Accuracy Mini 30 vs Mini 14

[Dr.Rob]

Hey this is a dumb question but.. are Mini 30's any better accuracy wise than Mini 14's?

This has come up in ban states time and time again on another forum. If you have both can you chime in?

 

[Rogue909]

Never had a mini 14 but I do have a mini 30. Did quite a bit of reading on them. This is what I've gathered...

Older mini 14s (pre 58X) had pencil barrels after the gas block. This earned them the accuracy issues.

Newer mini 14s have better barrels and are more accurate.

Mini 30 barrels have stayed the same size through both generation.

Because of the barrel; older 30s are better than the 14s. Because of bullet ballistics, newer 14s are more accurate than 30s.

Adding a strut to any of them is a significant improvement. As well as proper bedding.

Check perfectunion for more info

 

[CoalTrain49]

I have a new 584 series Mini 14. Just had Accuracy Systems tune the trigger and I changed out the gas bushing. Trigger is now shootable and brass stays in my lane. I just took it to the range and it shoots 2 MOA with my loads. I've just started the load development an believe I can get that a bit tighter.

I've never owned a 30 or even shot one.

 

[Bayourambler]

I've had a mini 30 for 25 yrs. It shoots 2 moa with good hunting bullets.

 

[someguy2800]

Anecdotaly I’ve always heard the 30’s were worse, but I’ve only ever shot 1 of the 30’s. Take that to mean little to nothing.

 

[jdh]

Most of the Mini30 shooters I've met that complained about theirs not being accurate were shooting the cheapest steel cased communist crap they could find. Mine would shoot the Remington or American Eagle ball to about 1.5" easily. Good quality Hunting loads could get down to 1".

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

^^^ Yep.
With reloads, mine does 1" to 1.5".
That was with 125 and 130 grain bullets.

 

[someguy2800]

If a semi auto 7.62x39 can’t shoot steel case ammo accurately or reliably I don’t want it, unless I guess it’s a hunting only gun. My 7.62x39 AR15 shoots Wolf hollow points sub moa. And I don’t mean internet moa, I mean have the targets to prove it moa. The ammo costs less than I can handload.

 

[ThomasT]

Poster #6 got it right. Like any gun its accuracy will depend on the quality of the ammo. Maybe you will get lucky and it will shoot cheap steel cased ammo into one hole at 100 yards. But I bet the odds are better that good ammo will shoot good groups. My Mini-14 will shoot Monarch 223 from Academy into 2" or so and I don't have to look for the empties. Good enough for plinking.