Mini 14 vs AR-15

[Jerome from California]

I know this debate has been around forever but I'm not sure if it has been examined from the factors that matter to me. I know the issue of price is a wash. What about weight? I want a light carbine so my wife and 10 yr boy can shoot it (16 in barrel). Reliability, because there are three shooters and only one person cleaning guns (me). Recoil, although not a major factor since the .223/5.56 isn't a thumper; it would still be nice to know if there is a difference.

I know Eric has both guns so he is probably in a good position to address this. That being said, I welcome anyone's comment too.

[Eric R Shelton]

Weight should be just about a wash, as well.  According to Ruger's website, the Mini-14 Ranch is weighing in at 7 pounds.  I've handled ARs anywhere from 6 to 12+ pounds.  The biggest contributor to weight should be the barrel, but it's easier to go accessory crazy on an AR and throw on a couple more pounds by complete accident.  However, if you keep your AR basic but get a telescoping stock, it may alleviate any length of pull concerns for your son, and maybe even wife.

Just get a light profile barrel on your AR, and try to resist the urge to throw on a picatinny mount french coffee press (I swear someday I'll have one), and you should be good to go, no matter which platform you choose.

[Chris]

I have a fair amount of experience with both the AR-15 and the various Ruger Mini-14s. When it comes to reliablity and inherent accuracy... plus quality magazines and other accessories at a reasonable price... I'll take the AR hands down.
Chris Christian

[Chemsoldier]

With the exception of that hideous charging handle, the ergonomics of the AR's controls are hard to beat.  The weapon slides up from low ready to the shoulder neatly while an easy flick of the thumb bring the selector to FIRE and just as intuitively it is easy to flick back to safe when it comes down.  The Mag release is well placed and easier to my mind than the AK style release on the Mini-14.

-Chem

[Chris]

Chem,
An extended "Tactical" charging handle (less than $20 from Brownells) extends the left side wing of the handle by a full inch and allows a real quick "right hand grip on pistol grip/left hand flick the bolt to charge". I have one on every AR I own... and they even work well with a big ocular lens scope.
Chris Christian

[Karl]

I think it's interesting to see Ruger's take on the future of the Mini 14. Listening to Mas and Gail's interview with Mark Gurney (sorry if I murdered Mark's last name) in the ProArms Episode 30 podcast. As more AR rifles use the piston system they see the Mini 14 as a separate price platform. I'm sure Jerome is right when he mentions the price being a wash, but moving forward it will be interesting to see what happens to the Mini.

[rabbitdave]

I have struggled with this for a long time and landed on an AR. After all I can shoot .22 in it just by changing the bolt carrier group and mag. Then you can swap out an upper & mag to go to a different caliber. You can't do that with the Mini-14. I would think that being able to shot .22 would be big if this is a family gun. Ammo is expensive.

David

[tom]

I am still waiting for the supposed drop in AR-15 prices in our area.  I can get a mini 14 for $800 or less and while there are plenty of ARs on the wall at the local shop they are all of the $2000 range which isn't the baseline I am looking for right now.

tom

[Chris]

Tom,
Take a look at the DPMS 5.56 Sportical. SRP is $699. I have one. It's MOA with a half dozen different loads, and 2 MOA with the loads it doesn't like. I replaced the trigger with a RRA National Match, added an Ergo Grip, and a Tactical charging handle, and the SRP was still less than $900. It's a straight A4... you need to put sights on it. But, it's a darn decent gun. It shoots rings around my Mini-14 in terms of both accuracy and reliability.
Chris Christian

[Eric R Shelton]

And the new Magpul sights can be had for a song.  I'll be using them on my CavArms lower build.

[NavyBlue99TA]

"I have struggled with this for a long time..."

Just get 2 of each...conflict resolved.  

[Sailct41]

I have them both, and I love them both.  The HBAR looks really cool and the M-14 never comes off of target when I shoot it.  SInce I cant see a darn thing through the peep sights on either one and have them scoped.  I only shoot paper so my major concern is the price of ammo and that is equal.  As for what I would do in a pinch, I would probably hand the mini 14 to the wife because she is familiar with my 10-22 and I would take the HBAR.  That way we could get them in a cross fire!  I like the buy two each comment but then I couldnt have an AK for FLN

[jhsanchez]

I have both and while they are different, I like them both.  I bought the new version of the m-14 with the ATI folding stock with lots of rails.  For me, it fits when I installed the thicker cushion (included).  My AR has a 20inch barrel with a recently installed flash supressor and is a more serious paper puncher but the m-14 is fine within the range limits of the shooters old eyes.

Best solution - get both!
Jim

[P50MG]

Got my Mini14 tactical version for $649 at Impactguns.com last month.  The cheapest AR15/clone was $1200+.   Got a proven rifle and can still afford ammo....

[Christopher Burg]

First I want to say I do not own a mini-14 and am going on experience gathered through shooting other people's guns in this arena.  Likewise I only have a single AR-15 that is setup with a heavy national match barrel and trigger.

But between the mini-14 and the AR-15 I would easily purchase the AR-15.  Based on your posted concerns I'll say the weight is pretty similar although you can get very light AR-15s or very heavy ones depending on the options and accessories.  As far as accuracy I've always found the AR-15 platform to be better than the mini-14 platform.  Granted this was comparing a friend's and my own AR-15 to a couple other friend's mini-14s.  Both of our AR-15s have had work done to them to improve accuracy and are not out of the box guns.

As for reliability I'd also go with the AR-15.  Once again this comes from the fact that every time I bring a friend who has a mini-14 to the range they end up having issues.  I'd say most of these friends don't take the greatest care of their guns and clean them seldomly which is likely the cause in many cases.

In the mater of recoil the AR-15 benefits slightly due to it's construction.  When you fire a mini-14 the bolt moves back and causes the gun to want to pivot when the hand grips the stock.  This is due to the fact that the mini-14 uses a traditional rifle stock which drops below the height of the bolt.  The AR-15 stock on the other hand is level with the bolt so when it moves back the force is directed against your shoulder instead of a lower point on the rifle.  This means the mini-14 barrel with want to jump slightly more although the amount on a 5.56 is negligible.

[oldwardog177]

The AR-15 is by hands down far better rifle than the Mini-14. I like the mini-14 , but the accuracy is very big to me.
Mini-14 has a gallon jug per hundred in comparison to the AR-15 coffee cup per hundred....

[ARtistinCA]

My 2 cents...

I grew up with a mini-14 and thought it was a great gun (it was a family friends)... until I shot an AR.  The mini is a great truck gun.  When they cost $300 its the type of rifle you dont mind gettgin beat up.

Like Eric said... get an AR15 with a lightweight barrel and dont put any wizbang things on it.  Keep it a KISS carbine and it'll be a blast to shoot!

Just and FYI - I prefer teh A1 upper over the A2.  Less chances of someone accidentally messing around with the sights.

[Gatsby]

I like the AR platform because it's completely modular, easy to work on, and has so much more in the way of customization. If you want a simple rifle, you can have a simple rifle, if you want to go crazy, you can, if you want to take the junk off easily, you can... AND mags are way cheaper and easier to come by.

[Eric R Shelton]

I like the AR platform because it's completely modular, easy to work on, and has so much more in the way of customization. If you want a simple rifle, you can have a simple rifle, if you want to go crazy, you can, if you want to take the junk off easily, you can... AND mags are way cheaper and easier to come by.

+1.  It's like Lego for grown-ups.

[OurSafeHome.net]

It's like Lego for grown-ups.

...and some not-so-grown-ups...