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Return to “Which is easier to Maintain, a Mini-14 or an AR15”
- Thu Oct 24, 2024 11:14 pm
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: Which is easier to Maintain, a Mini-14 or an AR15
- Replies: 15
- Views: 6065
Re: Which is easier to Maintain, a Mini-14 or an AR15
The Min-14 is easier to maintain
- Thu Oct 24, 2024 11:14 pm
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: Which is easier to Maintain, a Mini-14 or an AR15
- Replies: 15
- Views: 6065
Re: Which is easier to Maintain, a Mini-14 or an AR15
A couple of things to consider. ARs are quicker to reload, and slightly more ergonomic, but dirty up quicker than a Mini. A failure to extract, resulting in a double feed, in a Mini is handled much like a pistol, but in an AR is more complicate to clear. ARs are generally more accurate at extended distances (beyond 150 yards), but at very close range you have the bore to sight line offset to worry about. An AR sight line is about three inches above the bore whereas on a Mini it is about an inch.
You mentioned you wanted this for personal home defense (out to 300 yards). Keep in mind, if you shoot someone at 300 yards, you may end up in jail as it might be hard to convince a jury you could not take cover or exit at that distance. Military M4s are normally battle zeroed at 300 yards, but this creates a big offset at distances you might encounter in your home or on your property unless you live on fairly large acreage. What I mean is that at 10 yards that 300 zeroed AR is going to hit 2-3 inches low. For ARs I suggest a 50 yards zero with the large aperture which gives you a vertical impact area about 2 inches from top to bottom from 7 yards to 200 yards. Unless you shoot 200 yards quite a bit, it is further than you are probably thinking. If you zero a Mini at 50 yards, you have basically a 1 inch vertical impact area from 3 yards out to 150. 150 is a long shot in an urban environment.
Minis have had a bad rap over the years concerning accuracy, which can be fixed up to an extent, but the ones built now are more accurate right out of the box. I have one that will put rounds well within an index card at 100 yards with iron sights all day long. Cryogenic treatment, a barrel strut and good muzzle brake can improve accuracy even more on a Mini if you are willing to go to that much trouble.
One advantage of an AR is that you can have one receiver and a multitude of different caliber uppers. With a Mini, what you bought is what you got. Minis often cost more than a decent AR at this time. One a advantage of a Mini is that it does not have that scary AR look and you can get folding stocks probably cheaper than converting an AR to folding. Many Minis seem to prefer only Ruger original magazines however, but there are at least half a dozen brands of AR mags that work well – and are cheaper.
I have both and like both but for different reasons. That being said my go to for home defense is the Mini, an AK or shotgun. I live on a standard residential lot (maybe ¼ acre) and my expected engagement distance is 5-25 yards. When I need a travel long gun it is usually an AK or modified SKS. Have you considered an AK? They are super reliable; don’t have quite as much off set as an AR and a round that can often punch through more than the 5.56. I have seen 5.56 not make it through windshields or car doors without breaking up, but 7.62x39 doesn’t usually have that problem. You can get an AR is 7.62x39, but I am not sure how reliable they are and you need special magazines.
You mentioned you wanted this for personal home defense (out to 300 yards). Keep in mind, if you shoot someone at 300 yards, you may end up in jail as it might be hard to convince a jury you could not take cover or exit at that distance. Military M4s are normally battle zeroed at 300 yards, but this creates a big offset at distances you might encounter in your home or on your property unless you live on fairly large acreage. What I mean is that at 10 yards that 300 zeroed AR is going to hit 2-3 inches low. For ARs I suggest a 50 yards zero with the large aperture which gives you a vertical impact area about 2 inches from top to bottom from 7 yards to 200 yards. Unless you shoot 200 yards quite a bit, it is further than you are probably thinking. If you zero a Mini at 50 yards, you have basically a 1 inch vertical impact area from 3 yards out to 150. 150 is a long shot in an urban environment.
Minis have had a bad rap over the years concerning accuracy, which can be fixed up to an extent, but the ones built now are more accurate right out of the box. I have one that will put rounds well within an index card at 100 yards with iron sights all day long. Cryogenic treatment, a barrel strut and good muzzle brake can improve accuracy even more on a Mini if you are willing to go to that much trouble.
One advantage of an AR is that you can have one receiver and a multitude of different caliber uppers. With a Mini, what you bought is what you got. Minis often cost more than a decent AR at this time. One a advantage of a Mini is that it does not have that scary AR look and you can get folding stocks probably cheaper than converting an AR to folding. Many Minis seem to prefer only Ruger original magazines however, but there are at least half a dozen brands of AR mags that work well – and are cheaper.
I have both and like both but for different reasons. That being said my go to for home defense is the Mini, an AK or shotgun. I live on a standard residential lot (maybe ¼ acre) and my expected engagement distance is 5-25 yards. When I need a travel long gun it is usually an AK or modified SKS. Have you considered an AK? They are super reliable; don’t have quite as much off set as an AR and a round that can often punch through more than the 5.56. I have seen 5.56 not make it through windshields or car doors without breaking up, but 7.62x39 doesn’t usually have that problem. You can get an AR is 7.62x39, but I am not sure how reliable they are and you need special magazines.