DPMS or Ruger Mini 14

Originally Posted By: pukindogI don't think I saw anyone else mention this, but one thing you might consider is that the only really reliable magazines for the Mini-14 are factory mags, while with the AR there are any number of good mags that average less than half the price. To be fair though, I have not tried the new Tapco mags for the Mini-14. Yet.

The Mini-14 would be a great rifle if it sold for $350, but when priced close to a basic AR, to me the choice would be the AR. The ability to swap uppers, change calibers, change barrels and easily customize the gun to your individual needs - along with accuracy - just can't be found in the Mini-14.

Hey, we bought some Tapco mags for our mini-14's and they lock in real nice and tight and work well... and they are actually reasonably priced compared to Ruger Mags...
 
Originally Posted By: jem375Originally Posted By: pukindogI don't think I saw anyone else mention this, but one thing you might consider is that the only really reliable magazines for the Mini-14 are factory mags, while with the AR there are any number of good mags that average less than half the price. To be fair though, I have not tried the new Tapco mags for the Mini-14. Yet.

The Mini-14 would be a great rifle if it sold for $350, but when priced close to a basic AR, to me the choice would be the AR. The ability to swap uppers, change calibers, change barrels and easily customize the gun to your individual needs - along with accuracy - just can't be found in the Mini-14.

Hey, we bought some Tapco mags for our mini-14's and they lock in real nice and tight and work well... and they are actually reasonably priced compared to Ruger Mags...

I bought some cheap off brand mags and no problems here.
 
Last edited:
I had one after-market mag I had to do a bit of bending on one feed lip to make reliable.

I actually did it just by rolling it hard against a flat board until had a bit more radius and matched a known-good mag. Took all of a minute.
I'm thinking that's the problem with the majority of them.
 
Originally Posted By: Evil_LurkerI had one after-market mag I had to do a bit of bending on one feed lip to make reliable.

I actually did it just by rolling it hard against a flat board until had a bit more radius and matched a known-good mag. Took all of a minute.
I'm thinking that's the problem with the majority of them.

Good job.
 
i own dpms lite with a flat top receiver. never shot a mini. but heres what i have to say. if you buy an ar be sure to get a flat top receiver. and if you get a quad rail on it like mine i keep flip up sights on it all the time. that way i can put scopes dots on it whatever you want. the flip ups allow you to always have sights that are sighted in and still allow you to put whatever other ones you want on it. ar s look cool and are americas rifle. they will hold value better than a mini. and i like my dpms. just buy aftermarket mags, the ones that come with it will jam. once i got different mags it has not ever jammed since. got about a thousand rounds through it now. i clean it after everytime i shoot. either choice will be a good one
 
Mini's are fun to plink and short shooting at critters...
YoteMini14223.jpg

GroundHog2.jpg


BUT.... I would buy an AR for sure!!! Alot of fun stuff you can do to them plus any optic will work, short or long distances
 
Originally Posted By: Evil_LurkerI had one after-market mag I had to do a bit of bending on one feed lip to make reliable.

I actually did it just by rolling it hard against a flat board until had a bit more radius and matched a known-good mag. Took all of a minute.
I'm thinking that's the problem with the majority of them.

Interesting! I will have to see if I can dig up some older mags and experiment with them, if I didn't throw them away.

I took my Mini-14 and 4 of my ARs to the range yesterday. The Mini is a fun gun and for the $300 I gave for it, I am very happy with it. But I just like the fact that you can more easily (relatively speaking) specialize the AR. Of course that may not be a good thing in some ways, because I have dumped some money into my ARs and very little (relatively speaking) into the Mini-14.
grin.gif



random range porn..
R07.jpg


R08.jpg


R04.jpg


R02.jpg

 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: pukindogInteresting! I will have to see if I can dig up some older mags and experiment with them, if I didn't throw them away.



Yeah, just use a known good mag as a reference and take a pair of calipers to mkae a few comparisons. It became pretty obvious with mine what the problem was (I didn't even use calipers).

I think if they're welded up straight, I could get any of them to function with a bit of reshaping.
If the feed lips look good, try swapping spring/follower. I've never had a problem related to that, but it's possible.

I sure wish Ruger had designed them around AR mags.
cursing.gif
 
benson821----In my experience the mini-14 is a POS, go with a DPMS if that is what you want. I thought I was sold on DPMS also last year at this time, but I stopped over at the Outdoorsman in Fargo and was directed to the Rock River AR's by Neil and Kevin, and we will say that the rest is history. My son and I bought 2 Rock Rivers, I got a 20" Predator Pursuit and the kid bought a 20" Coyote. These guns will run a little more money but they are worth every cent, and the Outdoorsman guys are first class. We both will be looking at Rock's in 308 next. I have bought over 20 guns from Fargo Scheels and they are outstanding also but they don't carry Rock River, but they do have alot of DPMS to look at. Good Luck on whatever you buy, and enjoy the AR's.----Riflemann
 
I just traded my Mini for an older Savage 22-250 model 112. I didn't shoot the Mini anymore and needed a prairie dog gun. It was an older Mini 14, serial 187, and I got it before I got into coyotes and wanted it for SHTF problems. As others have said, if you are looking for minute of felon accuracy, and reliability, go with the Mini. The Mini 14 will go bang every time, regardless of how you treat it, or what you feed it. If you want 1 inch groups or less at a hundred yards, get something else. After buying the Mini, I got into coyotes and purchased an AR, and a Savage Model 10, both of which are great coyote guns, and I can pop the battle sights back on the AR if needed and have a zombie gun.
 
Originally Posted By: WvYotehunter65Dpms hands down, the mini 14 is unreliable and inaccurate compared to the ar platform.

+1 mini 14's are not accurate

Bushmaster, RRA and DPMS all are pretty accurate, if wanting a hunting weapon get a longer barrel or at least a heavier barrel
 
Originally Posted By: thewileyone13Originally Posted By: WvYotehunter65Dpms hands down, the mini 14 is unreliable and inaccurate compared to the ar platform.

+1 mini 14's are not accurate



True, but they're also not unreliable. I've never had a malfuction of any kind, and I've owned one of mine since about 1982. I don't shoot it a whole lot, but over the years it's racked up quite a few rounds.

If they're maintained at all, and assembled correctly after cleaning, with a good mag they're more reliable than an AR. About as unreliable as an AK-47 IMO.
laugh.gif


If they were unreliable, I would have sold mine, because that would be the combo I won't tolerate.
 
The older models were not known for being accurate, just
reliable. The new series seems to be both accurate and
reliable. I've also had mini's since the early 80's and
have put thousands of rounds thru them. I can't ever
remembering a misfeed or jam. And I'm not real gentle with
any of my guns. My new one is about 4 years old now. It was
made right after Ruger retooled for it and it's as accurate
as I need a rifle to be.

Evil, you ever seen a mini with a selector switch ?
Pretty rare.
 
Originally Posted By: RJM AcresEvil, you ever seen a mini with a selector switch ?
Pretty rare.


No. They call that an AC556 I think.

I'm not a big fan of full-autos unless they're belt fed or 3-round burst.
I qualified on M-16's firing full auto and decided it was a pretty big waste of ammo, unless the range is real short. Plus I'm too cheap to shoot that much ammo up.
laugh.gif
 
Back
Top