Selling my Mini 14...your thoughts.

[twyacht]

My Saiga AK, was less than $400. Put a Tapco Interfuse stock on it, $50. Has never hiccuped, with any ammo, including some middle eastern surplus manufactured in the 70's, that a friend had. Stick with 7.62, leave the 5.45 stuff for those who plink...

Loves, Tula, Wolf, milsurp, etc,... at 100yds, shoots pie plate accurate.  Simple to clean, lube, maintain. Hell, throw motor oil on it, use a boot lace to swab the barrel and keep going.

It is what it is. No optics necessary.

The mini's I've shot are what they are also. Ask yourself.

Do I "need" it
Could I use something more user friendly
Is it cheaper to shoot
Will it work in a SHTF scenario, better than some others
Do I really want to get rid of my mini

There are posts, from folks, that love their mini's. Just find the niche you want to fill, and you'll make the right choice. Either way.

Or keep the mini, save some coinage, and get an AK...  Good prices around for them. Up to the ridiculous $2000...

[Badgersmilk]

AR's in a SHTF scenario...  

It's gonna be so much fun looking in the mud for teeny tiny little pins, rings, n springs the first time you clean / unjam such a jewel.  Detail striping using dirty rags to wipe parts while surrounded by mud, leaves, sand...  Mmmmm, can't wait to do that!  And the rifle responds so well to being cleaned with limited supplies in an unperfect environment.  More vet's would be happy to tell you stories, but.  Oh, yeah.  Well, many just aren't around for some reason...

That firing pin retainer is at least twice the size of a very small ant.  Should be no problem to find!    And what harm would a little sand on the gas rings do?  No worries!  

Should it actually fire...  Least we not forget all that .223 stopping power!  






Sorry, just have to get it out of my system once in a while.  

[Texas_Bryan]

OK then Badger, since your the resident AK expert, what should I look for in an AK?  Are there some rebuilders to stay away from, countries of origin, models?

[Badgersmilk]

Actually FQ has been doing A LOT of market research and could point you in the right direction.  

Were it me...  It'd be building my own!  For that matter, I'd build three, sell two to cover the cost of the one I keep, and the tools needed, and only have to pay out of pocket for a bunch of magazines and ammo!  

If you've got a work bench and a vise.  You can build as good of one as any you'll find to buy!  NOT hard.

Most simple and important things to look for in either a complete rifle, or bare reciever are the dents in the side.  YOU WANT THEM.

Then look around the lip of the mag. well.  See if it's been opened up with a dremel tool (yes, this is actually common!).  YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

And don't believe any idiot that tells you single claw or double claw triggers are any better than one another.

http://www.nodakspud.com/page2.htm

[fightingquaker13]

Actually FQ has been doing A LOT of market research and could point you in the right direction.  

Were it me...  It'd be building my own!  For that matter, I'd build three, sell two to cover the cost of the one I keep, and the tools needed, and only have to pay out of pocket for a bunch of magazines and ammo!  

If you've got a work bench and a vise.  You can build as good of one as any you'll find to buy!  NOT hard.

Me? Since when did I become the expert? I did a lot of research, but still wound up with an AR (a coin toss decision as I said earlier). All I can advise is two things. First go to Classic Arms. They seem like honest folk with a good selection and good pricies. Second? Google BillT's phone number. Call Melanie while he's at work. She'll probably make you a hell of a deal. She might even throw in some ammo if you include a mask in your offer.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[CJS3]

Coyote/varmint/Truck gun that will shoot any ammo, anytime you press the go button, with mediocre accuracy= Mini-14.

SHTF, mediocre accuracy, medium-range man-killer that will also digest anything you feed it but with bigger bullets= AK-47 or variant.

Super accurate, potentially ammo sensitive, all-around multi-use rifle= AR.

Pick ya poison.

Meet my new truck guns;

[nealtome]

i sold mine because of the accuracy but it would eat any type of ammo, bought a m&p 15 with a dpms upper it has great accuracy but does not like cheap ammo but i am happy with it