Suitability of Ruger Mini 14 Rifles and .223 Ammo

Self ^ | 10-2-2001 | Don Myers

[Don Myers]

This is a pure vanity. We have been doing a lot of talking about terrorism and the "war." I have two Ruger Mini 14s. Well, one is a Ranch Rifle and one is a Mini 14. They are virtually the safe rifle with minor differences. I have not even been able to fire them yet. A local police agency turned them in to a local gun store. I think that I should have bought more of them. The Ranch rifle has a scope.

Anyway, I am sure there are many of you who have these guns. I am curious as to what you think about the suitability of the gun and the ammo in a self-defense role in which rifles may be used. There may be a time when a rifle may be necessary to repel multiple hostiles.

[from occupied ga]

A general comment to everyone who makes the foolish statement that the sound of a pump action shotgun is such a great deterrent

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...

[glc1173@aol.com]

"I would prefer a Colt AR15, or a semi-auto M14 308, but the Rugers aren't bad"

Thing to remember: high-caps for Mini-14s that are reliable are hard to find and expensive.

Get only factory Ruger high-caps or Thermold high-caps. (Thermolds are $50 at shows.) The others are unreliable. With reliable high-caps so much more expensive for Mini-14s than for AR-15s, the Ruger no longer looks like a bargain.

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[Travis McGee]

I hope that I get the book out sooner rather than later, but it's hard to be precise, I just can't crank it out like sausage, sadly.

[Space Wrangler]

Well, I wouldn't expect you to be able to crank it out like sausage, but I'm sure all the time you have spent on it will be very much worthwhile when you're done. Sign me up for an advanced copy! ;>))

[Travis McGee]

Don't worry, I won't be keeping it secret, that's for sure.

[Vistabees]

I guess I’d have to ask how much shooting you do, and what type of shooting. The .223 is plenty accurate for competitive shooting, not at all difficult to punch the x at 600 yards in highpower service rifle. I started with an off-the shelf M16, with thousands of rounds through it, at at my very first highpower competition shot a 698 (of 800). It was good enough to win my novice class. Basic M16, with M193 ball ammo.

[Vistabees]

Each have their preference, but I was USAF, training with Army Special Forces a number of years ago. They were playing the enemy role, and carrying AK47’s. Halfway through, they all came back to the armory where I was working, and traded them for M16s.

[Vistabees]

Yeah, the wind here in SD sucks pretty bad some days. I want to get out west and do some groundhog whacking, but haven’t had the chance. I do use my mini 14 for deer, it does fine on our cornfed whitetails.