Wood v. Synthetic Stock Mini-14 v. AR-15 ~ Performance Showdown!
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Can the Mini-14 compete with military rifle accuracy? Does it shoot better with wood stock or synthetic? Check out this bare knuckle, unbiased comparison of the same Mini-14 with both style stocks, and see how it fares against a conventional AR-15. You may be very surprised.
![Why Won't the Ruger Mini-14 Just Die? [Part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EzyGl_w-IXg/mqdefault.jpg)
![Why Won't the Ruger Mini-14 Just Die? [Part 1]](/img/tr.png)
Take care of your health and your wife's health first and foremost, projects and vids can wait!!!!!
👍
Will do! Thank you.
VERY glad you are recovering well. As one 75+ year old shooter (and retired Naval officer) to another retired officer, GET WELL SOON . . . and don’t worry about those darn chores (you and your family’s health and happiness are precious, tilling the garden not too much).
I just love listening to old timers like GunBlue490 and Hickok45 talk. They're like surrogate grandpas for those of us whose grandpas passed years ago.
This was a great and timely video! I just purchased a Mini 14 on Tuesday of this week. It came equipped with a Hogue stock in "ghillie green" color. I'm usually not a fan of synthetic stocks either, but this Hogue stock feels pretty good; it has a longer length of pull also and it points naturally. I think I will take it out for its first few rounds tomorrow. Thanks for the video. You always have great and informative content.
Thank you. God bless.
@Duh ya think? I would say that it is slightly sticky, mostly around the fore grip, but not bad. It is a great little rifle.
Love the videos! As a 23 year old college student I had covid back in January not fun. Glad you are better.
Glad you all are better, good shooting and I can't wait to see some of the build. Stay strong.
Glad you and your wife are healthy again. Keep the informative videos coming.
Hello Gunblue490 ! Glad you are up and doin'.
The scoring was done a bit different in the U.S.M.C. than the Army. I'm Vietnam-Era, but was not "In-Country".
The Targets were in the Target "Butts". We shot at 200, 300 and 500 yards. One platoon shooting on the line while another platoon pulled the Butts down on the metal rails / frames.
Targets were paper stapled to large cardboard sheets which were slid into the target frame holders.
We would look for a hole after we saw dirt puffs or heard the bullet hit. There was an earthen and wooden overhang in the butts. We sat on a wood bench in front of the assigned target. { Probably safer in the Target Butts area than on the firing line with people who had never fired a weapon before. 🙃}
. If the hole was in the Bullseye area we lifted a long stick with a red plate attached ( like a "Stop Sign" ) in front of the center of the target meaning "Bullseye"! The scorer at the line recorded the shot. If the next hole ( bullet strike) was out of the "Bullseye" but near the "7" ring , we ran up the stick with the red sign, iirc, on the left side of the target. If it was barely on the paper, it was given the red sign on the stick on the right side of the target.
{ Bullet holes were taped over and the target was hoisted back up.}
If the bullet missed, we got the white sign on the tall stick and waved that left to right across the raised target for the scorer to see at the firing line. { Aka: "Maggies drawers" ( meaning large white underwear for you civvies 😉). Embarrassing for the bad shooters.
If the shooter or his Range coach thought he had hit the target, a challenge was called from the Field Phone at the Range Master's perch/office center of the range and he would call down to the NCO-IC in the Butts and tell us to double check that target. Usually it was a miss, but occasionally, it had hit the edge.
Hi Marine! Yes, that was pretty much the same routine in the Army, from what my old friends told me. One friend's range protocol was to post scores on slate boards that were pulled up a rail, and my old captain used field phones. To this day, Civilian Marksmanship Program, which I'm very familiar with, employs the very same old system of target butts and scoring, which they derived directly from the military, which is used at the National Matches at Camp Perry, OH. Shooters are grouped by threes; shooting, scoring, and target butts. The most boring part of my day is sitting in the hot target pit on a bench, watching noisy bullets strike paper followed by frantic scoring sessions. Of course, they use walkie talkies now instead of field phones to communicate with the range master.
I served in the Marine Corps as well. 2002-2006. Different times but the exact same method of scoring and range etiquette was used when I went through. My absolute favorite time to be in boot camp was the Range sessions, until final marksmanship numbers were collected. Semper Fi 😊
@@Shot_Gunner Hello. The Range time and the "Classroom" lessons taught by instructors, not the D.I.'s. at M.C.R.D. were the only good thing about Boot Camp. I liked the history class.
Howzabout the firearms parts disassemble and reassemble class? In ours there was Gunny or a Master Sgt. on the stage teaching. He then said:
"Do not touch? /Release? the spring (( ping, ping, ping, ping sounds of metal hitting the concrete deck)) ,,,, until I tell you to!" 🤣🙂🙃 ....and about 20 recruits were searching under the tables and benches for those parts that went flying.
Thank God you and the Mrs. are out of the woods with the coof. You are looking in good health and spirits and that is nice to see.
Looking forward to your videos.
Glad you both pulled through. God Bless you and your wife. Oh and thanks for this, I have always wondered about this subject.
My first Mini-14 was purchased while I was stationed at Downs Barrack, Fulda, Germany at a Rod & Gun Club in 1979. It was a wooden stock. Now, I have one with a folding stock.
Very glad to have you back, Mr GB, and with a video on a topic I've been asking myself without any first hand Mini 14 experience. Thank you! God bless you, Mrs GB, and Benny.
It's great that you both pulled through. You are a very articulate, knowledgeable and experienced shooter and, as a Brit, I greatly enjoy your channel. I really love that you take the time to address every topic in depth. Very few others do this. Greatly appreciated!
I have a Mini 14, birch stock, serial 180, built in 1976 centennial year. I've put a 4× scope on it, a sling, ventilated handguns, and unnecessarily, a flash hider on it. Though I haven't fired it much for some years, this is very accurate. I have a target from years ago, a 3 shot 1.5 MOA. Hard to believe, I know.
Did you mod it in anyway? I get 3 or 4 moa with my series 185
That birch stocked mini 14 really looks the part and shoots well. Blessings from Australia.
Your Mini-14 is a keeper with that wood stock and Tech Sight. Mine also has a wood stock, but it is a very early production rifle that I bought off a friend years ago. I installed the William's front and rear sights on it and kept everything else original. It is far from being a tack-driver, but none of the older Minis are except by pure luck of the draw. I' glad you, your wife, and Benny are doing well.
Thank God! We were very worried about you and it was a daily vigil looking for some indication from your channel. I even searched Google/UA-cam for any unwanted news. We are so grateful that you are well (recovered in this case). Welcome back and thank you.
Glad you both made it and very happy to see you back filming.
Someone else from Scotland too!
Praise God you and your wife have recovered. I have watched your video's over and over and they have made shooting more fun and me a better shooter because of your knowledge and instructions.
I thank you and look forward to future videos.
Your informative and well thought out videos are just wonderful. I want to thank you for your insightfull, real world presentations. I have gained a world of new knowledge from you over the years and I just want to take a moment to thank you very much.
I’m glad you’re back and doing good. I have missed you and Benny. I love my mini 30 with wood stock.
WOW, I am very surprised at the results. I actually have a wood stock Mini 14 similar to yours. I would have thought that the synthetic version of the Mini 14 or the AR15 would have won the accuracy contest for sure. Thanks for this video - much appreciated. RJ
I have a stainless coming with laminate stock.
Glad you are back and feeling better! Great video! I too, have found memories of the M16 when I was drafted in the Vietnam era. I had to go out and get a Windham Weaponry A-1 Government model to give me that nostalgic feeling when I take her to the range. However, I do love my Mini-14 tactical rifle, too. The only two 5.56 rifles I will ever need.
I was afraid something like that had happened being that it’s not like you to go without posting for such a stretch. Glad to hear you and the wife are on the mend.
I was wondering about Benny and glad you let us know how he is doing before ending the video. I'm also delighted that you and the Mrs. are doing so well after having contracted the virus! So many haven't been so lucky.
I'm glad you and the Mrs. have weathered the storm. May God continue to bless you all!
Glad you are both now well, I had a mini 14 with wood stock and an M14 in the UK before semi rifles were banned, loved them both the mini 14 as you said good gun great fun. All the best from Scotland.
I'll have to go visit my Scottish heritage one of these days. Thanks for watching! God bless.
What happened to the rifles after the ban? Did you lose them or were you able to sell them?
@@OdinsCloudI had sold them the year previous to ban. There was a compensation scheme if you had to hand them in.
@@jock308 Ah.. ok at least they were not confiscated without compensation. I lived in the UK for just under three years. I really enjoyed it and may get another place there again. However, i did not like the attitude towards self defense and the lack of English culture in many areas. England for the English first, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and everywhere else should also support their traditions and culture first.
Thanks for the many, many lesson over the years. Glad to see and hear that you and your wife have recovered and doing well. Pls stay safe and healthy!
Glad to see you back and healthy. I purchased a Mini 14 a couple years ago, a fun gun to shot. I put a red dot on it , but I'm a traditionalist I'm going back to the iron sight. I love the Garand style action, as tough as they come.
@glennfosberg8939: Congratulations to YOU! The Mini 14 is prohibited in Canada-which is ridiculous. 90% of the crime involving guns are committed by "Perps" using guns smuggled in from a different Country! So, law-abiding & license holding firearms owners are not allowed to use their Mini 14s anymore, and the government is planning to use taxpayer’s money to buy back the firearms that they ban, and there have been 2 "laws" IMPOSED by the government undemocratically. It’s getting downright depressing for firearms enthusiasts to enjoy the sport of shooting. Enjoy your Mini 14, Glenn & your gift from "Mr. Blue & Benny"!
OMG !!!! I was looking for this this exact topic today March 2024 before I purchased a New Mini.. I found your video. Thank you.
Welcome back! Bless you two! 🍻
Nice to see you came through Covid unscathed hope your did the same, my wife and I had it over Christmas and for me it seems to be the gift that keeps giving. I love the wood stock Mini-14 I found mine most accurate with the 62 grain bullet.
I hope you see this comment. I want you to know I learned how to load my own Rifle cartridges because of your videos. I’m 100% serious thank you for sharing your knowledge with the rest of the world!
2 year old comment. sir. have you found the glory of 25-06?
Very glad to hear you and the missus are doing well!! Was getting worried about you.
Thank you for your wonderful and informative videos.
Excellent 👍. My preference is the traditional wood stock mini 14. I'm planning to get one just like yours. I will be anxiously waiting for your outdoor living improvements I love doing stuff like that. Thank you 👍
So very glad that you are well again. We had covid for Christmas at my house. Been absorbing your Mini 14 videos recently. I am picking up my Mini 14 Ranch rifle in about an hour!
Hope that you have been enjoying your new rifle!
@@GunBlue490 I am. More than I expected to! Followed your video to upgrade the rear sight.
so good to see you back, good to hear that you and your wife are recovering and getting along with life again.
So glad to see you back and knowing that you and your wife have recovered from Covid 19. Looking forward to more of your wonderful videos. Hope Benny is doing well also. Stay well and God Bless.
So glad to hear you guys are doing well! As always, love to Benny as well!!
Nice shooting Gunblue. Enjoy your videos very much. I have the 7.62x39 version, stainless with a nice striped hardwood stock. I think it's even more versatile in that caliber especially for deer hunting. It's been a very fun and reliable gun to shoot with light recoil.
So happy to hear you and wife are recovered and healthy, God Bless you and thank you for all your help. You taught me how to load
I just love your videos sir. I
Have enjoyed them for a while. I do not commebt often but I just wanted to say thank you.
Great video. You sir are a fantastic teacher. When we were young we would never have imagined be able to use 'a flying device' to do a (real-time) closeup view of the target! Lol
I have the Mini 14 in blue with the synthetic stock (model 05855). I purchased the birch stock and converted it to a model 05801. There's a world of difference in the feel and handling of the rifle with the wood stock. I'll never reinstall the synthetic stock.
where did you buy the wooden stock ?
@@richardevans3084 I called Ruger Customer Service and purchased it directly from them.
Glad to see you and your family safe and well.
That's an interesting use for a drone, I may have to check on one or a remote camera setup. Certainly makes for a more convenient way to see the hits!
Glad your back. And you and wife are doing well. I love my Mini-14's. I think the AR will always beat out a Mini-14. But something about a classic rifle I just love. And reminiscent of the M1 Garand and the M-14. That stainless Mini-14 looks great in that wood stock. Great video. Thank you.
I'm am very interested in hearing your opinion on the SIG .277 fury being adopted as the NGWS replacement for the m4... I'd love to see you make a video about that because of your extensive knowledge or cartridges. Very happy to see you back and well! Take care.
Enjoyable video again and I am glad to hear you are both well after your brush with Covid. Best wishes from Australia.
Glad to hear that you are recovering. I removed the Delta ring/handguard from my AR and went to a free float handguard. Accuracy improved a good amount... I plan to add a nice trigger and possibly an adjustable gas block later just to see if it gets even better.
Good to see you back. Great comparison video. I really like the Green Mountain laminated stock on my Mini 14. I'm glad that you and your wife have recovered. Dominus vobiscum.
Dominos vobiscum.
Thank you for the interesting video. I am so happy to hear you and your wife made it through Covid.
Thanks for another great video sir.
I have great respect for our host and confidence in his results here. But my personal experience never favored the Mini. I owned two Minis- one old "pre-ban" and one late (2017) model. While the late model seemed to group a bit better than the old one, both rifles suffered from a widening of the pattern as they warmed up. Point of aim didn't shift much but the group size would slowly get larger and larger after ten, twenty, thirty rounds. My AR15s on the other hand never seemed to have that problem, whether they be light barreled A1-types or heavier barreled A2 types. This, combined with the rocking AK47-style magazine catch just made it hard for me to love the Ruger.
Peace and good health!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for your service. My grandpa served in the Marine Corp in Nam but unfortunately was killed in action during the Tet offensive so I really appreciate being able to listen to what other men from his generation have to say. I also like many people it seems had a Mini-14 for my first rifle and while I love the AR-15 and what can be done with them the Mini will always be my favorite.
Glad you are better, always enjoy your videos! Looking forward to the next one.
Happy you are doing better, I really appreciate your valued insight. I love my Mini-14 as well, it does 'just fit" a person really well.
Glad you're happy and healthy! I was starting to wonder. We definitely missed you around here. God bless
Great shooting sir! Glad you are feeling better. Had just mentioned to a friend that I had not seen you for a while. Now I know why! Best to you and yours.
Glad to see you back and to hear you and your wife recovered. I certainly hope y'all do not have the lingering fatigue we experienced.
Another excellent video Wayne, interesting to see the wooden stock out performed the synthetic. Happy to see you and Mrs Gun Blue fully recovered. Can't get a semi auto centre fire in my part of the world. I'm considering a Henry lever action [long ranger express] with a sixteen and a half inch barrel 1/9 twist. I'd like to have your opinion on a .223 in that lenght barrel. Good to hear Benny is doing well.
Glad you and wife are better my friend. I bought a Springfield m1a cause of you buddy thankyou it's a great rifle. Truly enjoy shooting it
Glad you are getting better
Glad to see you're well
GB490, glad you and your wife are doing well after Covid. I missed your videos. I love my Mini-14, bought a Ranch Rifle in '99, swapped out the factory wood stock for a black Hogue over molded synthetic stock and put a 3X9 scope on it. It's very fun to shoot and utterly reliable. Looking forward to more of your videos!
Always enjoy your gun insights. Most enjoyable and knowledgeable information on YT.
Great Shooting! I watched the Ruger Mini-14 bedding video and experimented with using small pieces of electrical tape at different areas to see how the bedding would work. It happened that the Mini-14 came with a Harris No. 14 Adapter that was incorrectly installed. After I installed the adapter correctly on the stock (with the tape inserts) the receiver/stock fit was very snug. Looking forward to see how accurate it will group.
I know this video is over a year old, but im glad you and your wife have gotten through covid. I had the Delta variant. It was sick for a month and had to go to the hospital via ambulance. Im much better now. Great videos!
Good to see you back, love the video. The birch stock looks great. Thanks again for the wisdom you share with us. God bless. 👍
I was watching a few of your videos this week, and became concerned because I had seen it was two months since you had last posted. Glad to see you back!
Glad your both feeling better . I really enjoy these videos. BTW . My older brother was in Nam 67 68 .... Marines . Walking Dead . One Nine . Thank you for your service Sir . Enjoy the day.
GREAT VIDEO!!!
I traded out my Birch for a Butler Creek folder on my 583 mini... I may change it back!!!
Your videos are ALWAYS great!
Hey Gunblue, glad to hear you are in good health!
In regards to this video, I was wondering if your M14 bedding series would be also applicable to the M1 Garand. I have a nice M1 Garand I put together in 6.5x55 (I have a video test firing it on this channel if anyone is interested) with a reproduction stock that I can't shoot in as-issued matches, so I really want to tackle accurizing it to the highest degree possible. Thanks for the content you produce!
I have the newer ruger mini30. Works great and even shoots steel without problems
Heard about your C-vid troubles a while back... glad to hear you are back to pumping iron :-) be well, Sir. thanks for the honest comparison video!
I'm glad to see the newer Mini-14's are more accurate than my first which was less than stellar with the harmonics. Sold that one, picked up a bull barreled highly accurate AR-15. 1/2" MOA, that's with a nice two stage trigger. Great varmint rifle, very heavy, you don't want to pack it too far. I liked the Mini, just needed more accuracy.
Minis can be accurized. I own the MiniTac and it shoots just as well as my old Armalite m15a2
So glad to see you back, take it slow and easy catching up there’s always the next day!!
Great Video ! Glad you and your Bride are doing better. I am glad you took the time to do a video on the much maligned Mini 14 and give it an honest review. My early 580 series is a very accurate firearm that has served me well over the years so I appreciate the review .
A target scoring drone? Who would have thought? Great Idea!!
It’s good to see you back very glad that you and your wife have recovered OK and hopefully Benny is doing well also I appreciate you sharing your gun knowledge with your audience and I always look forward to your videos God bless you and your wife and Benny🐶🇺🇸👍😎
Thank you from the three of us!
Welcome back. Glad you made it. vietnam 1969, USMC
Good to see you back.
Would love to see a video on your deck building process! Sounds like a fun video.
I have the exact same mini, it came with the synthetic stock. I immediately put it in a Hogue ghillie, gun feels amazing in it. I also acquired a wooden stock for when I feel like swapping. Love my mini
Where did you buy wooden stock?
Glad you’re doing better, my wife and I just had Covid, put me down for about seven or eight days I’m doing better now and so is my wife
Get well, friend. My prayers for both of you.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN MR. BLUE
Glad to see you’re ok. I have same gun in the mini thirty. What a beautiful rifle!
Nice shooting too! Better check yourself for ticks laying in the field like that! They’re out now.
I really enjoy your videos sir. Thanks for your service. My dad is also a Vietnam veteran. I also love my mini 14. I love it more after watching all your mini 14 videos. ⚡🔥👌🏽👍🏽🙏💙
Excellent video. It was interesting to see the remnant of the dry stone wall, I don’t have to go far from where I am in northern England to be in a landscape of nothing but dry stone walls which are still very much used & maintained. Regards Russell
Great video. I love my mini, but I now want a birch stock. I was surprised it shot so much better. Thanks for sharing sir.
welcome back, you were missed.... great video
I’ve been wondering why there hasn’t been any videos. .I actually caught covid to and it was pretty bad.. but I’m glad to hear you and your wife are ok
My experience with the Mini-14 was back in the mid 80s with a blued model. It was fun to shoot but the barrel was thin and it would heat up quickly and begin to string groups vertically. It did not fit my purpose so off it went and I never looked back. I also had a beautiful early Ramline walnut and steel folding stock that made it very handy. Leopold 4x fixed power scope. The accuracy wasn't there.
Truly appreciate your videos. Educational, collected and concise. Thank you for your service!
Very very outstanding video. great work. keep up the good job. thanks a lot friend. SC Navy vet.
I bought my mini-14 in the 1990’s with a full wood stock. Still in its original format. Dispatched a garden-eating woodchuck with it. Overkill, I observed ;-). A 5.56 blew it apart. Surprised me!!!
Thank God you feel better sir. I bought my mini for Y2K LOL. SO the 190 series was terrible accuracy. Worked it over a number of years ago cut the pencil barrel down to 16" flash hider, trigger work. Transformed it. Can't say I'm impressed the PA AR15. Wood fired brick oven kit? Looking it up now. God Bless you sir, great video.
Glad you and the misses recovered, once again great video. Wondering how many people got the Johnny Cash comparison.( One piece at a time). For those who didn’t check out the song. One of my all time favorites.
The Woodstock mini is absolutely beautiful. As you showed it is also accurate. Great job.
Glad to see your back, God bless.
Good to hear you & your wife are on the road to recovery. I am very fond of the Mini-14. Great comparison.