Mini 14 vs AR 15

[zzammon]

I know this is more of a personal preference question. I am interested in Coyote hunting this fall/winter in MN. I am debating between getting a Mini 14 .223 or AR 15. I am currently leaning towards the mini 14, due partly to the price. Any thoughts? Thank you!

Any for sale? [email protected]

[picksbigwagon]

the mini 14's used to be notorius for poor accuracy. not sure about the new ones, but a friend of mine's dad sent a barrel to Texas to have a cryo treatment done and it shot better. However, I was on the Reeds Sports site today looking at shotguns and they had dpms 16" AR's for about 700 bucks. If you are looking at buying new, you can get into an AR for that price or twice that. Olympic Arms makes a K16 that shoots pretty well. I bought and Olympic K8 with a 20" stainless bull barrel and I think they are back under 800 now, new.

While the AR is a great gun platform, if you are just starting out, you can't go wrong with a savage package gun from Fleet Farm for under 400 bucks. That will save some money, which after looking at ammo prices tonight at Gander, you will need for ammunition.....

Look at a 243, it will be more versatile for you.

[paul pachowicz]

wow, could we get into a discussion with this topic. My question would be, why spend that amount of money on two auto loaders that are relatively short on range and inheritantly inaccurate when there are calibered and engineered rifles for varmit and can be used for deer sized animals for about the same price, ie; .308, 6mm, 6.5 mm, .243, 7mm-.08, etc? But again, it's the buyers choice. Let's face it these two choices are designed to fill the air with lead not to drive tacks.

[picksbigwagon]

I will argue with you paul on accuracy. My AR is a tack driver with my hand loads.....

I will agree that there are cheaper routes to go than an AR....

My 243 loads:

I think I was breathing wrong on that last shot.....

that is a savage 243 from fleet farm, the packaged deal with a not so great scope for under 400 bucks

[bmc]

We used to have an older Mini 14 in our squad w/ a good scope on it and it wasn't extremely accurate. My dad also had an older Mini 14 and same goes for that one.

We now have an AR-15 in the car and that thing is a tack driver, even with open sights.

I'm gonna throw another option at you....I had an H & R Handi Rifle in .204 Ruger and that thing was a tack driver, although it's only a single shot. My buddy had the same gun in .223 and it was a tack driver as well.

Brian

[VIZSLA_NUT]

hopefully you are down in southern mn and can justify a rifle for coyotes up here in the woods you can't beat a shotgun and #4 buckshot there just isn't any open areas to call them in. by the way as handy as the mini's are you just can't modify them or add on like you can with the AR platform, the skies the limit for options with those things nowadays.

[paul pachowicz]

WOW, Pick...I'm impressed with both patterns. Good shooting. I'll stand corrected on YOUR abilities and YOUR AR. Just one ?, what was the range? I think I can make out Varget on the .243 but can't on the AR. Just for conversation sake, did you do any aftermarket tweeking on yours? I get 1/2 inch @ 100 yds with my 1983 Model 7 Remington .243 using RP brass, CCI 200 primers, 100 grain Sierra boattails, & 42.5 IMR 4831 cronied at 2878 FPS.

[picksbigwagon]

both were shot at 100 yards, with developmental loads with for both guns. The 223 was 60 gr. Hornady vmax with Reloader 15 but benchmark and varget get similar results, nothing done to it, a small trigger job was done to it, but it was not a drop in trigger. basically stock Oly except for minor trigger tweak. I seat the bullets at 2.258 which barely fits in the magazine, but it puts them just off the lands which I feel helps.

The 243 was shot with varget and 58 gr. Hornday Vmax ( predator loads) Gun was bought from a friend so it was used, plain jane savage w/ accutriger. I was using WLR primers, and my friend has a chrony, but I ignore that and look at accuracy more than speed.

[gunmunky]

You wont find any bolt gun off the rack that will shoot better than a quality AR. My .223 AR's are more than accurate enough to take prairie dogs out to 400 yards consistantly. An AR will hold value better than a bolt gun in my opinion. You can change out options at any time at home very easily which is an added bonus. If you skimp now you will be sorry later.

[GatorBait]

I have two different guns for predator hunting. My Colt AR-15 Sporter and Savage Model 12BVSS .223 Both are great, but I still prefer using the AR, long range, light, and very accurate. Being a certified range instructor in the DOC, we use the mini-14's. They are nice, but won't hold the accuracy that you would want time after time.

[zzammon]

Lots of good info here! Keep it comming guys.

[paul pachowicz]

Pick, years ago while looking at the exterior bullistic charts and wondering how close they estimate the FPS and having a few extra bucks I decided to buy a cronie just for the heck of it. I've foound them to be fairly close to what the book says but, alittle low and I agree speed is not a determining factor when working up a load. AND!!!!...if you say those ARs are that good...then I eat my words and defer to you guys with hands on knowledge on thier accuracy.

[picksbigwagon]

not all AR's are that good.....I was lucky that day, but it is the second most accurate gun I own....My 17hmr will hit primers at 50 yards off of sandbags....

[Bandit]

I have a Colt AR15 and it's a tack driver. I have 3 mini 14's and a mini 30, and although they are fun to shoot, none of them shoot good groups.

[fishuhalik]

all this reading just makes me want an ar that much more. one of these days i'll have $1000 bucks to get the set up i want, probably not any time soon though.

[picksbigwagon]

what kind of set up do you want Fish? Get your glass now and wait for the prices of AR's to come back down....

[fishuhalik]

I'd like something fairly basic to start with. I'd use it mostly as a plinker and upgrade it as I go. I already have the optics I'd want, not sure on the name but it's a Leupold that's just sitting on my 77/22, a few years old, one of their better ones when I bought it about 8 years ago. I'd also like to go the other way and turn into a home defense weapon. I'd also have to get a bunch of reloading equipment, cuz I really like pulling the trigger when I'm at the range and have been known to go through alot of rounds in a day.

[picksbigwagon]

find an Olympic arms K16 (a 16 inch bull barrel AR) it will be amazingly accurate gun. the last time I looked, you could get one for under 700 bucks. usually 650 or less. I love my Olympic K8 (20" stainless bull barrel) and got it for under 750 4 years ago. DPMS makes great options as well. of course with reloading equipment, etc, yeah you will be spending at least 1000 when it is all said and done...

[fishuhalik]

Right now it's pretty far down on my wish list. I still need a truck, boat, muzzleloader, bow, and a motorcycle before I get an AR. Like I said, one of these days but probably not in the near future

[SDbowhunter]

Look into Delton or J&T kits... Just add a lower reciever. Just about any brand of lower will do. A trained monkey can put one together. Most of the lower tier(does not mean they are bad) companies like DPMS, Delton, Stag, Bushmaster etc. use the same parts manufacturers. Top of line are companies are Colt, BCM, Larue, LMT, etc. and also cost alot more.

[RumRiverRat]

AR-15 hands down.

The AR platform is the most versatile out there.

I have AR-15s chambered in .223Rem, 5.56mmx45, 6.8SPC.

I have 3 AR-10s chambered in .308

Even my beater guns are good for fist sized groups at 300 yards.

[SmilinBob]

I just happen to have a couple DPMS lowers available, adjustable stock style. will take care of the FM brotherhood.