Mini-14?

So years and years ago (1983 actually) I bought a Mini-14. It was about $250 new at Dave Cook's sporting goods.

This was at a time when ARs were only made by Colt and were over $500. The chief advantage of the Mini was its low price.

Now those older Mini-14's were fun to shoot, but accurate they were not. Mine would shoot roughly "minute of dinner plate" at 100 yards.

I got rid of the Mini in 1995 or so and ever since then have had a dim view of them. But I've heard that the accuracy problems were fixed some time in the mid 2000's.

Is this true? Is the Mini now an accuracy competitor with the AR?

And if so, how does one tell the difference between a "New! Improved!" AR and an older "might as well use a shotgun" version?

I too have heard the newer ones have better accuracy. I can?t verify but I?d be amazed if they were anywhere near one MOA capable.

Had they made the mini-14 to take AR mags I?m sure I would have bought one years ago.

Don't they cost significantly more than ARs now as well? I was hearing something in the $800+range.

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Originally Posted by Irving

Don't they cost significantly more than ARs now as well? I was hearing something in the $800+range.

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Investment cast parts don?t come cheap.

Different profile barrel. Looks like a HB .690 ish tapering down to .750 @ muzzle. And yes they are in the mid-high $7's . The only up side to the Mini-14 or 30 is. They're CA compliant.
Which as a semi frequent traveler now that we're a short ride from the daughter is something to consider.

Going OT for a few.

One of my favorite "carbines" has been the Ruger 9mm Take Down PCC. Nondescript easily hidden in a vehicle, threaded bbl for (NFA friendly states) suppressor. Running a Sig Romeo in it that still affords use of iron sights.

"Minute of Dinner plate"...........[ROFL1]

The one I owned was more "minute of barn door"...

My 1974 first production run example is 1-2 MOA with decent 55 gr ammo- no complaints.

The supposed easy button to identify the "newer/better" barrel profile is a serial number starting with 580--- or higher, you will often hear them referred to as "580 series" guns.

Aftermarket support is a bit light for them. Bedding, altering gas port size, accu strut, bolt/recoil buffer are the first pass. You are going to spend a lot of time and some money getting one to shoot MOA, and then when the barrel heats up it may still string them and open up a little.

BUT, i have two of them, shoot them with open sights and realize that with good mags they are reliable shooters that just keep working..... Read this part again GOOD MAGS are important to your enjoyment of the rifle.

How's that go again? ; )

1-1.5 MOA with my Dads new stainless. Such a fun rifle.

1 - 1.5 is acceptable to me. I doubt my 18" barreled AR is any better.

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

1 - 1.5 is acceptable to me. I doubt my 18" barreled AR is any better.

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Even @ 4-5" spread that's still COM on a realistic object.

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Originally Posted by Mazin

"Minute of Dinner plate"...........[ROFL1]

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Yes that is funny, but also true, I had a Stainless one in the mid 80?s and that would describe it perfectly.

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

...So years and years ago (1983 actually) I bought a Mini-14. It was about $250 new at Dave Cook's sporting goods.

This was at a time when ARs were only made by Colt and were over $500....

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Circa 1993 bought a Mini14 ranch for $450. It shot about 1.5-2 MOA with optics. Same price as a Bushy AR-15 back then. Any mag would work in it since Ruger would not make high capacity for it back then. Shots would vertically string after a few quick rounds. Crime Bill Ban craze in 1994, sold it for $650 with cheap scope after putting 1000 rounds through it.

Anyone else remember buying South African PMP Denel ammo in 223 with the impala on the box? 500 rounds boxed for $69. I must have bought and shot at least 10 cases of that stuff. Never a weak load or misfire. Brass was better than PMC.

Clinton Banned the importation of the PMP ammo, now the Russians now get cheap ammo from PMP Denel.

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

1 - 1.5 is acceptable to me. I doubt my 18" barreled AR is any better.

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It's a fantastic rifle. Does anyone know how to attach photos over the tiny limit? I have a couple photos of some tight groups I shot back to back with the Mini

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Originally Posted by Will1776

It's a fantastic rifle. Does anyone know how to attach photos over the tiny limit? I have a couple photos of some tight groups I shot back to back with the Mini

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You can use ?Tap a Talk? to attach larger photos.