Mini 14 vs AR-15

[N.U.G.U.N.]

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....

The newer Mini14's are quite a bit more accurate than the old ones BTW.

[Eric R Shelton]

Yup.  Ruger did a massive retooling of the assembly practice with the new 580- prefix serial numbers.  Back in the days of the 180 and 186 prefixes, the receiver was actually placed in six different jigs during the manufacturing process, which could lead to variances and tolerance "stacking".  The new ones stay in the same jig the entire time, and the cutting/tooling machinery moves around them, instead.  It's led to much more consistency from rifle to rifle.

[N.U.G.U.N.]

I'd so love to see that....

All the machinery moving around.

:-)

[Zeus]

These rifles are in two separate price groups. If you have the $$$ get the AR. If not get the Mini 14. I passed on both and got a SIG 556 and have never looked back. I left my AR for Uncle Sam to reissue and didn't want to be a slave to it just because it was familiar. You didn't list that as an option though

[Eric R Shelton]

That's because I out-and-out dislike the Sig 556 as a personal weapon option.  Don't misunderstand- it's a fine rifle, other than having a bolt release so light it'll let go if you so much as look at it funny.  My concern is parts availability, my own ability to work on the gun, etc.  Heck, just from the parts standpoint, anything other than an AR is kind of crazy- you can get whatever you want for that thing!  LOL.  Add to that the commonality of training, any prior service personnel from the past 40 years will be at least passingly familiar with the AR, and I just don't see any reason for me to even consider a Sig.  All I can see are the disadvantages- I can't see anything it does better than an AR.  (And if you point to it being piston driven, I promise you I will laugh and mock you, as DI guns have been working for 40+ years.  Complaining about DI is trying to manufacture a problem.)

Having said all that, I still respect it, and think it's a fine gun that will run, shoot, etc.  It's not like it's broken, or anything!  LOL.  I'm just saying if I was going to have a Sig, I'd rather it was a 226.

[N.U.G.U.N.]

Let's not forget the semi-auto versions of the M14.

;-)

There are a lot of good rifles out there.  Here is what I've come to the conclusion.  The AR has a lot of advantages, and a couple of disadvantages. (Modular, adaptable, dirty.) The Mini14 is a fairly simple intuitive system to use. But is proprietary and requires you to remove optics to fully disassemble.

My proposed solution.  Own both.  In fact, I hope to own a variety.

I've got a Mini14 Target with the laminate stock. While it may not be the tactical gun that an AR is. It's flat out gorgeous.

But I want an AR as well.  In fact, I am likely to eventually buy another Mini14 and a couple ARs.

Here is my list of .223 desires (not in any particular order):

1) Mini14 Target with Harmonic Adjuster and Laminate Stock (acquired)
2) Mini14 to toss into my polymer tactical stock. This can be a junker, one of the 180 series. It'll be a beater gun.
3) A Ruger SR-556.  (I just really liked the lines of the 556 and like the adjustable gas system.)
4) A 2nd AR, one that I'll probably build myself. Perhaps off of a POF lower.

5) Prossibly a .22LR AR (Colt seems much more hardy than the S&W).
6) Eventually a purple girly AR for my daughter when she comes of age. (Probably before, as when she comes to age we might not be allowed to buy ARs)

But why stop there...

I'd like an M14 as well.

Oh, and while you're at it. Pick up a Mosin-Nagant while you can still get them for $100. Nice rifles. Cheap ammo ($99/440 rounds).  Good "trunk" gun. Buy a few of them, and if stolen you don't really care. Not a big loss.

[Eric R Shelton]

Jason, I've never taken the sights off my Mini 14 during disassembly.  The only time I did was when I swapped 'em out for XS sights.

Any gun require you to remove the sights to fully disassemble it...   

[N.U.G.U.N.]

Sorry, I mistyped. Will clarify and fix.

Sights = Scope in this context.

I have to remove my scope in order to fully disassemble and clean my Mini14. Which doesn't actually have sights.  Which is why I will added a beater Mini14 and some ARs down the road.  For some fixed iron sight training.

:-)

[D.Hamilton]

I passed on both and got a SIG 556

A second that motion. Now I have a couple of ARs and I love them, but when I started to think about a Carbine and looking at the options, the SIG got my vote. I know it does not have all the available options of an AR, but I was not looking for a modular carbine. I wanted a reliable rifle out of the box that I could throw an optic on and go for it. To me the manual of arms was half AR and half AK, and being familiar with both, the SIG was an easy learning curve.  Granted my next build is going to be another AR (in 9mm), my goto gun will always be my SIG.

[Eric R Shelton]

If you do that, realize that 9mm carbines are rougher on internals in the AR platform.  Don't cheap out on a budget lower parts kit, or you'll be replacing broken trigger and hammer pins.

[lfs]

Sorry, I mistyped. Will clarify and fix.

Sights = Scope in this context.

I have to remove my scope in order to fully disassemble and clean my Mini14. Which doesn't actually have sights.  Which is why I will added a beater Mini14 and some ARs down the road.  For some fixed iron sight training.

:-)

This is news to me.  I don't have to take the scope off of my 580 to disassemble it.  I guess that is all determined by how you mount the scope, but if you use rings attached to the Ruger scope mount points, you shouldn't have to take it off to get the thing apart.

BTW, I think this Mini-14 vs. AR-15 debate is a bit silly.  I'm under the impression the either is more accurate than 95% of the shooters out there.