Got my Hannibal starter pack…

 

I've got one of the early "Ranch Rifle " units. It's always worked fine withe real Ruger mags. It hits better than I can shoot off hand. No complaints.

 

Wish I had never traded the Choate Folding Stock for my Mini. May have to look into these.

 

I had the Choate on one of mine with an aftermarket pin on muzzle and bayonet lug combo.

The newer offerings from Ruger are neat and improved. So far my biggest gripe is trying to find factory Ruger 30 or 20 round nickel Teflon magazines. I have a few old factory magazine I had stashed away.

I might test out some poly aftermarket mags. Debating about picking up some other Mini’s over more AK’s now. In the next few years I will probably get both over AR’s that I am bored with.

 

I think if the cost was lower they would have been more popular.

 

The Samson folding stock is around $400. Kind of pricey. Nice thing is they offer them in stainless and blued, for old and new Mini 14’s.

With it being stainless, included scope rings, top rail, accurized barrel, threaded barrel, bayonet lug, and Samson stock it’s a neat package. But is around $1350 to $1500 street price. On par with a quality AK or AR.
I looked at it as $2K is the new $750 to $1K for rifles. Many run $2-$3.5K today from Sig, FN, HK.

I did debate between the Mini 14 and an M1A Scout that was a little more.

 

Used to be the "government model" MIni-14. I worked with a guy who carried his on and off duty. Not unusual to see him walking out of his house in civilian clothes with his mini in hand. I believe he did shoot his girlfriend's ex-husband with it, on one occasion.

As for me? Well, the A-Team never hit the people they were shooting at. I suspect the Mini-14 was the reason for that.

 

I have a Mini-30 that I bought during the AWB without understanding the, then, legality of adding a folding stock or availability of standard cap mags. Still would like to get a folder for it.

I'd like a Mini-14, but not at Ruger prices. I can't bring myself to pay more than low end AR prices for one. I'd pay maybe $500 for a used one.

 

I have enough to start my own A-Team.

 

The 16.5” folders do look nice.

 

I've enjoyed my mini-14 ranch rifle over the last 25+ years.

I've never rolled a jeep though.

 

I had one too just because of the show. I never fired it and ended up selling it because it just collected dust

 

I have several Thermold 30 rd magazines that have always been reliable in my older Mini-14’s. Those Samson folding stocks do look nice.

 

I might have to check my magazine stash. I might have some dual use AR/Mini 14 mags. They might be Thermold’s. It’s been years, but I recall some, or maybe for a different rifle.

 

I have a Tactical I bought over 10 years ago. It’s an moa gun. They helped em out a lot with the heavier barrels.
Never cared for the goofy tv show.

 

The Thermold magazines I use in my Mini-14 are specific to the Ruger Mini-14 and not a dual use type acceptable for other platforms like an AR-15

 

A few of mine

 

I got my first Mini-14 brand new in the late 80s for $350. I loved it. When we were allowed to start carrying rifles on-duty I went to patrol rifle school with it (late 90s, I think). I was one of two in a class of 20 that carried the Mini. I carried it on duty until about 2008 and was embarrassed to break it out and got an AR15. I carried that until about 2015 when were issued AR15. A few years ago I got really bored with the ARs, sold my personal one, and got one of the new Mini-14s. I haven’t looked back. Glad I did it. Nothing wrong with the AR15 but I personally like the Mini. Maybe it’s nostalgia.

BTW, I’ve been a Colt certified AR15 armorer since 2005, so I don’t have anything against ARs.

 

I got my first Mini-14 brand new in the late 80s for $350. I loved it. When we were allowed to start carrying rifles on-duty I went to patrol rifle school with it (late 90s, I think). I was one of two in a class of 20 that carried the Mini. I carried it on duty until about 2008 and was embarrassed to break it out and got an AR15. I carried that until about 2015 when were issued AR15. A few years ago I got really bored with the ARs, sold my personal one, and got one of the new Mini-14s. I haven’t looked back. Glad I did it. Nothing wrong with the AR15 but I personally like the Mini. Maybe it’s nostalgia.

BTW, I’ve been a Colt certified AR15 armorer since 2005, so I don’t have anything against ARs.

Around 2006 I went to a Texas DPS training/shooting class. They were just issuing Texas DPS Bushmaster M4’s at their Florence TX training academy at the same time (buddy who was a Trooper and Range Officer gave me a heads up, as there would be lots of ammo and firearms).

I brought my own Colt M4 and a Rock River, along with a Mini 14 Ranch. While I am very proficient with the M4, the Mini 14 was fun. I later sold the Mini 14 to fund some bolt gun projects.

Having been an Infantryman and Patrol Officer, the M16/M4 has become like a Glock to me. It’s good, but it’s just another tool/firearm that lacks appeal for me (and I work with M4’s and C8’s daily).

The Mini is something different, older, yet modernized. Not a true evil rifle, but just as capable. Only down side is there are not lots of universal cheap parts. But that can also be a plus.

 

Need you to do a review on your tee shirt! 😂

 

I picked up an as new Blued Mini w/Wood Stock from a friend/co-worker in 06'. He was selling it to get an AR. He gave me a BroDeal, for $125⁰⁰.... I WILL NEVER SELL IT. I am definitely going to check out the Samson Folder for it!
And I still watch the A-Team 😁 ....

 

I like the folding stock version, but I don’t have one. I do have a Ranch Rifle 580 series, that I take with me to the farm. Coyotes don’t like me very much.