Guilty pleasures-Guns

[Zuni]

Who loves firearms? I am looking at a Ruger Mini-14 right now and thinking of buying it? Anyone know anything about this weapon? Any complaints?

[commander bunnypants]

1. Just dont go shootin a tweety bird

with an elephant gun

DDQM

[Rashind]

2. Or don't go shootin' a tweety bird at all.

Guns are for home protection, and keepin' the King of England outta your face.

[DonP]

7. Please credit Krusty properly ...

"There are three reasons to own a gun. To protect yourself and your family, to hunt dangerous and delicious animals, and to keep the King of England out of your face." - Krusty the Clown

[Rashind]

10. Apologies...

I couldn't even remember what show it was from. *shrug* You can tell my memory was failing by how mangled my quote was, and the clever way I forgot that it was actually pro-animal murder. :beer:

[PurpHaze69]

9. and blowing away bambi

I LOVE DEAR MEAT.

[Braden]

21. DEER MEAT or DEAR MEET

I like to think of it as Meat, Dear Meat.

[slackmaster]

3. Spend a little more and get an AR-15 clone instead

I have both.

The Mini-14 is a very nicely designed and built weapon but it has inherent limitations in accuracy due to the way the stock and barrel interface. You can correct that with aftermarket gizmos like "harmonic compensators" that correct barrel lash but it's expensive and kludgy.

The other problem with the Mini-14 is lack of good magazines. The standard Ruger 5-rounders work flawlessly, but if you want more rounds genuine Ruger mags are extremely expensive. AR-15s take USGI surplus 30-rounders which are abundant and still around $20 for good ones in spite of the 1994 ban on new ones for civilians (which will expire in less than one year BTW).

[Tyler Durden]

12. Nice weapons, both of them. HOWEVER...

Depends on what you want it for.

Mini-14 will NEVER jam and is hard to get dirty. AR-15 and clones must be kept SPOTLESS.

If you are going to just shoot at cans, go with any good semi-auto .22. I have a Remington mostly composite that is fun.

If you're headed for the woods to hunt something, go cheaper many good M-98 Mauser actioned rifles available right now. I own two: one with a Redfield peep (1939 BSW Spandau) and one with a Redfield scope (1931 Spanish)

If it's a survivalist thing, my personal fave (and I own one), Remington made .30 cal M1 carbine. Good ones are under $300, never jams, ammo light and fairly cheap. Mine has flash suppression and a Russian SKS 4 power scope.

There are several .44 and .357 mag shooting carbines around (Ruger 10-44 comes to mind) with excellent short range knockdown.

Personally, I think both the Mini and the 15 overpriced, but it depends on what you want it for.

[Zuni]

15. I love Mausers and M-1 Carbines

I own a Turkish Mauser 98 and a German 98K, among others. I do not own the M-1 Carbine or the SKS, but I have a friend who has both. The SKS jams ALOT. It is fun to shoot, but a real pain in the rear because it always jams. The M-1 is a real pleasure to shoot, a nice light rifle with virtually no kick.

I think a semi auto .22 carbine is among the most fun guns in the world to shoot. Every now and then I get to go out to the mountains, and I take a bag full of empty beer cans and bottles and spend an afternoon with my .22.

[Tyler Durden]

16. looked over an SKS: VETO.

Cannon fodder for troops not issued AK.

I watched a demo where a Marine poured a handful of MUD into the mag of an AK, then ripped off two banana clips without a hitch.

Kalashnikov is (was?) a GENIUS.

[alwynsw]

20. Kalishnikov was a ripoff artist

All of the original designs came from German labs at the end of WWII. The plans went home to Mother Russia and were pirated by Kalishnikov.

That does not alter the fact that for sheer durability and dependability, Kalishnikovs and their clones cannot be surpassed.

[Zuni]

23. No, they were inspired by the MP44

But Kalashnikov's design was far superior to anything the Germans had designed. the MP44 does have similarities though.

[Frangible]

25. Ripoff? Not hardly

The AK-47 used a gas operation whereas the MP43/44 were delayed blowback. While it was derivative of the MP43/44, it was also original and innovative in its own right, which is why today it's still the most popular rifle of all time.

[Zuni]

22. I saw a special on the History channel

about Mikhail Kalashnikov. His rifles were the most used weapons in history for a good reason. They are very popular in the third world especially because they are so reliable, simple and low maintenence.

Only the Mauser 98 design is anywhere in the same neighborhood as the kalashnikov in terms of numbers produced.

[Frangible]

4. They're not bad

But kind of inaccurate. Depends on what you want to do. Can be a fun plinking gun. Can also look at the Kel-Tec SU16 or a Bushy AR15 in that caliber as well. Bushmaster ARs are really nice, just a bit pricey.

Also, to the first replier-- it's a .223 Rem, not exactly an elephant gun. :P

[Kolesar]

5. Can't we keep these gun threads over in Justice and Crime Land ?

I mean, there is a whole beautiful little subforum for guns, so--pretty please--take them there.

[slackmaster]

6. J/PS is for political issues

The Lounge is for personal stuff and fun.

Whether or not to make a personal discretionary purchase seems perfectly appropriate to me.

[Zuni]

19. I thought this was the best board to post it on

If these people do not like guns, they can ignore this post.

[Rashind]

8. This isn't a serious discussion, though...

It's more lounge-y. I dunno, I'm not a moderator and it's not my call to say for certain where things belong... my gut says lounge, though. It's not like it doesn't say gun in the subject line, you can easily avoid it if you'd like.

[alwynsw]

26. Seems appropriate to me.

We're talking recreational use of firearms. If it's crime-related, this would be the wrong venue. Since it's a hobby issue, the lounge is the place, IMO.

[FlashHarry]

32. Actually, gun theads don't automatically get moved there.

It depends whether or not it's in a Justice/Public Safety context. Remember, however, DU rules apply here, too. Everyone be nice to each other... :hi:

FlashHarry
DU Moderator

[PurpHaze69]

11. Don't know much about the mini-14

I have an AR-15, two AK-47's one Soviet made and one just like Osama Bin Dickhead has, one baretta 9mm, one 44 magnum with scope, one 40 cal. Glock, and one granade. Yeah, I got problems.

[Tyler Durden]

13. BROTHER!

1 8mm 1939 BSW Spandau WEHRMACHT Mauser, Redfield peep
1 8mm 1931 Spanish Mauser, Redfield adjustable scope
1 .30 cal Remington M1 Carbine, 4 power Russian SKS scope
1 .22 Remington semi auto with 3 x 9 Tasco
1 .357 Ruger Security Six with 6" barrel and micrometer sights
1 .45 Star Starfire semiauto
1 .44 Black Powder Colt SA Army

Yeah, we BOTH got problems.

[Zuni]

18. I got issues too

I have
1 Turkish 8mm mauser from the 1920s (a bit uncomfortable)
1 German Mauser 7.92mm 98k, not sure what year (better quality than the Turkish one)
1 Russian Moisin Nagant 7.62 mm M1944 Carbine (major recoil and blast--a real monster)
1 British Lee-Enfield .303 Rifle 4 (WWII issue) (my favorite)
1 semi auto .22 and an old bolt action .22

[alwynsw]

24. Issues?

I just bought my THIRD 24 gun cpacity gun safe! (It's full, too.)

Whatcha wanna hunt? I got just about everything from a .17 HMR to a .460 Weatherby. More .22 and .30 cal. of various chamberings than you average gunclub.

Did I mention safes for about 30 hand guns as well?

Yup, ammo gets it's own safe.

Except for the Mossberg 500 and the Colt Government .45 ACP that live close at hand.\, all is "safed".

Nope. No kids in or about the house.

[Zuni]

30. I am only 24

I just started my collection 2 yrs ago. One day i hope for an armory like that. then I will never be defeated. They will have to take me down like the Branch davidians.

[Zuni]

31. nice

You must really like guns.

[PurpHaze69]

27. Yeah, come getcha some,

all 4 of us could take over a small country.

[demsrule4life]

14. I have owned two in the past twenty years

and neither one was very accurate. That is my biggest complaint about them. If you want a 223 caliber semi-auto rifle to shoot for target or plinking I suggest spend a couple of hundred more and buy a Bushmaster.

[alwynsw]

17. GO with the mini

Ruger doesn't have a a\warranty, per se, but I've never been charged for a repair or adjustment - which have been very few and far between.

The AR-15 clones are OK, but not nearly as reliable as the mini.

WHO SAID FIREARMS ARE A GUILTY PLEASURE??????????????????????????

[GregW]

28. Just four for me ...

Sig P226 in 9 MM for fun
Sig P239 in 9 MM for carry
Kimber Pro Target II in .45 ACP for competition
Browning Buckmark in .22 LR for plinking

I detest the 1911 frame and only bought the Kimber as it's the best value for money while shooting league.

[Zuni]

33. You don't like the Colt .45?

It does have a bit of a punch to it, but overall it is good. I know someone who has a SIG 40 Caliber pistol that shoots right nice.

[name not needed]

29. nighty night bambi!