like AR mags.

 

[rj1974]

MINI-14.

I love my mini. Very rugged and reliable. Simple operation and disassembly. Ruger made in the US quality. The only possible downside would be the proprietary mags, which are expensive and look deceivingly like AR mags.

I have a old smoked / clear Ramline Mag that works in both the Mini and AR . I have a weekend project of taking a file to a Magpul and see what happens , At worst Ill be out $15 at best Ill have some 30s that will work in a Mini .

 

[nomo613]

i dont know anything about the galil, but i bought my b-i-l a mini for his birthday last year and he LOVES it. it came out to $715 out the door for the black synthetic stock one. only thing is that mags are sickly expensive, and i dont know how the optics systems work for it. i think i recall scarcqb saying that minis kill scopes, but youll have to ask someone more knowledgeable than me about that

 

[jawn]

i dont know anything about the galil, but i bought my b-i-l a mini for his birthday last year and he LOVES it. it came out to $715 out the door for the black synthetic stock one. only thing is that mags are sickly expensive, and i dont know how the optics systems work for it. i think i recall scarcqb saying that minis kill scopes, but youll have to ask someone more knowledgeable than me about that

Ultimak makes a scout mount for the Mini14 that may be the ticket for mounting something like an Aimpoint.

 

[rj1974]

Ultimak makes a scout mount for the Mini14 that may be the ticket for mounting something like an Aimpoint.

Have a Ultimak on one of mine , it works great .

 

[SKIP]

I feel Galils are the best in the AK series. Originals are expensive. I purchased this 372 30 years ago for $716. It shoots great.

 

[Markp]

Not trying to spark a giant debate, but just curious. I think I'll get something in 5.56 eventually, but just don't have the desire for an ar. Dont really plan on going wild with aftermarket nonsense, but might do an optic due to poor eyesight.

I hear a lot of positives for the mini, and people talking of building galils, and both interest me.

I'll probably get both eventually, but how about some votes for which first?

Maybe worth mentioning, but I usually shoot a saiga, which I'll be converting soon, so perhaps something could be said for familiar manual of arms...

Although I voted mini 14, what I would have voted is Mini-30 in 7.62x39. That seems to be the best of both worlds. It's not regulated and it fires 7.62x39.

M

 

[redsandman6]

there was a used mini at the timonuim show on saturday. i think it was $499.00. had some scope on it with the crappy side scope mount. i am not sure of what shop was selling it. they were to the left of shooter discounts.

my vote is for the mini.

 

[DarthZed]

Like erwos, I also have a Galil in the process of being built. His numbers are right on, other than Tenngalil quoted me about $700 for the build due to some extras I wanted (Hebrew markings, pinned flash surpressor, moly coated, ect.). I'd have to lean toward the Galil due to its combat history, and proven reliability under extreme conditions. The Mini-14 seems like a nice gun (Never owned one), but I'll take combat proven any day (And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that coolness factor plays into this decision as well).

 

[krashmania]

Or, just to throw this out, how about a saiga in 556 and work on that a little?

 

[mbz300sdl]

Mini-14 I have one it was my first gun I love it. I should shoot it more often than i do though.

 

[AwesomeBill]

Or, just to throw this out, how about a saiga in 556 and work on that a little?

A great way to go if you are on a budget! It works out of the box for less than $500, and you can modify as your time / budget allow. Once converted and with a bullet guide, you can run 30 - 35 rnd milspec mags. Different guns can be finicky with the milsurp mags - some will run with galil steel, some won't, some will run great with orlites, some won't, etc. I got my s223 before i got an AR, and it's been dead-nuts reliable, and pretty damn accurate.

 

[BLACKTALON]

can you get a 223 with the front end done already? thats half the work done already

 

[krashmania]

A great way to go if you are on a budget! It works out of the box for less than $500, and you can modify as your time / budget allow. Once converted and with a bullet guide, you can run 30 - 35 rnd milspec mags. Different guns can be finicky with the milsurp mags - some will run with galil steel, some won't, some will run great with orlites, some won't, etc. I got my s223 before i got an AR, and it's been dead-nuts reliable, and pretty damn accurate.

So, they have to take galil mags? Could one be made to take ar mags?

 

[BLACKTALON]

So, they have to take galil mags? Could one be made to take ar mags?

you dont want to go down that road... trimming trunnion and stuff. my buddy uses polish beryl mags or east German weiger mags