And then ... did?

If so, what's your story?

Mine is the Ruger Mini-14/30.

Back in the late 70's/early 80's I bought a Mini-14, mostly because it didn't "offend" my dad like the AR-15 did. Not that I really cared about that, but he get on rants about how it isn't "a mans gun" would get old.
Honestly, if I'd never shot an AR-15 I'd have probably been semi-okay with it, because the accuracy at 100 yards 4-6" BUT an AR was 1-1.5 at least until the pencil barrel started heating up.
Keep in mind, the AR was still considered a "Mouse a gun" there was nothing custom available for it, they all had a A1 uppers, a 7 pound trigger and very few had 16" barrels and a collapsible stock ... But for all its short comings it stood over the mini, so NEVER AGAIN!

Then along came the mid-late 90's and the Internet and once again the battle within was stired. This time it was a Mini-30 (7.62x39) but yet again, it came up against my Colt in 7.62x39 and again, it couldn't hold a candle. It's only redemption was the 20 round mag because I couldn't get my Colt to feed reliably with anything but a 5 round mag, not even the Franken-mags with an AK mag body welded to the AR mag top.
But besides that an AK was more accurate, which of course that gave dad the "Commie Gun" argument.
Again ... NEVER AGAIN!

Then, along comes a local gunshow, September 14, 2019, and there (in my mind) just looking drop dead georgeous, Stainless in a Choate folding stock; I was thunder struck.




And for the "repeat offender price" of $625, I just couldn't leave it there. Even as I was walking out the door, I couldn't believe I'd bought another.

I haven't been able to get it out for accuracy testing, but I was ringing 8" steel at 150 and 12" at 200 yards. For me, to really test its accuracy, I'd have to scope it ... but, knowing it'll probably just piss me off (it was produced in 82-83) , I think I'll just keep it simple and scope free.

And it sure looks good with my Stainless 10/22's

Having flashbacks to the A-Team here !

Thats a good lookin Mini

ARs, lever guns, Minis, 10/22s, bolt actions...the list goes on.

Nice catch. That's a GB model. It came with either Ruger's standard wood stock or Ruger's folding stock. That Choate stock is nice and solid, makes for a really compact rifle when folded. Not quite as compact as Ruger's folder, but the Choate is a more solid stock. A great "truck gun", especially being stainless.

Add a stainless Ruger Speed Six in .357 and it's 1985 all over again.

Yes and I'm trying real hard not to give in. Right now.
Sold my AK years ago after I bought my Colt 6920. Just shot the Colt better and with the EoTech on top, that sealed the AK's fate. I didn't hate the AK but found myself shooting the Colt more and more.
Now I want another AK.
Friend has an older Russian stamped rifle that he's offered up and I've said no but part of me really wants it.

I wish I hadn't sold my Mini-14. Mine was accurate enough to shoot hogs with, which is good enough for a carbine length truck gun.

+

quote:

Originally posted by CandyMan.45:
Having flashbacks to the A-Team here !

My first thought: "BA, get the van!"

AR-10
Had an Armalite AR-10, I never got through a mag without a failure to feed, eject or extract. Factory mags or cut M-14 mag. Sent it back to Armalite and it was returned “no problem found”.

Ended up loosing my ass on a trade because I wanted it gone (buyer knew the issues and wanted to give it a go)

Fast forward 18 years and palmetto tempts me with a $480 AR-10.... needless to say I bit, and am now eying up a 6.5 AR-10 as well.

cool Mini, i'm fond of them too.

i 'believe' the GB models all had a bayonet-lugged front sight band and a gas block with the left side-mounted sling swivel.
an early 1982 sample:


as far as what i try to stop buying....

Mini's can be very accurate if you shoot them right. I've worked with two that were sub MOA rifles.

Some minor trigger work. Quality scope and mount. Handloads worked up just for it. Then shoot it slow. Really slow. Much slower than a bolt action. Slower even than a muzzle loader. Yeah I know, that kind of defeats the purpose.
Or you can just blast with them.

quote:

Originally posted by FALna45:
i 'believe' the GB models all had a bayonet-lugged front sight band and a gas block with the left side-mounted sling swivel.

You're corect, of course. My mistake. I know better than that.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
Mini's can be very accurate if you shoot them right. I've worked with two that were sub MOA rifles.

Some minor trigger work. Quality scope and mount. Handloads worked up just for it. Then shoot it slow. Really slow. Much slower than a bolt action. Slower even than a muzzle loader. Yeah I know, that kind of defeats the purpose.
Or you can just blast with them.

Yeah, I'm not going to look to this one for accuracy, just fun.

quote:

Originally posted by fullmann:
AR-10
Had an Armalite AR-10, I never got through a mag without a failure to feed, eject or extract. Factory mags or cut M-14 mag. Sent it back to Armalite and it was returned “no problem found”.

Ended up loosing my ass on a trade because I wanted it gone (buyer knew the issues and wanted to give it a go)

Fast forward 18 years and palmetto tempts me with a $480 AR-10.... needless to say I bit, and am now eying up a 6.5 AR-10 as well.

A couple decades ago I had a SR25 Match, then Armalite started up with the AR10, I ordered one. After getting it 8 months later it had a crappy thin finish and wouldn't shoot under 3" as you mentioned, FTE, FTF ... so disappointed I dumped it at a gun show to a dealer that had to have it ... didn't quite get hurt too bad because they were so hard to get at the time.
15 or so years later bought a DPMS Panther 10, better but couldn't still not a Stoner. Finally got another SR25 Match, then a SiG 716 DMR which was acceptable at 1-1.25@100 ... then built a JP Enterprise 6.5 Creedmoor on a Sharp Bros Jack 308 receiver ... its very satisfying.

But I was ruined on Armalite ... they're still in the "Never Again" catagory ... unless a model B comes along (with the charge handle inside the carry handle) ... I was tempted by the Brownells clone, but have heard several negative things about the build quality.

quote:

Originally posted by FALna45:
cool Mini, i'm fond of them too.

i 'believe' the GB models all had a bayonet-lugged front sight band and a gas block with the left side-mounted sling swivel.
an early 1982 sample:

I wish ruger would make that stock again.

1911s. I have had 3 - Springfield, S&W, Kimber - and all have given me problems.

But I still look at them and go...someday.

Very nice find! I have two Mini 14's already, but if I would have come across that gun for that price I would have a hard time passing it up.