[natedog375]

i finally got my mini-14 ranch! its been a long road since summer camp, where i was convinced by some of my scout leaders that a .223 or 7.62x39 was the best caliberr for my needs (plinking, small game hunting). one man suggested a mini-14 or 30, the other an SKS. i was really into SKS's for a while, then i found how i could accurize a mini-14, and went to that, then how cheap 7.62 was, so back to SKS's. it went back and forth like this through my mind for 6 months. it was seriously driving me crazy. it finally came down to pure eregronomics (bleh, cant spell). the mini 14 fit me, and was light weight. the SKS was not, though it was still a blast to shoot. along with a mini, i got a harris bipod, scope, 10 mags, and a muzzle brake. i would have gotten a hogue overmolded stock from midway, cause they were on sale, butthey were out of stock (no pun intended). my grandpa gave me some money, so im gonna send in my trigger group to mike and get the trigger job. what was his # again? i will get you a pic as soon as i can.....

 

[mummac]

i don't think you will regret getting the mini over an SKS

 

[voruzon]

Come on, kid,

If you had everything now that you wanted, what would be there to look forward to? What motivation to study and work? So enjoy your little Mini-14. If you still want that SKS, you can get it too eventually.

It would sound to me that a perfect rifle for your purposes - plinking, small game hunting and training - would be a Ruger 10/20 auto-loader.
The ammo for it is dirt cheap. For the price of a .223 round you can shoot a dozen or more .22LRs so you are much more likely to gain proficiency in shooting that way. And it is only about $180, so if you shoot just 2000 rounds through it, it will pay for itself in ammo costs!
Plus, you can usually shoot .22 - but no other rifle - in pistol ranges.
Almost all rifle owners have a .22 weapon for practice alongside their "real" guns. It is more accurate than Mini at 100 yards. Israeli special forces use accurised 10/20 as a tactical sniper weapon.

Ruger 10/22 is a very common rifle with plenty of aftermarket mods - the same Hogue stock, barrels easy to change, bipods, etc. Ergonomically it feels close to Mini-14.

Check http://rimfirecentral.com/forums for info.

Voruzon.

 

[natedog375]

i already have an autoloading .22 (marlin 795) and i wanted something for coyote. when i said my grandpa gave me money, i menat for christmas ($20) since summer camp, i've been saving and scrapping and working in the yard and at my grandpas cabin. all of those upgrades are from out of my pocket.

 

[charlie d]

Hi Natedog,

Welcome to the club. I'm sure you'll love the gun. Here's Mike's email address. You might want his gas port kit too, to reduce wear on the gun and scope.

If he doesn't send it in his first reply, you should ask him for his full information package. He has a lot of valuable info there.

[email protected]

P.S.
Anybody know if he has a web site and it's address?

 

[Geno]

Im surprised you did not get the Mini 30. You would have had the low cost 7.62 x 39 ammo and the lightweight rifle.

 

[cajungeo]

Hey natedog. You will really like your mini. It is impossible to just have one gun that will always be just right for every circumstance. Thats why the older we get the more tools we have.

Anybody know if he has a web site and it's address?

Charlie, mike dosen't have a web site yet. You can E-mail or call.

 

[charlie d]

Thanks Cajun,

I just wanted to snoop around. I already have his port kit and had the trigger done by Randy at CPC when I had my 77/22 Hornet worked on.