mini 14-tactical vs. ar-15

[SMS]

I am looking for real answers with an explanation, not the usual ''minis are crap'' argument without a reason why.

Thanks.

None of us can honestly answer why you should buy a Mini or an AR.

What do you want out of the rifle? What is your planned use? How much do you shoot? Where, what ammo, and under what conditions do you shoot? etc...

Get the rifle that fits your need not your wallet.

 

[Fyrtwuck]

I've owned both. My favorite was the GB model. Ruger will factory service the mini-14 till they quit making the parts. My biggest complaint is the WAY over priced magazines. They are very magazine finicky.

 

[Peace_Maker]

My opinion is well known but I'll be nice.

Reasons to buy a mini.

1. Possibly more reliable due to Garand action.
2. Usually costs less than an AR (depends on AR)
3. Wood Stock
4. To some people it is less threatening (Zumbo effect, really stupid IMO)

Reasons to buy AR

1. WAY MORE ACCURATE!
2. Magazines are reliable, cheap, and plentiful.
3. Accessories and sight mounting.
4. Excellent ergonomics. (if a righty)(Garand put safety in a stupid place)
5. Very easy to disassembly and clean.
6. Modular (can change uppers and lowers to many different configs)
7. More popular (parts are everywhere and interchangeable)

If your going to buy a .223 it is hard to go wrong with an AR. I still prefer the 7.62's (Garands and M14's to the .223's) but I realize ammo costs more and is heaver. I just choose to shoot less. I truthfully see no reason to own a Mini-14.

Buy a quality AR and maintain it properly and it will run just as good as a mini and will be twice as accurate.

 

[LightningCrash]

Mini-14s are great ranch rifles.
(Hard to fit an AR-15 into a rifle scabbard)

I'm a bad person to ask opinion on this one as I dislike the .223 entirely.
( I just dislike rifle rounds under 2000ft-lbf, rimfires aside )

 

[Fister]

My opinion is well known but I'll be nice.

Reasons to buy a mini.

1. Possibly more reliable due to Garand action.
2. Usually costs less than an AR (depends on AR)
3. Wood Stock
4. To some people it is less threatening (Zumbo effect, really stupid IMO)

Reasons to buy AR

1. WAY MORE ACCURATE!
2. Magazines are reliable, cheap, and plentiful.
3. Accessories and sight mounting.
4. Excellent ergonomics. (if a righty)(Garand put safety in a stupid place)
5. Very easy to disassembly and clean.
6. Modular (can change uppers and lowers to many different configs)
7. More popular (parts are everywhere and interchangeable)

If your going to buy a .223 it is hard to go wrong with an AR. I still prefer the 7.62's (Garands and M14's to the .223's) but I realize ammo costs more and is heaver. I just choose to shoot less. I truthfully see no reason to own a Mini-14.

Buy a quality AR and maintain it properly and it will run just as good as a mini and will be twice as accurate.

He as it pretty right IMHO. Other things to remember . . . You are not comparing Apples to Apples.

The mini is a great rifle IMHO. However you will serverely limit yourself with one. They are not as accurate out of the box. They are not as weather resistant. Scope mounting options sux. Mags are way overpriced. There are no repair parts other than direct from ruger.
Ruger does however have a great warranty so long as your rifle doesnt evolve and stays the way it came.

With an AR well. They cost the same. Mags are cheap and plentiful. They are accurate. You can upgrade the hell out of them for a lot less than it would cost to do on a Ruger. Im talking about from match barrels to well the sky is the limit. Parts are everywhere. You can switch parts out easily and quickly. You can change to a large variety of calibers in seconds.

This debate is like comparing a ford escort to a BMW 5 series, and the Ruger aint the BMW.

 

[Buckh1]

The SS Mini-14 is very reliable, but mags can be an issue. I have an AR-15 and the mini-14 is not a bad choice. I believe it what you want out the the rifle that counts. I also have a SS Mini-30 that I am very fond of. As for scopes, all Ranch rifles come with ruger rings.

 

[Larry Morgan]

I have a mini-14 personally, but am now looking into buying an AR. It's not that the mini doesn't work or I think it's crap. It has shot well for years.

Really, the main reasons I'm looking to switch are alot of the subtle things that I find really attractive about AR's. Right off the bat, if you are used to shooting a mini-14, the weight difference will shock you. I know it did for me. Secondly, after having shot the mini-14, I can say the AR's design is much more combat efficient (especially for right handers). The best example of this is mag changes.

On the AR:
Move one finger up two inches and press mag release
Put in new mag
Press bolt release with extended finger while inserting mag, or
just lightly tap the bolt release with your palm on the way back to the hanguard.

On the mini:
Reach underneath the gun, grab a hold of the mag and press the mag release at the same time.
Put in new mag
Transfer weight to left hand so you can recharge the bolt to release it from hold open with your right hand, or
attempt to reach underneath the gun and all the way over to the other side to release the bolt.

That's one of the reasons, plus all the stuff everyone talked about.