Mini 14 or Vector V-93 or Sig 556

[electronman1729]

Was thinking of getting either a Mini 14, Vector V-93, or a Sig 556. Anyone have any thoughts on these rifles. Each have there own ups and downs, but what are your experiences with these. I know the mags are expensive for the V-93, and what worries me with the sig 556 is parts availability (Daewood for example).

[BPTactical]

V93 hands down. Mags can be had for 25.00 or so and it is a rock solid platform. Dead bang reliability and parts abound. Mini 14 is meh-you need Ruger mags for absolute reliability and accuracy is meh. The 556 is a nice rifle but your observation of parts is the reason I got rid of mine. Accurate rifle and accepting AR mags is a plus. Very piggish on the front end.
I really wish I had not parted ways with my V93.

[gnihcraes]

I studied the Mini 14 before purchasing my AR. As noted above, good weapon, accuracy ok, Must have Ruger Mags $, limited sight options. A friend has a mini, and is constantly in pain over finding ruger mags and no accessories readily available. Shoots great, just no fun stuff for it.

[7idl]

Sig or the Vector for long term reliability and parts/accessories.

the Mini-14 is past it's prime and any AR far surpasses it with reliability, accuracy and available parts/accessories IMHO

[katatonic]

The benefit of the AR is you can easily put it together yourself. Few tool/gages are needed. Plus mags are dirt cheap. And you can build it your own way. I like the mini - especially now since Ruger is selling hi-cap mags for it. I have a V93 too, but thats more fun than anything else.

[ben4372]

I know thread is a little stale. I love promoting the mini-14. Super gun to buy second hand. should be able to find on for 4-600 bucks. Not extra accurate, but close enough. good warranty, as long as it is in factory configuration. Folding stocks are cheap. Promags are good, I cant hardly tell the difference from a factory mag. If you want more than a few magazines stick with the AR, as rugers mags are overpriced.

[Hibs]

the last mini-14 i shot couldnt pull better then dinner plate size groups at 100yards, and that was scoped. the owner of the gun sold it soon after.

[Daniel_187]

Not a mini, God I hated those sights

[cstone]

To the OP: It's now been more than a year. Which rifle did you choose? What kind of shooting do you normally do with your rifle? Do you still have it? Tell us what you think?

[electronman1729]

Wow I caught this by chance. Actually very funny I will hopefully have a V93 very soon! Decided against the Sig and Mini 14.

When i had the idea when I thought I would want one I would wait and hope a deal would come my way. Sure enough a deal came my way last week for a V93. Been working out the deal these few days hopefully it turns out. BTW its not a shady deal. Still working with a FFL

Will keep everyone updated on what happens.

[Professor Frink]

My brother recently bought a new 581 series mini. He had heard the accuracy issues had been fixed. I was eager to try it out as I like the operating system as I'm very comfortable with the M14/M1a/M1 type operation.

We fired five rounds benched slowly and deliberately, and then ripped two 30-round clips to heat it up and then fired another five slowly and deliberately. Regardless, accuracy was dismal at 100 yards, more of a shotgun pattern, was also very low and left. He took it apart and disassembled the gas system and then re-torqued the gas system to the specified poundage (sorry, don't know what that is off-hand). He started getting 6" groups with Federal 55-grain ammo benched which was a big improvment, but still not all that great.

I'm not a mini basher, I would really like them if they were more accurate, but the ones I've played with are not. That being said, Ruger sells these things buy the bucket-load, so I'm sure they are thinking "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Let us know how the Vector works out, been on my list for awhile now.

[Troublco]

I used to have a mini-14; it wasn't terribly accurate; parts became an issue; and the mags just sealed its fate for me. The AR platform has many pluses over the minis as far as I'm concerned. Another thing that helped my decision was a friend of mine who was an armorer for the NM Dept of Corrections worked on them, and didn't have anything particularly good to say about them.

I just didn't have any good reasons to keep the mini when the AR had none of its shortcomings. I know some folks love them, they're welcome to them.

I'd love a V-93, may see if I can find one before too long.

[Great-Kazoo]

My brother recently bought a new 581 series mini. He had heard the accuracy issues had been fixed. I was eager to try it out as I like the operating system as I'm very comfortable with the M14/M1a/M1 type operation.

We fired five rounds benched slowly and deliberately, and then ripped two 30-round clips to heat it up and then fired another five slowly and deliberately. Regardless, accuracy was dismal at 100 yards, more of a shotgun pattern, was also very low and left. He took it apart and disassembled the gas system and then re-torqued the gas system to the specified poundage (sorry, don't know what that is off-hand). He started getting 6" groups with Federal 55-grain ammo benched which was a big improvment, but still not all that great.

I'm not a mini basher, I would really like them if they were more accurate, but the ones I've played with are not. That being said, Ruger sells these things buy the bucket-load, so I'm sure they are thinking "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Let us know how the Vector works out, been on my list for awhile now.


You Ripped Clips? Bitchin. [M2]