Went out with grandson and shot his new-to-him PSA AR. I'd forgotten how much fun they are to shoot.

While I'd like to have an AR, my budget would be happier with a AR-style pistol grip stock on my Mini-14. Don't want/need a folder, don't care for the looks of the wire-frame type, but other than that I'm open to suggestion.

There aren't really any great options for a pistol grip Mini-14 stock.

The better quality options are expensive. The old "A-Team"-style factory folders with a pistol grip are decent, but collectible and very pricey, when you can find them. Sage offers an EBR chassis for the Mini-14, but it's stupid expensive at over $500: http://www.sageinternationallt...IL/MINI-ALCS-CV.html Troy used to offer a MCS chassis for the Mini-14, but it's discontinued, and it was also expensive.

More affordable pistol grip stocks are offered by companies like Choate, Butler Creek, Tapco, Archangel (ProMag), and ATI. But these are generally one or more of the following: flimsy, fugly, and/or overly tacticool.

Of those options, I'd probably go with just "fugly", and choose this non-folding model from Choate as the best of these less-than-ideal options:
http://www.riflestock.com/store/do/product/07-01-42

I've been surfing and looking at pictures and came to pretty much the same conclusion: Expensive enough to justify just buying an AR, or flimsy/fugly.

What I should REALLY do is take a couple of aspirin and a nap and wait for this whole idea to go away...

you are a handy with tools type of guy,

just get a lower and a PSA kit (they are good and inexpensive) and put one together,

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
you are a handy with tools type of guy,

just get a lower and a PSA kit (they are good and inexpensive) and put one together,

Hmmmmmmmmmm...

PSA was selling full rifle kits for $299. Add a $39 to $49 lower receiver, and you have an AR15 for $350.

Choate non-folding, non-telescopic is a solid, functional pistol grip stock.

I say leave it alone, it's better like it is. ARs are nice, and I have several, but they don't put a smile on my face like my mini. Something about the way it balances and shoulders, the classic lines, and the way it throws brass into the next county. Love my mini.



If you really need to scratch the tacticool, pistol-grip itch, ARs are cheaper than ever right now, and it's a great time to buy one. IMO they fill that role better than the Mini anyway, and it'll allow you to keep the Mini unmolested.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I say leave it alone, it's better like it is. ARs are nice, and I have several, but they don't put a smile on my face like my mini. Something about the way it balances and shoulders, the classic lines, and the way it throws brass into the next county. Love my mini.



If you really need to scratch the tacticool, pistol-grip itch, ARs are cheaper than ever right now, and it's a great time to buy one. IMO they fill that role better than the Mini anyway, and it'll allow you to keep the Mini unmolested.

All options on the back burner at the moment. An opportunity to scratch another long-awaited item off my Want List has arisen. Details this evening.

Well, my toy fund has taken a serious ass-whipping so gun stuff goes on the back burner for a while.

I've been cruising Craigslist looking for a benchtop vertical mill for a while now and came across this beauty at a fair price:



Got a bunch of tooling with it. Guy's Dad bought it to machine AR lowers and gave up after one. I suspect I know why:



This is the one end mill that had been used. Clogged plumb full of aluminum. Don't think he had the first clue what he was doing. Much of the machine was still in cosomoline. Looks like he uncrated it, tossed it up an a bench and started milling. Only half-bolted to the stand, vise held in place with random hardware versus the t-slot clamps it was designed for.

It'll get proper love here...

Very cool. Now you don't need to buy an AR...you can make one! And pretty much anything else you want .