So gunshow was kind of a bust. Was hoping to find a broomhandle but didn't, but found a bunch of nice K98's. Saw a Czech-Israeli K98 that was in decent condition for $450.
Need a recommendation on a couple of guns. Still not sure what order I'm going to get these in, and the budget is soft so I'd like an ultimate budget option and a midrange for each. First is a medium game hunting rifle. Been looking at the Savage Axis. Second is a semi auto rifle, preferably mid caliber. I'd like it to be the least tacticool possible, I really like my friend's Mini 14. Third is I just want a high caliber range beater. Cheap as possible, action doesn't really matter.
Don't buy a Mini14.
Why not?
Ruger is the holocaust incarnated into a corporation, so they make you use bullshit proprietary magazines and charge you out the ass for them. They've also got accuracy issues. The aftermarket for them isn't bad, magazines included, but why spend the money on a Mini14 when you can spend the same amount of money and get a decent AR-15 which has a much wider aftermarket (and mags are like $10 a pop compared to $80).
The worlds best Mini14 is going to lose to the worlds worst AR-15.
[QUOTE=Cyke Lon bee;49595487]Ruger is the holocaust incarnated into a corporation, so they make you use bullshit proprietary magazines and charge you out the ass for them. They've also got accuracy issues. The aftermarket for them isn't bad, magazines included, but why spend the money on a Mini14 when you can spend the same amount of money and get a decent AR-15 which has a much wider aftermarket (and mags are like $10 a pop compared to $80).
The worlds best Mini14 is going to lose to the worlds worst AR-15.[/QUOTE]
Apparently you've never handled a Hesse/Vulcan/Blackthorn complete with milled steel lower and cast bolts.
You've got to remember the Mini-14 was designed with reliability in mind. That means loose tolerances. Sure they might shoot 3-4 MOA but unless you're competition shooting that's pretty irrelevant for your casual shooter. That's also right up there will the mil-spec for accuracy coming out of an M16. Now with that being said I'd take an AR over one any day of the week since it's practically adult legos, but don't be throwing a solid design under the bus because most of the country went with another platform.
The only reason I was really looking at it is that I like the look of the Mini 14 ranch rifle far more than any AR15.
[QUOTE=Levelog;49595558]The only reason I was really looking at it is that I like the look of the Mini 14 ranch rifle far more than any AR15.[/QUOTE]
In my opinion I think you'd be happier in the long run with an AR, especially when it comes to getting things like mags and accessories. That and if you want to change it to a .300blk, .204 ruger, 7.62x39, etc it takes all of a couple seconds where as that Mini-14 will always be whatever caliber you bought it in.
[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;49595617]In my opinion I think you'd be happier in the long run with an AR, especially when it comes to getting things like mags and accessories. That and if you want to change it to a .300blk, .204 ruger, 7.62x39, etc it takes all of a couple seconds where as that Mini-14 will always be whatever caliber you bought it in.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, probably. I've just got this weird thing against buying guns that are stripped down for civilian use in one way or another. No reason for it, just always have.
[QUOTE=Levelog;49595635]Yeah, probably. I've just got this weird thing against buying guns that are stripped down for civilian use in one way or another. No reason for it, just always have.[/QUOTE]
These days they're not nearly as neutered as they used to be. Most manufactures build them with "real" parts save the hammer and 3rd hole in the receiver. The hammers don't have the hook for the auto sear, and the third hole kind of explains itself.
[QUOTE=UncleJimmema;49595508]Apparently you've never handled a Hesse/Vulcan/Blackthorn complete with milled steel lower and cast bolts.
You've got to remember the Mini-14 was designed with reliability in mind. That means loose tolerances. Sure they might shoot 3-4 MOA but unless you're competition shooting that's pretty irrelevant for your casual shooter. That's also right up there will the mil-spec for accuracy coming out of an M16. Now with that being said I'd take an AR over one any day of the week since it's practically adult legos, but don't be throwing a solid design under the bus because most of the country went with another platform.[/QUOTE]
I throw the Mini 14 under the bus because of the company that made it, not because the rest of the country was smart enough not to buy an inferior rifle from a dickwad of a company.
[editline]24th January 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=Levelog;49595558]The only reason I was really looking at it is that I like the look of the Mini 14 ranch rifle far more than any AR15.[/QUOTE]
If you buy guns based on looks alone, you're going to end up buying some seriously shitty guns. Mini 14 included.
[editline]24th January 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=Levelog;49595635]Yeah, probably. I've just got this weird thing against buying guns that are stripped down for civilian use in one way or another. No reason for it, just always have.[/QUOTE]
Then you definitely don't want a Mini 14.
The only part of an AR-15 thats stripped for civvie use is the fact it's only got 2 firing positions instead of 3. Otherwise, you can create a completely milspec M4 or M-16 if you wanted too.
Finally found pre-ban SR25 magazines because my state is awful.
[URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PCho222/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160122_161619_zpswzcxxpih.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q719/PCho222/Mobile%20Uploads/20160122_161619_zpswzcxxpih.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[QUOTE=Cyke Lon bee;49597011]I throw the Mini 14 under the bus because of the company that made it, not because the rest of the country was smart enough not to buy an inferior rifle from a dickwad of a company.
[editline]24th January 2016[/editline]
If you buy guns based on looks alone, you're going to end up buying some seriously shitty guns. Mini 14 included.
[editline]24th January 2016[/editline]
Then you definitely don't want a Mini 14.
The only part of an AR-15 thats stripped for civvie use is the fact it's only got 2 firing positions instead of 3. Otherwise, you can create a completely milspec M4 or M-16 if you wanted too.[/QUOTE]
Aren't older Mini-14s fine other than the proprietary mag? I would buy a Mini-14 because I really like the action and M1 Carbines are a little outside of my price range.
[QUOTE=Grenadiac;49597363]Aren't older Mini-14s fine other than the proprietary mag? I would buy a Mini-14 because I really like the action and M1 Carbines are a little outside of my price range.[/QUOTE]
Is the proprietary mag really that bad of a deal? Yeah it sucks you can't just use any Stanag but I've seen plenty of Mini-14 20 and 30 rounders for ~$15-$20. My friend who has one never seemed to have a problem other than one of the 10 rounders he has doesn't seem to feed properly.
It doesn't bother me enough to put me off from the rifle, it's just the only thing I can recall hearing complaints about with the older Mini-14s. The new ones have QC issues inherent in all modern Rugers.
[QUOTE=Grenadiac;49597363]Aren't older Mini-14s fine other than the proprietary mag? I would buy a Mini-14 because I really like the action and M1 Carbines are a little outside of my price range.[/QUOTE]
You can buy repro M1 carbines in the $600~ ish range.
[QUOTE=Grenadiac;49597363]Aren't older Mini-14s fine other than the proprietary mag? I would buy a Mini-14 because I really like the action and M1 Carbines are a little outside of my price range.[/QUOTE]
You have it backwards. The old mini14s are garbage compared to the newer version. The NEW mini14 can do 1.5 moa out of box. The only reason some one picked a mini14 over an AR15 back in the 80's was that the mini actually worked. While it's accuracy was horrible, the gun was accurate enough for a few rounds. AR15's for the longest time were shitty. The proprietary mags suck, but the mags actually worked over AR15 mags of the time. Poor reliability, magazines that didn't function as well as the mini's, and not a whole lot of modifications till after Desert Storm and the first AWB.
By today's standards, a new mini14 can still be argued for because it still looks like grandpa's hunting rifle and not the "Assault Rifle" that people think of when shown an AR15 or AK.
[editline]24th January 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=Cyke Lon bee;49597552]You can buy repro M1 carbines in the $600~ ish range.[/QUOTE]
Those $600 reproduction ones suck. If you want a m1 carbine that works, and works with more mags out on the market, $900 minimum. Inland Manufacturing just released new manufactured m1 carbines for around $1000. Fulton makes a very nice, but expensive one for $1500. The $600 one is Auto Ordinance. Their rifles have issues with mag compatibility and not very good QC.
[QUOTE=SirKillsAlot;49597382]Is the proprietary mag really that bad of a deal? Yeah it sucks you can't just use any Stanag but I've seen plenty of Mini-14 20 and 30 rounders for ~$15-$20. My friend who has one never seemed to have a problem other than one of the 10 rounders he has doesn't seem to feed properly.[/QUOTE]
Why buy an inferior gun with a magazine you can't use on any of your other platforms? A STANAG can be used on pretty much any other 223 semiautomatic rifle. I mean shit, Mossberg even has a bolt action that can take STANAGS. Furthermore, you don't get higher capacity magazines like the 50 and 100 rounder beta mags and what not with a Mini14. A mini mag can only be used on a mini 14, same for a mini 30. And if Ruger had it their way, you'd be paying[URL="http://shopruger.com/Mini-14-30-Round-Magazine/productinfo/90035/"] $50[/URL] for standard capacity magazines. The exact same capacity magazines for an AR-15 is like $10.
So why buy an inferior rifle without the modularity and magazine interchangeability that an AR-15 has? I don't even like AR-15's, but I would buy a $~700 AR-15 before I bought a $~700 Mini 14 or Mini 30.
[QUOTE=Cyke Lon bee;49597579]Why buy an inferior gun with a magazine you can't use on any of your other platforms? A STANAG can be used on pretty much any other 223 semiautomatic rifle. I mean shit, Mossberg even has a bolt action that can take STANAGS. Furthermore, you don't get higher capacity magazines like the 50 and 100 rounder beta mags and what not with a Mini14. A mini mag can only be used on a mini 14, same for a mini 30. And if Ruger had it their way, you'd be paying[URL="http://shopruger.com/Mini-14-30-Round-Magazine/productinfo/90035/"] $50[/URL] for standard capacity magazines. The exact same capacity magazines for an AR-15 is like $10.
So why buy an inferior rifle without the modularity and magazine interchangeability that an AR-15 has? I don't even like AR-15's, but I would buy a $~700 AR-15 before I bought a $~700 Mini 14 or Mini 30.[/QUOTE]
Because for my friends in CT and NY, they would be spending $1500 minimum for the world's shittiest pre-ban DPMS. In CT they also can't bring in any more pre-ban magazines since the window to register them closed a while ago (yes they had to register magazines).
I would never buy a Mini-14 over an AR, but the ones I've used haven't been as bad as you make them out to be, especially if it is one of the few cheap options for a semi-auto rifle in New England.
[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;49584679]"Cheap" AKs no longer exist. You have at least throw down $550 if you are lucky. Most of the time it's gonna be $600-$900 depending on brand, demand, and quality. Your entry level AK is going to be around $600 now. Mid tier is $700-$800, and the premium stuff is $900+.
And for the love of god, do not entertain the idea of buying an I.O. Ak. Those are absolute garbage. Even the Aks built by Century have more quality than them.[/QUOTE]
You know, back when I was first buying a gun, back in 2008, 500 was considered overpriced for some AK's... Like. I could find them for under 400. This just makes me regret not buying one when I was 18... Nuggets were like 69 bucks, SKS's were 350, and AK's ran from 350-500.
[QUOTE=SirKillsAlot;49597686]Because for my friends in CT and NY, they would be spending $1500 minimum for the world's shittiest pre-ban DPMS. In CT they also can't bring in any more pre-ban magazines since the window to register them closed a while ago (yes they had to register magazines).
I would never buy a Mini-14 over an AR, but the ones I've used haven't been as bad as you make them out to be, especially if it is one of the few cheap options for a semi-auto rifle in New England.[/QUOTE]
Well considering 47 other states in the union don't have this issue, I would still recommend not buying a Mini 14 for any reason.
[QUOTE=SirKillsAlot;49597343]Finally found pre-ban SR25 magazines because my state is awful.
[URL=http://s1355.photobucket.com/user/PCho222/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160122_161619_zpswzcxxpih.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q719/PCho222/Mobile%20Uploads/20160122_161619_zpswzcxxpih.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE]
I don't normally like painted ARs, but that looks goood.
[QUOTE=Pilot1215;49597791]You know, back when I was first buying a gun, back in 2008, 500 was considered overpriced for some AK's... Like. I could find them for under 400. This just makes me regret not buying one when I was 18... Nuggets were like 69 bucks, SKS's were 350, and AK's ran from 350-500.[/QUOTE]
if you're careful you can still find an sks for $350
So, in recovering my barrel I have two options, take a torch to the upper to hopefully melt the loctite, bake it, or deep fry it. Deep frying would be the most difficult since I don't have a deep fryer.
[QUOTE=Pilot1215;49597791]You know, back when I was first buying a gun, back in 2008, 500 was considered overpriced for some AK's... Like. I could find them for under 400. This just makes me regret not buying one when I was 18... Nuggets were like 69 bucks, SKS's were 350, and AK's ran from 350-500.[/QUOTE]
Back when I was buying my first gun, 91/30s ran $200 at Gander Mountain, who is always overpriced. Nowadays it's $250+ for a Nagant with the bayonet cut off and a shitty plastic stock on it.
[QUOTE=Ridge;49598378]Back when I was buying my first gun, 91/30s ran $200 at Gander Mountain, who is always overpriced. Nowadays it's $250+ for a Nagant with the bayonet cut off and a shitty plastic stock on it.[/QUOTE]
I paid 200 for my 91/30 at Greenacres. They are always overpriced as well, but at the time prices were going up and no one else had em. Picked mine up out of a crate, and they had already cleaned all the cosmoline out of em.
[QUOTE=dude709;49598302]if you're careful you can still find an sks for $350[/QUOTE]
My uncle always has his story in the 80's when he bought a pair of sks's for $40 each. I want that pricing.
[editline]24th January 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=Ridge;49598378]Back when I was buying my first gun, 91/30s ran $200 at Gander Mountain, who is always overpriced. Nowadays it's $250+ for a Nagant with the bayonet cut off and a shitty plastic stock on it.[/QUOTE]
I almost picked one up from Gander for $100 when I was 19. Wish I had, they're so expensive now.
I'm still kicking myself for selling my nuget. Bought it for $100 bucks with baynet and all the fixings plus 440 rounds of ammo. I'll never see that deal again.
I saw a nugget on gunbroker with serial matched bayonet, all accessories for $175 a month ago.
Now [I]every single listing[/I] bottoms out at $250 for the same thing. And that still doesn't include shipping and FFL transfer.
Can you guys catch me up to date why nuggets are so pricey now, i was planning on buying one as a range rifle and such but...
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