Looking into getting into shooting again. I was going to initially go for an AR15, but they are super banned in my state. So I’ve been checking out getting something similar that is legal.
Is the Ruger Mini 14 a good substitute? Just mostly want it for 99% fun shooting at the range, 1% personal safety.
Hoping to get some general advice on semi auto rifles and whatnot. Thanks!
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When I lived in California I looked at getting one for the same reasons. I only didn’t because work took me to a state where I could buy an AR instead
I’m a big fan of featureless ARs for California.
Yeah, it’s a pretty decent substitute. It can shoot 5.56 just as well as an AR-15, and there’s a theory that it looks less scary (especially with wood) than all those all-black AR-15’s, so it’ll hold up better in court. An AR is just better though, a lot of those banned features like the pistol grip are good. AR’s tend to be cheaper, since there’s just so many parts manufacturers, some very focused on getting the price down so they can sell more. AR-15’s have objectively better magazines, but it’s not a huge deal. Tbh generally guns that are better than a Mini 14 are banned if you’re in a state where the AR-15 is banned, so the Mini 14 might genuinely be your best option.
A handgun might be a good option instead, for two simple reasons. Pistol ammo is way cheaper, and you go through it slower, so you can spend way more time at the range. Prices fluctuate, but it’s generally about half the price for 9mm vs .223/5.56. The other reason is it’s way better for personal defense, since you can keep it a lot closer and pull it out quicker in your house, and unlike a rifle, you at least have the choice of carrying it outside your house. If you’re in an AR ban state, concealed carry might be tough. There’s some states where you can concealed carry as an inherent right, no paperwork or police visits, it’s very cool. Pistols are also almost never banned, unless you’re in California lmao. A Ruger 10/22 might similarly be of interest, for ammo pricing.
Consider training with Stop the Bleed and First Aid, and getting an Individual First Aid Kit from somewhere like North American Rescue. If you can make holes, you should be able to patch holes. Also, head over to your local gun store, you probably shouldn’t tell us where you live, but your local gun store will know the good legal stuff.
I’m going to the range with friends in a few days, we’re lucky enough to live in a state with decent gun laws. We’ve got AR’s, shotguns, a bolt-action rifle, and pistols that some of us conceal carry. We can manufacture our own firearms legally and easily. It’s awesome.
Thanks! I have a P320 Legion already (unfortunately). I wish I got something else, because on top of the obvious known issue of discharging on its own, the legion doesn’t have any safety on it either.
I’ve also been looking at a Tikka t3x, but I figure the semiauto is probably going to be more fun/useful in general. Maybe ill get that one later.
You can add a manual safety to your 320, it requires cutting a small slot in the grip frame and some minor tinkering. The 320 is designed to have an manual safety, some models just don’t have it. Lots of tutorials online. From what we know about the self discharge issue, it has to do with the components in the slide not the trigger itself, but the option is there.
If just you want to get rid of the gun, guns.com will buy if from you for not very much, or you can sell it on TacSwap or CAguns to someone else.
P320
bang
haha made you look
but no, fr, a Tikka would be fun too. I think it’s really up to your budget though, how much do you want to spend on ammo vs on your rifle, etc?
Though if you’re in a state where they’ve already banned a good chunk of semi-automatic rifles, you might want to buy the Mini-14 while you still can. Gun control folks won’t be satisfied while there’s still exceptions, and in lots of states the restrictions just keep coming, slowly, but eventually.
Great post.
We can manufacture our own firearms legally and easily. It’s awesome.
Where can I read more about this?
guncadindex
there’s also old books about making guns out of hardware store parts, e.g. the Luty, but don’t go build a machine gun in your garage.
guncadindex
Exactly! I would have recommended r/fosscad, if it hadn’t been banned. There’s a Rocket Chat where there’s a bunch of beta models that I’m in too.
3d printed guns, at least partially, are just so easy and convenient. It’s also super easy to CNC a lot of 3d printed gun stuff, which is awesome. After all, most modern firearms are mostly polymer, and PLA+ is the common mans polymer.
The older make it in the metal shop is still possible, you can find a bunch of designs, books, and manuals on Odysee. There’s even a number of modern newly designed metal shop guns. There’s some hardware store guns that are new, and meant to be a little safer than the old models.
been looking at mini 30s for the same reason
I wish I had bought one of those lynx 12 shotguns when they were like $350 and before all the import bans/my state banned everything cool lmao
damn this thing is sleek, I don’t even see a trigger or where to load the cartridges
Definitely a high quality rifle, with a very good reputation. If you’re in a place where you can’t get an ar-15, but can get a mini 14, it’s a fine choice.
Big fan of the mini 14, family has 3. Can’t get an AR so this was the next best thing. Best to get overpriced ruger brand mags. Mounted optics options are kind of limited
nice and simple, yeah.
it’s probably a fine rifle. i dont want anything that cant take a 30 round mag but maybe thats banned for you too
yeah i think anything over 10 is banned, along with pistol grip
I would honestly recommend a cheap AR and get you some wood furniture. Mini 14s are very picky about what magazines they like.
Harder to fix if it breaks and less accurate that an AR, other than that they’re conpetent guns. Pistol caliber carbines like the Ruger PC Carbine might also be worth a look as those cost half as much to shoot for blasting/plinking. The mini-14 would have more defensive utility however as rifle rounds are far more effective than pistol rounds.
pistol grip is banned too :(
Does your state allow fin grips/featureless?
I always wanted one but can’t justify the price. I think they’re very pretty.
CA i assume
