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CasterTroy
12-10-2009, 08:10 AM
I've been saving for a Sig 5.56 which I just love for some reason after all I've read.

But I've also wanted a Ruger Mini-14 forever as well.

The gun shop has both, and they're within $200 of each other. The mini-14 is stainless, and the Sig is the long version, so side by side they are the same length and variant.

http://www.oneshotonline.com/store/images/556.jpg

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/firearms-images-products-446l-2-tm.jpg

Anyone had experience with both/either?

Pro's/con's?

I know the accessories for the Sig are thru the roof.....extra mags, lights, mounts...etc...so I know I can just about double the price for overall after it's all said and done, and the ruger is a model thats been out so long that extras for it are next to nothing....but.....the sig :dribble:
LeeNetworX
12-10-2009, 08:53 AM
I've never picked up or held either. I've heard good things about both. Each is 5.56 / .223 yes? That Sig looks bad-fucking-ass, I can say that much. Both look fun to shoot, but that Sig is sexy.
nhgunnut
12-10-2009, 08:57 AM
The Mini 14 were a constant retrun and repair when I had a gunshop in the Mid 80s They have improved som but you would be better served by the SIG IMHO better feeding system and more accurate. Same also could be said of any of the Stoner Rifles as well. Another option that may be more cost effective than the sige and better over all options and accuracy is a Inexpensive AR and a piston conversion Kit. Gives you a far more reliable system that direct gas impingement and lets you use all the standard AR accessories and Mags
z06boy
12-10-2009, 09:12 AM
I owned a Mini-14 stainless and liked it partially due to getting it for a real good price.

The only negatives that I've seen is that 'most' of them aren't very accurate. Mine seemed ok but if you do a search MANY people complain about the accuracy.

I sold it and put the $$ toward an AR-15 kit and put one together myself and love it.

Here is the Mini I had and the AR I replaced it with.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/z06boy/IMG_0085.jpg


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/z06boy/IMG_0088.jpg


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8cf02b3127ccec5fa9884fce700000040O08AcMWjly5cNA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df08b3127ccec66f8876db5b00000040O08AcMWjly5cNA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
Dave
12-10-2009, 11:26 AM
a mini 14 is a waste of time. Nothing like its big brother. Get yourself an m1a socom 16 or socom II. You wont regret it.
goof2
12-10-2009, 12:50 PM
The Mini-14 is cool, but for similar money that Sig is really nice and is what I would get.
Cutty72
12-10-2009, 02:25 PM
sig hands down.
CasterTroy
12-10-2009, 02:34 PM
The Mini-14 is cool, but for similar money that Sig is really nice and is what I would get.

Yeah I hope it's there when the ship comes in.....it's the low-end version (which is all I could afford...all the rest are $1000+)

I'd LOVE the swat version but it's $1250+

We'll see.

From what all I've read, the Mini-14's accuracy over 75 yards is completely dependent on bullet weight

When using a 180gr bullet they tend to tumble and lose stability after 80 yrds. A 240gr is best.
ericr
12-10-2009, 04:00 PM
I've shot mini-14's and they are a good gun for what the original design intention was...throw it behind the seat of your truck in case you need it sometime. It was never intended to be a real accurate rifle and there's not a lot you can do to it cheap to accurize one. THey are fun to shoot though.

I really like that SIG! I'd got with it personally but that's just my opinion.
Hydrant
12-10-2009, 04:53 PM
I've shot mini-14's and they are a good gun for what the original design intention was...throw it behind the seat of your truck in case you need it sometime. It was never intended to be a real accurate rifle and there's not a lot you can do to it cheap to accurize one. THey are fun to shoot though.

I really like that SIG! I'd got with it personally but that's just my opinion.

Pretty much summed it up. I'd call the Mini 14 a farmers or ranch gun, good for ground hogs and other shit tearing up your fields. When you get done toss it in the corner and let it be. Accuracy, is decent with the Mini, but I think the Sig would be your best bet.

If your shooting bowling pins at 50 yards go Mini, if your shooting paper targets at 100+ go Sig.
Smittie61984
12-10-2009, 05:45 PM
I love the mini-14s. Not the most accurate gun but a fun shooting gun. Tons of aftermarket parts, plenty of 50 round clips for cheap, cool looking, and fairly dependable.

They can wear out though. My buddy's dad has one that we should just shoot non-stop. We'd have 20 or so 50 round mags loaded and we'd go to town for hours on end. That shit shot every which way but straight. His other ones did shoot straight that we didn't abuse.

If you are planning to take over the government get an AK. Much better for guerilla warfare.
Adeptus_Minor
12-10-2009, 06:53 PM
From what all I've read, the Mini-14's accuracy over 75 yards is completely dependent on bullet weight

When using a 180gr bullet they tend to tumble and lose stability after 80 yrds. A 240gr is best.


Wait...WHAT? Mini-14... 180gr bullet?
Methinks someone is getting their calibers crossed.

My Dad owns one of the old Mini-14 Ranch Rifles. It's been a pretty solid shooter, but if it were my money I'd go with the Sig or build another AR.
The Sigs are solid performers and that gas action allows you some flexibility as to which sort of loads you want to shoot.
CasterTroy
12-11-2009, 09:49 AM
If your shooting bowling pins at 50 yards go Mini


First time I heard that I though "What f'ing REDNECK shoot bowling pins?!?!?!"

Then a buddy had some.....Holy CRAP what fun :lol:





Wait...WHAT? Mini-14... 180gr bullet?
Methinks someone is getting their calibers crossed.



:lmao: yeah I re-read the article last night and it was 45 and 65 :lmao:

No idea where the 180 came from :idk:



The Sigs are solid performers and that gas action allows you some flexibility as to which sort of loads you want to shoot.

I'll be honest...I don't understand the "gas" action....hence why I've not dove into an AR. GREAT shooting gun, but I don't want to own something I don't fully understand :idk:
unknownroad
12-11-2009, 10:19 AM
Never shot a Mini-14, but when I looked into them a couple years ago I found a lot more negative comments than positive. Decided it was too much money for not enough gun. Only advantage is you can make an A-team clone out of it, which would make you a hit at parties once the new movie comes out.
Adeptus_Minor
12-11-2009, 07:31 PM
I'll be honest...I don't understand the "gas" action....hence why I've not dove into an AR. GREAT shooting gun, but I don't want to own something I don't fully understand :idk:

Well, AR's aren't gas piston guns, they run a little hotter and collect more fouling in the action from the way gases are used to drive it. Well-maintained, and in a non-combat life, it's not really an issue :idk:

http://www.barnesengineering.com/AR15animation/index.htm
fnfalman
12-11-2009, 08:14 PM
The Ruger is probably fit for use as a boat anchor.

The SIG 550 was a pretty good rifle but the 556 is a frankenstein piece of shit. SIG Arms took the solid 550 and changed out the stock for that stupid ass (weak) collapsible M16 design and the unreliable M16 magazine.

It's like taking a Porsche V10 and change out the fucking engine for a Ford V8 or some stupid shit like that.

I'd say buy a good AK and call it a day. Fuck the other two pussy ass pieces of shit!!!
dReWpY
12-11-2009, 08:36 PM
My choice of gun: one bigger then the job calls for
Dave
12-11-2009, 08:51 PM
My choice of gun: one bigger then the job calls for

you've seen my mateba 6 unica then? :Lol:
Dave
12-11-2009, 08:54 PM
Well, AR's aren't gas piston guns, they run a little hotter and collect more fouling in the action from the way gases are used to drive it. Well-maintained, and in a non-combat life, it's not really an issue :idk:

http://www.barnesengineering.com/AR15animation/index.htm

MOST aren't, some are. Hk and bushmaster have some decent piston ar's.
Adeptus_Minor
12-12-2009, 01:07 AM
MOST aren't, some are. Hk and bushmaster have some decent piston ar's.

Yeah, there are a lot of piston kits out there now, but it's just a retrofit on a rifle intended to operate a different way.
(which isn't to say I wouldn't do it to mine :D )

Honestly, I'd recommend an AR to anyone, if only because the parts & accessories are now dirt-common and allow you to build the rifle into just about anything you could possibly want. Also, just about anything you could need to do to them, anyone with a bench and a little mechanical ability can do.
Adeptus_Minor
12-12-2009, 01:09 AM
you've seen my mateba 6 unica then? :Lol:

Yes... and I'll take one any day. :yum:
Hydrant
12-12-2009, 01:20 AM
First time I heard that I though "What f'ing REDNECK shoot bowling pins?!?!?!"

Then a buddy had some.....Holy CRAP what fun :lol:





It's amazing what kind of punishment a bowling pin will take. Whats better is if you hang them side ways and shoot the head so it spins one way, then try to shoot the opposite end so it stops spinning or spins the other way. Hang them at goofy angles, just to make it a little more interesting. Even bowling balls take a beating before they show any signs of giving way. Browning 300 win-mag, Saiga .308, Ruger .270 bolt action they will take off some good chunks from a bowling ball.

Hell even shooting full kegs is fun :) :)
Adeptus_Minor
12-12-2009, 01:30 AM
Hell even shooting full kegs is fun :) :)

Dude... that's a waste of beer and a keg... :nee:
Hydrant
12-12-2009, 01:40 AM
Dude... that's a waste of beer and a keg... :nee:

It was 5 yr old Heine. Don't ask how we got them, but we really couldn't turn the kegs back in.


The way that shit smelled as it came out in a fountain, I don't know if I'd want to get near it. But if you pull it behind a quad for a 20 minutes and shoot it with a .270, it makes a nice fountain.
goof2
12-12-2009, 07:16 AM
Yeah, there are a lot of piston kits out there now, but it's just a retrofit on a rifle intended to operate a different way.
(which isn't to say I wouldn't do it to mine :D )

Honestly, I'd recommend an AR to anyone, if only because the parts & accessories are now dirt-common and allow you to build the rifle into just about anything you could possibly want. Also, just about anything you could need to do to them, anyone with a bench and a little mechanical ability can do.

Personally I would get an AR over either of these guns because of the availability of parts. The nice thing in my mind is as long as you have one lower and the ability to disassemble and reassemble the gun there are parts available to have multiple configurations for a single gun. This would also be helpful if another AWB comes down.
Dave
12-12-2009, 05:30 PM
Yeah, there are a lot of piston kits out there now, but it's just a retrofit on a rifle intended to operate a different way.
(which isn't to say I wouldn't do it to mine :D )

Honestly, I'd recommend an AR to anyone, if only because the parts & accessories are now dirt-common and allow you to build the rifle into just about anything you could possibly want. Also, just about anything you could need to do to them, anyone with a bench and a little mechanical ability can do.

if i go back my carbine will be converted. No ifs ands or buts. Hopefully ill be able to get away with using an ak brake again. Lotta noise and flash but the amount of control you gain is amazing.
Dave
12-12-2009, 05:33 PM
Yes... and I'll take one any day. :yum:

they pop up on gunbroker on occasion. Super expensive but worth it for the ''what the heck is that''s that you get at the range when you pop the case open. Shoots real well too.
Adeptus_Minor
12-13-2009, 03:26 PM
they pop up on gunbroker on occasion. Super expensive but worth it for the ''what the heck is that''s that you get at the range when you pop the case open. Shoots real well too.

What caliber is yours?
There's a .454 Casull on gunbroker right now for $2900. Well out of my price range, but maybe one day. :wink:
CasterTroy
12-15-2009, 07:02 AM
Decided on a used 556 for a great deal less than the Mini-14 or an AR variant

Also here is the Ruger Single Six I got my F.I.L. for Christmas
CasterTroy
12-15-2009, 07:04 AM
All of the auto's out for inventory
goof2
12-15-2009, 07:26 AM
Decided on a used 556 for a great deal less than the Mini-14 or an AR variant

Nice, looks like fun.

Also here is the Ruger Single Six I got my F.I.L. for Christmas

I shoot a Single Six pretty regularly. The price is right for .22lr and with the ability to swap cylinders and shoot some .22mag it keeps it interesting.
CasterTroy
12-15-2009, 08:32 AM
The new one is the .17 HMR

I can't wait to shoot it
LeeNetworX
12-15-2009, 08:35 AM
:rockwoot:
Adeptus_Minor
12-15-2009, 08:04 PM
Nice choice, Troy :dthumb:
Bluestreak
12-15-2009, 08:34 PM
Mmmmmmmmmm... GUN PORN!


Looks good Troy. Let us know how it shoots! (with video)
Hydrant
01-03-2010, 12:01 AM
Dude... that's a waste of beer and a keg... :nee:



Shot out at my dad's farm with a Ruger .270.

We pulled it behind a quad for about 20 minutes.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/Hydrant/th_343.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v127/Hydrant/?action=view&current=343.flv)

Don't know why it doesn't play here.