Re: Mini 14 to a .204

22 October 2004, 16:35

groundhog devastation

Mini 14.....are they really worthy of being called rifles? If you want a .204 go buy a RIFLE!!!!! SAVAGE VLP, REMINGTON VLS, REMINGTON ADL, RUGER 77VARMINT, NEF.....just get something worthy of being called a rifle!!! GHD

29 October 2004, 19:21

Dave James

Wendell,get ahold of December issue of the Shooting Times, very nice article in there about the new Les Baer's 204 Ruger in the AR super varmiter

30 October 2004, 04:04

Wendell Reich

He guarantees MOA at 100 yards, says most will shoot better 1/2 - 3/4.

Thanks for all the advice. I agree, if I wanted a 204, I should just go out and buy a nice one in a bolt (or single shot!). But, that is not what I want. I want to make my 14 into something better than what it is. It may not be financially reasonable to take this gun and make a 204 ... as I can probably never get that money back out if I decided to sell it, but .... well you guys understand.

I do appreciate the advise and agree with most of it.

I will post pictures when it is done.

26 October 2004, 07:03

PPosey

I wanted to build a mini because I like the look better than an AR and I think the mini is a more reliable platform, but you are talking big bucks and will probably loose some of that drop in the mud/sand/goop reliability with a different chamber/barrel. The same loose specs that are reliable are not as accerate. I

I would have had mine build by now had my cash flow not suffered as it did. Looking back I am glad that I did not, to each his own.

26 October 2004, 07:23

GeorgeS

Quote:

...and I think the mini is a more reliable platform, but you are talking big bucks and will probably loose some of that drop in the mud/sand/goop reliability with a different chamber/barrel. The same loose specs that are reliable are not as accerate.

This is not exactly true. With a modicum of attention (occasional cleaning and oiling), an AR will be supremely reliable. Just closing the ejector port cover while the rifle rides in the pickup truck helps keep dirt out of the mechanism.

If you want "drop in the mud/sand/goop reliability", get an AK-based system. A Mini-14 is just as likely to fail to function in those conditions.

Mini-14s shoot poorly because of the crappy barrels and triggers on the guns more than due to loose tolerances.

George

26 October 2004, 07:24

Fjold

It's kind of like putting an afterburner on a turtle.

26 October 2004, 07:32

GeorgeS

More like putting lipstick on a pig.

George

27 October 2004, 02:32

PPosey

Well with the 4 mini 14's I've had and the 2 AR platforms I've had the mini was a more reliable with less maintenence platform. With factory mags the mini is flat out hard to jam with any bullet combo, most mini jamming problems seem to come from cheap aftermarket mags. This is one area that the AR excells in better cheaper mags. The mini series is somewhere between the FAL and the AR as far as reliability in my limited experience. I sold all minis and ARs when times got hard but still have the FAL.

A good trigger job, a muzzle brake, and a recoil buffer and a mini is a good gun. You can also install a reduced recoil bushing and keep the brass within 15 feet of ya when ejected. All this can be had for $50 if you do your own trigger but please spend the extra $50 for a gunsmith to do one if you are not experienced and patient. There is a guy in OR that does great mini trigger jobs,,,he did two for me and the price and product were great. Will dig up the mane if anyone is interested. The mini barrels are the limp noodle. But they will shoot 2moa with about every gun.

27 October 2004, 04:57

GeorgeS

What brand were your ARs? Were they kit guns? Were they from 'top-shelf' manufacturers or 'bottom-feeders'?

George
P.S. The FN FAL is a wonderful rifle.

27 October 2004, 09:20

PPosey

Both were Bushmasters, not sure where they rank in the ratings,,,,,"friend" who sold them to me in a trade, he owhed me $$$ swore they were good ones and I got my $$$and then some out of them a couple years later. One was brand new and the other was tweeked with all sorts of goodies. Shot 400 rounds or so through both and they both had some jamming issues with different load combinations. Shooting slightly dirty loads gumed them up some, worse than the Fal or Mini.

The FAL does rock, mine is a frankinfal put together by a fellow gun nut and myself, he did all the work as he has built several

, get a bunch of good metric mags and yeeeehaaaaaa