RE: Mini 14 for a PSL?

[DavidB2]

I am considering selling my Mini 14 Ranch Rifle so as to fund a Romanian PSL. I love the looks of the PSL and would love to add one to my meager collection of milsurp rifles. However, I have never shot one and am not sure about the quality control on these guns. My mini 14 is stainless and is a great gun; but I want to get rifles that I can also deer and hog hunt with, and I am not sure how the .223 would work for hunting. However, since I have a couple of Mosin-Nagants; I know that the 7.62 by .54 is a great big game round. The ammo is also relatively inexpensive and plentiful. I would appreciate the opinion of experts before I consider going through with this venture.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I would do it. The PSL is a fun gun to shoot, and would be more capable at long range than the Mini-14. Ammo is also cheap, Ammunition To Go has 880-round cases of Bulgy light ball for $149. I don't feel that either rifle is a tack driver, however.

 

[Kind of Blued]

From what I've read, chances are you won't get much of an increase in accuracy with the PSL, but if you practice with it, you'll definitely have a gun with enough power to make clean kills on hogs and deer.

For what it's worth, you could get a fantastic bolt-action hunting rifle that will put 'em right where you want 'em, likely for less money given the current state of the gun industry. You could then spend the rest getting the best scope you can, and some hunting ammo.

 

[Max C.]

I haven't shot one or taken one apart, but the PSL feels good. The Mini-14 seems to be better put together if only from looks, but both are solid firearms IMO.

 

[DavidB2]

RE: lightball ammo requirement

As I do research on the PSL, the main drawback is it prefers light ball ammo. With the predominant amount of the ammo being in 180 grain I am hesitant to buy something and the struggle finding ammo for the gun.

 

[Logan5]

It's hardly a struggle finding 147 grain 7.62x54R compared to any kind of .223 or 5.56 in bulk right now. You could stack a lot of spam cans in your basement for a few hundred bucks.

 

[WardenWolf]

On the one hand, non-corrosive 150 grain 7.62x54R is expensive as hell even when you can get it. On the other hand, you occasionally get good deals like AIM's $11.50 a box for PRVI Partisan soft points. And spam cans are always cheap. The problem with shooting corrosive ammo, though, is I figure I'm losing most of my savings on cleaning supplies.

Other than ammo issues, it's a great gun. Fun as hell to shoot, long-ranged, and accurate. It's a more versatile gun than a Mini 14, capable of taking big game. It also can be used as a battle rifle with the scope removed. It's a good choice.

However, a Mini-30 may be even better. The 7.62x39 round is equivalent in power to .30-30, easily enough for deer. The new Mini-30's are also quite accurate. Non-corrosive 7.62x39 is widely available, too, and you don't have to worry about bullet weights.

Of course, if you're like me, and just LOVE how the gun looks and feels, you've just got to get it. It's this big, booming gun that has almost no felt recoil, has long range, and great accuracy. What's not to like?

 

[Defense Minister]

As far as the .223 and hunting medium-sized game are concerned, use a bonded core or partition bullet of at least 55 grains and you will be fine, as long as you do your part in the shooting department. The .223 gets a bad rap as a hunting round because too many people have tried to take whitetails with it using the same ammo they use for ground squirrels, and a 45 grain ballistic tip bullet will not be very effective on deer.

 

[WardenWolf]

The .223 gets a bad rap as a hunting round because the round is small and many animals are big, and larger animals are more resistant to smaller wounds. It's not very effective against larger animals at the ranges you typically engage them. If I were the OP, and looking for a practical gun, I'd probably get a Mini-30. That will fill both the Mini-14's role and the PSL's role.