Mini-14 - Page 3

**mecompco** · 11-01-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reswob

Are there better (shoulder fired) choices in that price range though? Someday I might have some extra dough for a toy like that, and $6k is a lot better than dropping $20 on a M16 or H&K.

The problem with the Mini is that it will heat up fast--it is not designed for full auto fire as the M16 and AK are. Yes, the AC 556 is select fire, but it was marketed to police, not the military.

If you are serious about owning and shooting a rifle caliber machine gun I think you'd be much better off with a 16. You can own multiple barrels for different configuration, stocks, forends--too many accessories to mention. You can change the upper in seconds. All the parts are available from many, many sources.

As I said, I'm not up to date on the prices, but surely one can find a sear gun for a fairly reasonable price. You might also consider a drop-in autoconnector--just two little pieces of steel that turn an original style AR into a full-auto gun when "dropped in" to the lower receiver. Yeah, you can make your own, but the are considered "machine guns" by the BATF. There are legally registered transferrable ones out there, though.

Reswob · 11-01-2008, 09:17 PM

How fast is fast? I wouldn't be dumping mag after mag after mag just holding down the trigger. 5.56 costs way to much for that

And if I were gonna spend the $$$, I'd want an actual select-fire weapon, not a sear gun.

**mecompco** · 11-03-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reswob

How fast is fast? I wouldn't be dumping mag after mag after mag just holding down the trigger. 5.56 costs way to much for that

And if I were gonna spend the $$$, I'd want an actual select-fire weapon, not a sear gun.

Even two or three 20 rounders will get your barrel pretty hot. You will be amazed at how fast you go thru ammo. And it won't just be you. EVERYONE will want a go at it. You can certainly do it with a Mini, but I wouldn't expect it to hold up like a 16 (or even better, an AK).

Of course you can over heat the Colt as well (I've seen gas tubes melt) and one genuine Colt upper explode and split like a banana but they will hold up to abuse better, and when the time comes to change parts, it is really easy (and fairly inexpensive). An AK is even better--we used to put back-to-back 120 round drums thru ours and yes, the wooden forearm would start to smoulder but it kept right on going.

As to the auto sears and lightning links, there is one kinda cool thing about them--the part itself is considered the "machine gun". So, you can drop them into different guns if you like. Also, the gun remains a semi-auto when the part is removed.

I'm not saying you shouldn't go ahead and get a Mini--they are cool; especially with the folding stock. Just don't expect it to hold up to a lot of (ab)use. And do expect any machine gun you get to go through more ammo than you can imagine.

Have you given any thought to a sub gun? You get the machine gun high, but don't have to worry about over heating, cook offs, etc. You can have a lot of fun with even a cheapie (MAC, STEN, Reising etc.). Ammo is cheaper and easy to reload as well. Just a thought.

Reswob · 11-03-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecompco

Have you given any thought to a sub gun? You get the machine gun high, but don't have to worry about over heating, cook offs, etc. You can have a lot of fun with even a cheapie (MAC, STEN, Reising etc.). Ammo is cheaper and easy to reload as well. Just a thought.

I'd really love a HK UMP, but of course there are no transferable ones in the country. Second choice is a MP5K-PDW, but the only ones I've seen are sear guns, and even those are $20k.

faxmachine · 11-07-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcourdin

By the way, the NEW Minis have all been made on brand new tooling to increase accuracy, anyone whining before should be happier with them now.

I was unaware there were even new ones, i only have had experience with the old ones

coldwater · 11-18-2008, 05:28 PM

I own 2, one was bought in 1975 shortly after it hit the market, and the other is a ranch rifle of recent vintage. The mini was made roughly from the M-14 / Garand platform, and is an outstanding weapon, and holds a well earned following for rugged reliability. My favorite being the .223 flavor. Making one select fier is not only illegal, but foolish. Reliability will suffer, and It's tough to hit the mark when your spraying bullets all over the place. If you wan't a select fire weapon, get the licence, and drop enough coin to buy a new Jeep, on an M-type foundation.

jcal73 · 11-30-2008, 11:23 AM

I love my little ranch .223 with Leupold 2X7X33!

Jeff

Army31B · 12-08-2008, 02:04 PM

Why are you wanting to add one to your collection, exactly? These is nothing necessarily wrong with the gun, but it doesn't really have much of a niche....

If you already have an AR, an AK, and an SKS, I might say get one, but there are much better gas-guns out there.....

olds442 · 12-08-2008, 02:37 PM

full autos are crazy expensive. Last show i was at, some guy had a full auto mp5 for 19K

Reswob · 12-08-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwiggyWizard

full autos are crazy expensive. Last show i was at, some guy had a full auto mp5 for 19K

Write your, um... local NRA branch? and tell them you want to see the Hughes Amendment to the Firearm Owners Protection Act repealed. Good luck.