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I had three mini-14s in 223 and they could NOT hold a group better than 5-6 inchs at 100 yards even with experienced shooters in a Highpowered Rifle Match couldn't...
save the hassel, time, money and self loathing after range time and just get the Ar-15 ...or hold out for the 416 :D :D :D

Zach S

Mini-14: No thanks. If I had to have something that looked PC, maybe. If I stumbled onto a really good deal for one, maybe. If they were more accurate out of the box, and reliable 20 and 30 round magazines (also known as "ruger magazines") were affordable and plentiful, I'd probably own one right now.

Mini-30: No thanks. For a 7.62x39 rifle, I'd be more likely to get an AK thats just as accurate and relible and have enough money left over to buy a case of wolf, and enough magazines to empty that case.

Tubby45

Not out of the box accurate, expensive mags.

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pbrktrt

i have a mini-30 that shoots under 3" a 100 yards with the only changes being a muzzle brake & a recoil buffer a 3x9 simmons & a heavier hammer spring.(to shoot that wolf stuff reliably) this is with the 154 soft points tho

sgtD

In case none of you folks ever noticed. The A-Team used mini's almost exclusively on the TV show and I never saw them shoot a single person. They were only able to manage to hit area targets, like cars and stuff.

I had both, and they are just not accurate. When Isaw how good my SKS paratrooper performed, I sold the mini 30. As soon as I can afford an A2 style AR, the mini 14 will be gone as well.

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ghost tracker

I've had several Mini 14 models (Blued GB, Stainless Ranch, Stainless 580) and no Mini 30s. Agree with most of the previous posts with a few exceptions. Here's a "generalized" thought or two...

A Mini 14 won't win an accuracy match against an AR-15 but will beat most AK variants. An AR will be inoperative from firing-residue, lack of lubrication, grit, grime & gravel well before a Mini. An AK will still be running after both others have gummed-up & stopped. Long-distance varmint hunters seldom use Minis, ARs or AKs. Almost EVERY bush snowmobile in Alaska & Canada has a Stainless Mini strapped on somewhere. I've never seen either an AR or an AK strapped to a snowmobile (EXTRA rough conditions). You can "gunsmith" a Mini to be almost as accurate as a service grade AR but you'll spend enough to buy the AR. Minis "fit" most conventional rifle shooters better than an AK or an AR. Minis attract less attention and are less threatening to the non-gun public than an AK or AR. New ones (580 series) are guaranteed 2 moa from the factory but the sights make it tough to prove.

Most rifles do something well. No rifle does EVERYTHING well. Life is a trade-off of careful compromises. Thankfully, my Porsche won't do what my 4x4 will & vise-versa. Ruger's Mini 14 is great at being what it is...a Mini 14. Enjoy its versatility & accept its limitations, or accept the compromises of ANOTHER rifle selection.

Hobbes

I have to disagree with the above about ARs, they are very reliable.

Mini's are worthless IMO, crappy groups and for $100-$200 you can get an AR that is 10 times the rifle. (I used to have a mini so I know)
Stay away unless your in Cali and its all you can get.

raevan

December Guns & Ammo mag. has an article on new Mini 14 called the Target. It has an adjustable Barrel Resonater (weight) that inproves the accuracy. It also has a laminated target stock. Nice looking rifle. Grouped at 100 yds an average of about 1.25". Great improvement over normal.

ghost tracker

I didn't imply that AR style rifles are unreliable. I said that GENERALLY the Mini will run longer being neglected than will an AR & that an AK will run longer being neglected than either of them. And yes, for $100-200 more you can buy the AR. But for $200 less you can buy the AK. My whole point was the compromise between the most common alternatives. I have nothing against AR's. Personally? I like FN/FAL rifles better than ANY of 'em mentioned above. But that wasn't the question.

foxmeadow

I really like my mini. It shoots almost MOA groups, will process ANYTHING I feed it and does so without obsessive maintenance. The fact that you have to tinker with it to get accuracy somehow reminds me of the 1911 .45ACP