So I recently bought my first AR15 and I love it. It did rekindle my shooting bug so I rooted around in my safe and pulled out my 189 series Mini 30 and a Norinco Hunter, both early 90’s. Both are in I’d say excellent condition and to my surprise the Hunter appears to be fairly valuable (especially for what I paid for it). I also have close to 1K of Norinco ammo, some steel core and some lead and multiple 30 round magazines for the Hunter. I gave up reloading for the Mini years ago as it was a pain chasing down the brass and it dinged much of it.
Anyway, I shot the mini and it’s still fun to shoot but also still not the most accurate thing. I didn’t shoot the Hunter because of it’s apparent value, it seems most have been converted to a Galil.
I’m in a quandary as to what to do with them. At my age I’m not concerned with holding on to something for another 30 years. So should I sell the two guns and ammo for more AR ammo etc? Sell the Norinco hunter and shoot up the Norinco ammo in the Mini? Kinda tempted to keep the Mini and throw on a red dot for kicks.
Just curious as to opinions -thanks internet strangers, lol.
Yeah I would keep the Mini 30 myself. Never was a fan of the Norinco 47s but that is irrelevant really but I would probably sell it off before the Mini but totally personal opinion. The hunter had the checkered stocks but they were late 80s and yeah preban. Don’t think Ban had much impact on the Mini14 manufacturing. Could be wrong though but think they stayed the same.
Here it is, so I guess post 89 ban and designated for “sporting purposes” and pre 94 ban. Has the milled receiver, Factory 386 stamp. Slide magazine release and the flip rear sight for 100/300 meters.
Thats a nice rifle. I dont think i’ve ever seen one.. or if i did i didntk now what i was looking at.. what are you thinking they’re worth now a days?
As for the Mini-14, well you can keep it or sell it.. they’re a dime a dozen really now a days, and hardly anyone wants them in my book cause they’re an answer for a question that is no longer posed. We have legally rights to AR’s now.. and dont need the wood look ar so to speak, just to pass the laws.. well at least in the free states of the US… and i hope all the states one day will have that freedom too.
The Mini-14 has an important role. It’s a reminder of how things can be and I feel like we’re already getting complacent again. It’s just a gut feel on the complacency thing. Buying a lower is no substitute for writing and calling your congressmen and Senators.
yeah i can see your point, and i agree about the congressman and senator.. never give up and never think theyll leave our rights alone, especially the 2nd..
I see them going for 700+. some asking 1,000 or so - of course that doesn’t mean they’ll get that. Condition and the hi-cap mags should help the value me thinks. Oh, the other is a mini 30 not a mini 14.
LOL, I almost bought the Mak back in the day but it was a little more $ back then and money was tight. I went this week and put the Hunter on consignment at a LGS. I looked at the prices on Gunbroker and was hoping to ask 900 -1000, 800 minimum but the owner said if I asked 800 no one would look at it. So I said let’s put a $750 tag on it and see what happens. Gonna give it 30 days and if it doesn’t sell I’ll go get it and tote it around at an upcoming gun show and see what happens.
He agreed the Mini 30 was the better gun to keep. Planning to use the proceeds from the Hunter to accurize the Mini and see if I can’t make it a better shooter than as it stands right now.
yeah ive never liked those style stocks.. if it were me id just change its grip and buttstock over to a normal style that matches the forward handgrip set. then call it a day.. I once had a tacticool ak.. and quickly learned the err of my ways..
I converted a few of those back in the day to a regular AK and a few to AK underfolders. They really aren’t bad AK once you ditch the hideous thumb hole stock.
but they were late 80s and yeah preban. Don’t think Ban had much impact on the Mini14 manufacturing. Could be wrong though but think they stayed the same.
