Author Topic: Need an opinion on Mini-14/30. (Read 1470 times)

miko2d · « **on:** January 06, 2003, 03:47:51 PM »

Anyone have experience with either one of those and advice that may affect my selection? I am still undecided whether to go with 14 or 30, blue or stainless and if 14, whether to select a Ranch model - though I am leaning towards 14 regular, in stainless steel - to possibly be later painted with dark epoxy enamel.

I have made quite a research on the subject, know all the stats. Personal impression is what I look for.

miko

rc51 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2003, 06:47:20 PM »

there both junk!
Get a bolt action rifle and learn to shoot.

UserName · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2003, 06:57:01 PM »

Agreed.

But if you want a semi-auto with a capability for taking large clips (dunno if your state prohibits them or not), get an SKS.

They should still be pretty plentiful, and they're rugged as hell. Just be careful you clean it well. If you let the firing pin accumulate crud (or if you don't clean the gunk the ChiCom SKS's come in well enough), it'll slam fire on you, and that is not a pleasant experience. It's also known to slam fire using reloads and some US ammo, but I've yet to experience that. Stick with Russian HP ammo, that'd be safest.

The Yugo SKS's are the nicest looking ones, but the Russian ones are good too. ChiCom's aren't bad, but you should be a bit wary of them.

rc51 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2003, 07:14:55 PM »

try one of these

miko2d · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2003, 09:17:39 PM »

I live in NY City. Most of the stuff is banned here - SKS, AR, etc.
Bolt action is fine for hunting or sniper work. I am not really interested in either of those now.

miko

Dago · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2003, 09:40:20 PM »

Mini-14 is a fun plinker. Stainless is preferrable I think. The blue version is nice too. Lotta aftermarket stuff out there. You can get surplus 5.56 pretty cheap, some good Russian hollowpoint can be had in 500 rd qts good and cheap.

Do you need an expensive bolt action? I dont know, depends on what you want to do with the weapon. Just want to have fun plinking, the Mini-14 is a good choice. The 30 is good too, consider the price of the ammo and the recoil change when making your selection.

Buy a weapon to fill your need for what you want to do, not so it can make you feel like a man.

dago

-ammo- · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2003, 10:34:17 PM »

Owned a mini 14. I bought some surplu .223 ball ammo and had a ball with that little carbine. However, even with good ammo mine was not an overly accurate rifle. But nevertheless, I had a blast with the thing and did manage alleviate my Fathers pesky beaver problem with it:) The critter had a network of tunnels and dam's and it really liked the hardwood trees. It had to go.

funkedup · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2003, 02:04:01 AM »

A friend of mine has the Mini 30 and he swears by it. Good versatile gun that shoots cheap ammo.

BlkKnit · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2003, 07:38:44 AM »

I always prefer stainless, and the basic choice for you is .223 or .308 (7.62 x 39). Either one is good, and cheap ammo is abundant for either. Me, I want both!

rosco · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2003, 08:23:34 AM »

I have a mini 14. Its a fun gun to shoot, not terribly accurate but not as bad as some would lend you to believe, or it would depend on your defination of accurate I guess. Ive hunted wolves and foxes with it. Shot a few crows. Its a nice little bush gun. Short, easy to carry, always fires and is accurate enough for a hundred yards or less. If your looking to shoot groundhogs at 200 yards then forget it though.

I never use mine since they are restricted up here now. Its a blued ranch rifle with an elcheapo scope "tasco I believe" Id sell it to you for cheap, but im not sure how to get it to you. Im not one for smuggling firearms across the border

lazs2 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2003, 08:30:59 AM »

I have a mini 14 in stainless. They are not the most accurate but will easilyu group 4 inches at 100 yards and..... they are rugged... they eat everything you feed em and keep on going. You can get barrels and have them "accurized" with a 1/2 MOA if that is desired.. personaly.... I find em to be a rugged, accurate and fun little carbine. They also are not black so they are not mean ol assualt rifles... with the 5 shot clip in the clueless gun banners don't even notice em.
lazs

miko2d · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2003, 09:08:40 AM »

That was one of my considerations - they do not look "evil" while posessing basically the same capabilities as an AR-15 at a third of a price and being more reliable - and not banned in many places.

I understand that they group about 4" at 100 yards out of the box but apparently $70 worth of tinkering reduces it to sub 2" - stock bedding, smaller gas bushing, trigger job, muzzlebrake/compensator, recoil buffer.

Allegedely stainless tend to string worse than blued when the barrel gets hot, so if one is ever in a prolonged firefight, he would have to compensate.

rosco: If your looking to shoot groundhogs at 200 yards then forget it though.
I never use mine since they are restricted up here now. Its a blued ranch rifle... Id sell it to you for cheap, but im not sure how to get it to you.

I am looking for a para-military weapon, not a varmint or sniper gun. Sturdy functional iron sights and ease of maintenance are desirable. It seems that stainless regular would fit the bill. Anyway, I have time to decide at least untill my NY City rifle permit is issued, hopefully by spring.

But I would consider buying your Ranch once I have a permit.
Name your price here or in a private message, also any details about the rifle, rounds shot, etc. I am sure it is legal to send it through the mail from Canada to US and will find out the details if we make a deal.
Alternatively, you can go to the Mini-14 forum on http://www.perfectunion.com/forums and offer it there. You may even sell it to another canadian.

miko

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2003, 09:12:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by miko2d
That was one of my considerations - they do not look "evil" while posessing basically the same capabilities as an AR-15 at a third of a price and being more reliable - and not banned in many places.

An AR-15 can be picked up for around $550, and a Mini-14 for about $400. The price difference is no nearly what you claim it to be.

I don't know of any place in the US where the AR-15 is banned. Especially since you can only buy them when they are in compliance with fed standars.

AKDejaVu

LePaul · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2003, 09:30:05 AM »

I was checking into Mini-14s way back when, as I had a Ruger 10/22 that was a ball to shoot, very accurate, and as Laz said, will shoot anything you feed it (tho stay away from those tacky .22 shot-shells...little gel filed shotgun like pellets....they barely make it out the barrel and dont have to power to make the gun reload). I opted for a Ar-15 H-bar since with my military training, know now to take them apart, clean, etc.

Ar-15s are great, very accurate. I'm not a huge fan of the big spring in the stock or the muzzle jump...but that aside, it was my favorite gun.

I paid $900 for mine way back when and sold it a few years ago to my mechanic because my truck at the time needed a lot of work. Sigh. Looking to get one again, but new are pricey. Aieee

Sideline: Where can you find a high capacity clip for a 10/22? The rotary clip leaves a lot to be desired.

miko2d · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2003, 09:40:18 AM »

AKDejaVu: I don't know of any place in the US where the AR-15 is banned.

California. New York City (where I live). Canada. Probably other places.
I may be a bit off with AR-15 pricing, not concentrating on one, but it is considerably more expensive. Not the least becasue it has many more parts, more complicated parts and is generally made to stricter tolerances.

Especially since you can only buy them when they are in compliance with fed standars.

Local standards are often more restrictive than federal ones. Only 5-round mags in NYC, for example. No pistol grips. No barrel shrouds or flashhiders. No folding stock and you can forget about a grenade launcher or a bayonet...

miko