Posted on 07/27/2016 1:12:46 PM PDT by w1n1
I have a mini-14 and I love shooting it, until it gets hot. It is very accurate, until it warms up. My Bushmaster xm 14 e2s never has a problem with heat. But what do I know (US Army expert, NRA sharpshooter - 1 bar.
I know. $99. Should have bought a crate of them.
came with the field kit, strap, and some other stuff.
so thick with cosmoline or whatever I could have buried in the yard and it would still be good today. 1996 I think.
Ruger products are rock solid in my experience. My EDC revolver is an SP101.
L
I went through the “mini-14 phase”.
To be fair, older versions, and horribly inaccurate.
Overall, don’t waste your time with them, unless there is an AWB, because the AR is superior in almost every way.
Horrible mags (at the time)
I’ve got 2 older Ranch models in stainless. As long as you know their limitations they’re quite useful. Ours are SHTF rifles, inside 150 yards or so.
Fun to shoot, fer sher.
L
The Tapco Gen2 polymer mags aren't bad at all. Those are the ones with the steel reinforcing tab on the front, to prevent the plastic from wearing on the rifle's mag locating pin. Fit seems to vary based on series, though, but they're inexpensive enough to buy and try.
The Ram-Line AR-Mini combo mags were pretty good for range use, I used to have a bunch of those which worked perfectly in both rifles. Others hate on 'em, but I liked the little translucent devils.
If I were to give advice, and nobody asked so you get what you pay for, I would suggest to get one of the few Saiga IZ-240’s that are left out there ( in 5.45x39) with the chrome lined, hammer forged barrel, convert it with a Tapco trigger, Hogue rubber pistol grip, folding stock, several Circle 21 30 round magazines and a couple tins of 7n6 ammo...
You will pay less overall, have a gun that is indestructible, accurate, no recoil, and lasts forever.
Lost em in a hurricane? That blows.
There are two big problems that will preclude me from ever buying a Mini-14.
One, they only use Ruger magazines, which are getting more and more expensive. You’d think Ruger would recognize the benefit of allowing them to use the same magazine as the AR.
Two, there are no repair kits for them. If something goes wrong, you gotta send it in for repair or take it to a gunsmith.
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