Posted on 02/21/2014 1:18:26 PM PST by Chuckster
Seeking advice from experienced shooters. I am considering a New Rifle. I am in Alaska and the gun will spend a lot of time on a boat. I want something compact, light and semi-auto. I am trying to decide between an AR pattern or a Garand style action. I would prefer a .308 but the wife will likely be using it as much or more than me and her vote is for the Mini14. I think that is too light a caliber, and .223/5.56 ammo is hard to come by locally.
Any way, the Mini14 is half the price of the AR or any .308 I've seen so I turn to the experts here on FR for advice.
Mini30 should be a good compromise. If accuracy is not an issue - get SKS: cheap, reliable, economical to shoot.
mini 30
I second the SKS.
What do you intend to use the rifle for. I’m not sure why you’re walking around with a rifle and a shotgun. What am I missing?
I have both a Mini-14 and a SIG 556. The latter is fairly similar to the SR556 is some ways (.223, piston mechanism, AR ergonomics).
The latter is a greatly superior weapon. The accuracy is superior. The ergonomics are superior. Field stripping and cleaning is much easier. You might pay more, but you will certainly get more for that money.
One major ding on the Mini-14 is that to field strip and clean it, you need to remove any optic, and hence will have to re-zero it.
Minis, even the new ones, leave a lot to be desired in the accuracy department.
Consider a 30-30 lever gun. Ammo is getable, they are light, reliable, accurate, and ammo is getable...with the addition of a pad, recoil is workable for the distaff side, and ammo is getable.
If .223/5.56, go wih the AR. Just local opinion, but the Rugers are not battle rifles. Maybe the Mini-30 for ammo availability, but......
Good luck! prices are getting reasonable after the last round of crazy times.
KYPD
You can always get a AR in 223 and then get an additional upper in for instance 50 Beowulf
Mini 14 very reliable but not known for great accuracy.
“get SKS: cheap, reliable, economical to shoot..”
Boom, boom, and, boom. Fun to shoot too.
I would go with an AR-15 in 7.62mm,308 Winchester over the 5.56.I would be concerned about what you’d be using it for but the 7.62 is a hard hitting,long range round compared to the 5.56.
I’ve seen too many of those minis jam, I just don’t like the things. Designed for a 30-06.
The good news is you’ll have a fine weapon whichever you choose. The mini 14 is a very comfortable shooting rifle. Mine is very accurate up to 100 years with iron sights.
While our favored rifles are AR-15s, that’s primarily due to our limited range requirements, since a hundred yards would be a long shot at our place in the NH woods. Too, I did my army time, and got used the the thing. Too, the recoil works well with my wife.
But while wandering around a gun show with a few spare bucks, I met a Chinese AK-47 semi which came home with me.
I like the 7.62 better than the 5.56, and the functionality of the rifle in difficult to care for situations is beyond compare. I also like the 30 round mags which are cheap and available.
Consider getting one as it seems to be the best compromise in general use situations.
I’d take the worst AR type rifle over the best Mini 14. It’s WELL worth it to spend a little more money for the AR type rifle. I’ve owned both, and still own ARs.
There’s no comparison, except for the ammo they have in common.
Don’t even think about it any further.
If you’re looking to drop bears on the other hand, go with the .308(a 5.56 will just make them mad unless you make a WELL placed shot). A PTR91 or M14 would be good choices in a semi-auto. There are AR type rifles in .308, but they tend to be expensive, and parts aren’t as easy to come by.
Just do what I do, buy one, and put the other on lay away.
ping for an Alaskan shooter point of view
The Ruger AR is piston driven and a good rifle but pricey. Around here mini 14s are almost as much as an AR.
Classic Firearms has SKSs for about $300. Good rifles.
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