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Posted: 7/3/2009 8:42:35 AM EDT
| So I would like to purchase a 556 combat rifle. Ive been in the military and am unimpressed with AR platforms. I am a die hard M1a fan. Because of this I am considering going with the Mini 14. Anyone have any insight? Pros and Cons? |
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So I would like to purchase a 556 combat rifle. Ive been in the military and am unimpressed with AR platforms. I am a die hard M1a fan. Because of this I am considering going with the Mini 14. Anyone have any insight? Pros and Cons? The Mini-14 is comparable to the M1a in the same way that an Opel Gt is comparable to a big block 72 Corvette. From a distance they look kinda similar, but in terms of performance they are not comparable at all. If you don't like the performance of the AR you REALLY aren't going to like the peformance of the Mini. Cast parts, gas block bolted on (who the fuck thought that was a good idea?), non free floated, non chrome lined barrel, sights that suck, and you get the choice between expensive and hard to find factory hi cap magazines or aftermarket magazines that are cheap and plentiful but don't work well. Look elsewhere. |
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I have had no problems from my mini 14, and I would suggest one of those new Mini-14 Tactical rifles. 16in barrel, flash suppressor, and comes with a 20rd mag. Reliability is better then that of an AR, I will say that it is less accurate then an AR, but it can hit a man sized target at 300m no problem just don't expect tight groups. I joke around and call it the American AK. I can see why people don't like them, but I find that they are a great reliable carbine.
If you find that the mini is not for you but are still looking for a good cheap 5.56 rifle, I would also suggest an SLR106FR, and If cost is not really a concern then I think you need to look at an XCR. To get a better idea, what didn't you like about the AR? |
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I have had no problems from my mini 14, and I would suggest one of those new Mini-14 Tactical rifles. 16in barrel, flash suppressor, and comes with a 20rd mag. Reliability is better then that of an AR, I will say that it is less accurate then an AR, but it can hit a man sized target at 300m no problem just don't expect tight groups. I joke around and call it the American AK. I can see why people don't like them, but I find that they are a great reliable carbine. ...... To get a better idea, what didn't you like about the AR? This is how I feel. I'd say buy a used Mini, the new ones are a little too expensive for my tastes. |
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First is the gas system. I think that ones been covered before. Ive heard complaints about some of the more decent priced piston ARs, and the ones that are worth using are very pricy.
Secondly, the reliability of the AR is not impressive. Very well maintained and oiled its fine of course, but in the middle of a sandstorm you've got issues. The M1a seems much more rugged in that respect, and I would assume the mini is as well. Perhaps not from the feedback though? Didn't know that about the mags though? I also thought the mini was supposed to be very accurate. |
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Who told you the Mini is accurate? Compared to what, an AK? Maybe. Compared to an AR, hell no. Now if you handload, or carefully consider the barrel twist rate and load quality ammo of the exact right bullet weight, the Mini can be more accurate than its reputation, but honestly its reputation is for awful accuracy.
One of my favorite Mini-14 jokes: 
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You'll get nothing but abuse about the Mini on this site.
IMHO, this is because of a certain amount of snobbery, and also because a good many foloks can't shoot, and prefer to blame the rifle rather then themselves. I suspect a good many Minis have been damaged over the years by improper cleaning technique, as they must be cleaned from the muzzle. I doubt one in a hundred Mini owners has a muzzle guide. Probably a lot of these rifles, constantly being augmented in number by bubba-type owners, are the reason why the mini has a bad accuracy rep. OTOH, my Mini, with its original barrel, lightly tweaked, regularly wins matches against shorty AR owners who are long on gear/money and short on confidence/skill. It has MORE than paid for itself over the years in bets won against jackasses. I DO have a muzzle guide, and a coated rod. I think the Mini very likely to be less trouble-prone than most ARS by virtue of its design. I do not advocate buying a new Mini, as I don't think them a good value, although they have a lot of improvements over older versions of the same carbine. OTOH, if you can find a good used Mini, preferably stainless, for dirt cheap, then go for it. You might need a muzzle re-crown (cheap), or maybe a new barrel, but if the package is cheap enough, .... Good mags for the Mini have never been cheaper or more available, although good mags will never be as cheap as milsurp AR mags made in the zillions. Go to www.perfectunion.com. They are THE SITE for Minis of all types. With a good mini, good shooting skills, and a little luck, you can win some bet money from arrogant AR owners, too. |
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If you want an M14 clone, but the M1A or better yet and LRB Arms or Smith Enterprise M14 clone.
I've got nothing against the Mini-14, but all it has in common with the M14 is cosmetics and a "14" in the name. The gas system is completely different from the M14's––just do a Google image search for exploded views of both. Minis are not known for their accuracy, but that seems to be improving. Just curious––Did you actually experience any problems, first hand, with an M16 or M4 while you were in the military? |
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My first mini was decent shooter.
The next three not so good. Reliability with other than factory mags was acceptable for range use. Reliability with factory 5 round mags was 100%. Clean or dirty, dry or wet, hot or cold it didn't matter. I think the action is over gassed as well. Over priced for the way they shoot. Do not expect one to shoot up to AR15 base standards with out spending additional money. Few simple rugged parts. Classic old school feel. No modern collection is complete with out one. |
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I have had no problems from my mini 14, and I would suggest one of those new Mini-14 Tactical rifles. 16in barrel, flash suppressor, and comes with a 20rd mag. Reliability is better then that of an AR, I will say that it is less accurate then an AR, but it can hit a man sized target at 300m no problem just don't expect tight groups. I joke around and call it the American AK. I can see why people don't like them, but I find that they are a great reliable carbine. If you find that the mini is not for you but are still looking for a good cheap 5.56 rifle, I would also suggest an SLR106FR, and If cost is not really a concern then I think you need to look at an XCR. To get a better idea, what didn't you like about the AR? While I agree with this post, I have to ask, how is it possible to be greater than 100% which is how reliable my three remaining AR rifles have been? I finished cleaning my 16" HBAR a while ago, I fired almost 200 rounds of wolf, and almost 550 rounds of .22lr through the adaptor mixed in there, with no problems today. There were chunks of carbon and shit in the upper reciever, the bolt felt like it was full of sand, but it still fired 
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Quoted:
So I would like to purchase a 556 combat rifle. Ive been in the military and am unimpressed with AR platforms. I am a die hard M1a fan. Because of this I am considering going with the Mini 14. Anyone have any insight? Pros and Cons? The Mini-14 is a decent choice. It's strengths are reliability (as long as you use factory magazines; avoid the aftermarket ones like the plague) and handiness. Downsides are that it doesn't have the accuracy of the AR and the pencil thin barrel heats up quickly. From an accuracy standpoint, it's also pickier about its ammo than an AR. It's more difficult to bolt tacticool accessories on the wood stock version, if that's your thing, but the new "tactical" model has a stock with rails installed on it if you need them. Older Minis had some problems in the production phase, so I'd avoid a used one. The newer ones have barrels that are thicker in front of the gas block and taper down. This resists the heavy cantilevering effect of the barrel against the gas block and reduces barrel harmonics. These newer Minis are anywhere from 2 moa to 4 moa guns, depending on ammo. Not as accurate as an AR, better than an AK, similar to an M14. I recommend bedding the stock if you get one. Minis do tend to throw a bad flier now and then; stock bedding will usually eliminate this problem. If you do get an older one with the straight pencil barrel, there are options. A couple of guys make barrel stabilizers for them (I'm particularly fond of the Mo-Rod). These stabilizers mitigate the worst of the barrel heating effects and resist barrel whip, which tends to reduce groups. The newer ones, with the tapered barrels, while not as accurate as an AR-15, are plenty accurate for an HD / SHTF rifle. You can hit center of mass with one at 200 yards pretty easily. I have an AR and a Mini-14. I don't plan on parting with either. |
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I have had no problems from my mini 14, and I would suggest one of those new Mini-14 Tactical rifles. 16in barrel, flash suppressor, and comes with a 20rd mag. Reliability is better then that of an AR, I will say that it is less accurate then an AR, but it can hit a man sized target at 300m no problem just don't expect tight groups. I joke around and call it the American AK. I can see why people don't like them, but I find that they are a great reliable carbine. ...... To get a better idea, what didn't you like about the AR? This is how I feel. I'd say buy a used Mini, the new ones are a little too expensive for my tastes. Avoid the used ones. There were some production problems with older models. If you shop around, you can find news ones for $650-$700. Some of the older ones ended up with warped barrels because the front sight on them was pressed on. This obviously didn't do anything good for its accuracy. |
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So I would like to purchase a 556 combat rifle. Ive been in the military and am unimpressed with AR platforms. I am a die hard M1a fan. Because of this I am considering going with the Mini 14. Anyone have any insight? Pros and Cons? The Mini-14 is comparable to the M1a in the same way that an Opel Gt is comparable to a big block 72 Corvette. From a distance they look kinda similar, but in terms of performance they are not comparable at all. gas block bolted on (who the fuck thought that was a good idea?) Probably the same guy who thought it was a good idea to bolt the gas key onto an AR's bolt carrier 
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Quoted:
I have had no problems from my mini 14, and I would suggest one of those new Mini-14 Tactical rifles. 16in barrel, flash suppressor, and comes with a 20rd mag. Reliability is better then that of an AR, I will say that it is less accurate then an AR, but it can hit a man sized target at 300m no problem just don't expect tight groups. I joke around and call it the American AK. I can see why people don't like them, but I find that they are a great reliable carbine. If you find that the mini is not for you but are still looking for a good cheap 5.56 rifle, I would also suggest an SLR106FR, and If cost is not really a concern then I think you need to look at an XCR. To get a better idea, what didn't you like about the AR? I'll echo this. I don't know how much coin you have to spend, but there are several very excellent 5.56 semis out there. This is not to say the Mini-14 is a poor one; I love mine, but a man should know his options. The XCR is by all accounts an excellent rifle; I've never heard a negative comment about it. There is also the STG556, if you like the bullpup style. The Sig 556 is a good rifle, although I think they're grossly overpriced. |
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Mini's are great. I have a new tapered barrel "tactical" i love it. I love my AR as well. They are different guns. I do'nt know why but i've actually shot the mini more since i bought it than the AR. They are super reliable guns. Watch out...they throw brass into the next county. Don't ever stand on the right side of someone shooting a mini. Or shoot one from inside your vehicle b/c it's cold and you don't want to get out to prop up......that was an interesting first shot. All that said, i'm really wanting to look at an xcr or a 556.
Ither way, i'de still buy the mini if i had it to do back over again....... also....ar15.com hates mini's.....with a passion........... |
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Lots of mini's up here going strong with little care.
Take game from squirrels to walrus, brown bear with good success. Inherited a mini that was not cared for very well. Shoots good after i cleaned her up. It has never froze up on me in the cold on a snowmachine. Carried it on my lap or slung on back. Have had an ar freeze up on me even though it was set up for cold. They get the job done. Would get another if found the right one. They just do not like the mini here. |
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colklink
It has been my experience that the M16/M4 is not as reliable as most other 5.56 rifles out there. In my whole time working with foreign troops I think the one weapon it was more reliable then was the British SA80. The AR series has brought me home from 2 combat deployments as an 11B, but if I could choose I would have picked something else. There is a reason why SOCOM went looking for the SCAR, and why the Army as a whole is looking for a better weapon system. I am glad that your AR's have been 100%, but my experience has lead me to another conclusion. I have witnessed more then once of American soldiers getting killed because their M16/M4 failed them when they needed it the most. In long term combat operations/patrols I do not think the AR series is a good weapon. Its not just my experience that leads me to this conclusion, I volunteer at my local VA, and soldiers from the Vietnam War and up have had the same experiences/problems with this weapon platform. I think the AR is great for target practice, I also think it is good as a LE patrol car rifle, but I don't think the DI system was the right choice for a battlefield weapon. I think at the very least the Army should go to gas piston AR's. I don't mean to start an argument, I know there are other people who have had the complete opposite with the AR, but I stand by my own experience's. 
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colklink It has been my experience that the M16/M4 is not as reliable as most other 5.56 rifles out there. In my whole time working with foreign troops I think the one weapon it was more reliable then was the British SA80. The AR series has brought me home from 2 combat deployments as an 11B, but if I could choose I would have picked something else. There is a reason why SOCOM went looking for the SCAR, and why the Army as a whole is looking for a better weapon system. I am glad that your AR's have been 100%, but my experience has lead me to another conclusion. I have witnessed more then once of American soldiers getting killed because their M16/M4 failed them when they needed it the most. In long term combat operations/patrols I do not think the AR series is a good weapon. Its not just my experience that leads me to this conclusion, I volunteer at my local VA, and soldiers from the Vietnam War and up have had the same experiences/problems with this weapon platform. I think the AR is great for target practice, I also think it is good as a LE patrol car rifle, but I don't think the DI system was the right choice for a battlefield weapon. I think at the very least the Army should go to gas piston AR's. I don't mean to start an argument, I know there are other people who have had the complete opposite with the AR, but I stand by my own experience's. No aurgument, and I will give you your experience > my experience. I like the mini 14 but prefer the AR rifle. |
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I choce the Mini-30, Since all of my 5.56 shooting is done with my AR platforms.
If I had to save the lives of my family I would grab My LWRC M6A2 - I do like my Mini-30 and have plenty of Ammo in stock to feed it. Also the one that I picked up Is far more accurate than I expected it to be. I found it to be true that most previous owners do not know how to properly break down and clean the Mini's. Go for the expensive factory mags if you are going to bet your life on the Mini.......................... Get what you want and have fun!
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I will say this, weight, accuracy, and modularity on an M16/M4 can't be beat. I only have 1 problem with the AR, and that is the DI operation. Everything else is in my opinion is gtg. I don't own a AR right now, my brother does, and I also prefer it over the mini. I guess you could say I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to the AR . A couple of members here have actually got me thinking about building my own AR DMR clone, and to be honest the only reason I haven't yet is because I think the wife is going to let me get the SCAR. I will say this though, the most reliable AR that I have ever seen is my best friends Colt SP1, that thing has never had a hiccup in the 15+ years that I have known him, and he neglects the shit out of it.
I love my mini but it is not my SHTF weapon of choice. |
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First, I have had both.
My Mini was a 181-xx series. Mini Pros: 1) Was cheaper initially to buy. 2) Ate ANY ammo I put in it and asked for seconds....including the dreaded Olympic ammo. 3) Felt good, well balanced. 4) Simple mechanical operation. 5) Worked well even with Western mags.(that even the mini-14 websites hated) 6) More accurate than an AK. Mini Cons: 1) Skinny barrel got HOT after 3 rounds, couldn't touch it after 5. 2) Accuracy was "acceptable" until you reached that 5th round...then patterns got wider and wilder. Picture a 12ga. with #4 shot at 50yds from a skeet barrel. 3) Ammo became too costly to waste on erratic shots. Lost confidence in rifle's ability to place a shot where aimed when it was necessary to do so. 4) Ammo feeding from mag was never a problem....but getting the mag out of the rifle WAS. Crappy design by Ruger. The AR put the Mini to shame; in accuracy and versatility. If you were unhappy with the standard M-16/AR-15 style , then change it. There are plenty of different variations of uppers, triggers, stocks, grips, etc that you can pick and choose from to make the gun fit you. |
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