[HappyinID]

Do the new ones still require seven loose tiny parts just to clean the gas port?

The majority of people that own one will probably never clean the gas port on their Mini. The guns will usually go many thousands of rounds without needing to.

Many/most people that bought a Mini, fire it a few hundred rounds, and get where they can hit pie plates at 100, maybe 200 yards. That might not be SEAL/Delta/Starship Trooper mission quality, but it makes them fairly dangerous to someone trying to hurt them around their property.

 

[bigg777]

I do not own and have never shot a Mini-14, from what I've seen and read they are very capable rifles. In experienced hands, I have no doubts that they would be adequate for SD/HD. My main concern in a TEOTWAWKI scenario would be the availability of Mini-14 replacement parts and magazines.

Having a Mini-14 as your primary weapon may be a reasonable choice but, I would have atleast 2 AR15s in my collection because of the price and availability of parts and mags here in the U.S. YMMV

 

[3299]

I do not own and have never shot a Mini-14, from what I've seen and read they are very capable rifles. In experienced hands, I have no doubts that they would be adequate for SD/HD. My main concern in a TEOTWAWKI scenario would be the availability of Mini-14 replacement parts and magazines.

Having a Mini-14 as your primary weapon may be a reasonable choice but, I would have atleast 2 AR15s in my collection because of the price and availability of parts and mags here in the U.S. YMMV

Agreed I have a couple of M-4s , 1911s etc. But I do love my Mini-14. 👍

 

[Sweeper80]

As a kid in the 80's, my dad had a Mini-30 we used to keep the local coyote population in check. I still remember him being so mad at me when I "wasted good hunting ammo" because I preferred the old Woodsmaster 81 due to better accuracy and range. That old milsurp X39 was cheap, IIRC $25 for 1260 rounds. It was also very inconsistent.

 

[ajole]

Agreed I have a couple of M-4s , 1911s etc. But I do love my Mini-14. 👍

Really? I would never have guessed! 😅

 

[merlinfire]

the only problem the mini-14 has is the $$$ value proposition. it's otherwise solid and reliable.

 

[HappyinID]

the only problem the mini-14 has is the $$$ value proposition. it's otherwise solid and reliable.

No, unless you live in a restricted state, or you just want one, they don't make a lot of sense today.

 

[fotog]

As a student of Massad Ayoob (early 90's), it was an essential piece of gear. Have owned my Ranch Rifle for a very long time.

 

[HappyinID]

Oh, I forgot the main reason it's my second tier. Too much stuff is apparently only fixable at the factory. So in a shtf event it is more of a "use till it breaks, then toss it" gun. Nothing has ever broken on mine, but like I say it's only been fired about 100 times.

I think you'll be OK. I'm personally aware of guns that had more than 100K rounds through them, with little to no issues.

At the factory armorer's class they gave me scads of parts. And as with the other guns, most of what I used over the years were to replace lost parts from guys taking them down more than they needed to over their shag rug, or to fix guns abused by kitchen table "gunsmithing" with hammers and vice grips, and home "trigger jobs". Say what you want about them, they don't break much.

 

[Hick Industries]

the only problem the mini-14 has is the $$$ value proposition. it's otherwise solid and reliable.

They were reasonably priced until Obama won the 2008 election. I remember paying about $600 for my new Mini-30 in Nov 08 (Election Day). Seems like the price jumped at least $200 the next day.

 

[ajole]

They were reasonably priced until Obama won the 2008 election. I remember paying about $600 for my new Mini-30 in Nov 08 (Election Day). Seems like the price jumped at least $200 the next day.

As did AR's, but even worse, IIRC.

Difference being, AR prices came back down, and the Ruger hasn't.

 

[hatchet jack]

I think you'll be OK. I'm personally aware of guns that had more than 100K rounds through them, with little to no issues.

At the factory armorer's class they gave me scads of parts. And as with the other guns, most of what I used over the years were to replace lost parts from guys taking them down more than they needed to over their shag rug, or to fix guns abused by kitchen table "gunsmithing" with hammers and vice grips, and home "trigger jobs". Say what you want about them, they don't break much.

Great post. Most will never shoot one enough to break a part. Even if shot a lot they rarely ever break. It seems most are worried they can't get a replacement firing pin. There are good after market firing pins available if that makes you feel more secure.

Accuracy Systems Extended Firing Pin Ruger Min-14 Mini-30 SS

The price of magazines was mentioned early on. That sort of puzzles me. The factory mags are pricey but magazines are the whole life of a semi auto. So what if they are $30+ for a 30 round mag. Have you priced what a 5 round mag for a CZ 22 bolt action costs? Those were $30 the last time I looked. I don't really like the 30 round mags I like the 5 and 20 round mags. I have 8 Pro-Mag 20 round steel mags. They cost me $20 each and seem to be just as good as the one factory 20 round mag I have. Matter of fact they are a better fit than the factory mag and don't have any wobble when locked in. And they are made from hardened steel. Not cheap, lightweight aluminum like most AR mags. Plus they are just as reliable as the factory mags.

They were reasonably priced until Obama won the 2008 election. I remember paying about $600 for my new Mini-30 in Nov 08 (Election Day). Seems like the price jumped at least $200 the next day.

I remember that time very well. I bought my Mini just before the election for around $600. After the election ammo disappeared like 308, 223, and 22lr. Poof! Just gone. I won the auction for my first AR the day before Sandy Hook. Things really went crazy then. I paid a little over $600 for my DPMS Panther Lite and I really thought the seller might back out of the deal. A day later and my gun would have sold for $1500. Bushmaster Patrol Carbines were selling on gunbroker for $3500. And they were selling quick. Then a year later you saw those same guys walking around at gunshows trying to dump them for half money. It didn't work because the tables at gunshows were sagging with all the new AR rifles for sale for around $500 IIRC. About what a plastic and aluminum gun is worth.

I only have two ARs and one Mini-14. A 580 series with tapered barrel. Stainless and wood. I will never sell it. If I found a deal on another Mini 580 or later you can bet I will buy it.

 

[Jake Johnson]

The Mini-14 is a solid tool. Are there better designs nowadays? Sure. But it's still a solid gun. The biggest issues are accuracy and maintenance. Once you have some heat in the barrel, accuracy is "minute of area code". The rotating bolt/op-rod require constant lube as with other rifles of similar design....i.e. M1A/M14/M1 Garand.
Ruger originally submitted this rifle to the Govt. for testing and evaluation as a replacement to the M14. We all know how that ended...
Ruger changed a few things in an attempt to address the accuracy issues, primarily the mounting of the stock and the barrel clamp. It helped but not much.
If you like it and are proficient with it, it should serve you well. Keep plenty of O.E. mags available and don't plan on shooting "steel" ammo as most find the tolerances too close for cheap ammo. Y.M.M.V.

Steel Cased ammo is why I bought the Mini in the first place

 

[ajole]

Steel Cased ammo is why I bought the Mini in the first place

Steel cased ammo is why I bought 4 SKS's over a few years, for under $650 combined, and a $375 AK.

 

[Jake Johnson]

Steel cased ammo is why I bought 4 SKS's over a few years, for under $650 combined, and a $375 AK.

I keep SKS and AK platforms for the same reason. 308 is just too expensive to shoot out of the M1A on a regular basis

 

[Jlrhiner]

Does anybody make a conversion kit to change the Mini over to STANAG mags?

Might be a business op..........

 

[clc79092]

Friends dont let friends use promag

 

[Wulfthang]

The majority of people that own one will probably never clean the gas port on their Mini. The guns will usually go many thousands of rounds without needing to

"Majority". "Probably". "Usually". That's a lot of "IF's" for a rifle that I may need to bet my life on. Plus, that's assuming that it will always be eating high quality feed. What happens when it starts firing ammo with charcoal dust as filler or some other weird combination of home made boom powder?

Now don't get me wrong! I've had several Mini's and liked them. Rugers warranty was great. I still own about half dozen or so of their firearms. Just no Mini's. I felt my money was better invested with AK's and STG-58's. Three large hard to loose parts and I can clean the gas port with the included tool pick.

It's not that the Mini is bad for teotwawki. It's not by a long shot. It's a good, fairly robust rifle. It's just that the AK is better!

 

[Scooter1021]

Friends dont let friends use promag

They don’t let them buy sks either

 

[ajole]

They don’t let them buy sks either

I thought it was, if they DO buy an SKS, friends don't let them put a promag duckbill in that thing.