$$$ for a ruger mini 30, or $ for a SKS?

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WoodchuckAssassin

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Lots of back and forth on many different forums on these two guns, but I always enjoy the 1st hand experience of TheHighRoad.

To be clear, the Ruger in question would be the newer NON-pencil barrel (and if I had my choice, one with a shorter 16" barrel).

I've never shot the Ruger mini 30, but have enjoyed the honest SKS on an occasion or two :)
 
Restricted to those two, all else equal, the Mini. Given the obvious which you’ve pointed out, the SKS. They’re both fun rifles in their own right but man what I can assemble in an AR for the same money as a Ruger...
 
I actually really like both rifles, but prefer the size of the mini as compared to an sks and its long receiver.
The Minis stock is also more comfortable for me.
The sights, and optic mounting options are better on the mini as well.

If all i got, and will likely have, is 300bucks, id be happy with the sks. Otherwise Mini all the way.
 
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Maybe also check out an AR15 in 7.62x39?

I really really wanted a mini 30 stainless/synthetic stock as a crummy weather/backup deer hunting rifle but couldnt find one at a price I was willing to pay. I think they are neat but couldnt swing that price tag

I shopped some sales and put together an ar for around $425ish plus extra for magazines and an optic. About half of what the mini 30 goes for new.

Lower was palmetto and upper was a bear creek arsenal

Might be an option for you?
 
The sks is not my cup of tea, either is an AK. a real smart guy told me, these are $100 rifles any way you cut it- just cause they charge more for them doesn't make them any better.
In the days of dirt cheap sks, easy choice. Buy it and use it and if it gets dirty throw it out and get a new one. Only kidding (kind of)
I know sks are good rifles but they're only the sum of their parts and not much more. Some really great rifles out there that don't cost much more that are more than an sks in every way.
 
I have both. I really like the feel of the mini-30 but once it warms up the spreads really widen out. Even though the newer models are not supposed to really benefit from it, I did order a stabilizer. Have not installed it yet. My SKS shoots fine and does not have the warming issue. But, it is not a modern weapon. The trigger and the firing pin will need some work. The trigger to make it smooth and the firing pin to make it safe from slam fires. As someone mentioned, the magazine limitations on the SKS are a real issue.

If all things were equal i would easily say go with the mini-30. But, if the stabilizer does not work then the weapon is just too inaccurate with a warm barrel. (and this one is a new production model). On a side note, my mini-14 does not suffer from the warming issue and is a good shooter. I am a ruger fan with both rifles and pistols. But, I have to say that my brand new mini-30 in its current state is a disappointment. I am hopeful the stabilizer will remedy the situation.

Building your own AR15 based on 7.62x39 is a viable option. Sorry for not being much help.
 
On the contrary, you’ve been quite helpful (as have the other posts). I’m surprised the mini 14 doesn’t suffer from “heat stroke” like the 30 does.

I have gone the route of building my own AR (basic stuff like slapping together a lower, upper and barrel), but the platform wasn’t for me. No knock against the rifle, it just wasn’t my speed.

What to SKS’s go for in all your neck of the woods? I can’t seem to find one for under $500, and that seems steep as he!! for a 50 year old utilitarian rifle. It’s the main reason I thought about the 30. An extra 3-400 clams for a NEW rifle? Hard to turn down.
 
@WoodchuckAssassin if it’s been awhile since your foray into ARs you might be shocked at the evolutionary pace they’re on. Wood furniture to triangular rails, titanium and carbon fiber, even more traditionally styled stocks, thumbhole included.

With multiple means of controlling gas flow and new coatings for bolts and barrels you can build in any direction your needs take you.
 
Skylerbone said:
@WoodchuckAssassin if it’s been awhile since your foray into ARs you might be shocked at the evolutionary pace they’re on. Wood furniture to triangular rails, titanium and carbon fiber, even more traditionally styled stocks, thumbhole included.

With multiple means of controlling gas flow and new coatings for bolts and barrels you can build in any direction your needs take you.
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but at the end of the day its still an AR:neener:

I really want/wanted to try a fight light lower, but them things aint cheap, and im not sure they will work with a side charger, which is a requirement in ars for me now.

performance wise, its really hard to argue another semi platform, especially for the price. Where theres a divergence, thats sometimes worth the cost, is feel and appearance.
 
LoonWulf said:
but at the end of the day its still an AR:neener:

I really want/wanted to try a fight light lower, but them things aint cheap, and im not sure they will work with a side charger, which is a requirement in ars for me now.

performance wise, its really hard to argue another semi platform, especially for the price. Where theres a divergence, thats sometimes worth the cost, is feel and appearance.
Click to expand...
I think they could have made a killing in ban states, but think they got greedy. The rat tail would worry me down the road, but they would have to be half price to even consider it.
 
WoodchuckAssassin said:
Lots of back and forth on many different forums on these two guns, but I always enjoy the 1st hand experience of TheHighRoad.

To be clear, the Ruger in question would be the newer NON-pencil barrel (and if I had my choice, one with a shorter 16" barrel).

I've never shot the Ruger mini 30, but have enjoyed the honest SKS on an occasion or two :)
Click to expand...
Price on ammo is cheaper but price and availability of accessories is harder or more expensive when it comes to those platforms.

Get yourself an AR15 in 7.62x39 or better yet in 300BLK.
 
troy fairweather said:
I think they could have made a killing in ban states, but think they got greedy. The rat tail would worry me down the road, but they would have to be half price to even consider it.
Click to expand...
Yeah cost and possible compatibility issues were what really killed it for me. No idea as to longevity, to its not the first rat tailed system, and properly tuning the gas system would probably go a long way to reducing ware.
 
Woodchuckassassin, Classic Firearms has the SKS on sale now for $320. I think they are Norincos. I got the stabilizer in the mail yesterday for my mini-30. I plan on installing it today/tomorrow and testing it on Saturday.
 
I have owned both in the past. In the present, I consider both to be over-priced and under-performing, both in accuracy and terminal performance (I have used the x39 on deer several times, and have not been impressed). Of the 2 rifles, I would choose the SKS because it is the cheaper. I still have a SKS from the early 90's, and I still shoot it on occasion. It was $75, which was a good deal back then. Adjusted for inflation in 2020, it would be $137.98. In reality, an AR can be had for what a SKS is going for today.
 
I guess I can add some ramblings. perfectunion is the premier forum for everything Mini. I have a Mini 30 that I got last fall. Wouldn't shoot steel cased ammo to save my life. Boom, boom, click, or boom, click or just click. Problem is the primers are too far indented into the case for proper primer strike. It does not effect every Mini30. So I had a new firing pin fitted that was just a hair longer. No problem anymore. ASI did the work by shipping just my bolt. I also have an SKS. The Mini is handier and now just as reliable. I did a trigger job on my mini. Not always for the faint of heart. I just polished all parts that touched each other. By polish I mean on a polishing wheel. I then replaced the springs with Carbo ones. Went from about 5.5 pounds to just over 4 pounds. Perfect? No. Better, certainly.

I also have an SKS. Its longer, shoots well enough. I like the fact that the Ruger has removable mags. Yes you can get these for the SKS, but just not as reliable in my opinion as the stock fixed mag. Its trigger would have to get better by a factor of 10 to bring it up to the sucks category. Some SKS triggers are better than others. Mini was blessed with a crappy one. I got the Ruger since the Mini's were not on the ban list. I have one in 223, 6.8 and 7.62x39. Yes I do like the Ruger Mini. The Mini's are also becoming more and more expensive even on the secondary market. Anyone needed a spare birch stock for their Mini 14 let me know (free). Like someone already said so well. If I had $300 I would be all over the SKS. If that wasn't an issue so much, then get the Mini. If you have a little more, get both. Sorry AR people, an AR in 7.62x39 seems sacrilegious.
 
If hunting's in the cards at all, that needs an optic, and that points me towards a Mini 30.

If this is just for iron-sights blasting, the SKS will give you all the yuks at half the cost.
 
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