Post by Sgt K USMC on Feb 27, 2008 16:07:41 GMT -5
One of the single most popular light sport rifles on Earth, the Mini-14 has been around for a VERY long time and will likely continue to be produced for as long as Sturm Ruger is in business.
The Mini-14 is chambered for .223 cal (5.56mm) and in spite of being a ranch/varmint rifle is surprisingly accurate and durable, depending on the model you own, and the modifications you have made to it. This is due, in no small part, to the fact that the weapon is basically a smaller version of the M-14/M1A in design and function.
I don't know a single rifle shooter that doesn't own one of these, or that didn't get their start by shooting one of these, in fact, to NOT find one of these in someone's collection would be the oddity in the case.
Up until the M-4 Carbine took over the market, the Mini-14 was a favorite of law enforcement and SWAT teams, as it gave the officers in the field a medium caliber rifle cartridge in a compact, durable and reliable frame. Some law enforcement agencies and corrections facilities in fact still employ the weapon along side the newer M-4, due to the higher reliability of the Mini-14 receiver, which will be covered below.
During the early 80's the Mini-14 was field tested by the Army to determine if it was a viable choice to replace the aging M-16 frame, as the military realized that a smaller frame would be needed for the next generation of warfare, which would mainly be centered in urban areas.
MY Mini-14:
I have owned this weapon for 12 years, in this period of time I can count the number of times, on both hands, that I had a non-ammunition or magazine caused feed malfunction, simply put, the receiver assembly is INCREDIBLY reliable and durable and requires only the most minimal of care in order to operate at maximum efficiency.
As stated above, this is due to the fact that the receiver is made to the same specifications as that of it's bigger sister, the M-14, which is widely hailed as the single most reliable firearm EVER produced. Those who own a Mini-14 will notice only a few differences between the Mini and the full sized M-14 frame, most notably the fact that the spring guide on the M-14 has a locking pin to secure it to the receiver and a lack of an adjustable gas tube port and of course there is no stripper clip guide on the top of the mini receiver. (On newer Mini-14's the spring guide rod does indeed have a locking pin at the base of the receiver)
Aside from these mechanical differences are the obvious chambering differences. The mini is .223 caliber as opposed to .308 caliber and of course the lighter weight of the Mini-14 which to most is a God send. Operationally however the weapon functions in exactly the same fashion as an M-14 in every respect
Range: You may not be able to believe this, but, I have taken my Mini-14 to the Marine Corps rifle range while on active duty in order to see how well it would stack up against my ability to shoot the M-16, I was rather surprised at the results, as I was able to qualify low expert with it using standard cheap government ammunition. For those who do not know, the Marine Corps rifle range qualification test goes to 500 meters. It was not as high as my normal score mind you, but high enough that I was impressed, and this was before I changed out the front blade sight.
Accuracy: Accuracy for this weapon is VERY shooter dependant, but at the same time rather forgiving. A decent shooter using an 'out of the box' Mini-14 can expect to hold at least 6 inch groups at the 300 meter line using cheap ammunition all day long. A practiced shooter will be able to hold 3 to 5 inch groups at 500 meters.
Recoil: This weapon has a surprisingly higher level of recoil than one would expect for a .223 rifle, and due to the design of the stock and butt plate, can be a very painful reminder to the shooter as to where they should be placing the stock in their shoulder. For shooters like myself, who use a 'high in the shoulder' rest, this can even result in bruising after extended use. The solution to this is really simple and costs a total of about 10 bucks. Go to Wal-Mart, buy a shotgun butt plate pad and slide it over the existing stock. You will have to cut a small hole for the sling swivel but this makes ALL the difference in the world and solves the problem permanently.
Trigger: Trigger pull is impressive, consistent doesn't even cover it, it is ALWAYS the same, every pull, every time and I have NEVER had any trigger wiggle EVER. The average pull for a Mini-14 is usually 7 lbs, mine is 6 due to a happy accident. The reason for this impressive level of consistency is due to the design of the trigger system for the Mini-14 itself, it is a one main spring system directly attached to the hammer release in an open mechanical framework… It is so simple in it's design as to be almost infallible.
Sights: This is the only area of my personal mini that I hate, passionately. The sights for the older models are cumbersome to adjust and have NO increment marks to let you know what your range is set for… HATE THAT HATE THAT HATE THAT. To make matters worse, there is no longer any clear and concise data that indicates just how many clicks do what, and there is no way to adjust the front sight post… These issues were taken care of on the newer models of the Mini-14 of course and you can also purchase adapters and new sights for reasonable prices that are easy enough to install that you shouldn't need an armorer to do it for you.
Adjusting the rear sights on the older models is also a chore if you don't have the sight tool, I'd recommend either replacing the sights altogether or buying a sight adjustment device, which makes the process less aggravating.
As an aside here; As soon as I had my stroke I found that I could no longer fire my Mini accurately due to the front blade sight and changed it out with a new M-4 style front sight post and flash suppressor, this cleaned up my shots right away.
Accessories: This is the down side to this weapon, accessories are either hard to find, or they are expensive. If you know where to look or have a gun dealer in your area he can get you most of the basics that you may want or need, things like new synthetic stocks and flash suppressors are the easiest to find in fact, and can even be found on E-bay. Finding things like sights, sight adjustment tools, scope mounts and adaptors however is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS for older models, and not too much better for the newer ones, as I have been told.
Another issue is that Ruger does not make 30 round factory Magazines anymore, which means you have to get them from other companies. They almost always cost at least twice that of AR-15/M-4 Mags (up to 40 bucks in some markets) and at least 7 out of 10 times the magazine you get is going to be crap. To this end DO NOT BUY YOUR MAGAZINES AT GUN SHOWS, if you buy one online MAKE DAMN SURE THEY HAVE A RETURN POLICY and if you buy them at your local dealer, also buy a box of 30 rounds and load the magazine right there in the store to make sure it works before leaving. Trust me on this one, I have a total of 6 working 30 rnd mags for my Mini-14, I have 5 bad ones sitting as parts on the shelf.
Cleaning: While I will not normally mention cleaning unless it is either excessively annoying or excessively easy, this one falls into excessively easy. I have had days where I would put upwards of 1000 rounds through my Mini-14 and it would only require an hour, at most, to properly clean her.
Overall: This really is a fun weapon, one of the best starter rifles for someone who wants to get more comfortable with shooting or who needs a good varmint weapon. The newer models have heavier barrels, better sights, increased range and accuracy and really can test the limits of the experienced shooter, while still being a good trainer for the newer enthusiast who doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a higher end weapon in the same category and caliber. I would recommend a Mini-14 to anybody looking for a good sport or recreational shooter without hesitation.
The Mini-14 is chambered for .223 cal (5.56mm) and in spite of being a ranch/varmint rifle is surprisingly accurate and durable, depending on the model you own, and the modifications you have made to it. This is due, in no small part, to the fact that the weapon is basically a smaller version of the M-14/M1A in design and function.
I don't know a single rifle shooter that doesn't own one of these, or that didn't get their start by shooting one of these, in fact, to NOT find one of these in someone's collection would be the oddity in the case.
Up until the M-4 Carbine took over the market, the Mini-14 was a favorite of law enforcement and SWAT teams, as it gave the officers in the field a medium caliber rifle cartridge in a compact, durable and reliable frame. Some law enforcement agencies and corrections facilities in fact still employ the weapon along side the newer M-4, due to the higher reliability of the Mini-14 receiver, which will be covered below.
During the early 80's the Mini-14 was field tested by the Army to determine if it was a viable choice to replace the aging M-16 frame, as the military realized that a smaller frame would be needed for the next generation of warfare, which would mainly be centered in urban areas.
MY Mini-14:
I have owned this weapon for 12 years, in this period of time I can count the number of times, on both hands, that I had a non-ammunition or magazine caused feed malfunction, simply put, the receiver assembly is INCREDIBLY reliable and durable and requires only the most minimal of care in order to operate at maximum efficiency.
As stated above, this is due to the fact that the receiver is made to the same specifications as that of it's bigger sister, the M-14, which is widely hailed as the single most reliable firearm EVER produced. Those who own a Mini-14 will notice only a few differences between the Mini and the full sized M-14 frame, most notably the fact that the spring guide on the M-14 has a locking pin to secure it to the receiver and a lack of an adjustable gas tube port and of course there is no stripper clip guide on the top of the mini receiver. (On newer Mini-14's the spring guide rod does indeed have a locking pin at the base of the receiver)
Aside from these mechanical differences are the obvious chambering differences. The mini is .223 caliber as opposed to .308 caliber and of course the lighter weight of the Mini-14 which to most is a God send. Operationally however the weapon functions in exactly the same fashion as an M-14 in every respect
Range: You may not be able to believe this, but, I have taken my Mini-14 to the Marine Corps rifle range while on active duty in order to see how well it would stack up against my ability to shoot the M-16, I was rather surprised at the results, as I was able to qualify low expert with it using standard cheap government ammunition. For those who do not know, the Marine Corps rifle range qualification test goes to 500 meters. It was not as high as my normal score mind you, but high enough that I was impressed, and this was before I changed out the front blade sight.
Accuracy: Accuracy for this weapon is VERY shooter dependant, but at the same time rather forgiving. A decent shooter using an 'out of the box' Mini-14 can expect to hold at least 6 inch groups at the 300 meter line using cheap ammunition all day long. A practiced shooter will be able to hold 3 to 5 inch groups at 500 meters.
Recoil: This weapon has a surprisingly higher level of recoil than one would expect for a .223 rifle, and due to the design of the stock and butt plate, can be a very painful reminder to the shooter as to where they should be placing the stock in their shoulder. For shooters like myself, who use a 'high in the shoulder' rest, this can even result in bruising after extended use. The solution to this is really simple and costs a total of about 10 bucks. Go to Wal-Mart, buy a shotgun butt plate pad and slide it over the existing stock. You will have to cut a small hole for the sling swivel but this makes ALL the difference in the world and solves the problem permanently.
Trigger: Trigger pull is impressive, consistent doesn't even cover it, it is ALWAYS the same, every pull, every time and I have NEVER had any trigger wiggle EVER. The average pull for a Mini-14 is usually 7 lbs, mine is 6 due to a happy accident. The reason for this impressive level of consistency is due to the design of the trigger system for the Mini-14 itself, it is a one main spring system directly attached to the hammer release in an open mechanical framework… It is so simple in it's design as to be almost infallible.
Sights: This is the only area of my personal mini that I hate, passionately. The sights for the older models are cumbersome to adjust and have NO increment marks to let you know what your range is set for… HATE THAT HATE THAT HATE THAT. To make matters worse, there is no longer any clear and concise data that indicates just how many clicks do what, and there is no way to adjust the front sight post… These issues were taken care of on the newer models of the Mini-14 of course and you can also purchase adapters and new sights for reasonable prices that are easy enough to install that you shouldn't need an armorer to do it for you.
Adjusting the rear sights on the older models is also a chore if you don't have the sight tool, I'd recommend either replacing the sights altogether or buying a sight adjustment device, which makes the process less aggravating.
As an aside here; As soon as I had my stroke I found that I could no longer fire my Mini accurately due to the front blade sight and changed it out with a new M-4 style front sight post and flash suppressor, this cleaned up my shots right away.
Accessories: This is the down side to this weapon, accessories are either hard to find, or they are expensive. If you know where to look or have a gun dealer in your area he can get you most of the basics that you may want or need, things like new synthetic stocks and flash suppressors are the easiest to find in fact, and can even be found on E-bay. Finding things like sights, sight adjustment tools, scope mounts and adaptors however is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS for older models, and not too much better for the newer ones, as I have been told.
Another issue is that Ruger does not make 30 round factory Magazines anymore, which means you have to get them from other companies. They almost always cost at least twice that of AR-15/M-4 Mags (up to 40 bucks in some markets) and at least 7 out of 10 times the magazine you get is going to be crap. To this end DO NOT BUY YOUR MAGAZINES AT GUN SHOWS, if you buy one online MAKE DAMN SURE THEY HAVE A RETURN POLICY and if you buy them at your local dealer, also buy a box of 30 rounds and load the magazine right there in the store to make sure it works before leaving. Trust me on this one, I have a total of 6 working 30 rnd mags for my Mini-14, I have 5 bad ones sitting as parts on the shelf.
Cleaning: While I will not normally mention cleaning unless it is either excessively annoying or excessively easy, this one falls into excessively easy. I have had days where I would put upwards of 1000 rounds through my Mini-14 and it would only require an hour, at most, to properly clean her.
Overall: This really is a fun weapon, one of the best starter rifles for someone who wants to get more comfortable with shooting or who needs a good varmint weapon. The newer models have heavier barrels, better sights, increased range and accuracy and really can test the limits of the experienced shooter, while still being a good trainer for the newer enthusiast who doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a higher end weapon in the same category and caliber. I would recommend a Mini-14 to anybody looking for a good sport or recreational shooter without hesitation.