7.62x39 Ruger Mini-30/Ak-47 Multi Purpose Use?

C

CrazyHorse89

New member
Gentlemen,

As always I value your opinion, and would like some additional advise.
I had an AR-15 that I hardly ever used, and traded it off for guns that do get used (handguns). But I find myself with empty nest syndrome, and want to fill the void with a 7.62x39, because after doing my homework, the price of ammo and its efficiency are more along the lines of what I'm looking for.

Uses:
Hunt Deer/Hog
Self Defense
Light weight
Plinking (cost of ammo is cheaper than .223)

I believe I narrowed my search down, to the following:
Ruger Mini-30
Ak-47 variant (I prefer American Made if possible)
Sig 556 in 7.62x39

My Criteria are ease of operation, and the ability to hit a target 150 yards out. What I didn't like about my AR-15 was the complexity of it and having to take it down was a hassle (My opinion of course).

I'm not much of a Rifle guy, as I collect and shoot/Reload handguns, but I want a Rifle at my disposal if/when Needed.

Comments/Suggestions and opinions of all kind are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Crazyhorse89 :)
 
Rifles that chamber the 7.62x39 are only cheap to shoot if you shoot junk (wolf,brown bear Barnal) or corosive surplus . In addition they are not that accurate ,top notch hunting 7.62x39 is about the same price as .308 hunting ammo . Useing a rifle for SD is a mixed bag ,and over penitration is a problem in an urban enviorment or inside a home or apartment . 12 gauge is best for SD . A nice bolt action in .308 is going to be a better choice for target and hunting . If you found an AR15 overly complex to take down ,you would be better off without any semi auto rifle .
 
"Not that accurate" is a term that's often too loosely applied to the AK-47.
Compared to what?
A 6mm BR gun?
Or, another battle rifle?

My son's WASR 10/63 was purchased with low expectation.
It's a solid 3 MOA rifle, with cheap steel case ammo.

For plinking, deer/hog hunting at a couple of hundred yards or less, it's accurate "enuf".

For an accurate, "Americanized" AK, get a Krebs Custom, or Arsenal:

http://www.arsenalinc.com/usa/home.php?cat=9

If ammo cost wasn't a concern, or if you handloaded, I would have suggested the Mini-14 in 6.8 SPC. Abundant kinetic energy and knockdown power, and better ballistics than the 7.62 x 39.
 
CrazyHorse89: I think you may have also overlooked the SKS. I know you are not going to find an American made one. But a good Russian or Chinese model is hard to beat.

Besides the break down on an SKS is really easy. Just thought I would throw another option of 7.62x39 out there for you to consider.
 
7.62x39 is only cheaper than 5.56 steel case ammo if you use corrosive ammo (barely). If you don't like cleaning guns, I would avoid shooting corrosive ammo.

If you price new manufacture Russian steel case 7.62x39 and steel case 5.56, they are very similar in price.

The 5.56 guns (AR, Mini-14, Sig 556) are more pleasant to shoot, more accurate (2 MOA) than the AK/SKS, and easier to add scopes due to the modern designs and better ergonomics.

7.62x39 guns ala AK,SKS have more recoil and more inaccuracy (3-4 MOA at best) but are probably cheaper overall. 3-4 MOA is probably plently accurate for deer hunting inside 150 yards. The big downside is the difficulty in add scopes to these rifles.

However, there are new mounts being made that add rails to make scopes and red dots easier to add to AK that still provide a decent check weld. The open sights on an AK are very difficult to use at targets around 100 yards away. The Peep sight on an AR or Mini-14 is a far superior open sight.

I would recommend the mini-30 for its better ergonomics and superior scope mounting ability if you like the 7.62x39...however, they may have some problems with Russian steel case ammo due to harder primers found on military ammuntion and may need to try out different ammo.

On Youtube there is a scathing review of the sig 556 7.62x39 varient that was unable to reliably fire off steel case wolf ammo in addition to other various poor quality control issues for a gun costing over a grand.
 
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My vote for a New mini 30 and FWIW almost any caliber will kill a hog.

And FWIW any premium hunting ammo is expensive
 
CrazyHorse89: I think you may have also overlooked the SKS. I know you are not going to find an American made one. But a good Russian or Chinese model is hard to beat.
Click to expand...

Good point, don't forget the SKS.

As for your other choices, go with an Arsenal.
 
I have researched this topic extensively when I once considered getting an AK to utilize cheap ammo.

If you are dead set on getting an American AK, Century Arms makes a 100 percent manufactured AK using US parts for about $900. It has gotten some favorable reviews in several gun rags but lacks a chrome barrel which may or may not be important to you.

Another company, I.O. Inc. aka Inter Ordance manufactures AKs from newly made parts based off of Polish drawings. I don't know if they are totally 100 percent US made and I haven't heard anything about their quality. I'm wanting for someone to post something about them since they are a smaller outfit.

Most AK manufacturers import surplus old AK parts kits and add the necessary US made parts to make them legal to sell in the US. Arsenal is probably the best of the bunch since they import newly manufactured Russian SAIGA sporting rifles and convert them to semi-auto AKs.

The worse of the lot is probably the Century Arms Romanian WASR which is notorious for poor quality control (canted front sights, ill fitting magazine wells that wobble).
 
Your going to have a tough time convinceing a jury if you shoot someone in self defense with an AK . Some folks see an AK as a evil weapon good only for killing people. How about a 12 gage shotgun for self/home defense and a nice bolt gun for hunting,and a Marlin 60 22 for plinking ? ;)
 
It should be noted that I.O. AK's are not 100% American-made, and only advertised in a way that suggests they are. They are American-made only by the 922R definition, I.O. never literally says 100% American. Meaning, some parts are US-made, such as the receiver, barrel, etc, but there are still plenty of foreign-made parts like bolts, bolt carriers, firing pins, etc. It cuts down on costs. It is as American as the law requires for it to be called American.

This is no different from Century's "Romanian," "Bulgarian" or "Yugoslavian" AK's. Only difference is who they are advertising to. Some people like things "original" and would thus prefer an AK that comes from an ex-Eastern Bloc country, so they'd buy a Romanian WASR or Polish Tantal, since they are marketed by Century as Romanian, or Polish, or whatever else. Some people, are more gung ho about buying American, so they'd buy an I.O. because those are marketed as American. When they are both in fact a mix of foreign- and domestically-produced parts. Basically, one is sold as EASTERN BLOC with some American parts, and the other is AMERICAN with some Eastern Bloc parts, but the ratios of one to the other are probably about the same between the two.

Also, Century's 100% American AK is more like $750 rather than $900.
 
If you want to shoot the cheap stuff, get the kalashnikov. If you want to be able to buy a proper, functional mag cheaply almost anywhere, get the kalashnikov.

If you reload or don't mind the cost of quality ammo, and don't have a compulsive urge to own a pile of mags for every rifle, get the ruger.
 
I think the AK is a very good multi-purpose carbine. I would recommend a milled receiver version. I have decided to forego those long, cumbersome and heavy 30-round magazines and went to Hungarian 20-rounders. I also went with a mini red dot mount from Midwest Industries with a Leupold DeltaPoint, it replaces the rear sight. Small and unobtrusive I feel it is a fine combination.

The one in the picture below is not mine, but an example of what the combination looks like. That is a good looking set up.

AK20RD5.jpg
 
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Of the ones you mentioned, I like the Ruger Mini-30. Why? Because it's the best hunting rifle out of the bunch and you mentioned that would be one of your intended uses. The ranch rifle is made for mounting a scope. The AK is not.

In fact, the more I read about the AK, the less I like it. It's a cheap sloppy gun. It was really made to fire full-auto reliably. To fire semi-auto reliably, you don't need a rifle with as much slop as the AK.
 
I like my russian SKS. It's accurate as I am for as far a distance as the round will shoot well (and/or I can see), about 200 yards.

That said, I have a buddy that shoots way more than I do and he has been shooting a borrowed Sig5556 in 7.62, and he put that rifle on his short list.

The Mini14 is time-proven insofar as ease, accessories, cheapness, and durability. If I didn't have an SKS, I would probably have that.

Sorry for not making your choice easier....
 
Gentlemen

Thanks for the feedback!

Keep them comming, I'm reading every post, this will help me make my buying decision come next payday :)
 
If I were looking for a 7.62 as a "do it all" rilfe as you suggest I would get a new Saiga.

Yes they are made in Russia, but they have good barrels, decent triggers, and are generally a well made product. They come with side optic mounts which is a really nice touch.

You can shoot it as is or do the conversion yourself. Both are good options.

Jimro
 
if it was between the three I would go with mini 14 for accuracy or an ak for simplistic take down. if you are shooting corrosive ammo them the ak is the way to go. no matter what gun you choose the round is going to be marginal for deer and hogs outside of 150 yards. I have a wasr 10/63 that I've never even tried to really zero but it can hit a 8" steel plate at 100 yards off hand about 50% of the time shooting off hand speed drills so it definitely has the accuracy to hit the vitals but beyond that distance accuracy and penetration become an issue...
 
I have an I.O. AK-47. I bought it for $380.00 out the door in Ohio. Not too sure about foreign/domestic parts and all that. Mine shoots fine for what I have it for. I haven't taken it out to any long range yet, but I have no problem putting five rounds in a silhouette head from 100 ft. in a standing position. I also favor the 20 round magazines since they are just easier to manuever with/carry. Apparently the gun comes with a lifetime guarantee and you don't need to register or anything. I called them and asked about it and they said that if the gun has an issue just send it back for them to fix it I guess. So, take that for what it's worth I guess.
 
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