Mini-14 vs. AR

[LDB]

I'm following the Appleseed rabbit hole and going to a 25M clinic in April with my just brought home "new and improved" 32002 10/22. I'm already looking ahead at their KD (known distance) clinics, 200yds for rimfire and 400yds for CF. I have a couple of as yet unfired AR's, both 5.56 Nato chambers and 1/7 twist. I see conflicting comments on Mini-14 accuracy from Meh to really good. How do they really do with those of you who have and shoot them? Anyone shooting loooong (that's what 400yds seems like to me) distances with them? Any and all comments/advice welcome and appreciated. Thanks.

[gunman42782]

I have a Mini and three ARs, two in 5.56 and one in .300 Blackout. I have owned at least 5 Mini 14s over the years, and my current one is a 580 series. It is by far the best one I ever owned, accuracy wise, but it is no where near as accurate as my ARs. And my ARs are nothing special, Anderson lowers with PSA uppers. I love the Mini 14, but as Bill Ruger called it when it was introduced (for the grand sum of $200 suggested retail!) the world's most expensive plinker. I have never had the target model Mini, and it might be much better if you can find one, but honestly, for what you plan to do with it I would go with a decent AR.

[LDB]

That's what I thought, and was afraid of. Thank you though for an honest and fair assessment. I'm sure I'll end up using one of the ones I have. Probably the BCM lower with a mystery (until I figure out how to remove the handguard and read markings) upper that I believe is also BCM. The other is an 80% lower with a Troy upper, the Troy being supposedly fairly good as uppers go from what I hear. But probably the BCM. Thanks again. Looking forward to any additional input forthcoming.