New Mini-14 or AR-15?

[Mindflayer]

I am very tempted by the new Mini 14s with the heavier barrel. I could just build another AR, but the 14 is tempting.

[Mindflayer]

Watching all the specials on WWII have made me really pine for a Mini-14 (or -30, if cheap enough) to go along with my AR.

[brianj]

I'd say get yourself that mini. If you could only have one I'd probably say stick with the AR, but since you already have one/several, a mini makes sense. I own both, (technically the mini belongs to the MRS.) and enjoy it and shoot it just as well as I can shoot my AR. Mine being an older model had some accuracy issues when we bought it, but after some tinkering it is a good shooter and will shoot anything I feed it. My 20" AR has had no mechanical issues, but I did buy some foreign surplus ammo that would not always fully cycle the bolt.

[Mindflayer]

I want both - I figure two long arms for redundancy for the SHTF Zombie Apocalypse. The question is Mini-30 since my friend has a slew of 7.2 Soviet and we'll have cross-ammo compatibility; or get the Mini-14 since .223/5.56 NATO is more common and I can swap with my AR.

[PawnQuixote]

My personal vote is the Mini 14 simply because the commonality of .223 ammunition in the US. Won't have the knock-down power of the good 'ole 7.62x39, but .223 ammo is everywhere (plus the Mini 14 can fire surplus 5.56).

My two cents

[jrswanson1]

I want both - I figure two long arms for redundancy for the SHTF Zombie Apocalypse. The question is Mini-30 since my friend has a slew of 7.2 Soviet and we'll have cross-ammo compatibility; or get the Mini-14 since .223/5.56 NATO is more common and I can swap with my AR.

If you plan on getting a Mini-30, do NOT plan on using steel-cased ammo. The firing pins are not rated for it. And you have to get fitted firing pins from Ruger.

That said, the Mini-14 works with the steel cased stuff, and is tough as nails.

Jim

[Mindflayer]

That's good to know, Jim.

Some Yugoslavian 7.62x39 brass: http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx? ... groupid=39

I was tempted to buy it even though I don't have anything in that caliber. Could be worth trading one day.

[CowboyT]

Question: since the primer is the part getting struck by the firing pin, why does a firing pin need to be rated for steel cases?

[wbtrunx]

That's good to know, Jim.

Some Yugoslavian 7.62x39 brass: http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx? ... groupid=39

I was tempted to buy it even though I don't have anything in that caliber. Could be worth trading one day.

Keep in mind, those are corrosive.

[Mindflayer]

Aye, I know. I figured if I do buy a 7.62, I can clean the gun religiously as I do with all of my firearms. If I don't, I would trade it for goods or services (e.g., SHTF, I'm broke but have ammo, I want to make a trade).

That all said, I ended up just stocking up on .45 ACP and 5.56 NATO. I have an AR that needs feeding and a Ruger Mini-14 may still be on my list....

[Diomed]

Question: since the primer is the part getting struck by the firing pin, why does a firing pin need to be rated for steel cases?

I'm trying to figure that out as well. Does the firing pin in a Mini have multiple functions? Like extraction or ejection?

[zephyp]

Question: since the primer is the part getting struck by the firing pin, why does a firing pin need to be rated for steel cases?

I'm trying to figure that out as well. Does the firing pin in a Mini have multiple functions? Like extraction or ejection?

Could be the OP on this was referring to Berdan primed cases and thinking the Mini doesnt have enough oomph to properly impact the primer.

[Valleyhunter]

If you haven't made a purchase yet I would like to throw one of these out there. Remington R-15 It is my first and only AR platform gun an I absolutely LOVE it! It shoots better than I can. This particular one is the .223 with an 18 inch barrel I shoot 55gr. Hornady out of it. This pic. is when I first bought it and slapped a scope on it for a photo.

[jrswanson1]

Question: since the primer is the part getting struck by the firing pin, why does a firing pin need to be rated for steel cases?

I'm trying to figure that out as well. Does the firing pin in a Mini have multiple functions? Like extraction or ejection?

Could be the OP on this was referring to Berdan primed cases and thinking the Mini doesnt have enough oomph to properly impact the primer.

I'm a member of perfectunion.com. It's a big Ruger Mini forum. There are a lot of people who complain about broken firing pins after using the steel cased stuff. Ruger specifically states do not use steel cased ammo or you will break firing pins.

Did you know the original Mini-30 was supposed to be a .308? That's why the earlier Mini-30s used .308 barrels but the chambers were for the Russian stuff. They had the barrel blanks left from the .308 project so they used those until they ran out of them.

JIm

[Diomed]

There are a lot of people who complain about broken firing pins after using the steel cased stuff. Ruger specifically states do not use steel cased ammo or you will break firing pins.

This really doesn't make much sense.

Did you know the original Mini-30 was supposed to be a .308?

The XGI? What a cluster...

[gunderwood]

There are a lot of people who complain about broken firing pins after using the steel cased stuff. Ruger specifically states do not use steel cased ammo or you will break firing pins.

This really doesn't make much sense.

It doesn't if you assume it is the steel case causing the broken firing pins. This was new to me (not owning a Mini30), but after looking around it appears that the real issue is hard primers. Specifically, people are putting in upgraded springs to shoot the hard primers and "fix" misfires/hangfires. Put it together and you have a lot of firing pins breaking. The steel case warning appears to be a simple way to identify the ammo most likely to have hard primers.

[CowboyT]

Gun porn, as promised.



Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet; hopefully soon.

[Vahunter]

Gun porn, as promised.



Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet; hopefully soon.

I think saturday would be a good day to shoot it.

[Mindflayer]

Cowboy - if I don't make it to your first shoot, I request a range report.

That said, this weekend is the gun show. Mmmm... guns. My shipment of 1000 rounds of 5.56 NATO arrives tomorrow, too.

[CowboyT]

Vahunter: I'll bring it along w/ the Mosin.

Mindflayer: if we get a chance to play with it this Saturday, you will get a range report. And then we'll go shoot it. TBob, you're welcome to come with us when we do.