Mini 14 ?

I have always enjoyed my Mini but haven't used it much since I became an AR junkie. The guns are light, handy and just fun. The mini gets a bad rap regarding accuracy. I had to work hard to find a load that gave the accuracy I found acceptable. Three of my kids have taken deer with the mini and have a sentimental attachment to it. I have been warned not to trade it off before I pass on. I think there is a fight brewing between the kids.

If you want it and can afford it, buy it. If it turns out not to be your cup of tea, send it down the road.

Thanks for the information Gary. I have no idea what so ever but now will find out, it is a stainless steel model with the all important, for me anyway, wood stock and hand guard. It does have a telescope sight which will immediately come off as I just want the receiver sight. And no I am not buying a scope with a rifle attached.   

Snapshot, this may very well be a case of that dreaded I.F.P.S.

I gave this early one that I bought in the 70's to my son last Christmas.  He had a choice of any rifle I owned.  It's a classic with the wood upper hand guard.  Does it shoot with the best of the AR's......no, but it is the equal to most of the affordable ones with the right ammo, and better than any AK47 I've shot.  This is an early one like I said, not known for accuracy, but I've heard the new ones are much more accurate.  That said, mine was plenty accurate enough for me.

As a light, nice comfortable ergo-feeling fire arm.....it's hard to beat.   I'm betting you will love it.  One more thing.....it's chambered to shoot anything.  I've never found a commercial or military .223 cartridge it won't feed & chamber well....even Wolf........I miss it.......even tho I bought an expensive  Ruger .223 AR to replace it......the new AR style is about as comfortable as shooting a steel pipe....not my idea of a comfortable shoulder arm.  Yeah, its more accurate, but it's not as light and comfy as the Mini.....and I've never felt I couldn't put a shot from the mini where I wanted it in the field.

Pretty thing isn't it!?!

Bob,
The one GWS has posted is of the early ones. The front sight is pressed on which lead to barrels to have a slight bend. On can't tell unless put on a device to check how straight.

Reread my post.....absolutely true.....and even Wolf. You will have a ball! If it looks like my picture it's a classic.

That early rifle wasn't made for a scope and the work-arounds left a lot to be desired.  I didn't care a bit.....I'm like you....why put a scope on a fun "chase coyotes up a hillside" rifle!   Did the scope mount fasten to the flat plate on the back side of the receiver, or some other way.  I hope he gave you the original plate to mount back on.  If not ask about it.

I added to my last post about the scope mount after you answered it.......I'm a bit slooow posting...... Sorry I'm so slow about getting all my thoughts together the first time.  Also Ruger makes the 20 round mag I pictured.  Only use Ruger magazines.....after-market Mini 14 magazines will make you think the rifle is a PITA.  It isn't.....the non Ruger magazines are.  Ruger mags feed everything perfect.

As for a "bent" barrel due to the front sight?  That's a new one on me.  Mine must not be....it wouldn't shoot as well as it does if it was bent.  What I do know about the early rifles is that they didn't make their own barrels at first.  They had two sources.....one better than the other.  The bad accuracy reputation I heard was mostly due to one of the barrel sources.  They quit them and tooled up to make their own.  I have no idea which barrel I have.  Most likely the questionable barrels came in bad batches.  If he says yours shoots well, you probably didn't get a bad barrel.

Gary in my research there is a very small difference in dimensions according to the Ammo Encyclopedia it is only a 0.001" or so.

Gary, thanks for the research! This is one of the very few center fire cartridges I shoot that although I have dies for them I don't anticipate reloading but will be able to if the need arises. I don't intend to have a blast just plain fun.

Snapshot, I.F.P.S. has struck again. I thought I would have built up some sort of immunity by now.