mathewsarcher

I am torn between a new coyote gun. I want my new varmit rifle to double as a self protection rifle. I am looking at either an AR15 or a mini 14 ranch rifle. Is the mini 14 ranch accurate out to say 300 yards? I have heard that they are really only accurate out to about 100. Can anyone advise? I know that the AR is the overall winner for range out of the two, but can' t afford the big sticker price of the AR right now. Thanks

handloader1

Go with the AR15 it has a further accuracy range. Good luck.

critch

Yes..........I can answer this one for you. I have owned 3 Mini 14' s. I bought the last 2 simply because of price...not accuracy. A mini is not accurate. The front sight blade is too big for shooting even at 100 yds.
If you have the capital go with the AR15. I have been told that any model is better than the mini. I' ve been out shot by Colt and Bushmaster AR' s, and I hate being out shot. It embarrasses me.
My next 223 semi auto will be the Olympic Arms from Olympia, Washington. Their web site is olyarms.com
I have found some people who own them and they are quite satisfied with them. They say they' re the best on the market.
They sell for about $1030.00, Mod. PCR-1, " ultramatch" . I have found them for $995.00, retail on the net. See if you can find an FFL guy to order one for less.
The olyarms website has some interesting reading.
I like Ruger, just not the mini. Good luck. critch

mathewsarcher

My intention is to put a scope on it. Won' t that help to some degree? I just want to be able to hit a coyote at 300 yards.

Nomercy

If a guy were to buy a Mini-14 from a good supply source (you can find them for much lower than MSRP), then buy several parts and have quite a bit of work done on it to accurize it, it' s VERY possible to get a Mini-14 to outshoot an AR-15 for the same price as a new AR-15. I really like the Mini' s action type, it' s built like a tank and will never break down. A buddy of mine bought a new Mini a couple years back for $350 new, sold his barrel, bought a bull barrel for it with a comp. chamber and had several other things " adjusted" , he sold everything he took off, so it made a pretty good difference, but he came out with a .5MOA @300yrd rifle for under $700 before the glass, which is more than one could say for a STOCK AR-15 which one would have trouble buying new for under $700. (plus, I' d never buy a used semi-auto, unless it was just for a beat around plinker, because I know how I shoot them, and if that' s how he shot it, then it' s not going to last much longer). I' d recommend going with the Mini-14, then having the accurizing done.

What I love about the AR-15' s is that you can mix and match a million parts and replacement parts are all over, accurizing is easier (most smithies know how to do it), you just start out at a higher price. Another thing about them is that you can buy new uppers for them, say like a bolt action .50BMG or a semiauto .50Beowulf, or .45 acp, giving you unlimited options from one gun.

mathewsarcher

Thank you all for the responses. RR, what do you mean by " order it separate?"
Are you talking about just buying the upper for that price?