Don357
Member
Has anymore ever done a side by side comparison for velocity, accuracy, and effective range on an AK vs SKS vs Ruger Mini 30? If so, what were the results?
7.62x39 curious
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My analysis is completely anecdotal since I have an SKS and an AK but not a Mini-30. My SKS has had a lot of modifications in the stock and sights, but not the trigger (it's still stock) and my AK is an unmodified Yugo. My SKS is definitely more accurate than my AK, which I attribute to the longer barrel and heavier, more stable stock.
Again, I don't own a Mini-30, but I suspect it's more accurate than the SKS and AK. First, the Ruger barrels are likely better and more consistent from breech to muzzle, and the triggers is probably more crisp with a good, consistent break. This is just a guess, though, on my part so perhaps some of the Mini-30 owners out there could chime in.
I love my SKS and AK and have come to appreciate the ruggedness and dependability of their actions. They're accurate enough for me and serve their purpose fine.
Again, I don't own a Mini-30, but I suspect it's more accurate than the SKS and AK. First, the Ruger barrels are likely better and more consistent from breech to muzzle, and the triggers is probably more crisp with a good, consistent break. This is just a guess, though, on my part so perhaps some of the Mini-30 owners out there could chime in.
I love my SKS and AK and have come to appreciate the ruggedness and dependability of their actions. They're accurate enough for me and serve their purpose fine.
Missionary
Member
Good morning
From what I have read the Ruger is a fine rifle as long as you have origonal undamaged magazines. But try and find origonal Ruger Magazines. The Ruger will shoot 2 inch groups with tailor made ammo. But average military fodder is 4 inches at 100.
The AK is a 4-5 inch 100 yarder. But the AK will feed from most any magazine brand and will feed with some rather beat up magazines. Anywhere you were to take your AK you will find available magazines. Spare parts are everywhere.. even here in Peru where the private ownership is totally prohibited even for simi-auto versions. Magazines also.. The AK has a very long deadly combat record.
In real live shooting situations the issue of 1 inch better accuracy is meaningless. What does matter is having lots of loaded magazines.
If I was to stake my life on the Ruger I would want to know where I first could find at least 10 origonal mags. Then spare parts.
Now the SKS is near the same as the AK. Stripper clips abound. The 20 round steel mounted mag works. The 10 round standard mag works even better. The SKS will feed. The SKS is as accurate as the Ruger. The SKS has a very long deadly combat record. Spare parts are everywhere even here in Peru where that rifle is not permited.
That is my take. As a hunting weapon.. the Ruger. But if all three were laying on a table and I only get one to GOOD fast.. the Ruger stays.
MIke in Peru
From what I have read the Ruger is a fine rifle as long as you have origonal undamaged magazines. But try and find origonal Ruger Magazines. The Ruger will shoot 2 inch groups with tailor made ammo. But average military fodder is 4 inches at 100.
The AK is a 4-5 inch 100 yarder. But the AK will feed from most any magazine brand and will feed with some rather beat up magazines. Anywhere you were to take your AK you will find available magazines. Spare parts are everywhere.. even here in Peru where the private ownership is totally prohibited even for simi-auto versions. Magazines also.. The AK has a very long deadly combat record.
In real live shooting situations the issue of 1 inch better accuracy is meaningless. What does matter is having lots of loaded magazines.
If I was to stake my life on the Ruger I would want to know where I first could find at least 10 origonal mags. Then spare parts.
Now the SKS is near the same as the AK. Stripper clips abound. The 20 round steel mounted mag works. The 10 round standard mag works even better. The SKS will feed. The SKS is as accurate as the Ruger. The SKS has a very long deadly combat record. Spare parts are everywhere even here in Peru where that rifle is not permited.
That is my take. As a hunting weapon.. the Ruger. But if all three were laying on a table and I only get one to GOOD fast.. the Ruger stays.
MIke in Peru
Neo-Luddite
Member
MANY variables in the AK/SKS world~some makes and 'flavors' are a bit more accurate that others. For SKS, the Yugo has a nifty little gas cut off that allows for grenade firing but field reports indicate that this make the effectively straight-pull bolt gun a bit tighter at distance when fired in this mode. I mention this as an example. For my money, they are all pretty much 300 yard weapons at best, and really solid hitters within 200 yards. I have AK's and Yugo's~for my money I'd go for an AK and throw a nice optic rail on it and spend little for oodles of steel mags that will serve well. The Ruger (I have a 14 but no 30) is too impractical for the above mentioned reason of mags. No matter what you get, 7.62 x 39 is a great all around utility round and a hoot to shoot. From my experience the Yugo SKS's are pretty accurate but aren't chromed barrels so you need to clean them or shoot non-corrosive. I can't imagine that a little Mini-30 would do better against a good condition Yugo 59 or simliar and MOST AK's don't have the barrel length and solidity of construction to not 'whip' a bit more than a 9+ lb Yugo sks.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I've had 2 AKs,2 Mini-30s and countless SKSs in Chinese and Russian make,rifle and carbine lengths and the Mini wins hands down and is by far the easiest to mount optics on.
I think this comment highlights how impossible it is to easily compare these platforms. Sure, some AKs may be 4-5 MOA rifles, but there are so many AK variants and sub-variants that it's impossible to say what the overall accuracy is.
For example, my 7.62x39mm converted Saiga AK is easily a 2-2.5 MOA rifle with decent ammo. My hunch is that many Mini-30s and SKSs (but not all) would struggle to match that.
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Shawn Dodson
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I have a norinco sks para with a pitted 16" barrel that shoots 3 moa with surplus yugo ammo.
OP
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Don357
Member
Also the most expensive. Right now, in my area, I have an opportunity to acquire either of the ones I mentioned for $650 or less. I am considering trading or selling a pistol and getting one or the other.
Jackal
Member
I think there are just too many variations to justify labeling one as more accurate than the other. As has been stated before, there are accurate AK's, SKS's and Mini's. I have seen impressive results from them all. Generally a clean/unissued SKS will be a little more accurate than a WASR, but less accurate than a high end AK. The Mini can range from awesome 1.5moa groups out to 4moa depending on the rifle/load.
To summarize: Its a crap shoot.
To summarize: Its a crap shoot.
Riomouse911
Member
I agree, the variety of AK/AKA manufacturers makes a general statement tough to justify. My mini-30 is very reliable and minute-of-silhouette accurate with a Wolff high-power hammer spring installed (for metal-cased ammo) and factory 20 round mags.
In my experience: Expensive russian sks was 3-4 in. Average of many AK is 2-4 in. Some aks a little closer to 2-3 in. Mini 1.5-2 moa for about three or four shots then opening up to 3 from there. You might go through a couple AK to find one that groups ok but when you do youve got a better unit than the mini. Sks is ok but obsolete. Not as light or easy to strip as ak. Mag situation is better with ak. If you find a good grouping mini it will naturally have a better scope mounting situation than the AK and so I would take advantage of that.
scaatylobo
Member
HUH ?
Most of the posters are either guessing or telling "stories" about what they heard from wherever .
I really like and appreciate FACT based information on a given subject,that is the reason I look at THR = for INFORMATION and not "stories".
I have owned all the rifles that are inquired about.
The mini is the best made,and no more accurate than a really quality AK/SKS ====== IF you can find one.
I have been blessed to have owned a couple of AK's that were very good shooters,BUT they looked like garbage and had such rough edges that I could expect to bleed doing any high speed drill - unless I was wearing gloves.
Barrel wise,I vote for the stainless Ruger,unless your going in harms way and will expend a great deal of ammo and not get a chance to clean um --- then the AK's get the vote.
Most of the posters are either guessing or telling "stories" about what they heard from wherever .
I really like and appreciate FACT based information on a given subject,that is the reason I look at THR = for INFORMATION and not "stories".
I have owned all the rifles that are inquired about.
The mini is the best made,and no more accurate than a really quality AK/SKS ====== IF you can find one.
I have been blessed to have owned a couple of AK's that were very good shooters,BUT they looked like garbage and had such rough edges that I could expect to bleed doing any high speed drill - unless I was wearing gloves.
Barrel wise,I vote for the stainless Ruger,unless your going in harms way and will expend a great deal of ammo and not get a chance to clean um --- then the AK's get the vote.
I find it very hard to believe that you own every variation of AK or SKS out there, and there is quite a bit of variance in the accuracy and fit & finish of these rifles.
Again, I can only speak to the rifle I own. As mentioned, my 7.62x39mm converted Saiga AK (with cold hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel) easily shoots 2-2.5 MOA with decent ammo. It is well fit and has no rough edges that will draw blood. The finish is standard Russian military for Izhmash AK-100-series rifles, which means baked hi-temp black enamel over parkerization. The finish ain't beautiful, but seems reasonably tough.
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scaatylobo
Member
Quote me ,please
I did NOT say I owned ALL variations.
But more than the posters that said they didn't own them --- but a friend did.
I did NOT say I owned ALL variations.
But more than the posters that said they didn't own them --- but a friend did.
Ignition Override
Member
How about comparisons with the VZ-58?
savanahsdad
Member
the Ruger would/will be the most accurate if you use the right ammo , AK's and SKS's use 7.62X39 Russian and the Ruger uses 7.62x39 (.308) if you do a web search for reload dies you will find 7.62X39 and 7.62x39 Russian , the Russian 7.62x39 calls for .311 , my SKS shoots .310 best , , I've tried .308 , .310 and .311 and tried many combo's of bullets and powders and at best I get 2MOA and a shooting buddy of mine has a Ruger Mini that's shoots 1.5 most of the time with 7.62x39 (.308's) , so as to what shoots best , AK, SKS, Ruger Mini ?...... well that will depend on what you feed them , I have some Herter's steel case bulk ammo that is .310 and some Lellier & Bellot brass case that is .311 (Czech Republic) plus my handloads that all shoot good in my SKS, but others I know with Ruger's say that bulk ammo fouls up there guns and they get no accuracy with it , and high PSI issues , and no wonder it is .002/.003 over the bore die,
so form what I've seen , with good 7.62x39 (.308) ammo the Ruger is more accurate , and I'm not an AK fan never seen one that grouped worth a dam , but I've never seen one jam either . but then again my SKS has never jammed either,
so form what I've seen , with good 7.62x39 (.308) ammo the Ruger is more accurate , and I'm not an AK fan never seen one that grouped worth a dam , but I've never seen one jam either . but then again my SKS has never jammed either,
CarolinaChuck
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I remember reading that the SKS was used as a standard rifle next to the automatic rifle of the AK in the NVA units because of its range and accuracy over the AK. The action of the SKS over the AK used the propellent (charge) more efficiently and made the ballistics superior to the AK for the 7.62x39 cartridge.
My twin had a mini in 7.62x39; I don't really recall it being mark-ably better than the SKS action as far as the ballistics went. Lobbing lead down range at a gong was all about the same as shooting a 30-30 at the same ranges; they all are like shooting a rainbow out pass 200 yards.
My SKS is a Chinese made and the bore is in really good shape; one may prefer one sight type over the other, but our friends and the two of us were hard pressed to tell much of a difference between the two rifles using open sights.
Neither rifle was anything we wanted to waist time putting on paper for what they are with open sights; both are fun to shoot and get about all one needs out of the cartridge.
CC
My twin had a mini in 7.62x39; I don't really recall it being mark-ably better than the SKS action as far as the ballistics went. Lobbing lead down range at a gong was all about the same as shooting a 30-30 at the same ranges; they all are like shooting a rainbow out pass 200 yards.
My SKS is a Chinese made and the bore is in really good shape; one may prefer one sight type over the other, but our friends and the two of us were hard pressed to tell much of a difference between the two rifles using open sights.
Neither rifle was anything we wanted to waist time putting on paper for what they are with open sights; both are fun to shoot and get about all one needs out of the cartridge.
CC
okiewita40
Member
I prefer the SKS over either the mini-30 or the AK. The mini will be a lot easier to scope. For reliability though I think the SKS is hard to beat.
jimmyraythomason
Member
If the Mini-30 was made after 1992 (serial# 186-18250 or higher)it has a .311 bore. <http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=15904/GunTechdetail/Ruger-Mini-30-bore-specs>
savanahsdad
Member
this throws another factor in the mix, witch Ruger is more accurate ? the .311 or the .308 ?
I read back through the earlier posts and I really don't see anyone saying that they "heard from a friend who knew a guy who said..."
I'm telling what I know about guns I've owned, and I suspect others are too. As a matter of FACT, I bet several people on this forum have owned more variants of those 3 guns than you have....
scaatylobo
Member
Try once more = please
Read the posts by the first few [ that I read ] and tell me that is not the case,telling about "what they or a friend heard".
9mm+
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NEO LUDDITE
I am not picking on them,just their NON factual postings.
And I find it VERY amusing that ANYONE would post that they had "more than me" and have NO idea who I am,how old I am,how long I have been shooting.AND saying "as a matter of FACT" = really ,PLEASE tell me those FACTS ??.
Pretty pompous of anyone to say such a nasty and silly thing.
Read the posts by the first few [ that I read ] and tell me that is not the case,telling about "what they or a friend heard".
9mm+
MISSIONARY
NEO LUDDITE
I am not picking on them,just their NON factual postings.
And I find it VERY amusing that ANYONE would post that they had "more than me" and have NO idea who I am,how old I am,how long I have been shooting.AND saying "as a matter of FACT" = really ,PLEASE tell me those FACTS ??.
Pretty pompous of anyone to say such a nasty and silly thing.
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