Ruger Mini-14 or Bushmaster AR15

[WHSmithIV]

So, here's the poll - Wal-Mart has both the Ruger Mini 14 and the Bushmaster AR 15. I can afford to put one on layaway but not both (even though I want both) Help me choose everyone!

[cycloneman]

Easy I am gona assume your right handed.

Pros and cons

Mini 14
What I like: mini 14 will eat anything, all ammo all day long, even reloads,

What i dont like: Position of mag release. Not pinpoint accurate. Need to use original ruger mags for best performance.

ARs
What i like. Everything is where it is supost to be. Mag release, safety ect, perfect fit in the hand. Cheap P mags work great.

What i dont like: Generally not as reliable as the mini is. Some ar's need to be wet to work properly. So i consider all ar's wet guns.


Personally i grab my ar when things go bump in the night. I can use the rifle much easier because of how things are positioned. I can reload in a fraction of the time in a ar vs the mini and not take my eye off the target.

[GunHugger]

Originally Posted by WHSmithIV

So, here's the poll - Wal-Mart has both the Ruger Mini 14 and the Bushmaster AR 15. I can afford to put one on layaway but not both (even though I want both) Help me choose everyone!

Neither.

Bushmaster is now part of the "Freedom Group" with other companies that have gone down hill lately like Remington and Marlin.

The Mini isn't really that bad these days but they still aren't very accurate, magazines that work are expensive and the accessories are mostly garbage and limited.

Go with a different brand of AR sold at WalMart like a Colt, Sig or S&W. You can do so much more with a AR over the Mini.

[WHSmithIV]

Originally Posted by GunHugger

Neither.

Bushmaster is now part of the "Freedom Group" with other companies that have gone down hill lately like Remington and Marlin.

The Mini isn't really that bad these days but they still aren't very accurate, magazines that work are expensive and the accessories are mostly garbage and limited.

Go with a different brand of AR sold at WalMart like a Colt, Sig or S&W. You can do so much more with a AR over the Mini.

Hmm OK - so, I now consider the poll modified to simply be AR 15.... vs mini 14.

[GunHugger]

Originally Posted by cycloneman

Easy I am gona assume your right handed.

Pros and cons

Mini 14
What I like: mini 14 will eat anything, all ammo all day long, even reloads,

What i dont like: Position of mag release. Not pinpoint accurate. Need to use original ruger mags for best performance.

ARs
What i like. Everything is where it is supost to be. Mag release, safety ect, perfect fit in the hand. Cheap P mags work great.

What i dont like: Generally not as reliable as the mini is. Some ar's need to be wet to work properly. So i consider all ar's wet guns.


Personally i grab my ar when things go bump in the night. I can use the rifle much easier because of how things are positioned. I can reload in a fraction of the time in a ar vs the mini and not take my eye off the target.

While true...somewhat. Unless you think you might need to engage in a firefight where you are shooting a few hundred rounds quickly. Most AR's can do that with just a small amount of lube you put on the bolt after you cleaned it last. I don't run mine "wet" with oil as some say is needed, just a little quality lube in the right places is all that is needed unless you are doing full auto mag dumps.

A little wet is a good idea though for a new one until it's broke in.

[cycloneman]

Originally Posted by GunHugger

While true...somewhat. Unless you think you might need to engage in a firefight where you are shooting a few hundred rounds quickly. Most AR's can do that with just a small amount of lube you put on the bolt after you cleaned it last. I don't run mine "wet" with oil as some say is needed, just a little quality lube in the right places is all that is needed unless you are doing full auto mag dumps.

A little wet is a good idea though for a new one until it's broke in.

Ditto

You said it better than i did.

[GunHugger]

Originally Posted by WHSmithIV

Hmm OK - so, I now consider the poll modified to simply be AR 15.... vs mini 14.

I have owned 2 Mini's and 7 AR's over the past 30 years. In my opinion there is no way I would ever pick a Mini over a decent quality AR.

I bought the Mini's because I always like the look and compactness of it. They were reliable. The first one I bought used so I blamed it's 10" 100 yards groups on the first owner, thinking it damaged the barrel from overheating it or something. Bought a new one, it shot worse.

Only Ruger mags can be counted on to work, they are expensive. Adding anything like a light is a PIA.

The possibilities are endless with the AR, full floating the barrel, barrel lengths, materials, accessories, grips, stocks....you name it, there are plenty of good choices available. The AR is fine the way they come or you can make it however you want it.

[lonewolf204]

I would take the AR over the Mini 14 any day. I have spent a lot of money and time trying to get a Mini 14 to shoot better than a 3" group at 100 Yards. I have spent about 100 bucks on my AR and it will shoot 1" groups @ 100 yards. To me after shooting and owning both guns it is a no brainer. The AR 15 is top dog!

[CCHolderinMaine]

Don't shop at Wal-Mart.

As much as I love Ruger products, in this case pick up an AR first.

Don't buy Bushmaster, when they sold out and left Maine, they became Bushmaster in name only.
Have a Cabelas anywhere in range? The company in Maine that was Bushmaster became Windham Weaponry, they make nice ARs at very reasonable prices (like Bushmaster used to be).

Don't shop at Wal-Mart if possible. It's already a crappy experience, when we let them put everybody else out of business, you really won't like shopping there. Spread your purchases around. Competition is good for the consumer.

[ozo]

Originally Posted by GunHugger

While true...somewhat. Unless you think you might need to engage in a firefight where you are shooting a few hundred rounds quickly. Most AR's can do that with just a small amount of lube you put on the bolt after you cleaned it last. I don't run mine "wet" with oil as some say is needed, just a little quality lube in the right places is all that is needed unless you are doing full auto mag dumps.

A little wet is a good idea though for a new one until it's broke in.

SBGO
SBGO
SBGO
wet or dry

[CampingJosh]

Build an AR. It's really easy. You'll get better quality than Bushmaster for the same price range. And rather than layaway, you just buy a few parts at a time.

[Maine04657]

Originally Posted by CCHolderinMaine

Don't buy Bushmaster, when they sold out and left Maine, they became Bushmaster in name only.

That is half true the person who made Bushmaster and sold it to the Freedom group the company that own Remington, Marlin AAC and many other gun companies is still in the SAME building with much of the same equipment but they are now called Windham Weaponry ( http://www.windhamweaponry.com ) they make the same high quality ar's he always has still made right here in Maine.

[ozo]

I still opt for the Ranch rifle.......

[carver]

Originally Posted by ozo

I still opt for the Ranch rifle.......

In .308!

[gdmoody]

It was too late for me to get in on the poll, but I would choose an AR. I have owned 4 AR's and 2 mini's (a 14 and a 30) over the past few years. I consider the ARs to be more accurate than a Mini. I agree with the statement someone made about building your own, even if you just buy a complete upper and a complete lower and slap them together, it would be just about as cheap as buying a complete gun.

[WHSmithIV]

Hmm - ok - from what I see the AR wins. I still want them both though

[gun runner]

I would consider getting an M-16 if you can get one. I been having trouble finding such a weapon.

[Maine04657]

Originally Posted by carver

In .308!

That would be the Mini 30 not the ranch rifle.

[Maine04657]

Originally Posted by gun runner

I would consider getting an M-16 if you can get one. I been having trouble finding such a weapon.

You have not looked very hard they are plenty out there. Look on GB they always have a few. I would strongly recommend you ask your local SOT to put feelers out your chances of finding a better price go way up. Also make offers on the ones listed on GB they always seem to start at very high retail and if you got cash many times you can same a few grand.

[gun runner]

Thanks for the info. I never had a full auto .223 so I really think I would have a great time with the gun especially with .223 ammo being cheap

[glens67]

Well after owning an earlier mini and trading it in on a Target I am convienced that it is a fine target gun I can group at 1" at 100 yards all day long. You have to ask about the latest rendation of the Mini. I purchased an "Obama Gun" a NRA Mini 14, it is flawless, Can't compare with the Target mini because I dont want a scope on this one but I can make cans fly at 50 yards no problem. I have expierienced no FTFs with either gun. I like the Garand style action better than gas impingement acions. If ARs are so good why do you have to Modifiy them after purchase? What happens to the old parts??

Any way I am a Mini-14 fan. I have had ARs before but...

[Snakedriver]

I'm one of those "get 'em both" kind'a guys. For my HD shotgun I have both the Mossberg 500 AND the Remington 870. Both work great.

For my SHTF rifle, I have a Mini-14 that I bought new for just under $300 back in 1983. It's been a fun rifle to shoot for many years and has never had a single hic-up or failure. Yes, with the skinny barrel I had to do a couple of things to stabilize the "barrel whip", but that was easy enough. It gives me reliable 2" groups at 100 yards now with my reloads without any stringing. The new series Mini's with the thicker barrel are much more accurate than the older ones without any work required.

Then last fall I decided I needed to join the AR Club too, so I got an Armalite stripped lower from my local gunshop and then built the complete lower from quality parts I obtained from the internet. Piece-of-cake to do with only a couple of special tools needed. I bought a complete AR upper from the Rock River Arms website with the options I wanted and mated it to my lower in about 10 seconds for the fully assembled AR-15 ready to shoot. I must say, it's extremely accurate with the same reloads I use in my Mini. So far, it's been 100% reliable too, but I've only had it for about 9-months, so time will tell. The whole AR project with iron sights and one 30-round magazine came to $815 delivered. I'm quite happy with it, but the temptation to accessorize the thing is strong.

The truth is that now that Ruger has let the prices of the Mini's rise to the point where you can obtain a real decent AR, the AR is the way to go for accuracy's sake. I still love my Mini, but the AR has dazzled me too.

[Ledslnger]

If Bushmaster is part of the Freedom Group I am betting their quality is going downhill then definitely. I think they fired all their customer service people, because they don't want to hear from you about negative stuff. They don't care. They are living on their name alone, definitely not quality of their product because quality isn't there at all.
I think the Ruger Ranch Rifles are fairly accurate. Maybe not as accurate as say a Rock River AR, but better that some. And, they will eat just about any ammo. I have been told they gauge as a 5.56 too, not just a .223 by one guy who has gauged the chambers of several of them. So, that is a plus too.

[Snakedriver]

Originally Posted by Ledslnger

If Bushmaster is part of the Freedom Group I am betting their quality is going downhill then definitely. I think they fired all their customer service people, because they don't want to hear from you about negative stuff. They don't care. They are living on their name alone, definitely not quality of their product because quality isn't there at all.
I think the Ruger Ranch Rifles are fairly accurate. Maybe not as accurate as say a Rock River AR, but better that some. And, they will eat just about any ammo. I have been told they gauge as a 5.56 too, not just a .223 by one guy who has gauged the chambers of several of them. So, that is a plus too.

Yep, even the Ruger User's Manual says that you can use 5.56mm ammo in all but the "Target Model" Mini despite that fact that receiver is marked .223 Rem.

[aa1911]

Gunhugger sums up my thoughts exactly on this one.

The mini 14 upgrades and accessories are expensive, very limited and often junk.

the AR15 platform has so many more options