AR versus Mini 14

[jgradyc]

In 50 years of owning guns, I've never been into the black gun mystique so I don't know much about them, but I'm thinking when the shortage runs down I might buy an AR or a mini 14. It seems that whenever I check out AR-type guns on forums, I'm always reading about problems. I want a no hassle gun.

 

Which is best?

 

Here's my criteria.

 

Short or collapsible stock:  Since I can get an aftermarket stock for the mini 14. That would seem to be a tie. A folding stock is no good for me... my arms are too short.

 

Primary uses:  I live in a rural area. This would be my primary weapon to carry when responding to a "What's that noise?" activity outside or when a show of force might be appropriate in responding to a potential break in. (That happens about twice a year where I live.) It would also be my primary weapon to shoot that darn coyote, but that's really unlikely since the coyotes seem to only stay in this area a day or so all year. A 3x or 4x scope would be all I'd need for that. The field of vision here is only a little more than 100 meters.

 

It would also be my SHTF long gun.

 

I don't hunt. I'm not much of a target shooter, so I'll probably only put a few rounds through it to sight it in and make sure it fires.

Edited March 20, 2013 by jgradyc

[atlas3025]

Having owned both, AR all the way.  Mini's are very nice guns, but they can't compete with the modularity of the AR.

 

Also consider this, untold millions of magazines have been made for AR-15's.  Mini-14's have a proprietary mag that can be a lot harder to find.

 

The only advantage I can think of for the Mini is the one you don't want, which is the folding stock.

[dats82]

For me, the deciding factor would be that you intend for it to be your SHTF long gun.  It is my opinion, that if you are looking for a SHTF gun, you should use one that is very common and would be relatively easy to acquire parts for in that situation.  Considering the run on black guns of late and the fact that they are issued for the military and many LEOs, an AR has to be one of the most common weapon platforms, and would therefore be easier to acquire parts, mags, and ammo in a SHTF time.  I know the mini shoots the same round, but if you are looking for parts or mags in a time when they can't be ordered, how many people are you going to bump into also running around with a mini. 

 

As far as the issues with ARs, I've only had a couple, but I have never had any problems with them that weren't my fault.  Even at that, it was just a trigger that I screwed up while trying to make it better.  I have nothing against minis, and I think they are good guns.  However, just based on my opinions for the availability of parts in the crisis time, I bought an AR when considering this myself. 

[Poor_Dog]

Mini 14, old school technology, you can piss on it to clean it, stomp the bolt back with your heel, and hit a pie plate at 100 yards... and it fires every time.

[Jonnin]

The minis tend to be less accurate and their magazines are troublesome.  Its a post/hole design and not only is it awkward to put the mag in, it will actually go in and click but not be seated, causing no ammo to feed, which is bad for any defense weapon platform.   The accuracy is bench shooting commentary: it will hit a skeet clay at 100+ yards all day long, it just won't put them all in the same hole like a well made AR can do --- it is sufficient for pest control. 

 

That said, the mini is more reliable.  Not that ARs are unreliable, I just found the mini would eat some very sorry ammo that was troublesome in the AR, including the bottom shelf steel junk and some rather bad reloads I made.  The design of the action of the mini is superior IMHO, and if it took standard AR mags, I would probably have kept mine.

[Steelharp]

If the .223/5.56 is what you want... Saiga. Unstoppable as a Glock, and as accurate for what you're talking about as an AR.

[atlas3025]

I should also have pointed out that I have been trying to get a rear sight for my mini for 2 years.

 

When I first started trying to find a new rear sight in early 2011, this link:  http://www.midwayusa.com/product/330595/ruger-rear-sight-assembly-ruger-mini-14-stainless-models said it was expected in May of 2011.  Ruger's website says the same.  I finally just sold the rifle (with no rear sights) but still keep up with the backorder status just out of curiousity. 

 

This is one of the main reasons I would be scared of Mini. 

Edited March 20, 2013 by atlas3025

[stillstanding669]

I have both, and have found that the Mini is by far the best at shooting anything it is fed!  Since you are not looking at having to shoot a lot, very far, and will only be shooting a few rounds, and not hunting, the Mini is cheaper, very reliable, and the mags are not that expensive.  Ruger has really good videos to help with field stripping for cleaning and it doesn't require a lot of TLC.  The AR is superior for long range, high capacity, high round counts, and that everywhere you look there might be one should SHTF!  I wouldn't use that SHTF as the main criteria for the purchase.  All AR's have lots of parts to clean, and they are really easy to loose if you are not cleaning them on a workbench or table.  The Mini will not fail you for the price!

[hipower]

If the .223/5.56 is what you want... Saiga. Unstoppable as a Glock, and as accurate for what you're talking about as an AR.

 

I'm with Steelharp on this, I'd like to get a Saiga in 223/556. Reliable and fun. Ideally it would be one of the Vepr models for me, but hard to find at a reasonable price right now.

 

Maybe later on.

[mikegideon]

AR-15 all the way. I own both, and really like the Mini. I just wouldn't have it as my only rifle. If you break something in the fire control group, you'll be sending the whole gun back to Ruger. You can buy any AR part off the internet. In my opinion, the AR is MUCH easier to clean and maintain. They shoot better too. That why I own five of them... all home brewed.

 

I don't know if my AR's will eat Jonnin's reloads, but they love mine :). They also like Wolf a lot.

[BryanP]

I own both.  I like the looks and feel of the Mini more, but the AR wins for magazines.  For what I've spent on a few Mini mags I could outfit a platoons worth of ARs.

[mikegideon]

I own both.  I like the looks and feel of the Mini more, but the AR wins for magazines.  For what I've spent on a few Mini mags I could outfit a platoons worth of ARs.

 

Mag changes on a mini are pretty clunky compared to an AR too.

[TMF]

AR is a much better tactical rifle, but that only matters if you plan on being tactical with it. I loved my mini, but didn't trust it past 100m. Apparently the newer ones are more accurate; mine was much older. Also, mini-14 mags are expensive to find the good ones. It works just fine with the right mags. With the wrong mags it is a jam-o-matic. The right mags tend to cost waaaaay more than just a standard AR mag.

[Jonnin]

AR-15 all the way. I own both, and really like the Mini. I just wouldn't have it as my only rifle. If you break something in the fire control group, you'll be sending the whole gun back to Ruger. You can buy any AR part off the internet. In my opinion, the AR is MUCH easier to clean and maintain. They shoot better too. That why I own five of them... all home brewed.

 

I don't know if my AR's will eat Jonnin's reloads, but they love mine :). They also like Wolf a lot.

 

my first couple of batches were not shoulder sized properly, they were bad.  I figured it out and fixed the issue but the mini let me shoot them up and recover the brass :)

[mikegideon]

AR is a much better tactical rifle, but that only matters if you plan on being tactical with it. I loved my mini, but didn't trust it past 100m. Apparently the newer ones are more accurate; mine was much older. Also, mini-14 mags are expensive to find the good ones. It works just fine with the right mags. With the wrong mags it is a jam-o-matic. The right mags tend to cost waaaaay more than just a standard AR mag.

 

The key to Mini mags is simple. Buy Ruger. They're proud of 'em.

[TMF]

The key to Mini mags is simple. Buy Ruger. They're proud of 'em.

Yeah, I had a couple of Ruger mags and then three of another brand (can't remember the name) and they all worked flawless. I went and bought a half dozen from Shotgun News or CTD back in '99 and they were all junk.

[mikegideon]

I have a bunch of the cheesey ones. Never even tried them, because I have a couple of Ruger 30's and one 20.

[Guest RevScottie]

If you are buying a rifle for SHTF scenarios I think parts availability between the two won't matter. Look at what's happening right now. Where are all of those so called "common" AR parts? Your only safe bet would be to stock your own parts and not to pretend ANYTHING will be available in a SHTF scenario.

[atlas3025]

If you are buying a rifle for SHTF scenarios I think parts availability between the two won't matter. Look at what's happening right now. Where are all of those so called "common" AR parts? Your only safe bet would be to stock your own parts and not to pretend ANYTHING will be available in a SHTF scenario.

 

I suspect in a true SHTF scenario, there should be a pretty good number parts and complete guns lying around on the ground and in the mass graves.

[mikegideon]

I suspect in a true SHTF scenario, there should be a pretty good number parts and complete guns lying around on the ground and in the mass graves.

 

Can't buy the Ruger parts. That was the point. I have plenty of AR parts.

[safeandsecure]

Have owned both, and a couple of Mini's.  Still have one of them: later model stainless Mini.  Has gone "bang" each and every time I've pulled the trigger, is more accurate than I am, and it works with any of the half-dozen after market mags I have and with any ammo I've tried, including the "cheap" stuff.  And, I've never had a problem or a broken part.  But to each his own ... I just happen to like the wood, and I'm not willing to pony up the extra for a gussied-up version of that same caliber.  But again, to each his own ... while I wouldn't trade my Mini for an AR, my son is the exact opposite. 

[Oh Shoot]

I have both.

 

The AR is a sleek, modular, efficient, cold blooded machine, but the Mini has soul. I love 'em both, but the Mini is loveable, a real traditional "rifle".

 

Average AR is somewhat more accurate than even the newly designed Mini, but with battle sights they'll both do the same thing, put bullets in torso at the same ranges.

 

Mini has a decent chance of doing it longer without cleaning or re-lubing than an AR, unless you break a firing pin or something you can't replace yourself because you can't stock the spare part.

 

- OS

[mikegideon]

You can get firing pins and bolt parts. Just not the fire control parts. More Ruger weirdness. I agree the rifle has soul. I love mine. Just wouldn't have it instead of an AR again. I actually owned it before any AR's.

[Spots]

You can get firing pins and bolt parts. Just not the fire control parts. More Ruger weirdness. I agree the rifle has soul. I love mine. Just wouldn't have it instead of an AR again. I actually owned it before any AR's.

When I called about a firing pin for my Mini 30 they wouldn't sell one. Factory fitted part not avaliable to the public.

Sent from the backwoods of Nowhere

[Oh Shoot]

You can get firing pins and bolt parts.

 

For the most part, I've never seen anybody claim that there's a 3rd party firing pin that's worth a crap. Lots of reports the commonly available ones crapping out in short order on PerfectUnion.

 

I was just reading about one not long ago, though, that claimed to be aces -- comes purposefully too long and you have to grind it down to spec to fit your particular bolt.

 

Some folks have removed their pins and sent the rifle into Ruger for "repair", just to get a spare.

 

- OS

Edited March 20, 2013 by Oh Shoot