Mini 30 who has one?

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tnxdshooter

tnxdshooter

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Mini 30s who has one? Are they worth the price? I've been told that by upgrading the hammer during with a extra power wolf one can shoot steel case berdan primef ammo is this correct?

How easy are they to scope and say hog hunt with?

What are their pros?

What are their cons?
 
I have one that I bought a couple of years ago. It's my truck gun and rides along on my seat. I shoot mostly reloads, which it handles just fine. I may use it for deer hunting this fall.
 
I've had one for 20 years.Mine is a stainless Ranch rifle and I have a 4X scope on it.Don't think I have ever shot anything but Wolf in it.Works just fine with good mags,and since Ruger is now selling 20 rounders,should be good to go.By the way,it should be greased like a Garand,not oiled.
 
I think the new ones are better than the old ones in terms of accuracy, sights etc. Having said that I've had one for 25 years and have killed a bunch of deer with it out to about 150 yards. I've since replace the scope with a Tech Sight rear peep sight and use it mostly as a go to utility rifle. Fun little guns.
 
Don't currently own one but had one for years. I sold it due to feed issues with factory Ruger mags.

I shot all sorts of steel-cased ammo through it with no troubles. Had about 1.5 group at 100 yds with scope. My factory sights were terrible but my understanding is that the new sights are pretty decent.

Pros, reliable action, light weight, handy size, decent aftermarket support, mags are plentiful, ammo is plentiful and cheap (even during the Sandyhook panic), plenty of power for hunting (154gr soft point will cleanly take down anything in North America under 200 yards, longer for smaller deer, antelope size.)

Cons, Ruger mags are kinda spendy, I had feed issues (rounds wanted to nose dive) with the collection I had, aftermarket mags were worse. Rifle is expensive compared to similar semi-auto 7.62x39 carbines that performed better.

Overall though, good rifle, just needs some tweeks from my experience.
 
Unless your state doesnt allow AK's, there's really no tangible reason to buy a Mini over one. Accuracy is about the same, ease of scoping is about the same, AK has $10 good quality steel mags. Sights are different design, both about as mushy / inarticulate to adjust. Ruger has a good warranty, a decent AK will never need one. It really boils down to whether you want a pistol grip or not and if you dont mind dropping $30 per magazine. Also with the Mini, if your bolt ever fails, the rifles going back to Ruger, whereas with an AK you can have a stack of them as spares. While I certainly do like Mini's, the AK is a better choice for most folks. Bottom line: If you ever plan on making your Mini "tactical" (god I hate that word), then just buy an AK.
 
Jackal said:
Unless your state doesnt allow AK's, there's really no tangible reason to buy a Mini over one. Accuracy is about the same, ease of scoping is about the same, AK has $10 good quality steel mags. Sights are different design, both about as mushy / inarticulate to adjust. Ruger has a good warranty, a decent AK will never need one. It really boils down to whether you want a pistol grip or not and if you dont mind dropping $30 per magazine. Also with the Mini, if your bolt ever fails, the rifles going back to Ruger, whereas with an AK you can have a stack of them as spares. While I certainly do like Mini's, the AK is a better choice for most folks. Bottom line: If you ever plan on making your Mini "tactical" (god I hate that word), then just buy an AK.
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Dude I have a really nice ak already. No need to buy anymore. I've got a sks that takes ak mags. What I don't have is an ar, or mini 30 that shoots 7.62x39.
 
This one is 2 MOA or less with good Vmax or soft point loads. I shoot only reloadable brass. The target is 50 yards with irons...

M
 

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I have a Mini-30 that I purchase a few years ago and I like it. It’s a 1990 vintage (189 series) that I’ve been told loses accuracy when the barrel get hot. The newer ones reportedly don’t have this problem.

I’ve never had a feeding problem with Ruger mags and, yes, they are pricy, but I’ve never found an after-market mag that would feed properly.

I have used almost exclusively East Block ammo, but not the steel stuff. I’ve shot the [I think] Yugoslav mil-surp that is brass cased with not a problem.

The only down side to the Mini-30, at least mine, is the rear sight. IT SUCKS. To use an old expression, it’s like trying to watch a ball game through a knothole in the center field fence.
 
Quote: The only down side to the Mini-30, at least mine, is the rear sight. IT SUCKS. To use an old expression, it’s like trying to watch a ball game through a knothole in the center field fence.

Try opening it up with a drill bit.

M
 
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I have a bunch of AKs and SKSs but they are made by peasants for peasants. They are pretty crude in quality compared to an American made sporting rifle like the Mini 30. Yes the AKs and SKSs are good blasters. The Mini is a bit more refined and more suited for sporting use which was the intention right along. Used as a brush gun or for plinking/self defense a Mini 30 is a good choice.
 
I have a bunch of AKs and SKSs but they are made by peasants for peasants. They are pretty crude in quality compared to an American made sporting rifle like the Mini 30
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My Vepr 308 would politely disagree with you....
 

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We used to use mini 14 rifles at work as our go to rifle. I really liked them and at 50 yards with iron sights was able to tear the 9 ring out as one ragged hole putting all shots in the 9 ring of a b-27 silhouette target.
 
How easy are they to scope and say hog hunt with?
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Scoping the Mini has traditionally been like scoping the AK - you'd wind up with a poor cheek weld in both cases because the OEM stocks aren't made for the elevated sight picture and there were precious few options for elevating the comb.

Boyds did just send out an announcement that they were (finally) making the 'tactical' Mini stock available for purchase (with an elevated comb for dedicated optics use), so that helps.
 
Mine is kept clean but used as a beater. Accurate enough, but not a tack driver. Had a few feed problems but quit using those mags. I unserstand the newer versions are far more accurate. Mine is just plain fun to shoot and it's taken a fair amount of deer and hogs. If you want to punch paper, don't buy one.
 
BUT === I actually like mine anyway

Heard from a few that they were not reliable,John Farnam was one who says that [ I respect him ].

But I have had a stainless one for a few years and shot it a bit [ about one K ] and it runs well no matter the ammo,so far.

mags are a bit hard to find,and stay with Ruger if you can find them.

Wont get rid of it until [ IF ] it ever FTF.
 
Cz makes a bolt if you are skiddish about the mini-30. just like the mini-14 some love em some love to hate em. I have wanted one for years.
 
more suited for sporting use which was the intention right along.
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What does that even mean? A guy at work bought one and sold it because he was disappointed with the accuracy. I take deer with my ak in the same way I would with a Mini. I think the grip of an ak makes it easier to navigate/control in brush country.

Suit yourself, but I can't think of a problem the mini30 solves better than a saiga, a vepr, or an ak--except maybe "looking" more pc or looking "sporting".

Bottom line, since the OP is asking for opinions of "worth", I'd say no...for me. If you want one, I'll bet you enjoy it. :)
 
People don't seem to understand that I have an ak, I have an sks that takes ak mags, I just want something different that fires the same round. To the dude that suggested a bolt gun. NO WAY not in 7.62x39. .308 maybe but it would be for deer. I am not going to hunt pigs with a bolt rifle. Slow follow up shots.
 
Scoping the Mini has traditionally been like scoping the AK - you'd wind up with a poor cheek weld in both cases because the OEM stocks aren't made for the elevated sight picture and there were precious few options for elevating the comb.

Boyds did just send out an announcement that they were (finally) making the 'tactical' Mini stock available for purchase (with an elevated comb for dedicated optics use), so that helps.
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I would be using a red dot.
 
Suit yourself, but I can't think of a problem the mini30 solves better than a saiga, a vepr, or an ak--except maybe "looking" more pc or looking "sporting".
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The lack of a pistol grip and a protruding magazine means that the Mini carries more easily and shoulders faster. Speaking strictly about the mechanics of them all, you are pretty close to correct.
 
I think the OP has already answered his own question. He already owns 2 semi auto rifles in the same caliber that many would consider superior. So is the Mini30 "worth" $800(ish) to him? Not by my reckoning, but if he wants one, buy it. You only live once. Most people say I'm nuts for spending $400 on a few Swedish axes, but I'm happy with them.
 
mac66 said:
I have a bunch of AKs and SKSs but they are made by peasants for peasants. They are pretty crude in quality compared to an American made sporting rifle like the Mini 30. Yes the AKs and SKSs are good blasters. The Mini is a bit more refined and more suited for sporting use which was the intention right along. Used as a brush gun or for plinking/self defense a Mini 30 is a good choice.
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Well the people at the Zastava factory in Yugoslavia where not peasants, and the professional Yugoslav soldiers who used the M59/66 (SKS) rifles they made were not peasants either. Just because these guns were designed to be made easily and made reliable, doesn't mean they were made "by peasants for peasants", that is a gross generalization. My particular M59/66 is beautifully machined as is a 2.5 MOA gun with the right ammo. In fit and finish, and performance, I would rate it ABOVE most Ruger mini-30s I've handled. I guess Ruger brought in there peasant work force that day. :rolleyes:
 
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