Mini 14/ AR "sport"

the rifleer · October 29, 2011, 09:17 PM

So in in a bind. I know the final decision is basically personal preference, but I'm hoping someone can give specific reasons for picking one rifle over the other.The rifles in debate are the Ruger Mini 14 and the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport.

The mini 14 is $699 and the M&P 15 is $669. I know these aren't the best prices, but they aren't bad.

The Sport is cheap because it doesn't have a forward assist or a dust cover. I can live without both of these, I don't plan to abuse this rifle and the purpose of this purchase is to just have a fun gun to shoot.

I would by the M&P 15 without hesitation, but I'm in CA, so it has to have the "bullet button" to release the mag. Im kinda looking for guidance as to which to buy. The mini 14 is great, but an AR would be pretty neat as well.

Thanks a lot.

Crosshair · October 29, 2011, 09:23 PM

If you're in CA then get the Mini. The accuracy problems have been largely resolved with the new model and the old models are easily corrected with readily available aftermarket parts. (Barrel struts and reduced gas bushings.) The only way you will notice the extra accuracy is if you do bench shooting with quality ammo. If you're gonna be shooting bulk pack Wolf ammo at the gravel pit you won't be able to tell one from the other.

5.56RifleGuy · October 29, 2011, 09:24 PM

Do you have to put any function retarding device on the mini?

the rifleer · October 29, 2011, 09:25 PM

No, fortunately the mini is a fully functional mini 14. It just has to have 10 round magazines.

Crazy88Fingers · October 29, 2011, 09:58 PM

It seems like the Mini is the winner in California for your purposes.

5.56RifleGuy · October 29, 2011, 09:59 PM

The mini sounds like it would be a better deal then

the rifleer · October 29, 2011, 10:51 PM

Thats what I'm thinking. Thanks for the input.

chris in va · October 30, 2011, 10:26 AM

I happen to like a rifle with a pistol grip, so the Sport would be my choice, despite the 'bullet button'. I have one, great gun...and not 'cheap' by any stretch of the imagination. S&W simply deleted a few nonessential items to lower the price a couple hundred bucks.

stu925 · October 30, 2011, 08:07 PM

The Mini-14 is a great gun, fun to shoot and plenty accurate for what it is. Factory loads in my rifle average somewhere in the neighborhood of 2" groups off the bench. My handloads average around 1.5" at 100 yds but I'm sure I can bring that down a bit. Only thing I've done to mine is polish the trigger engagement surfaces to give it a nice clean break. So far mine has been absolutely reliable but I still have less than 500 rounds through it. Either rifle would serve you well, and give you years of service but you get the added benefit of no bullet button with the mini (man and I thought NY gun laws were bad). A couple of Mini-14 forums:
http://charlie6.org/c6forum/index.php
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/
Perfect Union is trying to get away from being a Mini-14 forum it seems so Charlie6 might be a better place to get questions answered.

Stu

cmdc · November 1, 2011, 12:51 PM

I have both of the rifles you're asking about. They are both great rifles, and I wouldn't give up either of them, but in your situation I'd go with the mini. The Sport has a fixed front sight and I like mounting optics on a flattop AR better. The Sport might be a little more accurate, but as another poster said, the new Minis, which mine is, are very accurate, shooting sub-2" groups all day long, with no shot stringing, which the older models were prone to do. I mounted a Leupold AR 1-4x scope on it.

BeachHead · November 1, 2011, 01:49 PM

I think most of us in California are/were in the same situation. I'm leaning toward a Mini myself.

Have you considered Kel Tec's SU-16CA?

Art Eatman · November 1, 2011, 01:57 PM

The newer Minis are better for groups on paper than the early models. For hunting or for self-defense, it's six of one, half-dozen of the other. Early or late Mini, AR or whatever .223 creates interest.

ipscchef · November 1, 2011, 09:09 PM

But I agree with what Art and the others have said. I think it is probably a "six of one, half dozen of the other" thing, but my old 183 series Mini is just a great gun and it will always have a place in my arsenel, they are every bit a reliable as the AR platform, and the accuracy issue is non existant as far as I can tell between my old Mini and my AR's at any practible range.

Willy

TriumphGuy · November 1, 2011, 10:54 PM

The 580 series is definitely more accurate than the older models if that's a concern to you.

The only downside is that magazines are a little harder to find and you'll have a harder time finding places to hang optics unless you buy some aftermarket parts.

Being that the alternative is poking at your mag release with the tip of a bullet, I'd say the mini is the way to go.

October 29, 2011, 09:17 PM	#1
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Mini 14/ AR "sport" So in in a bind. I know the final decision is basically personal preference, but I'm hoping someone can give specific reasons for picking one rifle over the other.The rifles in debate are the Ruger Mini 14 and the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport. The mini 14 is $699 and the M&P 15 is $669. I know these aren't the best prices, but they aren't bad. The Sport is cheap because it doesn't have a forward assist or a dust cover. I can live without both of these, I don't plan to abuse this rifle and the purpose of this purchase is to just have a fun gun to shoot. I would by the M&P 15 without hesitation, but I'm in CA, so it has to have the "bullet button" to release the mag. Im kinda looking for guidance as to which to buy. The mini 14 is great, but an AR would be pretty neat as well. Thanks a lot. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

October 29, 2011, 09:23 PM	#2
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	If you're in CA then get the Mini. The accuracy problems have been largely resolved with the new model and the old models are easily corrected with readily available aftermarket parts. (Barrel struts and reduced gas bushings.) The only way you will notice the extra accuracy is if you do bench shooting with quality ammo. If you're gonna be shooting bulk pack Wolf ammo at the gravel pit you won't be able to tell one from the other. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

October 29, 2011, 09:25 PM	#4
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	No, fortunately the mini is a fully functional mini 14. It just has to have 10 round magazines. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

October 29, 2011, 09:58 PM	#5
Crazy88Fingers Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2010 Location: WesTex Posts: 958	It seems like the Mini is the winner in California for your purposes. __________________ "And I'm tellin' you son, well it ain't no fun, staring straight down a .44" -Lynyrd Skynyrd

October 29, 2011, 10:51 PM	#7
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Thats what I'm thinking. Thanks for the input. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

October 29, 2011, 09:24 PM	#3
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	Do you have to put any function retarding device on the mini?

October 29, 2011, 09:59 PM	#6
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	The mini sounds like it would be a better deal then

October 30, 2011, 10:26 AM	#8
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I happen to like a rifle with a pistol grip, so the Sport would be my choice, despite the 'bullet button'. I have one, great gun...and not 'cheap' by any stretch of the imagination. S&W simply deleted a few nonessential items to lower the price a couple hundred bucks.

October 30, 2011, 08:07 PM	#9
stu925 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2010 Location: New York Posts: 953	The Mini-14 is a great gun, fun to shoot and plenty accurate for what it is. Factory loads in my rifle average somewhere in the neighborhood of 2" groups off the bench. My handloads average around 1.5" at 100 yds but I'm sure I can bring that down a bit. Only thing I've done to mine is polish the trigger engagement surfaces to give it a nice clean break. So far mine has been absolutely reliable but I still have less than 500 rounds through it. Either rifle would serve you well, and give you years of service but you get the added benefit of no bullet button with the mini (man and I thought NY gun laws were bad). A couple of Mini-14 forums: http://charlie6.org/c6forum/index.php http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ Perfect Union is trying to get away from being a Mini-14 forum it seems so Charlie6 might be a better place to get questions answered. Stu

November 1, 2011, 12:51 PM	#10
cmdc Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: Florida Gulf Coast Posts: 721	I have both of the rifles you're asking about. They are both great rifles, and I wouldn't give up either of them, but in your situation I'd go with the mini. The Sport has a fixed front sight and I like mounting optics on a flattop AR better. The Sport might be a little more accurate, but as another poster said, the new Minis, which mine is, are very accurate, shooting sub-2" groups all day long, with no shot stringing, which the older models were prone to do. I mounted a Leupold AR 1-4x scope on it.

November 1, 2011, 01:49 PM	#11
BeachHead Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2005 Location: Castro Valley, CA Posts: 132	I think most of us in California are/were in the same situation. I'm leaning toward a Mini myself. Have you considered Kel Tec's SU-16CA?

November 1, 2011, 01:57 PM	#12
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	The newer Minis are better for groups on paper than the early models. For hunting or for self-defense, it's six of one, half-dozen of the other. Early or late Mini, AR or whatever .223 creates interest.

November 1, 2011, 09:09 PM	#13
ipscchef Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: South Central Pa. Posts: 427	JMHO But I agree with what Art and the others have said. I think it is probably a "six of one, half dozen of the other" thing, but my old 183 series Mini is just a great gun and it will always have a place in my arsenel, they are every bit a reliable as the AR platform, and the accuracy issue is non existant as far as I can tell between my old Mini and my AR's at any practible range. Willy __________________ Don' keep shooting them until you think they are dead, Keep shooting them until they think they are dead.- Clint Smith

November 1, 2011, 10:54 PM	#14
TriumphGuy Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2009 Posts: 559	The 580 series is definitely more accurate than the older models if that's a concern to you. The only downside is that magazines are a little harder to find and you'll have a harder time finding places to hang optics unless you buy some aftermarket parts. Being that the alternative is poking at your mag release with the tip of a bullet, I'd say the mini is the way to go.

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