M1Carbine v Mini 14 

The M1 has a history factor that can't be denied! They make great truck or trunk carry around in rural areas

It's like deciding which hot sister you want to ask out first. The trick is to eventually do them both.

Gosh watching this has been a breath of fresh air. Finally someone knowledgeable regarding what the rifles intended purpose is. So many folks use the 1 MOA standard and to be honest I think that’s a bit overused. Great review , I’m a huge fan of the Mini-14 and the M14 and the m1 carbine. My favorite rifles. 😊

A lot of older ethnic minority guerrillas in Myanmar (Burma to us old timers) still use M1 and M2 carbines to fight the oppressive Tatmadaw. The M16 is more effective in many ways, but the carbines continue to have devoted users out in those jungles. They must be pretty good.

Thanks for taking the time and effort! The M1 carbine is the handiest and most fun rifle I've ever had the pleasure of shooting. The Army trained me on 5.56 so I know where to hold. The Mini 14 combines the best of both worlds into one of the most beautiful semi-auto rifles ever made.

Both are amazing carbines, love the old fashioned look, shame they are off limits to me in the U.K. as I would have at least 1 of each!

I have both, they both great rifles.

I Have Three M-1 Carbine, saginaw, A Winchester, A Rock Ola,A GP 100 Mini 14 Ruger ,Lov Them,101 Tennessee Prepper Smoky Mountain TN,👍👍

I've owned both. The main thing I like about the M1 Carbine over the Mini-14 is portability.

A most enjoyable, and information packed video. Nice work.

As much as I absolutely love the Mini 14, I'd choose the M-1 carbine.

I bought a Series 186 Mini-14, manufactured in 1994, in February. Since I had heard about accuracy concerns with early Mini's I bought an Accu-Strut and an Amega scout rail and installed them before sighting it in, so I don't have a before and after comparison, but what I can tell you is that my Mini shot a 1.5 MOA at 100 metres before I got run off by hungry mosquitoes, so I wasn't able to fine tune it. They say that the newer models with the improved barrel are more accurate. Frankly, I like the looks of the Accu-Strut on my Mini-14. Take care and keep your barrel clean. Bo Leggs.

The M1 Carbine was used by many law enforcement officers as a patrol rifle back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's. It was small light and minimal recoil. The AR 15 took its place.

The Max effective range of the M1 Carbine was 250 yards according to old Army and USMC Field manuels. But many shooter could hit up to 300 yards and more.

I picked up both of these rifles recently. My M1 Carbine, a 1945 Standard Products that I completely went through and changed the springs, used all new (old stock) bolt components, and lubricated everything. Muzzle and throat were almost nonexistent. The Mini-14 (in .223/.556) I bought was brand new and in stainless. So it has the latest and greatest barrel, action, etc. The results mirrored what this video showed. The M1 Carbine was far more accurate and an absolute sweetheart to use. I'll keep hammering away with the Mini but I'm surprised that Ruger has yet to erase some of the gun's somewhat shaky history.

It comes down to preference . Lov Them Both.

Light, crisp triggers are great for the range. There's no adrenaline pumping from rounds coming towards you. That's why mil spec is the way it is.

Nice video! Great comparison of these two rifles

Absolutely nothing better than a nice cool day at the range! Ok. Maybe a couple things, but this is a family channel ! Hahaaa. Love both rifles. I have a Plainfield machine m 1 with the metal guard on it. Love it !!!! My mother bought for me when I was a teenager. Still have it to this day..

Good video. I have one of the earlier Para Ordnance M1 Carbines. I lubed it and worked the slide about 400 cycles then cleaned and lubed it again. No problems at all using WW2 15 round mags. The 30 round mag was designed for the M2 carbine and has a 3rd retaining lug for it. Used in the M1 with only 2 retaining lugs it wobbles and causes misfires as it does in yours.

The mini14 stainless is in such a beautiful condition. Love both rifles!

I love both modele, nice video too.

I would stay in the elevator all day with THAT choice of music!

Def 2 of my top 3 favorite rifles

The biggest thing is that your Mini 14 is not the newer 5800 series the changes to the barrel make a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE in accuracy thanks for the excellent video

Nice... I had an M2 in USAF on remote site in West Germany 1965.

Almost everyone refers to the .30 carbines as a pistol cartridge even though it has always been chambered as a carbine. Very few pistols were ever chambered for it and those came well after production of the carbines ceased ( from original mfrs).

I have an M1 Carbine and a Mini 14. The M1 carbine weighs a lot less. Ruger products always weigh more than they have to. The M1 is easier to shoot well, probably just the sights. This comparison is not fair to the Mini, however, as you are shooting the old "Pencil" barreled version. The newer thicker barreled rifle is less prone to heat stringing. As for reliability, the M1's weakness has always been it's magazine. If I were to pick one it would be the M1.. Just the Weight difference makes ALL the difference. If they trimmed 2 pounds off the Mini, it would be more viable.

Good video, through my results are a bit different. I have both a Mini-14 and an M-1 Carbine (recent Auto Ordnance reproduction). Broke in the M-1 Carbine by cycling the bolt 1,500 times. Put a touch of grease in the charging track. Roughly 700 rounds downrange and rarely get through a 15-round mag without at least one FTE. Different ammo brands, different mag brands (including USGI) - same results. Zero issues after 500 rounds with the (used, but new to me) Mini-14 with Ruger mags. Maybe Inland's reproduction is just better. But for me, the Mini-14 wins hands down on the basis of reliability - no contest at all.

Several years ago I bought a 4 pack of unmarked stainless 20 round mags from Midway for my Mini-14, never had a problem. Maybe I was just lucky.

Love your 30 cabine. Really nice.

Really wish that these "comparisons" and "reviews" used a current Mini platform rather than an older model. Things have changed since the 180 series Minis. I can regularly shoot 1"-1.5" groupings with my Mini 30 at 100-150 yards with both irons and a small red dot.

My M1 carbine has never let me down, no jams, no miss fire, Great for house to house combat, and is a WW2 rifle, wan't to do 300 yards plus than do buy a Mine 14.

My GI M1 Carbine is very reliable with 15 round mags, but does not like the 30 round mags. When I bought it, the fit in the stock was loose and the 100 yard groups were poor. A new (synthetic) stock tightened the group's up nicely. It is a real sweetheart and very reliable.

I like the M1 Carbine, I shoot it a lot. I tolerate the 5.56.

I have both though my carbine is from 1971 Universal, It came with a plastic 5 rounder. It loves the 5, 10,15 round mags, and hates the 30. The Mini-14 Is fun too.

Remarkable presentation! Thank-you! Best to ya',,,,!

Dave, the accuracy issue you're having with your earlier production Mini-14 has been largely resolved by the factory in more current models of both the Mini-14 and Mini-30, but they tend to suffer from a heavy and gritty-feeling trigger pull. That's easily resolved by removing your trigger group and sending it to Accuracy Systems of Byers, Colorado, for a trigger job that will give your Mini an orders of magnitude lighter and smoother-feeling trigger pull which also helps to enhance the accuracy of more current production Minis.

Good video, I just picked up mini last weekend...183 series. I haven’t ran any ammo through it yet but I am hopeful it satisfies. I’ve had many a feeding problems with the M1...it is a finicky beast when it comes to magazines.

I have an original M 1 Winchester WW 2 carbine shoots and works like new great fun gun and very accurate my dad opened the crate in 1964 the gun was in cosmolene it came with 2 10 round and 2 30 round mags the bayonet a stock pouch for the 10 round mags a woven shoulder strap and canvas gun bag not sure of the production date but he said it was military production my dad used it for hog hunting very few rounds fired until I got it loved it to this day

My Mini 14 was NRA high shooter. She eliminated the center with a hundred rounds using iron sights. You made an excellent choice.

Thanks for another great video. That vertical stringing you observed with the Mini is one of the things I hate about it. I used to do a lot of shooting with the Carbine as well and it held zero much better when she got warmed up, even with that skinny barrel, as you seem to have noticed. By the way- gorgeous Carbine! Makes me miss mine. Peace.

The problems I had with the issue DCM Carbine were moving rear sight, replaced with Simmons Peep sight made for the M-1 Carbine and after about 3 years cracked a bolt lug changed a flat bolt for a round one.

For the thirty round magazine for the M-1 Carbine cut a little off the spring, they have a heavy spring and with the spring needed to be longer it is causing to much tension on them when they get around to 15 left in the magazine from starting with a full load which is contributing to jamming issues. After trimming the magazine spring stretch the spring some too, this solved my jamming issues with the thirty round magazines for an M-1 Carbine

You need to buy the tech site for the Mini-14 for your particular weapon it will look just like the M1A or M14 sight you will definitely like it

I saw a test of the M1 Carbine. It made a small hole going in but a huge exit hole.

Oakdale Gun Club..... Lake Elmo Mn.......... I was a member there from 95 to 2015......Great Place to Shoot !!!!👍👍👍 I'm not in Minnesota anymore.....I miss that Gun Range...😢

Actually, it's chambered for the .556 and handles the .223. If chamber for a .223 the pressure of a .556 round could damage the weapon. ;)

Good video David, and the results you've shown here for the Ruger bears out what I've heard,..that there are better ( more accurate ) shooting rifles out there than this one. I am not surprised at the grouping you got with the M1 in .30 cal. Enjoyable to watch, Thank you.

As far as effective range between 5.56 nato and us cal .30 M1, ballistics of the carbine are more energy downrange up to about 200 yards where the 5.56 just starts to pull ahead. Effective range on the carbine is 250-300 yards, about 100-150 yards less than the 5.56. The M1 carbine is a better PdW than the AR platform, as there is not an AR platform that I have seen that is as light as the M1 carbine. I have owned mini 14’s and I prefer the M1 carbine. If I wanted longer downrange effectiveness, then one really has to upsize cartridge and bullet weight to at least .270 Winchester, 6.5x55 Swedish, or .308. At most common effective engagement ranges the M1 carbine in my opinion is hard to beat. Great video overall! Thanks for posting.

Onwed a bunch of both and sold all of my minis. M1 carbine and ruger deerfields are my choices of bush guns

Had them both loved them both.

I have 2 30 round mags for the M1 Carbine, both function flawlessly.

I sold my mini-14 and mini 30....wish i had held on to them. My mini 14 was the newer version with the much thicker barrel...but would severely open up groups after it heated up.....put a heat sink on it and it improved immensely. My M1 is still at my FFL waiting for my 4473 to clear. Cant wait to shoot it.

I have a I.A.I 30 carbine assembled in Houston Texas from G.I. parts it's a tack driver at 100 to 150 yards but it does not like the 30 round mags. Also have a stainless mini14 186 mod. I put an accu-strut on it and aftermarket sights and it is also a tack driver haven't brought it out past 200 yards but a 200 it is a 1.5 to 2 Inch shooter so plenty accurate for me and I have used 30 round aftermarket mags from original equipment and haven't had and feed problems

Oh Yeah !!! Have used both the 30 cal M-1 Carbine and Ruger Mini-14.....Fun Guns...!!!

I've owned both. After putting them head to head, I sold the mini14. I love my "war baby"!!! It's my primary home defense weapon! 110 grain soft point bullet, 15 & 30 rd mags. Choate folding stock. It's perfect!!!

Hi, have you ever compared the older mini like yours, (I assume 278 series) to the newer 580 series? It’s a pretty big difference. I installed a harmonic stabilizing rod on mine, giving it the appearance of an M-14’s gas rod extension housing, however the reason for installing is to ensure slightly better groupings. It worked. I also installed Wolff extra power chrome silicon springs, extended magazine release lever, Hoague stock, I fabricated my own brass deflector/picatinny rail, so I could low mount a Nikon 4-16 Active Target Scope, and an Ultimak Rail. Mine (580-1) is the variant without the bird cage on the end of the muzzle but since I’m stuck in a blue state for 5 more years that’s ok. I learned from an older gunsmith than myself how to tune the Mini-14’s trigger and bring it down to 3 pounds crisp. One thing anybody can do is use polishing compound and felt pencil tip shaped wheels on a dremel to polish out the mating surfaces on a mini-14, clean with rubbing alcohol before and after and re-lubricate/grease and that will take out some of the grit. Oh, let me add, I understand Lancer Magazines (new kid on the block) has a mini-14/30 magazine either already out or in the works. Lancer Magazines have a steel top end mated/molded to a composite body in the manufacturing process. Supposed to be able to drive a car on top and it won’t deform…

I put a red dot, light and laser on my Auto Ordinance Carbine, it added a lot of weight, but it's a real dinger at 300 yard. Plus it is a blast to shoot. My friends all love it. With a bayonet installed it looks very modern and deadly. At one point I temporarily even put a bipod 😂 on it. Rarely has a performance issue.

I love my postal meter carbine. I can hit anything I can see.

I bought my first mini14, because they said it was similar to the M14, (without saying my age) I trained with, it wasn't, but I got hooked on the mini, a great rifle.

Mini-14 has a great reputation for feeding ammo and mechanical function. Several different companies made the m1 carbine. I’m sure if Ruger made m1’s they would function better. You can get mixed results with m1’s. Mini-14’s are way more consistent across the board. Mini-14 has no combat history with US military. M1 does with all due respect. Playing musical chairs with history. Mini14!

The .30 carbine is the original intermediate cartridge. It’s effective out to 330 yards, and has as much energy at 100 as a .357 at the muzzle. Underwood has some incredible solid copper ammo that leaves unbelievable wound channels and deeply penetrates without mushrooming. It’s just not as fast and flat shooting as the .223.

2 of my favorite firearms

My Mini-14, a 583, has double feed ramps. It has been really reliable. I have had 2-3 stoppages in over 2k rounds and the gun hadn’t been fired in a long time and was dry. I also have rarely taken the gun down fully for cleaning. Just lube (grease) with a wipe down of CLP and a bore snake. It runs. It also throws the brass over 30’ sometimes. The self cleaning gas piston is robust. I hear ppl say it isn’t as reliable as an AKM or M4, but that has not been my experience. It lubed it runs great. Also I have a bunch of Ruger 20 and 30 round mags and some 10 round Pro Mags and a 5 rounder for hunting. No issues with mags as of yet. I don’t like the ghost ring sight on the 583 with the set screws. Tightening the set screw moved the ghost ring so it took me a long time to zero it and I never want to touch it again. You can’t really test a pencil barrel Mini for accuracy. That’s self abuse. The 580 or better is a different animal. A little better than AK accuracy in my case. Best case 2” and 100 scoped, 3” all day. Meh but passable accuracy. Most types of military rifles including FAL’s, Aug’s, AKM’s are in that bracket, so for combat accuracy it is fine. I can hit steel at 300 yards at my club all day with mine. I have not shot an M1 carbine so I can’t speak to how that would work out. I do know the ballistics of the M1 are a little better than a hot .357. So I’d imagine the drop is much worse. Anyway, would I trust my Mini to save my life? Absolutely with out a moment's hesitation. In practical shooting is it as precise as my AR-15? Maybe not if you're shooting from a rest at paper at 100 yards, but not by much depending on you. Would you notice it in tactical combat shooting at realistic distances out to 200 yards? Probably not. (I have an optic mounted.)

73 years my M1 has been reliable. Grease it up, original mags and fmj ammo. 100% every time.

Both will get the job done!

Don't know why people keep comparing older Mini 14s to other rifles, yeah the mag mechanics aren't the best but the barrel has been vastly improved.

Impressive results from your 30 carbine. If you were to experiment with a few different types of ammo and shoot it from a lead sled I'd bet the groups would shrink dramatically. Add a scope or a red dot and it should be even easier to get some really great groups. I have nothing against the Mini14. It just often needs a little help in order to keep the accuracy consistent. The target model Ruger produces addresses this and they really shoot well.

Just FYI, the 30 Carbine cartridge is neither fish nor fowl, pistol or rifle cartridge, it was designed as an "intermediate" cartridge, whatever that means. The entire cartridge/carbine platform was designed to replace the pistol to give "non-combat" type troops that still needed a weapon a range and accuracy advantage over a pistol. Another fact I just learned recently is that according to the U.S. Army since it started issuing semi-auto/auto rifles with the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M14, and M16, the M1 Carbine is statistically the most reliable of the weapons with more round fired between malfunctions than any of the others.

I feel like a big problem with the mini 14 besides the thin barrel is the chonky front sight. I think the M1 is still a better rifle but you can get a used ranch rifle in the $5-600 where the M1 commands a higher premium. Good video! Still very much want an M1 carbine but not unhappy with my own mini 14.

There's a reason this piece (M1 Carbine) came with oil and a place to get at it fastkilokn...this piece was made to be operated wet with oil😉👍 Beautiful piece... Thinking I must of had one in a previous life...?😎👍👍

I have both … a 580 Ruger Mini14 and a rearsenaled carbine … lots of fun and both are accurate, reliable, and comfortable to shoot. My two favorite rifles ( and I jave have an 03 Springfield and a Garand!).

I’m for the M1 carbine. Audie Murphy!!

Looks like an early mini. They are notorious for opening up when they heat up. But its an easy fix, at least on mine, with the accu strut.

I absolutely believe that the mini needs a different rear sight also

Hey drake enjoyed the video , just a suggestion try the "True Shot Technology " accu strut on the mini 14 it does away with barrel whip .

I love M2 carbine my father's favorite rifle. It's handy but accurate

Buy both. I prefer my Standard Products WWII MI carbine. It's battle tested. But that doesn't diminish the Mini 14.

my 30 caliber carbine has bavaria rural police stamped next to chamber slide area....best i understand some were issued to bavaria rural police after the war.....works great....have owned the carbine for about 50 years.....

That mag was overloaded at 29 rounds. I believe it is actually a 25 round magazine.

When you first showed the 30 rd mag loaded I could teal that it was loaded screwed up by the way the bullets were sitting. I wish I never sold my m1 . It was a surplus weapon that I never had any issues with.

Every Carbine came with an oiler. I have never seen a reviewer use an oiler.

On my 183 series mini I replaced the rear sight and added a strut on my barrel and my groups at 100 yards improved significantly, from 4 to 5 inch groups to 2 and 3 inch groups consistently with off hand shooting, no bag…

I love my Mini 14, 30, M1 Carbine, Pistol and Revolver.

Old model Mini14s groups are cut in half with muzzle brakes. I didn't believe it, but tried on several. It's true.

The Mini -14 was originally conceived to meet an Air Force requirement to replace the M-1 Carbine in Air Police service. Ruger didn't have it ready in time to submit and the AR-15 won out. The concept was to have a rifle and carbine which were ergonomically identical. M-14 for the rifle, Mini - 14 for the Carbine. Had the AR-10 been adopted, we would have had the same ergonomic compatibility in rifle and carbine as well

An added plus on breaking in the Me carbine is strengthening your grip and forearm.

I own both of these rifles as well as the M1 Rifle. The carbine was the AR-15 of the day. In some ways better. If you have a trained man, hand 'em a M1 carbine and say 3 bandoleers, he has 300 rounds of ammo in 10 round stripper clips. It takes me about 5 seconds to load 30 rounds. It's ready to go again. With the AR or Mini? You'd better have another mag ready or you're down. As long as I can see you, you're probably hit. So 200 yards is no problem and It'll be enough for a kill. At 100 yards it has as much energy as a 357 magnum at the muzzle. The Koreans used them until recently. One of the best carbines of all time. It's also a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. As long as you can get the ammo. The Mini is also an awesome rifle. Between the M1 rifle and the Mini-14? I'd take the Mini. The M1 rifle is heavy and the ammo is heavier. A lot heavier than the 223. They both have very good actions. They won't let you down. Just make sure it has grease. Yes, grease. Not a whole lot. The M1s they used to use axle grease. I also use axle grease in the WW II era P38 and it works a lot better. Oil isn't enough. Better than nothing, however you want grease to hold it there. Change it out every year or it'll get hard.

Lovin' this video!

Yup, very objective, honest review, well done. Probably need a tie-tac microphone on your collar for narration on the shooting range. Apart from that, very discerning, comprehensive review, and love your matter of fact and down to earth calm personality!! Have subscribed!

I prefer the carbine m1. Easy to use and accurate, very handy.

My father whom a soldier used to have the M! carbine made in forged steel and with hard wood body and handle, but I think he sells it to his fellow soldier. I still have in poseison the original 15 rounder Magazine with 7 bullets on t. Whew I miss that gun when I was a child just holding it with original a world war 2 helmet on my head just posing and mimicking like a real soldier. The Popular TV Show "Combat " featuring VIC Morrow shown in the Philippines makes me interested when I was a Child always watching it , which my father also favorite TV show that very long long past years I can rememeber until on.

Yep, most 30 round M1/M2 Carbine mags will cause feeding problems. I have a number of those, and never was able to improve by hand fitting. Friend of mine who used an M2 in early Vietnam said the 30 rounders worked in full auto fairly well, but would jam badly in semi-auto. I use only original GI issue 15 round mags, and have no feeding problems. The original GI mags were made as throwaways, but they can be refilled a lot of times.

...the Ruger mini can be had in 556 (223), 300 BLK, and 7.62x39 off the shelf, but can be custom in so may different cartridges such as 6.5 grendel, 6.8 SPC, and now 6mm ARC (maybe the best). and is easier to put on an optic...the M1 carbine is a good cartridge for it's limitations...I would wish a machined M1 carbine like receiver for the Ruger mini for a smaller footprint, using AR mags...the stock mini's barrel is too thin so much barrel whip, and heats up faster (more powder, and faster-hotter burning powder)r so greater down range dispersion of the bullets...

Great job.

Audie Murphy was using Garand, Tommygun and MG42 in the movie "To Hell and back.

I have a 585 series mini 30 and wouldn't trade it for anything. I can hit a basketball at 500 yards every shot with open iron sights. Fantastic ruger. Oh one thing. Must use american brass, no tula wolf golden tiger or red army standard foreign ammo unless you put harder hitting firing pin and spring

Like others, have and love them both. Well…. Ok, LOVE the Carbine and only love the mini. 5 gal bucket has no chance at 280yds with the Carbine, very predictable rifle, perfect reliability and somewhat important, the more “shootable” rifle. The mini can be a bit intimidating .002 seconds after pulling that trigger due the time compressing muzzle blast when compared to The Carbine. You did the work, great video! I would NOT feel under equipped if armed with the little M1.

Great video