8 Reasons why Mini-14 is Better than the AR15

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 2/23/2018 | J Hines

[w1n1]

Discussions can go on almost forever with the die hard AR’s and Mini-14 folks. For the Mini-14 fans here are 8 reasons why its better than the AR15.

1. has a Low Profile – looks more like a hunting rifle a subtle looking
2. Stock Trigger – outstanding trigger on the newer version (580 series) 5.5 to 6 lbs crisp pull
3. Maneuerability – The length is shorter than the AR another to note is the recoil forward of the stock – you can now make the length mini-14 shorter.
4. Longer Sight Radius – Rear sights same location but at the front the mini-14 sight is further out.
5. Piston Operation – Fixed gast piston is a cleaner gas system, plus less blowback if using a suppressor
6. Accuracy – Ruger has come up with a revised gas system that is less turbulant and fewer vibration helps the gun more accurate.
7. Cold Hammer Forged Barrel – gives you greater durability and longer barrel life.
8. All Stainless– complete rifle

Read (and video) the rest of this discussions on AR15 vs Mini-14 here. What do you all think?

[rockrr]

My younger brother had a Mini-14. He loved it most of the time but it would consistently jam in cold weather. He had it in the shop three times but no fix. He finally (reluctantly) sold it.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Mini 14’s are an inaccurate POS. Mr. GG2 had one for awhile and finally gave it away.

[nvcdl]

The Mini-14 used to be horrible for accuracy - 4-6moa average. AR-15s tend to be accurate 1-2 moa.

Supposedly they have improved the accuracy on newer models but they are still no where as good as a typical AR-15.

[Bikkuri]

I had a 4x scope on my mini, and could hit a jackrabbit up to about 300 yards...

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Exactly, that’s why I was wondering why is was listed as one of the advantages of the Mini14.

[Durus]

No way a mini-14 is more accurate than an AR.

[doorgunner69]

I gather they never hit anyone either, typical Mini-14 accuracy.

[PIF]

The GAU-19 has it beat in spades ...

[Mat_Helm]

The Mini-14's are great light and handy little rifles. They shoot minute of paint bucket. With an accu-strut to help reduce barrel whip and stinging after the barrel heats up it shoots minute or grapefruit (3 MOA). I have an original Ranch Rifle and a newer all stainless target model that could shoot minute of golf ball (1 MOA) with the ammunition dialed in, but was heavy and never as accurate as any of my H-Bars. So, I cut off the harmonic balancer and installed a threaded muzzle brake and it still holds 1 MOA with heavier 72 gr bullets.

They are more durable with the gas system, lighter and will shoot all day long without a jam or failure to fire. Bill Ruger designed this rifle as a handy fun sporting arm to carry in your truck and take care of varmints and other critters on the ranch and it does this perfectly. The rotating bolt action being the same design as the M1 Garand, M1A M-14, .30 Carbine, etc...in the .223 (5.56) made it practical and fun to shoot and own. It was never designed to be a target rifle or paper puncher.

My Rock River NMA2 with two stage target trigger and heavy contour fire lapped barrel will shoot 1/2 MOA with and without optics. The sights are match quality and wonderful. It is a heavy SOB with the big barrel. My Colt AR-15 A4 is light and compact with the shorter barrel and will easily shoot 1 MOA. With its chrome lined barrel it has never jammed, but boy does it get dirty and need disassembly cleaning of the bolt carrier group and upper receiver after every day at the range or in the field after a hundred rounds. The Mini-14 on the other hand just needs a single swab of the barrel with light oil and it is good to go. If I had to pick on for SHTF and had to depend on it without having to clean it would be the oldest most reliable .223 in the stable which is the original Min-14 Ranch rifle.

[Garth Tater]

I don't know about the accuracy of new Mini-14s, but older ones suck. You could get adjustable gas valves and barrel weights to "tune" the barrel whip but at best they were still less accurate than AR-15s.

In the plus column for the Mini's, you can put a folding stock on a Mini-14 that makes it a pretty good car gun. You can't fold an AR due to the recoil buffer.

But the absolutely worst thing about the Mini-14s was their  ability  tendency to go full auto if someone got a little too aggressive with a file while smoothing out the sear. This was such a problem (I mean who would want a short, light, full-auto rifle) that the govt required the company to make design changes (after approximately serial #176xxx) that would prevent this  capability  flaw.

Older Mini-30s had the same  capability  design problem.

[Sopater]

The obvious solution is to have both. But don’t try to explain it to your wife.

I know it! Right?

[sarge83]

Mini-14/30’s are no where near as accurate as a good AR. The very late models have allegedly improved their accuracy. My wife recently had a Mini-14 and sold it to buy new law furniture, as she had no faith in the rifle. Growing up her and her family routinely hunted groundhogs on a local farm and they found them terrible inaccurate for the caliber.

[Candor7]

Gharbi would likely have killed many even with a single shot rifle or shotgun............

Agreed. Canada has absolutely draconian gun laws, depending on how the provinces administer them. New Brunswick is horribly draconian.

[JudgemAll]

https://bearingarms.com/david-l/2017/05/01/springfield-armory-and-rock-river-arms-sell-out-illinois-ffls/

[JudgemAll]

Yes, indeed. We will note that firearm ownership is a right. It is the celebrity fame and money granting one a security detail that is a privilege.

The linguistic system of Political Correctness is meant to ingrain that their privileges should never be threatened by our rights. The case of Harvey Weinstein cover up hypocrisy by actresses all one needs to see. It was not fear of him but PC that made them submit.

[JudgemAll]

I meh’d 7.62x39 ARs until I found the bolt could be used for the mightier than 6.8 SPC 6.5 Grendl

[mountainlion]

The obvious solution is to have both

Some places will give you two receipts, one for what you told your wife you spent and one for the actual cost.

[Candor7]

I wish we had footage of all of Weinstein’s bend overs.The they could see their own ruination by virtue of political correctness. And whats more they could watch it repeatedly so it might sink in.

You and I only need to see it once.

[Do the math]

Polish the feed ramp and the mini-14 will not jam in cold weather. I love my mini-14.