In Defense of the Mini14.

by Sarge , Central Misery, Saturday, September 29, 2012, 00:13 (4385 days ago) @ Slow Hand
edited by Sarge, Saturday, September 29, 2012, 00:23

I've used a few Minis over the years and seen them run hot at Department qualifications and general fun shoots. Those guns span the period between the first offerings and the post 580 guns. I have never seen one break. This is not to say that it doesn't happen.

I also mess with a half-dozen M4geries as the Dept. armorer for the things. My take is this. The later Minis shoot as well or better than the typical entry-level M4gery. The Mini is more reliable with a broader range of ammo. The ergonomics between the Mini and the M4 are not even comparable to me. The Mini 14 feels and shoulders like a rifle should. Even the factory trigger of the Mini beats the garden variety M4. Yes, you can put a 2 stage trigger on an AR- for a couple hundred more bucks. Reckon that would buy a few magazines?

No, the Mini does not enjoy the aftermarket support of the AR and the mags are more expensive. I don't care. I just don't obsess over this MBR stuff. I'm not Delta or Force Recon and I know it. Four 20 round magazines are all I'm ever going to need and two would probably cover it. I'm not going to bolt a bunch of crap on a Mini or anything else. I'm also not going to expect it to shoot like a varminter and I could care less if it won't handle 'heavy' 22 bullets. I've not had any trouble getting a stock 580 to group under an inch with 65 grain Sierras and I've clean killed deer with them, offhand and using the irons, at over 150 yards. There is really nothing more I'm going to ask from this type of gun.