14 or 15???

[charlie_the_tuna]

So I’m about to fortify my arsenal and I’m bouncing back and forth between a mini 14 and an AR-15. I’ve never shot an AR but I have some experience with the mini. I know the newer ones are much more reliable and from what I hear, they’re accurate as sh!t and they don’t jam.
So you guys with experience with both, or one or the other, what are your thoughts?

[randlemanboater]

I was actually just having this conversation with a buddy of mine last week.

I don't have any experience with the Mini 14 so I was asking him what he knew, he said the 14's are prone to getting inaccurate when the barrel gets hot from firing a lot of rounds quickly.

I like the look of the old Mini 14 with the wood stocks.

[oteps]

I dont know anything about mini 14. Im slowly building an ar. They are a lego gun, you can build it a million different ways to suit you. Parts and guns r hard to find right now. Ammo is all gone!!

[randlemanboater]

2x on its hard to find guns or ammo.

It is possibly the worst time in recent history to try to buy a gun, used prices are at least double.

[Destroyer]

Get a 15, chambered in 5.56 You can shoot .223's through it all day for relatively cheap plinking, then switch to the 5.56 when you need to get "serious". :head:

[spareparts]

I've got two PSA stores and work on the guys boat that owns CBC Industries. I've owned several AR-15s and a Mini-14, tragically, they all got lost in a boating accident:zip:. I really tried to like the mini-14, the AR platform is much better, especially considering the options and accessories. You can build one just like you want, in the caliber you want(AR9 is my favorite to shoot). I know up in your neck of the woods, you are regulated to keep scary things like pistol grips, flash suppressors, and adjustable stocks away from common folk, never mind the optics of walking around with one in that area. You may want to look at Rugers PC Carbine, it kinda flies under radar, 9mm is plenty for most encounters, wont leave you stone *** deaf, takes Ruger or Glock magazines. If you are set on the standard type looking rifle, SCS's have dropped back down to teh $350 range, and if you want to go big, M1A1 are $1400 on PSA site

[charlie_the_tuna]

Spare, I do like the PC Carbine, except for the fact that the 9mm isn’t as accurate as the .223. I haven’t shot one but I’ve always liked the ranch style rifle.

[spareparts]

the ruger minis are not as accurate as the AR's, that being said, are you looking for sub minute of angle? Or sub minute of protester/rioter? Its very easy to get an AR into sub one inch groups at 100 yards if the shooter does his part, the Mini is about a 2-3 inch gun at 100 yards. I know you have mag limits up there, but Mini 14 mags are +$40 or more for factory mags, ARs use STANAG mags, I pick up brand new P Mags for $15, or used GI mags at the gun shows for $10. One major downside for the 223/556 round is that its freakin loud, you will get hearing damage shooting it without hearing protection, in a room or enclosed area, it will be worse. 9mm is very versatile, you can run subsonic quite rounds for inside or short range, and run full power rounds for long distance, just make sure you firearm will cycle them, it may take some tuning. I wish 45 acp AR's were more price friendly, for anti person use, teh 45 does a nice job and stays sub sonic, just dont try to push its range far out. 10mm opens up all kinds of possibilities, but they are even rarer and more $

[charlie_the_tuna]

Well, I pulled the trigger, no pun intended. I looked at a featureless AR and I really like the gun. Only issue, they tend to jam. All you AR owners know, when they jam, it’s a project. The 14 just will not jam. That Garand action might just be one of the best actions ever made. So I stopped in to an area gun shop today, knowing full well that the chance of them having one in stock was pretty slim. I told the guy I’m looking for the mini and he looks over and says “Mike. Did you sell that mini earlier”? He turns around and pulls it out of the rack. Not only did they have only one in the building but it was the stainless with the plastic stock. YEAH!! Just the one I wanted. So we made it happen. In and out in like 25 minutes. I’m eventually gonna add an optic and maybe a new stock. Maybe not. I’m gonna have my a$$hole brother in law grab me a couple of 30 round mags and then I’m gonna drag my family to the range and make sure everybody knows how to use a gun. And that’s that.
I’m pleased with my choice.

[spareparts]

If you got what makes you happy, that's all that matters, next time you head to Fl. stop by SC

[spareparts]

Oh, btw, DO NOT SHOOT STEEL CASE AMMO in that mini, if you have a decent gun smith available, have him pull the firing pin and make you a couple spares, they are file to fit and if you break one, you have to start from scratch

[scook]

Hey Charlie,

I hope you enjoy your Mini 14. I agree with you that it’s a sweet action. I remember laying back on the 500 yard line with my M-14 in 1964 - the bulls eye about half the width of the front sight blade, keeping them all in the black and enjoying that smooth Garland action.

With the wide acceptance of the AR’s, military and civilian, and everyone making stuff for them, they’re bound to have some available superiority. I’m not sure that’s a very big deal I’d any likely self defense usage, short of a full on civil war.

Please check back in when you’ve put some rounds through it. This reminds me, I need to take my buddy who owns one shooting soon***128513;.