QKShooter

I had a really early one. It did not have any function problems.
A machinist locally installed a flash hider on it.
It was OK ~ I traded it off after having had it for about 2 years.
I don't really miss it.
If you can buy a used one at a good price...it would be a fairly decent and inexpensive "Emergency...Keep It In The Trunk Gun"
Ammo for it is cheap & that's a plus.
Lots of "add on" stuff "out there" for it if you are into tricking out rifles.

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rfurtkamp

For the price, the 30 is uninspiring. I'd buy a Saiga (even at inflated no longer available prices) first or an AK and throw the $$$ saved into mags and ammo.

The Mini 14 to me stands out in on particular instance at the range with my Carbon 15 AR-pistol and a couple guys with Minis were there. They couldn't believe you could hit anything with something that belched that much fire, and I watched them spray all over the same berm I was shooting at at 100m. An informal shootoff ensued. The Carbon 15 pistol, with horrible little ghost ring sights, smoked both the scoped Mini and the iron sighted one - in both my hands and the other guys present.

At that moment, I understood why the A-Team never hit anything with theirs.

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Driver carries less than $45 worth of remorse.

'75scout

I know this is an old post but I figured I'd ask my questions anyway. If you could get an older blued Mini-14 for $300 and send it to Accuracy Systems Inc, totallying about the same price as a good AR, would you? I have the opportunity to buy my great uncles Mini. It's in great shape and everybody that sends theirs to ASI says they are awesome.

I like ARs but I also like to avoid being like everybody else. I like the Garand action and styling, but want a .223 SHTF rifle. I know if I got an AR I wouldn't be able to help myself from buying all sorts off add ons like optics, Surefire lights, Vltor and Tango Down products. All I really want it to add an EoTech 512 to and accuratized Mini-14.

ExSoldier

I have an example from the 1970's with an original factory folding stock and I've not had any problems with mine....except that it's not terribly accurate (certainly not as accurate as an AR) and it's a little bit tougher to field strip.

I stand to inherit an older (waaay pre-ban) CAR-15 so I'll hold on for that. OR I may go ahead and get a flattop M4 style with an ACOG or possibly a Holosight.

I think the terms "accurized" and "Mini-14" can't be put together with any degree of success. You want good combat accuracy for a SHTF scenario? Of course you want the same in reliability, I'd go with an AR for both; if only for availability of parts and commonality of ammo.

Still in a REAL SHTF situation, I'm wanting 7.62x51 and that means M1A SOCOM...but that goes along with my M1A Super Match that's already a buildup by ROBAR. The SOCOM is for CQB with an availability to REACH out further than any 5.56mm. Just my .02.

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Former Infantry Captain; 20 yrs as an NRA Certified Instructor; Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.

Lawrence Keeney

I was reading in one of the magazines the other day that the new Mini-14s are very accurate. These come with composite stocks too.

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swiftyjuan

I have had a mini 30 since 1986, and had no problems with it. It is my primary rifle house gun, and backs up the Winchester Defender. 6 20 round mags make for a lot of house defense...

'75scout

Yes but I don't have $1600 dollars to spend. I wouldn't even think about buying a new one, the price is a little too high for the poor accuracy. But I can get a good deal on very good condition mini and send it to ASI for the same or less than your average AR.

ordy1

Way over priced for what they are, and are capable of, by the time you get one shooting acceptable groups you are better off investing the money from the git go on a ar15 platform.

RSSZ

I feel that the Mini 14's and 30's are fine for what you paid 5 or more years ago. To me they are somewhat overpriced nowdaze.

If you did your research as to what you were gettin' for your money and were comfortable with that, then you got a good deal.

Also the application--> to have a weapon that ranchers,farmers,and others that do alot of work in the "back 40",these weapons held enough ammo of a powerful enough loading,and were accurate enough to take care of preditors,dispatching wounded animals,and self defense.

This, coupled with ease of opperation and the fact that you could have loaded mags in the truck without inserting them in the weapon or loaded mags in the weapon without having a loaded chamber,made these close to ideal. Also for fireing from a vech,the OAL of these weapons made them very handy.
And the low recoil was somewhat a plus.

They wern't designed to take the place of any brand of 7.62X51. But who would want to carry a 43(or more)inch FN around in their P/U truck. -------

paknheat

I like the mini-14/30. I like the looks and the action is more reliable than the AR platform. If i had the chance that 75Scout has to purchace one for a little money, and send it off to ASI, I would have it chambered to the 6.8 SPC. I bet it would be a sweet shooter. Just my .02.

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A armed person is a citizen-An unarmed person is a future victim.