mini-30 any good?

Sure as long as you keep it clean.
Accurate enough if you do your part.

get a M1A...

I owned one a couple of years ago. It was well made and very reliable with FACTORY magazines. I had some FTF problems with a cheap mag. Mine had no issues with a factory magazine and any ammo I fed it.

The best group I could get out of mine was in the 3" range @100 yards. So if you want a 200-300 yard rifle, I'd suggest something different.

Fun gun, though.

You probably don't reload, but if so you can also buy a really good authentic M-1 Garand from the CMP for $600 and make the ammo brass last longer.

My all-original Mini 30 has a 'ftf' on the first pin strike now and then with Russian ammo, maybe one per 80-100 rounds. It might have the original firing pin spring, but I never asked the seller. The rifle was built in '03 or '04.

A decent rifle but wayyyyyy overpriced!
JT

New Mini-30 with with scope shooting cheap steel case combloc surplus ammo does about 3-4 inch 100 yard groups (same as a yugo SKS did with it). There were no problems using the steel cased surplus or the new bear/tiger current production ammo. I have some Fiocchi brass cased and the new Hornady to try next range session.

Have had one for years. 3"to 4" at 100yds was normal. Put one of the new "stabilizers" on, got it down to 2". They are what they are, but I sure wouldn't trade mine off. Fun gun to shoot, and reliable enough I wouldn't hesitate to grab it if TSHTF showed up.

Do you want a 7.62X39 that shoots great, AND wont break the bank....get yourself a VZ-58.

As reliable as an AK, as accurate as an issue AR, and it digests the same ammo as your AK, problem is, once you shoot the VZ-58, you'll go home and slap your AK for wasting your time!

Oh, and the VZ-58 will set you back in the neighborhood of 8 bills, just like the mini thirty.

Are you looking for good accuracy using cheap steel cased ammunition? If so you will be dissapointed.

The mini thirties are fine. They are probably capable of better accuracy than a Wasr (not saying much), and will eat most steel cased ammunition, however garbage in, garbage out.

The big question is: What do you want it to do? How accurate does it need to be? Is it a bench gun, home protection, predator rifle? If you are looking for a swiss army knife, you have to be willing to accept some comprimises.

FWIW, the old Eagle 18-round mags gave me trouble-free service in my SS Mini-30. The new offerings from Thermold (www.cabelas.com) should be good to go.

Had one and got rid of it as both my SKS and Saiga would outshoot it. It patterned rather than grouped. Never had any problem with it not cycling anything I fed it though.

RJ

If you want a do-all rifle in 7.62x39mm, I would get an SKS.

If you want a Ruger product, I'd go with the .223 Mini-14/Ranch Rifle.

If you want a nice M14 derivative, I'd get a Springfield M1A.

The Mini-30 offers the higher price of a new US product, very limited magazine selection, the accuracy of an AK or SKS and in general very little to recommend it in the current environment.

my mini 30 series 189 with an ultradot red dot is a hog killing machine....love it and the M14 look it reminds me of...

Lets just say I love my Mini 30. Will it eat cheap ammo well yes and no, out of the box new not so good. I replaced the hammer spring with a HD spring from wolff. After a new hammer spring it was much better.

With the cheap ammo steal cased junk it will shoot MOA paper plate at 200 yards not so great. With Remington UMC ammunition it does much better. I'm still waiting to try it with my reloads but I expect it to improve again.

It is not a target grade weapon IMO. But it is solid and would be a great field gun for most any four legged critter. With its finish I would not worry about a few dings and dents I would think on this one it would be character building. I think you have the range about right. 50 to 150 yards would be a good solid shot with this gun 200+ to the ability of the shooter would be fair.

But no matter what the use its light and soft to fire. Easy to carry and a blast to shoot. IMO FWIW.

Z-Michigan said:

If you want a do-all rifle in 7.62x39mm, I would get an SKS.

If you want a Ruger product, I'd go with the .223 Mini-14/Ranch Rifle.

If you want a nice M14 derivative, I'd get a Springfield M1A.

The Mini-30 offers the higher price of a new US product, very limited magazine selection, the accuracy of an AK or SKS and in general very little to recommend it in the current environment.

Click to expand...

If 200 to 300 shots are inline I have to go with this. The 7.62X39 is 150 yd load at best, especially out of a Mini that shots 4" groups at 100 yds.

I have to add that I have a Mini 30, but I doubt if I will be after the next gunshow.

I completely agree with both kdstrick (post no. 4) and Uncle Mike (post no. 10). The Mini-30 is a good gun with acceptable accuracy (can be improved, but at great expense), the VZ.58 is everything that I could ever want out of a 7.62x39mm platform save for a few minor annoyances. Those being that it isn't a bullpup (I can keep dreaming on that one), 20rnd magazines are near impossible to acquire (unless you live in or near the Czech Rep.) and they are difficult to scope (but the irons are surprisingly accurate so i'm not sure this is an issue). In all it is without a doubt the best 7.62x39mm rifle that I have laid hands on (and I have owned/used more than a couple).

Its about time somebody asked about the Mini-30 around here!

(The search button is your friend)
http://thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=7802200

I have one of the rare Mini-30's. A 196 series that with good brass cased ammo (Lapua is the best) will shoot some 1" groups at 100 yds. It has a trigger job, Accu-Strut, reduced pressure bushing, 1911 buffers ft. and rear, and a Leupold vx-II 3x9x40. The total package was about $800.00. It has never had a hiccup and does not have the flier syndrome or stringing issue. It is magazine picky even though they are all Ruger five rounders.(15 of them, 7 that work the best and are marked) It is a quick handling, easy to carry rifle for whitetail. Cor-Bon 150gr are my hunting load.

I've had a couple of Mini 30s. I like 'em, but I wouldn't call it a 300 yard rifle. When you think 7.62X39, think 30-30 in the lower spectrum. That's about what the 7.62X39 is. It's a solid 150 yard rifle. If you want to be able to reach out to 300 yards with good accuracy in a widely commercially available caliber, I'd say get an AR-15 in .223. If .223 isn't big enough for you, them maybe a Garand or even a bolt gun.

I totally agree with Tony. I personally probably would limit myself to 100 yds. Where I use it that would be about tops because of brush and visibility. When I'm hunting the crop fields in the elevated box blind, the 270 Win Vanguard gets the nod. Just using the best tool for the job.