Full Size or Mini Uzi and WHY?

[Trenchknife]

Hi,
I'm sure this question has been asked before. But, for those of you who own both the full size and mini Uzis. Which one do you like best and why?
(I know the full size has the different caliber conversions. I only shoot 9mm, so this doesn't appeal to me.)

Thanks for the info!

Regards,
Kirk

 

[suka5168]

For the Full Auto crowd. The higher rate of fire will be the main reason. secondly will be it compact size and weight.

As far as semi goes it is, in my opinion just purely a cosmetics / I have one , if you dont mind the 19" barrel.

 

[lkblair]

Unless you live in WA where you cannot have anything except semi with a 16 incher, than just get the fulllsize.


You guys are lucky, I have the $$ to buy a SBR at the least, for now, I have to spend it on hi caps, and .357 ammo

 

[sofltodd]

I asked this very same question for my first post here on uzitalk.com almost a year ago.

That post is responsible for me being here today and being happier than hell at the choice I made. I bought a used Vector Mini Uzi and haven't looked back since.

My reasoning to buy the Mini was for the following reasons.

Money:
If I could only have one Uzi I wanted the one which I thought might appreciate well and would be well sought after down the road if I decided to sell it.

Appeal
The mini Uzi is just sexy. I don't know how else to say it. The feel of the mini Uzi seemed to "fit" me perfect. I really liked the side folding stock and the way it felt when holding it.

Rate of Fire
At the time I bought it I did not really understand the ROF as a pro or con for buying. I knew the Mini Uzi shot faster than the full size but it did not sway me much either way.

As I sit here and type this I think I could tell you the general rate of fire of a gun by listening to it. I like fast guns. I like the 1400+rpm the Mini Uzi shoots and I like the challenge of trying to pull singles and doubles off of it.

The mini challenges me and for that reason I do not see myself getting tired of it at any point in time. I may never get to the level of performance with the Mini that folks with Sterlings can but time will tell. There will be heavy bolts out shortly and also *fingers crossed* a 22 kit for the mini in the not so distant future.

Progression of skill and money
If you buy a Mini and you learn to shoot it well with the smaller size and faster rate of fire, when you pick up a Full Size Uzi you will find the size and ROF much easier to control. It may be a bit different going from full size to Mini since the steady pop pop pop of the full size is replaced with a little faster buuuuuuuuuuurp of the mini.

If you decide you do not like the Mini then you can always sell it and buy a full size with $500-$1000+ left over. There has been a pretty consistent price gap between the two for the year I have been paying attention.

Hot Latin chicks dig it
I happen to know of one hot hoochie momma in the south florida area who likes the Mini Uzi and likes to kiss the guy who owns it. On this reason alone I would buy just about anything.



Now all that being said...

I had the absolute joy of being in the company of amphibian and his very awesome family of Uzis the very first time I shot any Uzi in full auto. The first day I shot a mini I also shot a full size and a Micro and was smiling for days to follow. That day I competed with amphibians full size and within hours of being at a computer after the match I had begun to track down a full size to buy.

As it has been said before by many other folks here they are both great guns and each is different to shoot and has its own character. If you can get a chance to shoot them at a rental range or from a friend I'd highly suggest you do so.

If you have to buy before shooting I'd suggest you dig through the vast library here and stare at the pictures a while. Either way you will be happy.


- Todd

 

[az-morgan]

+1 on everything that sofltodd said. Sounds like we got our Minis at about the same time. I chose to go Mini for all the same reasons... except the last one... alas, I don't know any red-hot Latin hootchie mammas anymore...

Of course if the right full-size came along I wouldn't say no.

Az-Morgan

 

[bruce]

Flexability

To further confuse the decision, Troy at BarrelXChange@aol.com can make conversion kits for the mini in different calibers. Also has "heavy" bolts to slow down the FA ROF.

Buffers can be placed in the full size to speed up the ROF. Also, some guys here have successfully used mini bolts in FS to speed up the ROF. This requires a minor change to the top cover.

I would buy the full size, if that is your only one, because it has so many options commonly available. Its "chick appeal" probably is only slightly less, but that is hard to measure.

 

[amphibian]

+2 on SoFLtodd's comments.
Except of course the hot latino chick magnet deal. Unfortunately, I have no experience w/ that happening when I shoot.

I too prefer the MINI the most out of all 3 UZI's and as SoFLtodd mentioned, I have all 3 in full auto.

Everyone is different and for me I want a challenge when shooting and the MINI is it for me. I have to focus and position my elbows correctly or the muzzle will climb right away. I can't get lazy with it for competition or hostages are gonna get hit which definitely happens.
As Todd has said, transitioning to the full size is quite easy after a lot of trigger time on the MINI.

The last SMG match, I shot w/ my full size after shooting the MINI for about a year. I forgot how slow and smooth the full size shot. I ranked pretty good this time taking 3rd after a couple of the "pro's". I really believe the MINI has only enhanced my proficiency w/ the full size.

One thing I've always liked about the MINI is the folding stock is superior to the full size. With the full size, you have to take your firing hand off the grip to deploy the stock. Not so with the MINI. Keep your firing hand on the grip and slap the stock w/ your other hand to deply....This is how the Israeli's do it.

 

[mossad 1]

my start with the uzi was way back around 1973,the full size was around from a importer,L.E.S. in skokie,il.mike was one of the first to import them for law enforcement,i think a little before interarmco.which later became interarm's.

ran 5,000 plus rounds through that full size back then, doing demo's and such..........then around 1986 -87 saw the mini and had to have it.... been hooked ever since.

if the uzi full size is the good guy of the bunch!! the mini is the "bad boy" and the micro is just plain wicked!!

i am trying to add a micro to the stable now.so i can have all three........a sbr vector is next.just to say i have a vector.too many uzi's never hurt anybody.......it's not having one that get's you in trouble.wink!!

take care,ron

 

[Kedron]

I went full size FA by Group Industries. Cheaper in price to Vector but the ironic thing is Vector is using the GI receivers so same thing. Anyway, its much easier and cheaper to speed up a Full size than slowing down a mini. besides (guys correct me if I'm wrong) if you just have an itch to get a mini after owning a full size I've heard you can convert the full size to mini for around a grand.

Good luck. Either way at least get one

 

[mdavid]

for me the cost was a serious consideration, definitely the highest consideration my gal and I had. This was our first class iii purchase so there was quite a bit of learning we had to do. We could justify the 5k for the full size with suppressor but for some reason had a harder time rationalizing 7.5k for the mini.

The rate of fire also was a consideration as my gal is like 110# and was concerned about mastering the mini due to it's rof. We've since shot mac11's and this wouldn't have been a big issue for her but she's comfortable with the full size and I dig it also. We always shoot together and she spends as much time on the gun as I do; so for her to be happy and volunteering to pack the car for the range so she can go shoot makes for no regrets.....

 

[Brian Ski]

The rate of fire also was a consideration as my gal is like 110# and was concerned about mastering the mini due to it's rof. We've since shot mac11's and this wouldn't have been a big issue for her but she's comfortable with the full size and I dig it also.

+3 with Sofltodd....

The gun handles completely different than an M11/9. Much easier to hold on to and a lot more accurate... The M11 bounces all over and the mini if you lean into it a little you can lay down some serious firepower in a small area... Love mine...

 

[mdavid]

actually since then she's fire an m16 and didn't have many problems with an aggressive forward lean....she is able to hit singles and doubles consistantly with the full size and I love to watch her run around engaging targets and steel....anyway

however my daughter is 11 and she doesn't even like the uzi in 9mm. She says it bugs her with all it's shaking. She loves it with the .22 kit though.... she says the faddddthh is better than the chaka chaka chaka. She's also a big fan of the dr. optic (with amphibians top cover mount) and now want's one on her 10/22.