Is the Ruger Mini-14 Obsolete?

[OK Corgi Rancher]

If forced to choose, I wouldn't choose a Mini-14 over an AR-15. But I'm not, so I'll take both.

For those of you who think the Mini-14 is overpriced these days (it is...), what do you say about the price of SKS and AK rifles today? I'd definitely take a Mini over either of those if forced to choose. As a matter of fact, you wouldn't have to force me to choose. I'd willingly do it.

Saying you don't like a particular gun because you had a "bad experience" with one 50 years ago is pretty retarded if I'm being honest. I've had a few bad experiences with women years ago...but I still like women. I've been bitten by dogs before...but I still like dogs.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

here is a link to the new one
https://ruger.com/products/mini14TacticalRifle/specSheets/5895.html

It needs a 16" barrel to warrant being classified as Tactical. I my Mini Thirty Tactical.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

It needs a 16" barrel to warrant being classified as Tactical. I my Mini Thirty Tactical.

Pfft... It's got a bayonet lug. That's as tactical as you can get!

(But, yeah...a 16" barrel would be great on that gun.)

 

[KurtM]

I much prefer the M-14 to the mini-14 one doesn't spit parts and functions well. One is supportable by the operator, one has to be returned to the factory for any broken part. One rarely malfunctions, the other tends to when you just look at it wrong..... I know "it's a magazine problem"
As to wether it is obsolete, it would have had to be at least useful at one time to now be obsolete.

 

[El Pablo]

I much prefer the M-14 to the mini-14 one doesn't spit parts and functions well. One is supportable by the operator, one has to be returned to the factory for any broken part. One rarely malfunctions, the other tends to when you just look at it wrong..... I know "it's a magazine problem"
As to wether it is obsolete, it would have had to be at least useful at one time to now be obsolete.

I recall them being fired a lot, but not a single person shot by one on the A team. So, how accurate can they be .

 

[sherrick13]

A good way to think about it is take two equal squads with equal gear except for one has Mini 14s (with appropriate training) and the other has M4's with modern optics.

How disadvantaged would the squad with Mini-14s be due to the weapon? The optics make a difference for sure.

But take the optics away and just have that squad run M4's with irons and the difference would be so minor that it might not be measurable.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

I much prefer the M-14 to the mini-14 one doesn't spit parts and functions well. One is supportable by the operator, one has to be returned to the factory for any broken part. One rarely malfunctions, the other tends to when you just look at it wrong..... I know "it's a magazine problem"
As to wether it is obsolete, it would have had to be at least useful at one time to now be obsolete.

I've been shooting one of mine (a GB made in 79 I bought used) since the late 80s. I don't recall a malfunction (when using factory mags) and it's never had a broken part. As a matter of fact, I don't personally know of anyone who's had a part break in one. The GB still has the original recoil spring in it...unless the previous owner put a new one in. I don't shoot it a lot but I've probably fired 2 to 3 thousand rounds thru it since I've owned it. My new(er) one is only a few years old and I haven't shot it a lot. But, no malfunctions and nothing broken. Both are accurate enough for what I do with them. The newer one seems to be a LOT more accurate than the old one.

The Mini-14 is a lot like the 1911 in the sense so many people like to trash talk them. I don't care. I like 'em, obsolete or not. Not everyone is a competition shooter and no one (here, anyway) is taking one to war. They're carrying them around a ranch or a farm or using them for recreation. And they're perfectly acceptable for that.

I went to a Ruger Armorer's course in 1994-ish and have lots of spare parts...somewhere. Never used one.

Everyone knows the mag issue... So use factory mags. Problem solved.

 

[OKCShooter]

I can't think of a single advantage of a mini-14 over an AR platform and very few areas where a Mini-14 is even equal to an AR platform.

To me, that is the definition of obsolete.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

So if a gun isn't = or >AR-15 it's obsolete? That's an interesting definition.

 

[SoonerP226]

For those of you who think the Mini-14 is overpriced these days (it is...), what do you say about the price of SKS and AK rifles today?

I thought the SKS was overpriced when you could get one with a case of 7.62x39 for $150 at Fast Freddy's.