The results will probably surprise you. BTW, kkina will be pleased that the Accu-Strut is mentioned in this video, at the 24:45 mark.

Mine was shipped in 1999.
They certainly are not as modular as an AR 15, and most AR 15 rifles will outshoot them at almost any specified distance.
But here in this shitty state, they fly below the gun control radar.
Perhaps not the best possible choice out of anything available, but they do outperform flintlock rifles and Brown Bess muskets for sustained rate of fire!

IMG_20240411_121830763_HDR by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Ever since Colonel Hannibal Smith and the A-Team showed up using the Mini 14 I've wanted one, haven't bought one as of yet, that might be the one firearm that I have to get....

If it's in the movies and on tv, you need one in your collection....

I don't really care if they're accurate or not, still love mine.

In a blue state always refer to it as "the Ranch Rifle."

They are especially neat to have with a M1 Garand, M1A/M14, and M1 Carbine. Brothers from various mothers.

I enjoyed the stainless models I had, one with the factory fixed walnut stock and the other with the original factory stainless folding stock, but as time went on and I added ARs of various configurations the Mini’s went elsewhere. I had a AC556F to fill that spot in the collection for a while, but it too went elsewhere.

Neat rifles, accurate enough, but between taking different mags and getting very hot after just a couple of mags I don’t miss them.

Mine is a later production model. No plans to get rid of it!

I added the Choate and Accu-Strut. Saw the video this afternoon. One of Henry's best, imo.

quote:

Originally posted by Creeping_Death:
They are especially neat to have with a M1 Garand, M1A/M14, and M1 Carbine. Brothers from various mothers.

I had a synthetic/stainless one in the early 2000s. Back then, between the federal and the then-newly enacted California AWBs and Ruger's internal policy (Bill was still alive then), only five-round flush-fit magazines were available, but with those it was 100% reliable. I remember it shouldering and my eyes finding the sights naturally, not the case with my present AR. I might have one today, but with their current price tags, the juice is no longer worth the squeeze.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I might have one today, but with their current price tags, the juice is no longer worth the squeeze.

I completely agree. It's a handy little rifle that shoulders easily. But it's in no way better than an AR. And with today's prices, you could buy 2x quality ARs for the cost of one Mini-14. (And 4x-5x AR mags for the cost of one Mini-14 mag...)

I'm glad I got mine lightly used with a pile of mags for a great price back in the late 2000s. It has been worth the few hundred bucks I paid, even just as a fun plinker.

But I certainly would not recommend one to a new rifle buyer these days.

I have a bunch of semi-auto rifles including a lot of AR’s, and while I believe the AR platform is superior in pretty much every way I enjoy shooting my Mini-14 more than any AR I own.

quote:

Originally posted by SigSentry:
I added the Choate and Accu-Strut. [/url]

About the Accustrut: How much did it reduce your 5 shot 100 yard group sizes?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RichardC,

^ I have shot it at 100 yards unfortunately. Mostly plinking at 25 yards. I admit it might more for the cool factor. I doubt I would shoot it enough to heat up the barrel enough to impact inherit accuracy. But now I want will to test it at 100 yards sometime this summer .

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
I have a bunch of semi-auto rifles including a lot of AR’s, and while I believe the AR platform is superior in pretty much every way I enjoy shooting my Mini-14 more than any AR I own.

Same.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's a handy little rifle that shoulders easily. But it's in no way better than an AR. And with today's prices, you could buy 2x quality ARs for the cost of one Mini-14.

But I certainly would not recommend one to a new rifle buyer these days.

Yep

I’ve always liked the mini (A-Team baby!!!)but never owned one. I’ve shot a few in my day as well as full auto AC556’s.

That was a great episode from them. You watch enough folks shooting videos and you can tell who can actually shoot vs those who can “make a video” (I can do neither so no disrespect. ) and Henry CAN SHOOT! That dude can put rounds far down range with damn near anything and with Josh spotting they are a helluva team.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I remember it shouldering and my eyes finding the sights naturally, not the case with my present AR.

Something I’ve never seen discussed in recent (i.e., the past couple of decades) times is stock design. The original Mini-14 has what was traditionally called a pistol grip stock. The advantage of such stocks is that they place the shooter’s trigger hand closest to the boreline of the rifle (or shotgun), and that provides the most control when mounting (i.e., shouldering) and shooting the gun. (There were probably other practical advantages to the design such as stock manufacturing, but that’s incidental to this discussion.)

The one comment I recall ever seeing about that style stock and the stocks of AK and AR rifles was by Jeff Cooper; he referred to the latter as “saw handle grips,” and was evidently not a fan of them. His “scout rifle” design uses the traditional stock that is still most commonly used on sporting rifles and shotguns. One of the scout rifle’s intended uses was to engage targets as quickly and accurately as possible from field positions, usually standing.

Are there any competitive skeet or trap shooters who use shotguns with AR/AK type, i.e., “tactical” stocks? Those disciplines require mounting and controlling the gun as consistently as possible to rapidly engage their fast-moving targets.

AR and AK and similar rifle shooters of course don’t have any choice in the matter. The AR design in particular requires that the grip extends down below the receiver. The farther the grip is from the bore of the rifle, the greater the effect on the gun by any lateral movement of the shooter’s hand. That’s why knowledgeable shooters avoid long “donkey dick” vertical foregrips that they hold as if they were milking a cow. Such an appendage acts as a lever arm, and small movements at the bottom are magnified over what they would be if the shooter grasps the handguard in a C-clamp or similar hold.

I no longer have a Mini-14 rifle, but I do have an M1A and many others that have the traditional pistol grip stock like the Mini-14. I have no choice about the stock/grip design of the AR-based guns, and I prefer a separate vertical grip on rifles intended for precision shooting, but after a morning shooting my old Ruger 77/22, I was reminded of why I prefer the traditional stock for delivering fast, accurate fire.