Mini-30 and Ammo

[MissouriCrowinMass]

I picked up a real nice Mini-30 used. I took it out for the 1st time on Sunday with some TULA 6.62x39. I got about 20% FTF's. The Mini-30 was putting what I thought was a good dent in the primer......can I assume that it was the Tula Ammo?

Also, the two 5-shot mags I had were jamming on the 1st round. I polished them up last night.

Anybody have similar issues with the Mini-30 and Ammo or Mags?

Thanks,

MC

 

[wingman]

I've owned a Mini-30 for years no failures to this point however I've used only brass ammo plus reloads. IMO a lot of poor 762-39 commercial ammo either with feeding and or accuracy, but I'm sure others will give you a variety of opinions on the subject.

 

[Double Vision]

You should get better results with surplus brass ammo like the Yugo that is available.
Good luck with your Thirty, they are a lot of fun.

 

[almherdfan]

I had problems with Tula ammo, some boxes were more then 50% FTF. I replaced the hammer spring with a wolffe extra power spring and now have only 2% FTF with the Tula (usually the only non-hunting ammo I can find around here). I've been warned that changing the spring will eventually damage the firing pin, but so far (1000 rounds) so good.

The only magazine problems I have had are with the plastic mags. I have two-20 round ruger mags, two-10 round mecgar mags, two-5 round ruger mags and a 30-round mag of unknown make. I had a a plastic pro-mag that sucked.

I love my mini-30. I've replaced the recoil spring, added two recoil buffers and a muzzle brake and a Nikon prostaff 4x12 bdc scope. It's accurate, soft shooting and just good fun.

 

[M1key]

For the zillionth time, folks are FOREVER buying firearms chambered in 7.62x39 so they can shoot the cheapest (imported) ammo possible. It often doesn' t work out like they thought. Stick with Kalashnikovs and Simonovs for the steel stuff or be prepared for problems.

Steel cased Berdan-primed ammo will eventually break your firing pin and you will have to send it back to Ruger to be fitted for a new one. However, guys on the Perfect Union forum claim Silver Bear and Yugo milsurp ammo (corrosive) have the least problems.

Shoot Fiocchi, PMC, Winchester WB, Prvi Partizan boxer-primed, brass-cased factory ammunition or reloads exclusively and you should never have this problem. Yes, I know it costs more.

Good Luck.

M


editted to add: Use Ruger factory mags only

 

[checkmyswag]

Supposedly the Silver Bear 7.62x39 works fine.

Haven't tried it myself though.

 

[adelbridge]

i bought a box of Monarch .308 (tula rebranded for academy sporting goods) and had 80% failures. I have a 4 lb spring in my gun and it wasnt enough to set the primers off. Its crap ammo that barely simulates a copper jacket. It will surely shorten the life of your barrel by 25% and it is dirty powder.