mini 30 vs mini 14 vs sks

[Vaarok]

For six hundred bucks you can get a low to midrange example of almost any military surplus semi in a plethora of calibers, any and all of which are built better than a Mini.

For $600 you'd be better off getting an AR, AK, FN-49, Hakim, Vz-52/57, SKS, M-1 Rifle, commercial M-1 Carbine, or even a CETME.

Or two SKSes and a pile of ammo.

 

[Ignition Override]

Compared to my limited rifle experience, the previous shooters' advice is all grounded on much more solid shooting foundations.
Bought a used Mini 14 and 30 last winter, then an SKS. Have shot the Mosin 44 since December.

The aftermarket mag problem with the Mini 30 is very real in many cases.
All three of mine (came with gun) were pretty bad. A gunsmith got just one to be sort of reliable-all are silver metal.Some guys can tweak theirs and have no more problems. Before I buy one, I'll see whether Ruger is really having a good one designed, then find out the price.
Keeping the carbon cleaned out of the chamber when using rigid steel shells can help stuck shells, according to gunsmiths' evaluations.

If somebody chooses to pursue the Mini 14, for some reason, there are now four full pages of them at GunBroker: it must be fuel costs and mortgage problems. My polymer 30-rd. Promag has only been loaded with 4-15 rounds, and used a few times, but works perfectly. Good-looking used 14s mostly list for $450-550 in a few stores near here, that is, if you can spot one, do not stay in the store long. For self-defense, I would never need one for more than about 50-100 feet: much further and I would make a tactical retreat-if possible (would probably be in my car if near a riot etc: a Mini would be handier in there than my standard SKS. An air strike on Iran or a US Navy ship somewhere in "the Gulf " could create long gas station lines and real trouble as people try to hoard gas...).
For offensive shooting, a Mosin Nagant 44 killed an adult bear with two shots ($.17/round, $90/rifle), and a single jhp round from a standard SKS quickly killed a large feral pig. The color photos of the swine are quite graphic and persuasive.
For very short-range needs, the shortest SKS - the so-called "Paratrooper"- appears to be very, very popular with its owners. Is this also worth considering?

 

[TxState101]

It is pretty disappointing to hear how inaccurate the Minis are. They are a great looking and handy sized carbine. For as much as they cost and fact that they are based on such a venerable design, it is a bit surprising to me that they are inaccurate.

Ruger retooled their entire line of Mini's about 2 1/2 years ago, if I remember correctly.

If the serial number is 580+++, you have a newer Mini-14/30 and it is significantly more accurate than the older models.

 

[BigNYMini]

Mini-30's are definately more desireable. Not as many available in the second hand market as the 14. Those that buy'em usually keep them. x39 is cheaper to shoot than the 14 and with minor tweaking can place a shot on target as well as any AK. I like the ranch version myself. The Mini also weighs less than your standard AK and WAY less than the SKS.

 

[justin 561]

SKS supports (reliably) 20 rd mags, stock can be lightened by after market composite, A SKS can be used to hunt Deer and pig.

 

[Thernlund]

For six hundred bucks you can get a low to midrange example of almost any military surplus semi

Or I could buy a crate of M44s.




-T.

 

[JohnMc]

FWIW, my particular Mini-30 won't always hit the primers of Combloc 7.62x39 ammo hard enough to ignite the charge. Other's mileage may vary.
I've compared the dents on the primers made by my mini to those made by an SKS, the dents made by the SKS were deeper.
It's usually around 1 out of 20. When I put them through again, they work fine.
A gunsmith told me it's likely the firing pin or its spring. I haven't bothered to have it fixed.
I bought it used, so I have no idea how many gazillion rounds went through it before I got it, but it wasn't all that worn.
Still, I like the looks of it, as it's much more PC than an SKS. With the factory five round mag, it looks the part of a hunting rifle.
Also, I have had no problems with the high cap mags I have, they are a collection of USA and Promags that I got during the waning days of Bill Clinton's presidency (that is, they were expensive).

 

[R.W.Dale]

Ruger retooled their entire line of Mini's about 2 1/2 years ago, if I remember correctly.

If the serial number is 580+++, you have a newer Mini-14/30 and it is significantly more accurate than the older models.

I keep hearing this repeated and I've been keeping abreast of the subject. YES from all accounts newer mini's are more accurate than older ones. But we're talkin about new ones shooting 6 MOA instead of 8

A Chinese SKS with a threaded in bbl and a Tech Sight is more rifle than the ruger can ever hope to be.

 

[Art Eatman]

As had been said many times, anybody expecting long strings of fire and tight groujps out of a Mini bought the wrong gun for the wrong purpose. I tend to want to get all snarky and make comments about some people wanting to enter a Cadillac sedan in the Indy 500.

Anybody who got one for hunting-style shooting has 99% odds of doing just fine. That's what I used mine for, and they always worked as well as any other rifle in .223.

What I find puzzling is the deal about after-market magazines. I had several 20-, 30- and even one 40-round magazine for my Mini. These were all made in the late 1970s or early 1980s. They all fed just fine. No problems for insertion or removal.

So, why the reported problems that are so common, today?

 

[MCgunner]

For what I gave for it and for its accuracy over the Ruger, I'd have to say SKS. Of course, when I got 'em, my paratrooper was 115 bucks and my rifle was 75 bucks. Kind of a no brainer at those prices, just had to have one regardless.

I'm sure the mini 30 is a handier piece. I wouldn't mind one in stainless/polymer stock for a knock around gun, but the SKSs serve the purpose even if they push 8 lbs. I ain't afraid to use 'em hard, put it that way. Ride 'em hard, put 'em up wet.

 

[mainmech48]

Art, I agree. My Mini-30 does exactly what I bought it to do just dandy.

MO, FWIW, on the magazine issues is that the relative quality of manufacture between your pre-Klinton Ban Mini-14 mags and the bulk of what's out there now is the primary culprit.

I waited until the so-called "Assault Weapons" ban expired to try high cap mags in my Mini-30, partly because I happened to buy it while it was still in effect and partly because of the outrageous expense involved in acquiring any "hi-cap" mags at the time.

I've run through about three dozen of assorted makes and prices so far to obtain four that actually run reliably in my carbine. All of those are 20-rd'ers; none of the 30's would work much better than 75%. without seriously tedious and frustrating modification work.

The biggest factors that I can identify seem to be that neither the followers or the profiles match the OEM 5-rd. mag very closely. None lock into position as solidly and exhibit "generous" tolerances, to put it mildly.

I may be wrong, but I suspect that none of the designs that I've seen so far have been purpose-made for the Ruger. They look to me as if someone started with an AK mag and changed it just enough to get it to "sorta" fit into the well of a Mini.