Mini 30 or SKS
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briansmithwins
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Pros for the Mini would be replaceable magazines, better sights, and better optics options.
Cons would be cost of the rifle, cost of those magazines, and lower reliability in very bad conditions.
The SKS is a military rifle that was designed to be robust and idiot (well, ok, Soviet peasant) proof.
The Mini is not a military rifle.
Which is better depends on what you're trying to do.
BSW
Cons would be cost of the rifle, cost of those magazines, and lower reliability in very bad conditions.
The SKS is a military rifle that was designed to be robust and idiot (well, ok, Soviet peasant) proof.
The Mini is not a military rifle.
Which is better depends on what you're trying to do.
BSW
dprice3844444
member
sks will fire steel ammo all day long.mini will cough up a firingpin/bolt.accuracy on both about the same.
scaatylobo
Member
ask John Farnam,I did
John Farnam [ google his name ] has a very strong opinion as to the mini 30 ,he hates them and see's them as very easy to destroy.
He gave me the reason about the courses he teaches and the fact that he has not seen a mini 30 finish a course of fire.
The sks/ak is a very strong military design and has been documented to fire thousands of rounds with very little to no maintenance.
Especially if you get one that John has T&E'ed.
I don't know him personally,just his writings and D'Quips [ 'e' mails about current stuff].
byw = I have a mini 30 and do plan to dump it due to his input.
John Farnam [ google his name ] has a very strong opinion as to the mini 30 ,he hates them and see's them as very easy to destroy.
He gave me the reason about the courses he teaches and the fact that he has not seen a mini 30 finish a course of fire.
The sks/ak is a very strong military design and has been documented to fire thousands of rounds with very little to no maintenance.
Especially if you get one that John has T&E'ed.
I don't know him personally,just his writings and D'Quips [ 'e' mails about current stuff].
byw = I have a mini 30 and do plan to dump it due to his input.
SKS should have a chrome-lined barrel (unless Yugo) which would be much better for the (cheaper) steel ammo.
The M-30 does not have chrome bore and does not handle steel ammo as well. Owners usually shoot the more expensive brass-cased ammo like Winchester, Fiocchi, PMC, Pri Partizan, etc.
As far as Ruger accuracy, I would only recommend the Mini-30 Tactical with the shorter, thicker barrel. Good luck finding one...
M
The M-30 does not have chrome bore and does not handle steel ammo as well. Owners usually shoot the more expensive brass-cased ammo like Winchester, Fiocchi, PMC, Pri Partizan, etc.
As far as Ruger accuracy, I would only recommend the Mini-30 Tactical with the shorter, thicker barrel. Good luck finding one...
M
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I've heard it said that the newer Mini 30's are better quality than they were a few years ago. I couldn't swear to that. I've read it on boards actually. I've never fired one but I know at one time no one seemed to like them. Now they get better reviews but the SKS is rock solid and will be that way a long time with minimal care.
Shawn Dodson
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An SKS Paratrooper model handles very nicely - like an M1 carbine.
I have both.
The Mini 30 is a much higher quality firearm and is more accurate than any of my 5 SKSs or AKs; that I own. I have never had a failure or jam with it. I have killed about a dozen deer with it out to 160 yards. I bought mine when they first came out and were considerably less expensive then. Today the rifle itself is expensive as are the mags.
SKSs are robust and reliable. They are a good all around utility rifle and were a steal when they were $100 or less.
The question is what do you plan to do with it. Hunt, self protection, plink?
For less than a Mini 30 but more than a SKS you might want to look at a Saiga in 7.62x39. Last time I looked it was cheaper (around $500) than a Mini 30. They use detachable mags (10 Rnd mags are standard or you can buy aftermarket mags or can be easily converted to use cheap AK mags.) I bought one years ago to convert but liked it so much as a sporter I just left it as is.
here's a link....http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...saiga-ak-47-rifle-iz-132-detail.html?Itemid=0
The Mini 30 is a much higher quality firearm and is more accurate than any of my 5 SKSs or AKs; that I own. I have never had a failure or jam with it. I have killed about a dozen deer with it out to 160 yards. I bought mine when they first came out and were considerably less expensive then. Today the rifle itself is expensive as are the mags.
SKSs are robust and reliable. They are a good all around utility rifle and were a steal when they were $100 or less.
The question is what do you plan to do with it. Hunt, self protection, plink?
For less than a Mini 30 but more than a SKS you might want to look at a Saiga in 7.62x39. Last time I looked it was cheaper (around $500) than a Mini 30. They use detachable mags (10 Rnd mags are standard or you can buy aftermarket mags or can be easily converted to use cheap AK mags.) I bought one years ago to convert but liked it so much as a sporter I just left it as is.
here's a link....http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...saiga-ak-47-rifle-iz-132-detail.html?Itemid=0
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yzguy87
Member
Between the 2 I'd pick a SKS. I have a Yugo and my uncle has a Norinco. His is more accurate than mine but I can still shoot ~5" groups at 100 yards with my yugo.
That's good enough for plinking for me. Oh, and I shoot all cheap ruski ammo open sites.
That's good enough for plinking for me. Oh, and I shoot all cheap ruski ammo open sites.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I've got 2 Mini-30s and have had more SKSs than I can remember including a paratrooper. As much as I like the SKS, I would not trade a Mini-30 for any 2 SKSs.
HOWARD J
Member
I have 2 SKS & one mini-30
I have taken a bunch of deer with the mini 30.
I am not in a war but I enjoy plinking with the SKS"S
I have taken a bunch of deer with the mini 30.
I am not in a war but I enjoy plinking with the SKS"S
chicharrones
needs more ammo
So, you're going to get rid of your Mini 30 due to what someone else has seen or what you have seen first hand with your Mini?
ApacheCoTodd
member
I figure a Mini-30 is a great gun if one's going to feed it better than average ammo, not shoot it a heck of a lot, keep it cleanly stored in transport, ensure that only "quality" and proven mags are used....
On second thought, what's the point of a Mini 30 if SKSs are still about?
On second thought, what's the point of a Mini 30 if SKSs are still about?
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
In my experience, the SKS is difficult to scope reliably, and aftermarket mags don't seem to work all that well, so the SKS is at its best if you want a strictly-iron-sighted, 10-round-fixed-magazine rifle.
The Mini Thirty comes with scope rings and bases, has nicer fit and finish, and is smaller and lighter, with the added benefit of detachable mags. On the downside, it is undoubtedly less rugged. Accuracy is probably comparable to the SKS.
If you want a detachable magazine carbine that can mount optics and uses detachable magazines, you could also look at a Saiga or an AK with the built-in optics rail.
The Mini Thirty comes with scope rings and bases, has nicer fit and finish, and is smaller and lighter, with the added benefit of detachable mags. On the downside, it is undoubtedly less rugged. Accuracy is probably comparable to the SKS.
If you want a detachable magazine carbine that can mount optics and uses detachable magazines, you could also look at a Saiga or an AK with the built-in optics rail.
The fact it is American made matters a lot to some.
I have a Mini-30 and 14. I only keep them because they don't scream EBR to the common idiot.
Bought them both years ago when the AR platform was WAY more money. Would I buy them now? No. But I wouldn't buy an SKS either....
An SKS is still way cheaper than a Mini 30.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/69842
http://www.classicfirearms.com/chicomsks
No way a Mini 30 is worth more than double what the SKS is worth. And despite what you hear repeated time after time it is possible to get detachable mags to work with an SKS. I've had a bunch of them work perfectly for >20 years. I mean perfectly too. I have never had one single issue with a mag not feeding or getting jammed up.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/69842
http://www.classicfirearms.com/chicomsks
No way a Mini 30 is worth more than double what the SKS is worth. And despite what you hear repeated time after time it is possible to get detachable mags to work with an SKS. I've had a bunch of them work perfectly for >20 years. I mean perfectly too. I have never had one single issue with a mag not feeding or getting jammed up.
ApacheCoTodd
member
The "American" aspect is in fact a consideration and an important one to some folk, and one that - while I didn't mention it in my post - carries a lot of weight with me.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I have a Mini-30 and with the 4X Burris scope and my hand loads it shoots well to hunt with. I like it and like how it is made in the USA.
I also have a couple SKS rifles and, while butt ugly, they have their place in the safe as well. I resisted getting them even though at the time they only cost 79 bucks.
Why you may ask..? Because they are Chicom weapons and that bothered me back then...
I also have a couple SKS rifles and, while butt ugly, they have their place in the safe as well. I resisted getting them even though at the time they only cost 79 bucks.
Why you may ask..? Because they are Chicom weapons and that bothered me back then...
scaatylobo
Member
@ chichirrones
I don't listen to 'war storys' and I don't believe in fairy tales [ any more ].
BUT if you know who he is,and how many rounds he has down range ,as well as how many he has witnessed.
You might not take it lightly,I will not put my mini 30 to the turture test he has seen many go through [ MANY ] .
So being that I trust his opinion,and he is a man of his word = yes I will do as he suggests.
Remember he gains NOTHING from making up storys about faulty gear.
He knows who I am ,and wants me to survive whatever I might take that mini 30 to.
Hope that makes it clear.
I happen to like the mini 30 as its close cousin to the Carbine and I just LOVE those,as wimpy as that round is = compared to the 7.62 X 39.
I don't listen to 'war storys' and I don't believe in fairy tales [ any more ].
BUT if you know who he is,and how many rounds he has down range ,as well as how many he has witnessed.
You might not take it lightly,I will not put my mini 30 to the turture test he has seen many go through [ MANY ] .
So being that I trust his opinion,and he is a man of his word = yes I will do as he suggests.
Remember he gains NOTHING from making up storys about faulty gear.
He knows who I am ,and wants me to survive whatever I might take that mini 30 to.
Hope that makes it clear.
I happen to like the mini 30 as its close cousin to the Carbine and I just LOVE those,as wimpy as that round is = compared to the 7.62 X 39.
VA27
Member
I really, really, really want to like the Mini30. The fact that steel case ammo did not run well in any of the few I've tried is a heart (and deal) breaker.
I lucked on to a mint SKS 'tanker' (do the Chinese have paratroopers? I don't know, but I do know they have tanks, so I call mine a tanker.) so I am a happy person. Should Ruger ever get their act together on the Mini I'll try again.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
It sounds like y'all correspond and communicate, then. I couldn't tell that from my first read of your post.
What do you plan on replacing your Mini-30 with?
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