Ar-14

[Texasboy94]

I got a phone call this morning from my grandpa in NM. One of his friends is a LEO with CBP and he found a deal on several ar-14 rifles from a prison in Arizona ,who is updating their weapons, for about 450 each. I googled ar-14 and essentially came up empty I was wondering what they are ,the quality of them I trust the border patrolman he knows his firearms but are there any replacement parts out there for them what they look like stuff like that. Any pics would be appreciated

[gunloony]

Ar-14?
New one to me.
Wonder if he could possibly be talking about the Ruger Mini-14 which was used by some law enforcement/corrections agencies?

[Texasboy94]

Ya that's what I would think but I was told they look like an m16a2

[Jason_G]

My money's on a typo or mistaken LEO.

Never heard of one, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything, either.

Jason

[Technosavant]

I'd probably go for one... I doubt it's some oddball rifle. It's gotta be an error- if it's a Mini 14, there's plenty of stuff out there to keep them doing; if it's an AR-15, then ditto.

Really, I'd expect it to be a Mini-14; I understand those have been popular among many corrections facilities- they don't have the paramilitary look about them but they're plenty capable of saving the day if there's a major problem. $450 for a used Mini 14 is not a bad price.

[gunloony]

Ya that's what I would think but I was told they look like an m16a2

Seems to be pointing back to typo or mistaken identification.
An Armalite AR-15 looks like an M16, since it is the "parent" of the whole M16 series of rifles. Colt for years sold "AR-15 Sporters" which were semi-auto versions of the M16s they were making for the military.
None of which gets any closer to the identity of your Ar-14. No clue here, sorry.

Add: I think technosavant has it right though, either an AR-15 or Mini 14 for $450 isn't a bad deal.

[zippy13]

Really, I'd expect it to be a Mini-14

A reasonable assumption.

[Texasboy94]

Ok guys I just talked to my grandpa. You guys were right he got more information it's a mini -14. I have one question can AR-15 mags fit the min 14 thanks for the input

[Yung.gunr]

From my understanding the Mini 14 uses proprietary mags made by Ruger. There are many people who swear by the Mini 14 and that does sound like a good price. If you have the funds available I would jump on it (making sure to see what you are buying of course).

[BryanP]

I have one question can AR-15 mags fit the min 14

No.

[Technosavant]

As others said, AR mags won't fit a Mini-14. Worse news... most aftermarket mags aren't any good.

But there is a bright light... Ruger has made the 20 round mags readily available, and while they're expensive compared to a good AR mag, they're also much more robust. Compare a Mini mag to an AR mag... the Mini one is built like the proverbial brick outhouse, so it will last longer.

[jmr40]

Mini-14's were commonly for such uses and that price seems reasonably, if not just a bit high for a used one. If they come with some quality factory 20 or 30 round mags I might be tempted, if not I'd pass. Ruger mags are $40-$50 each now.

With quality new AR's selling for $550-$600 I wouldn't normally pay over $300-$350 for a Mini. The older Mini's were far less accurate than the newer versions and none come close to even a basic AR. Reliability with factory mags is excellent however. Poor with many aftermarket mags.

[Dfariswheel]

Being a prison guard gun there's a good chance these might be the GB-14, which is the militarized version of the Mini-14.
These come with a muzzle brake and a few other changes.

[BigPapa4147]

I've heard the new Tapco mini 14 30 round mags are pretty good and I think you can get them for about $20.

[Destructo6]

It might help if you knew what prison these weapons were supposed to come from.

If it's a federal prison, they're unlikely to sell any firearms. Federal agencies typically destroy, or mothball, their duty weapons, rather than sell them.

[James K]

Please permit just a note of caution. One offer of a sale of an M14 rifle by a federal guard force turned out to be a BATFE trap. The idea was to sell the gun, arrest the purchaser for possession, confiscate the gun, resell the gun, etc. Technically, that tactic is illegal, but it is possible that enforcers of the law sometimes violate the law.

Jim

[armoredman]

Also, one other REALLY important fact - Arizona Department of Corrections DID use Mini-14 rifles...well over ten years ago. The switch was just a bit before I went to work there. I don't remember anyone telling me the rifles were offered for sale to anyone, but either stored or destroyed. At the Complex I worked at there were only AR-15, Govt./LE marked Colts from the ban era, and ban era marked magazines. Not one Mini-14 item remained.
I'd walk a WIDE path around that offer.

[johnwilliamson062]

"quality new AR's selling for $550-$600"

Where?

used 580 or later series rifles go for mire than $450. I think the 180 series are about that price. Not many people want them.

[ripnbst]

If you look around and catch a deal you can find AR's in the 600's easy. Maybe not right at $600.

[rickyrick]

I giggle at the 600$ AR that pops up in every mini14 thread. Like they're on the shelf at every sporting goods store. You guys(hands on my hips)

[armoredman]

Funny thing, the OP wasn't asking about AR-15 rifles, or the prices of AR-15 rifles, but about what was passed off as Mini-14 rifles recently disposed of by an Arizona prison, which I pointed out is not possible from the state system. If they came from a county lockup or a private prison that is possible, but the private prisons are generally required to use the same firearms the state system does, by policy. County lockups use what ever that county wishes to use.
If you wanted a nice prison rifle, years ago our "away game" rifle for inmate works crews were Winchester 30-30 lever action rifles. No idea where they disappeared to...

[Texasboy94]

Ok guys sorry it took so long for me to get back to you thanks for all the input. It turned out to be a mini 14 from a police department outside of Sacramento I believe. He's received the rifle and it's in great shape fairly accurate and he loves it. red man was right I wasn't asking about ar-15s I've done plenty of my own research on them like I said in my original post this is my grandpa we're talking about. He's kinda old school about firearms so much so that he just baught his first composite stocked rifle 2 years ago. But he carried a m-14 in Vietnam and loves the similarities between the mini and the m-14