MINI-THIRTY OWNERS, PLEASE RESPOND

G

Grapeshot

New member
Sorry guys, I just can't help it. I have an incurable obsession with the Minis.

Now I'm intimately acquainted with the pitfalls regarding them, so no need for anyone to reply, "Get an SKS/Bushmaster/Armalite/Super Whamo-Blamo brand..."

With all this curiousity, you'da thunk that I haven't fired a Mini before. Truth is, I owned a .223, which was as inaccurate a rifle as is probably made in modern times. But other than that, though, the gun was PERFECT for me.

Since I haven't owned the .30 Mini, I was just wondering if anyone found it any more/less accurate than the .223 version.

Please share your group sizes, distance, how fast you fired, and the type of ammo used.
 
Ooops, ...

almost forgot 2 questions -

1. Does anybody make 10-round mags for the 30?

2. Can el-cheapo Wolf/Russian/whatever be fired in the Mini? I have seen differing opinions on this, and haven't figured out whether the Mini has a .308 or .310 caliber barrel.

Thanks in advance!
 
Grape,

I've owned a Mini-30 for several years and it's been a very reliable rifle.
It sure isn't the most accurate rifle I've shot as I usually get groups of aroud 4 inches at 100 yards, thats with Winchester commercial ammo.
From the information I've seen, the 30 has a bore of .308, but bullets of .308 and .311 can be used.

I've run well over a thousand rounds of the least expensive steel cased Russian ammo I could find with good results.

Hope this info helps..

BTW, I've never seen a 10 round mag for the 30, but the factory 5 rounders as well as the aftermarket 30 and 20 rounders can be found at very reasonable prices at the gun shows in my area.

Like I said, It's very reliable and very much fun on the plinking range.

Mark / FL
 
Grapeshot: Since you have an incurable obsession, then you have only two options: 1. Take care of the obsession with a little psychotherapy and perhaps a few hundred Paxil.

2. Buy a Mini 30 and get used to basketball-sized groups, poor feeding with aftermarket mags, unless you're extremely lucky.

The good news is that you'll never be without a good boat anchor.
 
My Mini-30 has never ever jammed on me. One of a very few semi-autos I can make this statement about. The best ammo to use is the South African brass cased, copper jacketed lead bullets as sold by Aim for $20/200. It will give 1 1/2 inch groups on a consistent basis. Try the 64 gr Winchester bullet in your Mini-14, it might shrink your groups in half. I have shot 3/4 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards with mine.
 
Thanks Hagar,

but I sold my mini 14. I do regret not testing it more before giving up on it though. Seems like I tried some of the heavy 60-something grain target bullets in it and it didn't like them at all.
 
I don't have a Mini-30 but just finished reading an article on them (in G&A or American Rifleman, can't recall). It says that either the .308 or .311s are fine. The Mini was designed to take both and from what I remember of the article what has is in effect a forcing cone that swages down the .311s. The end result is that it's not as accurate as a rifle made for only one or the other and using only that specific ammo.
 
You know, I never understood why they were so adamant about you being able to fire .308 bullets in them. Sounds like that option just screws up the whole rifle. I'd rather have a .311 bore and go out of my way to find the bullets.
 
My only experience with a Mini 30 was with a guy that was getting it back from a Gunsmith. I asked him what kind of groups he got with it He said 2in groups at 50yds. And that was with good ammo. I think most people aren't really interested in Mini 30's because there are so many SKS and AK rifles out there. Good After Market mags for the Mini 14 are expensive and hard to find and I have never seen anything but 30rd mags around for the Mini 30. I'm almost positive nobody makes 10rd mags for a Mini 30.
 
Grape, The el-cheapo ammo does 4 to 5 inches.. the 30 is not known for accuracy, then again neither are the SKS or AK variants using the 7.62X39 ammo

Mark / FL
 
Thanks gents

Actually 4 or 5 inches doesn't sound bad for a Mini. Mine with 12x scope couldn't keep 5 shots in 10" at 85 yds. and I got rid of it. Of course, I didn't wait for the barrel to cool down, instead giving maybe 20-30 seconds between shots at the most.

One big reason I'm interested in the 30 over the AK/SKS brands though is because I require optics on my rifles, and the SKS/AK bunch are not set up right for ease of scoping. I had an FEG SA 85 AK that I dearly loved, but crummy scope mount kept coming loose and I got rid of it.

Let's face it, the Mini Ranch rifles are set up pretty good for scoping. That may be the only thing they're good at.

Additionally, I have avoided the commie guns because I have seen far too many that require some amount of gunsmithing know-how to correct the minor imperfections that crop up. I'd much rather have a quality-built American product that has a warranty to fall back on. The only gun I'm seeing now that meets my quality expectations is a VEPRII, vut I've just about concluded that they are too big and heavy to have any real fun with.

I'm considering either the Mini 30 or an IAI M1 Carbine, and to tell you the truth, I'd jump on the Carbine in a heartbeat, "stopping power" be damned. But .30 Carbine ammo is so darned expensive, and that crappy Wolf 7.62x39 for $100 bucks looks mighty tempting.

Why there is no other American-made .30 semi is beyond me.

As for 10-round mags, apparently the Mini 30 isn't popular enough? There seems to be no end of crappy un-usable 30 rounders out there though.

Thanks for the help, guys!
 
No offense intended, partner...

...but I think your priorities are somewhat askew.

Why is it that you are willing to accept "lousy" accuracy from the Ruger product, but dismiss the much more reliable and cheaper-to-shoot AK variants which will be more accurate?

If you want a mil-spec rifle that you can customize with little effort and expense, get an AK-clone.

If adding a scope is mandatory for your shooting needs, why are you even in the Ruger market?

Surely you must recognize that an inherently inaccurate rifle like the Ruger isn't going to improve with the simple addition of a scope mount/scope package, even if it's labeled Swarowski.

Best of luck in your future homework...;)
 
Um, did you even read my initial post?

"Why is it that you are willing to accept "lousy" accuracy from the Ruger product, but dismiss the much more reliable and cheaper-to-shoot AK variants which will be more accurate?"

I'll be glad to elucidate, friend.

First, go back and actually read what I've said. I've owned an AK. That being said, they are not exactly that much more accurate than about 4" - 5" at 100 yds., which is what people here are reporting the Mini 30 gets. So neither is apparently a tack-driver.

Second, the Romanian/Maadi rifles are IMHO a first-rate second-rate rifle, the quality and accuracy being somewhat lackluster if not downright crude. In short, I think they are over-priced crap.

And third, the ATF just put an end to the importation of AK parts, so down the road the availability is NOT going to be there, partner. When that occurs, it will not be "cheap to shoot" at all.


"If you want a mil-spec rifle that you can customize with little effort and expense, get an AK-clone. If adding a scope is mandatory for your shooting needs, why are you even in the Ruger market?"

Yes, why in the world would I want a rifle with integral scope mounts and RINGS INCLUDED, when I could have the hassle and expense of trying to scope an AK? Even the VEPR II's had problems with their scope rails being off kilter.


"Surely you must recognize that an inherently inaccurate rifle like the Ruger isn't going to improve with the simple addition of a scope mount/scope package, even if it's labeled Swarowski"

I won't argue with you on that one. I have a theory that mounting scopes on them actually makes them less accurate. If I wasn't conflicted about their accuracy, I would own one already. Just wanted to see if anyone had an accurate one.



[Edited by Grapeshot on 03-16-2001 at 04:30 PM]
 
I have yet to see a Mini 14 shoot a 10inch group at less than 100yds with a scope. I've heard plenty of bad stories but accuracy could be improved about 30% if people paid attention to there barrel twist. I have a hard time believing that some Mini 14's can shoot 3-4inch groups and others shoot 10inch groups.
Back to the reasons why I wouldn't get a Mini 30 would be the fact your stuck with 5rd mags period. Atleast there are Ruger Factory 20 and 30rd mags floating around for Ripoff amounts but there out there. I don't think any LEO's have been issued Mini 30s.
I also disagree about Ak parts becoming hard to get or not being available. There are so many Ak Parts in circulation that there going to be around for the next 75yrs until everyone wears them out.
 
I'll put in a positive response for the mini 30 Ranch rifle. I really like mine. I have, or have shot all the "cool" guns everyone always mentions. And I would not part with any of them. In a SHTF situation I would take one of them over my mini 30, for hunting I have others much better suited for the purpose. But I really like my mini. Accuracy is decent IMO, though I find no significant change from cheap russian to good .308 ammo. Inside 100 yards I can hit anything bigger than a squirrel no problem even with the cheap stuff. I changed the front sight on mine to a short M14 style sight/brake and replaced the cheap and flimsy rear factory sight with a Ashley ghost ring type. I used to have mine scoped but like the others said it doesn't improve it's accuracy and being a High Power competitor I rather like using iron sights. The factory 5 round mags function flawlessly, and if you go through enough of them you will find some aftermarket 10 rounders that will do the same. I aquired some Thermold 30/45 round expandable mags that work great and are for those "blast away" moments. I was lucky and purchased mine a few years ago from a guy who didn't know their true value. They are rare and not inexpensive. The only problem I ever had with mine was FTF with russian ammo due to hard primers. A .020" shim under the hammer spring took care of that. After 6000 ( that's 6 thousand ) rounds I have had ZERO problems. I find it fun to shoot and ammo is cheap and plentiful. The caliber is large enough to hunt with ( at close range :) ) and there are several loads available to do so. Maybe the best thing about it, it's invisible. No one takes it to be anything other than some kind of hunting rifle. Which here in CA is a big plus when I forget it's in the car and visit a large metropolitan area. Even when I carry it into a hotel slung over my shoulder. Cops don't give it a second look for the same reason. I like it's compactness, and it just happens to fit me well. Recoil is very light with the brake I have on it. Much less than with none as it comes from the factory. So if you like the looks and feel of it but want something with more punch than .223 then go for it.
 
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