Don't like the mini 14... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LaRondo · #1 11-02-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Fired one today, actualy I was kinda thinking about buying it from my uncle since he never uses it. It's 15 years old and I'd be shocked if more than 50 or 100 rounds have been through it. Looks like a new gun on the outside. Anyway the trigger sucks. Its dead at first than bam it fires. At first I wasn't pulling it all the way and was like WTF, but you just have to yank it. Mind you I oiled and cleaned the trigger assembly yesterday. That dead spot drove me nuts.

Next comes the weight, its heavy. Its like they stuck a tiny littler barrel on an M14 and called it good. Its to heavy for what it is, and the barrel is so light that it gets hot, very hot, very fast. When it gets hot good luck hitting much out past 100 yards. The group got lose, not like on the M1 Carbine, which remained consistant. Even after 60+ years and combat.

The stocks cheap, and iron sights suck. This one had a decent Bushnell scope on it which helped matters.

What I really disliked was the kick. Now the only other 5.56 rifle I'm used to is my friends M4. Comparing a mini 14 to the M4 is like comparing a Ferrari to a Chevy. Not even near the same league. I think it kicks so much because the freaken slide is to big and heavy, lots of mass moving.

Now I had my grandfathers .30cal M1 Carbine as well. Now that is how you shrink the Garand design. Very similer internals, exept on the M1 they got it right. Fantastic little rifle, very little recoil, accurite, easy to shoot. The shrank the action so its lighter, as the should for a smaller round. Even after a lot of use the trigger pull is quite nice. Not as good as the M4, but good enough.

So insted of the mini 14 I'm going to get a K98. I don't feel like dropping $1,800 on a full sized M14 or M4.

Just my 2 cents, I'm sure there are people who love it plus upgrades.

I don't think the M14 was designed to shoot very accurate beyond 100 yards. I fact, I think it's best accuracy is way below 100 yrd.

It also depends a lot on the ammo you shoot.

amosfella · #2 11-02-2008, 07:00 PM

I have a Czech K98. It's a great gun. I'm debating whether to refinish the stock. It's teak and roughly done. I saw a MN with a russian sniper scope on it once, but didn't have the money. It looked brand new.
I want a Russian made SKS. Kind of hard to find. One of the older ones with the machined parts, not the stamped ones.

rwthomas1 · #3 11-02-2008, 08:25 PM

Don't bother with the Mini-14. It just isn't good for much. No historical significance for sure, I think Ruger's intended customer was law enforcement. I've shot them and don't like them either.

If you like history and historical arms then the K98 is hard to beat. Check out www.mauser.org

Mosin Nagants are very cool too and cheap to collect. Never cared for Springfields, though, a bit pedestrian.

Garands are wonderful to shoot and I think they can still be had cheap through the CMP program if you are willing to do the dance to get one.

AR's are easy to build and much cheaper to do it that way. AR receivers can be had for $100-150 and then get a kit for the flavor you like around $450. Assembly instructions are online or get an Army manual for $10 or so. I built a few but sold them as they don't do much for me.

AK clones can be had for $350-400. Get a Romanian SAR1 (AK clone) strip the furniture, remove cheap Russian bar varnish, have metal refinished in black teflon, have AK74 brake installed and you have a very nice AK. I did this....

SKS's are cheap and not worth it unless strictly collecting. If you don't keep them clean they can and will slam fire, that is, go full auto without warning. Ask me how I know....

M-14's are great however they are too damed expensive. They do shoot very well though.

HK G3's are interesting but pricey for a good one. The roller locking mechanisim is neat but the gun is heavy and it tears the crap out of the brass. Don't expect to reload.

I like semi-auto battle rifles myself. The FN-FAL is my favorite. I have built 3 from kits on legal receivers but the kit market has dried up due to ATF changing their BS interpretations of the law. Still FAL's can be had for $800-1000 and the mags are dirt cheap. The history of the FAL is fascinating too. Designed by a disciple of the God of Firearms, John Browning.

If you would like to shoot an FAL or an AK let me know. I can provide both at my range.

RT

Fulcrum525 · #4 11-02-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

HK G3's are interesting but pricey for a good one. The roller locking mechanisim is neat but the gun is heavy and it tears the crap out of the brass. Don't expect to reload.

I like semi-auto battle rifles myself. The FN-FAL is my favorite. I have built 3 from kits on legal receivers but the kit market has dried up due to ATF changing their BS interpretations of the law. Still FAL's can be had for $800-1000 and the mags are dirt cheap. The history of the FAL is fascinating too. Designed by a disciple of the God of Firearms, John Browning.

If you would like to shoot an FAL or an AK let me know. I can provide both at my range.

I'm curious (And sorry if this is a cliche question) how would you compare the G3 to the FAL?

I might take you up on shooting of a FAL offer...

rwthomas1 · #5 11-02-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

I'm curious (And sorry if this is a cliche question) how would you compare the G3 to the FAL?

I might take you up on shooting of a FAL offer...

Its been many years since I shot a G3 however I remember it as heavier and it definitely had more recoil. IIRC, the field stripping was more complicated too. That said another G3 variant known as the CETME is quite interesting and worth owning.

I have two FAL's built with Steyr (Austrian) de-milled kits, one on a premium US made DSA receiver and the other on an Argentine Imbel. Both with the requisite US made parts to make them legal. I got heavy into gun building for a while and still have several FAL receivers and some very nice kits in storage. Lots and lots of oddball FAL parts, AK and AR bits too. Ah, hobbies....

The shooting offer stands for any forum member. RT

Hatterasguy · #6 11-02-2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

If you would like to shoot an FAL or an AK let me know. I can provide both at my range.

RT

My friend tried to buy a G3 but couldn't find one for sale, so went with an M14.

I'll probably get a Garand or K98, or both.

I might take you up on that offer over winter break. I'll bring the M1 carbine.

rwthomas1 · #7 11-02-2008, 11:19 PM

Tops the DSA build, middle is the Imbel and the gussied up AK. Eye candy! RT

andersbenz · #8 11-02-2008, 11:48 PM

The FN's (or as the Brit's called them, SLRs) always remind me of those "Be a Man Among Men--Rhodesian Army" t-shirts for sale in the back of Soldier of Fortune magazine.

amosfella · #9 11-02-2008, 08:40 PM

SKS is the closest thing to an AK that you can get here. Bastards have what are called Orders in Council (similar to an executive order) that have banned almost all guns by name. There are just a few rifles and handguns you can buy now. Handguns can only be carried in locked cases, and you have to belong to a gun club to buy one. And, you have to use the shortest route to and from the range, and you can't make any pit stops along the way.
Bull**** if you ask me. My opinion is this: they're only allowed to have it if the people are allowed to have it. The government gets the power from the people, not the other way around.

rwthomas1 · #10 11-02-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

SKS is the closest thing to an AK that you can get here. Bastards have what are called Orders in Council (similar to an executive order) that have banned almost all guns by name. There are just a few rifles and handguns you can buy now. Handguns can only be carried in locked cases, and you have to belong to a gun club to buy one. And, you have to use the shortest route to and from the range, and you can't make any pit stops along the way.
Bull**** if you ask me. My opinion is this: they're only allowed to have it if the people are allowed to have it. The government gets the power from the people, not the other way around.

That is a real shame. Thankfully we have the Constitution, its Amendments and the Bill of Rights. So far that has allowed us (US) to own lots of neat stuff legally. I have a bad feeling however that Obama will win and we will be losing some or possibly all of these rights in a short time. RT

JollyRoger · #11 11-03-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Fired one today, actualy I was kinda thinking about buying it from my uncle since he never uses it. It's 15 years old and I'd be shocked if more than 50 or 100 rounds have been through it. Looks like a new gun on the outside. Anyway the trigger sucks. Its dead at first than bam it fires. At first I wasn't pulling it all the way and was like WTF, but you just have to yank it. Mind you I oiled and cleaned the trigger assembly yesterday. That dead spot drove me nuts.

Next comes the weight, its heavy. Its like they stuck a tiny littler barrel on an M14 and called it good. Its to heavy for what it is, and the barrel is so light that it gets hot, very hot, very fast. When it gets hot good luck hitting much out past 100 yards. The group got lose, not like on the M1 Carbine, which remained consistant. Even after 60+ years and combat.

The stocks cheap, and iron sights suck. This one had a decent Bushnell scope on it which helped matters.

What I really disliked was the kick. Now the only other 5.56 rifle I'm used to is my friends M4. Comparing a mini 14 to the M4 is like comparing a Ferrari to a Chevy. Not even near the same league. I think it kicks so much because the freaken slide is to big and heavy, lots of mass moving.

Now I had my grandfathers .30cal M1 Carbine as well. Now that is how you shrink the Garand design. Very similer internals, exept on the M1 they got it right. Fantastic little rifle, very little recoil, accurite, easy to shoot. The shrank the action so its lighter, as the should for a smaller round. Even after a lot of use the trigger pull is quite nice. Not as good as the M4, but good enough.

So insted of the mini 14 I'm going to get a K98. I don't feel like dropping $1,800 on a full sized M14 or M4.

Just my 2 cents, I'm sure there are people who love it plus upgrades.

The M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine have absolutely nothing in common, there was no "shrinkage", they are both completely different designs. The Garand was a dead end design wise, while the M1 Carbine was one of the forerunners of today's assault rifles. As far as the K98, in the end, it contributed to the Nazi's defeat, not the other way around.

amosfella · #12 11-03-2008, 08:46 PM

I disagree Jolly. The K98 had nothing to do with the loss of the war. The Germans were massively outnumbered, and the fraulens weren't pushing out the kids fast enough. Per Capita, there were a lot fewer Germans killed than Allied troops.

Hatterasguy · #13 11-03-2008, 08:48 PM

The K98 was just as good as the Lee Enfield and MN that the commies were using. The Enfield has a little nicer action, but the K98 is a damn good rifle any way you look at it. Better than the MN.

If anyone had crappy weapons in WW2 it was the Japanese, all of there guns pretty much sucked.

Heck most of our guys had the 1903 until late 43/44.

The Germans had a lot of machine pistols as they called them in service before anyone else. They also started the concept of using light mobil squad machine guns to surpress the enemy so they could advance on them. In Luck's book he talk about driving up to the enemy lines on motorcycles or armored cars with MG34/42's on them and letting them rip as the infantry advances. Those same guys were usualy equiped with machine pistols so they could put down range quite a volume of fire for a period.

As one Russian said "most Germans had machine pistols and they were not concerned with saving ammunition. They shot at anything that moved."

JollyRoger · #14 11-04-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

I disagree Jolly. The K98 had nothing to do with the loss of the war. The Germans were massively outnumbered, and the fraulens weren't pushing out the kids fast enough. Per Capita, there were a lot fewer Germans killed than Allied troops.

WW II was an Industrial War. When the Americans were able to produce massive amounts of high-fire rate small arms, the German infantry found themselves at a distinct disadvantage and the bolt action rifle became a liability that contributed to their defeat. Even outnumbered, if armed with rapid fire long range small arms, one could easily imagine a more robust defense of France if German troops had been outfitted with the equivalents of Garands - and in the one theatre of war were the Germans had assault rifles, in the East, the M-44 was so effective the Russians copied the design for it's AK-47. Imitation is the sincerist form of flattery. The K98 was a wonderful weapon for WWI, where trench bound soldiers had the luxury of time to take out a man running across open terrain, but for the high-mobilty WWII, it's ratio of weight to firepower was awful, especially in the East where Russian tactics pretty much consisted of human-wave attacks.

pj67coll · #15 11-04-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

WW II was an Industrial War. When the Americans were able to produce massive amounts of high-fire rate small arms, the German infantry found themselves at a distinct disadvantage

True to an extent. The vast majority of German casualties in France, and elsewhere in Europe for that matter, were caused by allied air attacks and artillery bombardments. Not small arms fire. Usually when the allies followed up their initial bombartments they got bogged down against German infantry. The german squad was molded around the MG34/42. The rifle equipped infantry were really there in support of the machine gunners. So while on a one for one basis the semi-auto garand gave the yank soldier an advantage over the bolt action equipped German one - until his clip was out and the German could reload more quickly - it was never that straight forward as it was seldom a question of one on one, rifle againt rifle.

- Peter.

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