Ruger Mini 14 or Mini 30? What do you guys think?

[308Scout]

Minis had a reputation for mediocre accuracy for years. The problem was traced to poor barrel harmonics. Once that was addressed in production the issue went away.

Yep - The barrel harmonics on the early models (18X serial numbers) was horrible - thus, the "accu-strut" being used by many to correct for this and get better accuracy. Ruger re-tooled production in 2003, IIRC. The post re-tooling models (580+ serial numbers) don't benefit from the strut. I've found my later model to be just as accurate as my basic no-frills AR.

 

[IronEye]

There is something that is "just right" about the open top bolt on the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M1A and Mini 14/30. The nostalgia is a big attraction for me. I won't argue with anyone that there might be more accurate, reliable, efficient, adaptable or cheaper options.

 

[rondon600]

A US Special Forces ODA team sold me on the mini 14. But the day I turned 18 a co worker and part time FFL wanted me to buy a m16 showed me a mossberg 590 and I couldn’t resist. That was all the extra funds I had for a while.

 

[Huckleberry]

A US Special Forces ODA team sold me on the mini 14. But the day I turned 18 a co worker and part time FFL wanted me to buy a m16 showed me a mossberg 590 and I couldn’t resist. That was all the extra funds I had for a while.

Hannibal, Face, B.A. and Murdock Approve

Hannibal doesn't love it when a plan doesn't come together

 

[mauser58]

Years ago I looked at mini thirties on and off and almost bought one. I have a S.S. Ranch Mini 14 and a Centennial model I never shot so far.

 

[wreckdiver]

Still kicking myself for not picking up one of the police trade ins Lou45 had for $500 about 10 years ago.

 

[smdub]

If Ruger had designed the Mini-14 around the AR-15 magazine they might have enjoyed far greater market share. The proprietary magazine design increases the investment needed into owning one. Clone magazines have generally shown spotty reliability.

Like the AR series of rifles…the Mini is more reliable with the caliber it was designed around. The magazine well dimensions make it difficult to design a magazine for some calibers like the 7.62x39.

If Ruger had designed around stanag mags, the rifle wouldn't look right. The mag catch is in the wrong location (much too far down.)

The mini-30 has a redesigned magwell. You can NOT convert a 14 to a 30 w/ a bolt and barrel change. The receivers are different (which is not the case w/ an AR chambered in x39)

 

[calicojack]

I have owned three mini 14s. To me the AR 15 platform is better and offers better value. OTOH if you want a really interesting cool Ruger autoloading rifle take a look at the Ruger SFAR.

Ruger® SFAR™ Autoloading Rifle Models

ruger.com

I actually handled one at Hannover Armory as well as a POF. The POF seems to be VERY well made. Both of these though are very different from a Mini. Could argue that the AR10-sh platform would have higher priority on the bucket list than the Mini. That's what has happened every time I looked at a Mini14 to date.

 

[calicojack]

Somebody has to say it but Mini-14 threads make me miss Lou45

Also reminds me of fuching up by not buying one of the Mini-14s he was selling especially one of the Stainless GB

I talked with Lou twice, at two different Gun Shows. I think he liked the Mini-14 but not so much the Mini-30. Or perhaps I am confusing him with someone else.

 

[Bullfrog]

Minis had a reputation for mediocre accuracy for years. The problem was traced to poor barrel harmonics. Once that was addressed in production the issue went away.

Ruger re-tooled production in 2003, IIRC. The post re-tooling models (580+ serial numbers) don't benefit from the strut. I've found my later model to be just as accurate as my basic no-frills AR.

For anyone shopping for a pre-owned one, here is how to distinguish between old and redesigned barrels:

And on the rifle, old:

And new:

 

[jimbobborg]

The one big flaw about the 30 was that it didn't always pop steel cased ammo. The big flaw with either in the early days was they'd lose accuracy over time. Partially due to people cleaning them after every range sesson. The wood stock would compress and decompress every time the rifle was disassembled for cleaning. They don't really need cleaning that often, and the action would eventually loosen up inside the stock. Moving them to a synthetic stock alleviated this issue, but then the rifle lost a lot of its charm.

 

[calicojack]

The one big flaw about the 30 was that it didn't always pop steel cased ammo. The big flaw with either in the early days was they'd lose accuracy over time. Partially due to people cleaning them after every range sesson. The wood stock would compress and decompress every time the rifle was disassembled for cleaning. They don't really need cleaning that often, and the action would eventually loosen up inside the stock. Moving them to a synthetic stock alleviated this issue, but then the rifle lost a lot of its charm.

Interesting. A stainless synthetic stock is attractive.

 

[Trepang]

Love my Mini-14.

I understand the practicality of an AR, but IMHO, they lack the character of wood and steel.

 

[skeet 028]

Have a mini 14.Nice looking rifle...except Stain less. What would be great is if we could get a mini 14_to shoot. I don't have a lot of money in mine but I have a Bushmaster Varminter that cost 800 bucks that makes the Mini look terrible...and mine will shoot under 2 inches which is generally very accurate for a Mini 14.The Bushy will do that at around 300 yatds. My daughter shot Pdogs here on the ranch with the Bushmaster. A waste of ammo with the Mini. I have a friend with a Mini 14 who had a good gunsmith do accuracy work on his Mini. Some days he can do an inch and a half. He has an M1A with minimal accuracy work that will do an I inch and a half any time. It ain't just trigger work to make a Mini shoot

 

[Huckleberry]

I talked with Lou twice, at two different Gun Shows. I think he liked the Mini-14 but not so much the Mini-30. Or perhaps I am confusing him with someone else.

Did he offer to show you his Johnson back at the shop?

 

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Would live to find a C&R-able one

Sent from my SM-T733 using Tapatalk

 

[Biggfoot44]

The bad news is that a Mini isn't an AR .

The good news is that a mini isn't an AR .


It's not modular , to quickly swap everything .

Some people like the handling qualities of traditional stocks, and having close spacing between line of sight , and bore center .

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

The traditional stock is much better for butt stroking someone...if you like that sort of thing.

 

[308Scout]

The bad news is that a Mini isn't an AR .

The good news is that a mini isn't an AR .


It's not modular , to quickly swap everything .

Some people like the handling qualities of traditional stocks, and having close spacing between line of sight , and bore center .

Like most folks on here, I have an AR for what it is. I have a Mini-14 for the same reason.

 

[emerald]

A Mini 14 is on my short list. I really like wood. I like my AR, but I like my traditional rifles more. My M1A is one of my favorites. The idea of having something similar in 5.56 is really appealing.