mini 30 vs. ak 47

[KevininPa]

I have an unconverted Saiga.....

......( Yeah, I know, shame on me for not converting! ), that I like a lot. Mine has a factory wood stock. Which actually shoulders and handles a lot better than that weird, almost English-style synthetic. I treat it like a "poor mans mini-30". With a Mojo rear and a KNS Precision crosshair front sight, it handles my camping needs. The trigger pull is a little long and gritty compared to my buddys converted model, but I can shoot mine and his equally well and doesn't phase me much. Heck, my Hi-Power clone still has the mag disconnect in it. Shoot something enough, its pecularities won't phase you much. And compared to the two WASRs that I have access to, it's not bad. For the price I paid for it years ago, I can live with its "personality". Back then it was a third of the price of a new Mini and still less than half of a used one. Even now with what I have in the sights and stock, it's still less than half of a new Mini. You can buy a new one and do the conversion yourself for way cheaper than a Mini or an Arsenal. I considered it but all my long guns have a sporting style stock, so I'm used to and comfortable with that style.

 

[Girodin]

Which furniture do you have? There are various offerings for Sig 556s. The 556R has had a number of issue I have neither experienced (I have multiple shooting friends that own Sig 556s) or seen reported on other sig models.

The mag shelf was just one of the issues with 556R. In its second attempt to make the 556R functional sig is purported to have changed the following:

The recoil spring is stronger and has 4 more pounds of pressure than previous guns.

The magazine well has been widened to accept all manner of variations of steel AK magazines.

The extractor is wider than on previous guns and the extractor spring has been beefed up.

The extractor spring is 30% stronger than on an AK-47

Chamber dimensions have been opened up 5 thousands to accommodate variations in "medium quality ammunition" (basically the crap ammo that is so prevalent in 7.62x39).

The internal magazine shelf made is now made of hardened steel.

How they screwed up their first release of the 556R so bad is beyond me. A semi auto 7.62x39 that wont reliably run steel case is going to be a non starter (this is one, but certainly not the only, reason I'd avoid the mini 30). A rifle that takes AK mags, but not steel ones, is just stupid.

They appear to have improved it. However, based on the guns I've seen, the pictures I've seen online, and reports from buyers, I still don't think they are building the gun they should/could be. Its disappointing. The rumor, from industry folks, is that wolf will be importing steel cased 300 Blk. This would make the Sig 556R even less relevant if it happens.

 

[Swampman]

Originally posted by mac66

Comparing a RR to a Land Cruiser is hardly apples to apples is it? A more fair comparison would be a Yugo (AK) to Ford Escape (Mini 30).

Comparing an AK to a Mini 30 isn't exactly "apples to apples" either.

More like apples to horseapples, not the Bois 'd arc (bodark) kind either, the kind that comes outta the south end of a northbound horse when he hits a stiff trot.

The AK is, or has been, carried by numerous military, police and paramilitery forces around the globe.

Can you name even ONE official armed organization that has chosen the Mini 30 as its standard longarm and still carries it?
Just one?

Why would any armed force adopt it aside from "buy American" or some sort of perceived "PC" advantage on the part of administrative types?
It's demonstrably less reliable than an AK and far less accurate than an AR.
The worst of both worlds.

At least if your AK is inaccurate, you can blame it on a poorly executed chrome lined barrel.

Chrome lined barrels are a feature that pretty much all current first line military weapons possess.

A feature that the Mini 30 doesn't have.
You get all the inaccuracy WITHOUT any extra protection for your barrel!

I'm not saying that given proper maintenance and careful ammo selection a Mini couldn't make a reasonably reliable weapon for those willing to work around its flaws.

But why would anyone want to?
Unless perhaps, they had already paid good money for one and wanted to convince both themselves and others that purchasing it was a sound decision.

With the Mini 30 you MIGHT get a weapon that's marginally more accurate than an AK (although this is doubtful when comparing it to a quality AK such as the Arsenal).

In return you get decreased reliability, mags that are far more expensive, a barrel that will heat up faster, rust more easily and wear out sooner, PLUS the inability to reliably digest AT LEAST 99% of the worlds total supply of 7.62x39 ammunition.

Did I mention that there are far fewer aftermarket parts for the Mini?

The Mini 30 doesn't sound like a wise decision to me given the OPs two stated candidates.

If you look at everything else that's available out there, choosing a Mini 30 to stake your life on would be truly unsound.

A good, accurate shooting SKS is far superior for less than half the cash outlay.

For not much more than what you'd pay for the Arsenal, you could get an M1a.
And then you'd have the best of ALL worlds (except weapon and ammo weight of course).

 

[Isaac-1]

I just wanted to say don't discount the "cheap" AK's out of hand, the problem with the WASR's is qualtiy control, not lack of quality of production. You can get a good one, and chances are not that bad if you know what to look for, and have a selection where you can get pick of the litter.

 

[sansone]

to answer the op's original question, I easily choose the mini 30 over an AK.
Quality of construction is obvious with both guns side by side.
Cost & accuracy is close, and Ruger is far more likely to correct ANY problem with the rifle, forever.. easy choice

 

[Quentin]

Quality be damned, a Rolls Royce has much higher quality standards than a Toyota Land Cruiser, does that make it a better "bug out" vehicle?

Also, regarding the "made by commie slaves" comment, have you somehow missed the last 20+ years of newspaper deliveries?

I love both points! Thanks especially for the second one!

 

[Swampman]

Quentin
Thank you Sir!
To be honest, I halfway expected a "what's a newspaper" question.