Mini-14/Ranch rifle & M1 at Bimart

[nwslopoke]

I was at Forest Grove BiMart Monday and saw they had a Ruger Ranch Rifle ~ $970 and an M1 in the $1500 range. They may have been there a while. I don't go to the gun section as much these days.

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[PDXbiker]

Bought my Mini-14 out of BiMart years ago when on sale. Do I like it, yes. Would I buy one now for $1,000? No.

 

[thorborg]

I like my mini 14, It's fun, actually shoots well, reliably hits point of aim. I rarely shoot it because It's not for handloading.
It sevearly dents the case. Every case. Not talking hard to see in the right light dent, but a major deep crease.

The cases fly inconsistently, and any where within a 160 degree area, (bench shooting) , 180 (standing) even worse, up to 65 feet away! 21 1/2 yards!
Without a metal detector, shells landing in the eclectic mix of forest debris, your hard put to find more than 30/ 40 % even if they weren't dented.
I don't like shooting what I can't reload.
I'm not sure if there is a fix, or just improvement from messing with the springs or gas, but since this one is plastic stocked, it doesn't interest me enough to spend money or fiddle with possible taming of the sore spots.
I don't know it this applies to all mini14's.

 

[Alexx1401]

I like my mini 14, It's fun, actually shoots well, reliably hits point of aim. I rarely shoot it because It's not for handloading.
It sevearly dents the case. Every case. Not talking hard to see in the right light dent, but a major deep crease.

The cases fly inconsistently, and any where within a 160 degree area, (bench shooting) , 180 (standing) even worse, up to 65 feet away! 21 1/2 yards!
Without a metal detector, shells landing in the eclectic mix of forest debris, your hard put to find more than 30/ 40 % even if they weren't dented.
I don't like shooting what I can't reload.
I'm not sure if there is a fix, or just improvement from messing with the springs or gas, but since this one is plastic stocked, it doesn't interest me enough to spend money or fiddle with possible taming of the sore spots.
I don't know it this applies to all mini14's.

The Mini has been well known for throwing brass into the next county since they hit.
As for a fix, yes there is. They sadly are not cheap but, there have been after market parts to keep them from doing this because they have LONG been a big seller.

 

[Flopsweat]

I like my mini 14, It's fun, actually shoots well, reliably hits point of aim. I rarely shoot it because It's not for handloading.
It sevearly dents the case. Every case. Not talking hard to see in the right light dent, but a major deep crease.

The cases fly inconsistently, and any where within a 160 degree area, (bench shooting) , 180 (standing) even worse, up to 65 feet away! 21 1/2 yards!
Without a metal detector, shells landing in the eclectic mix of forest debris, your hard put to find more than 30/ 40 % even if they weren't dented.
I don't like shooting what I can't reload.
I'm not sure if there is a fix, or just improvement from messing with the springs or gas, but since this one is plastic stocked, it doesn't interest me enough to spend money or fiddle with possible taming of the sore spots.
I don't know it this applies to all mini14's.

A buddy of mine had one that did the same thing. Unfortunately, it would barely hold a six-inch pattern at a hundred yards no matter what he fed it.

 

[Alexx1401]

A buddy of mine had one that did the same thing. Unfortunately, it would barely hold a six-inch pattern at a hundred yards no matter what he fed it.

That too was pretty normal for these. The standard for decades was 3-5 MOA from them. I have "heard" that many years ago the Co found a way to greatly improve on this but I have not shot one in a LONG time to see it that's true. For decades after they hit one would come out now and then that shot on par with a decent AR. No one was ever able to figure out how to make this happen to all of them though. This too had some after market stuff to really tighten the ability but, you had to end up spending as much as the rifle cost to have it done so seemed kind of pointless. Even with all this they still remain a strong seller oddly enough. I had a couple long ago when they sold for a LOT less than an AR. Back then the damn mags were always a problem as Ruger would not sell factory and after market was wildly different. You could find some that worked as well as OEM but it tended to get expensive or time consuming to end up with working mags other than the OEM 5 round.

 

[bionic knees]

my mini is hard on brass as well, while not a target rifle at all, I did one time set out 10 pumpkins about the size of a human head at a distance of one hundred yards. it took 11 shots to hit the ten punkins off hand so with that in mind I wouldn't want to get in a gunfight against it. and it is just fun to shoot.

 

[Stomper]

A buddy of mine had one that did the same thing. Unfortunately, it would barely hold a six-inch pattern at a hundred yards no matter what he fed it.

That's nothin', I once had a Mini-14 that would (often) shoot around corners!

I traded it for this…



And it's actually a very decent shooter!

 

[nehalemguy]

Lol....dented brass you say.

 

[Oya]

My mini-14 is very accurate until she heats up. Once the barrel heats up its no longer as accurate. One of my favorite go to rifles and the one I'ld grab if the shtf.

 

[Member 34319]

That store also has been carrying Sabatti rifles. I never knew of them till they had them. They look really well made.

There was also a Christensen Arms 223 scout sitting in the shelf that I stared at for a good couple of minutes. Drool may have been forming under my lips.

 

[Unka-Boo]

That's nothin', I once had a Mini-14 that would (often) shoot around corners!

I traded it for this…
View attachment 1402435


And it's actually a very decent shooter!

nice dong

 

[Flopsweat]

That's nothin', I once had a Mini-14 that would (often) shoot around corners!

I traded it for this…
View attachment 1402435


And it's actually a very decent shooter!

Love that classic four different colors of wood look.

 

[Stomper]

nice dong

Not too bad, considering it just got out of a cold swimming pool just before that photo….

I do refer to that one as, "The Donger"

Love that classic four different colors of wood look.

You said, "wood"!

 

[Flopsweat]

You said, "wood"!

 

[DirectDrive]

That's nothin', I once had a Mini-14 that would (often) shoot around corners!

I traded it for this…
View attachment 1402435


And it'actually has a very decent dong to hold !

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

I love my mini 14.
But part of the reason is, I snagged a nearly new "tactical" model for $400 at a pawn shop.
Worth every penny haha.

Having to do it over, $600-$800 is a decent price.. I'd never buy one for $1k though.

 

[Unka-Boo]

Its funny....Ive contemplated getting a Mini-14 for eons, just never could bring myself to do it.
If I was gonna, would be a stainless folder, so I can Larp A-Team style.

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Its funny....Ive contemplated getting a Mini-14 for eons, just never could bring myself to do it.
If I was gonna, would be a stainless folder, so I can Larp A-Team style.

If they were cheaper I'd own a few variants like I do ARs. Including the A-team version!

 

[Unka-Boo]

da da da daaahhh, da da duuuuuh