Not sure which one to get is the extra price for the axe worth it ?
its all down to personal preference, you really need to get hold of both and fire them, see how it feels in YOUR hands, you should'nt really go splurging a few hundred quid from the say so of some opinions of people on forums............
Differnces between mini's & axes, prior to the new minis:
Axe has a better board - think they are the same on newer models?
On/Off ASA,
and a better trigger - although
personally i prefer the mini trigger....
Tool less bolt removal
bigger frame - dont care who you are your going to feel the benefit of the axe, if you hold the front of a mini as you would any other tourney marker (by the reg - in this case board - with your thumb wrapped around it) your going to struggle ramping as your fingers are going to be banging against your thumb, so you end up with your thumb up the side of the marker, this aint an issue with an axe.
Should just point out, ive owner 2 minis and never had an axe, minis great little guns, the axes are a more all round refined marker, smoother quieter shot, slightly more efficient only gripe with empire in this day and age is the crappy barrel they supply with them both, although with some version of the axes you get a freak kit and a redline board (has a screen so you can actually see what settings you are altering) but put either of these on a mini or an axe and you have just about as equally kick ass marker. Without a doubt the biggest plus for the axe over the mini is the on/off, invest in one or something that does a similar job if you do end up getting one.
if/when you get one of these markers, do not waster your time/money upgrading the endless list of tat they supply for them, springs/bolts/laser eyes etc etc, unless your just wanting to add the personal touch to it.
re weights - doing it in pounds as its the info thats easiest available
mini - 1.99lbs
geo3.1 - 1.99lbs
LV1 - 2.06lbs
Etek 4 - 2.22lbs
Axe - 2.25lbs
DM14 - 2.33lbs
now on a full setup with a full hopper, your not going to notice the difference in the weight difference between all of these markers, unless your arms can be mistaken for a loose bit of thread hanging from your T-shirt sleeve..............