ruger mini 14 vs 30 what to get?
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adelbridge
Member
if you are going to use it to hunt larger animals get the 7.62X39. If you re a fan of cheap russian ammo they are about the same price to shoot. If you are going to stick to brass ammo probably go with the .223. I personally dont like to own two guns in the same caliber so if you have a .223 or if you have a 7.62 mix it up and get what you dont own.
T Bran
Member
My MINI 30 is my only x39 rifle I am pleased with it. I chose the 30 because I already had a .223 bolt gun and wanted a new caliber.
I probably should have gotten a 14 to help consolidate my reloading supplies but just couldnt resist.
I probably should have gotten a 14 to help consolidate my reloading supplies but just couldnt resist.
Double Vision
Member
I had trouble deciding so I got both. 
That being said, I prefer the 7.62x39 caliber over .223/5.56.
Whatever you decide, stock up on ammo. They Mini is a fun rifle to shoot.
Good luck.
That being said, I prefer the 7.62x39 caliber over .223/5.56.
Whatever you decide, stock up on ammo. They Mini is a fun rifle to shoot.
Good luck.
CountryUgly
Member
I've got the 30 because it's illegal to hunt deer with .223 where I live and the .223 doesn't fill a niche for me. Granted the 30 is basically a farm hand but I can use it for hunting if I want and it takes care of critters just fine.
I've had a couple mini 14s and, while I have always liked the basic Garand/M14 type action, I have never been overly impressed by the accuracy of the mini 14 rifles I've had. Although, I have heard they are better now. So, I guess if it were me I'd try the mini 30. Just keep in mind that you might run into accuracy issues with the mini 30 involving the bore diameter. It's my understanding that the mini 30 uses something of a "compromise" chamber and a bore diameter of around .310. Standard .30 is .308 and 7.62x39 is .312.
David E
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Had a Mini 30 and sold it. Functional hicap mags were impossible to find at the time (learned that USA brand mags suck!) and surplus ammo often had hard primers the Mini couldn't set off.
Now, there are more American loadings, tho they cost more.
If its to be a deer hunting rifle with factory 5 shot mags, then it'd be fine.
Now, there are more American loadings, tho they cost more.
If its to be a deer hunting rifle with factory 5 shot mags, then it'd be fine.
Texan Scott
Member
+1 for 7.62x39. Good hog & deer caliber. (better than .223, anyway). good multi-purpose rifle.
Compromising the two 7.62x39mms
What Bushpilot said about the difference in diameter within the same caliber is a the reason I shy away from the Mini-30, ARs in 7.62X39 or any other non-Russian design.
I'm not a Russian gun fanatic, but I've owned several AKs and SKSs.
U.S. manufacturers face a dilemma the Soviets didn't have to worry about: Winchester makes a round in that caliber that's 2mils wider than the Russian round. If Ruger made the barrel to accommodate that bullet, Russian rounds that were fired from it would shoot horribly, and the pressure leakage would do serious damage to the barrel.
This is what backs me off from getting an AR upper in that caliber. I remember some guys in a gun store backordering Rossi Wizard barrels in that caliber. I asked them if they'd read the Spec. Warning that cautions against any use of Russian .30 ammo.They shrugged it off with a "It's close enough!"
Ruger came up with the only feasible compromise that would fire both rounds safely and without rapid barrel damage. They made the barrel just small enough for the Russian diameter, and they put in an extreme forcing cone to resize any potential Win. .30s down almost 2mils to come up with a gun whose accuracy can, at best, achieve the lower level of 'acceptable'. If you're making close, sure-thing shots, you'll be satisfied.
If you compete for popping golf balls at 50 yds., it'probably won't win you over.
I don't know why so many shooters want to accurize that caliber, in the first place. It's a bit overweight for the speed it's supposed to reach.
- 2300 FPS from a 124gr. bullet?
What Bushpilot said about the difference in diameter within the same caliber is a the reason I shy away from the Mini-30, ARs in 7.62X39 or any other non-Russian design.
I'm not a Russian gun fanatic, but I've owned several AKs and SKSs.
U.S. manufacturers face a dilemma the Soviets didn't have to worry about: Winchester makes a round in that caliber that's 2mils wider than the Russian round. If Ruger made the barrel to accommodate that bullet, Russian rounds that were fired from it would shoot horribly, and the pressure leakage would do serious damage to the barrel.
This is what backs me off from getting an AR upper in that caliber. I remember some guys in a gun store backordering Rossi Wizard barrels in that caliber. I asked them if they'd read the Spec. Warning that cautions against any use of Russian .30 ammo.They shrugged it off with a "It's close enough!"
Ruger came up with the only feasible compromise that would fire both rounds safely and without rapid barrel damage. They made the barrel just small enough for the Russian diameter, and they put in an extreme forcing cone to resize any potential Win. .30s down almost 2mils to come up with a gun whose accuracy can, at best, achieve the lower level of 'acceptable'. If you're making close, sure-thing shots, you'll be satisfied.
If you compete for popping golf balls at 50 yds., it'probably won't win you over.
I don't know why so many shooters want to accurize that caliber, in the first place. It's a bit overweight for the speed it's supposed to reach.
- 2300 FPS from a 124gr. bullet?
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Ruger Mini-30 barrels have been .311 since the early 90's---I called them and asked.
Old judge creek
Member
I have both a Mini 14 and a Mini 30 (and an M1A, as far as that goes). Between the 14 and the 30, I'd choose the 30 over the 14 every time because it offers the larger, and heavier bullet for use on game. And I figure that my needs vs game will probably be 1000 times more useful than vs another man.
With the foregoing in mind, I long ago relegated the Mini14 to my now late wife's use and chose the Mini 30 for myself (and then later moved up to a 308 combo: an M1A SOCOM16 paired with a Ruger 77 RSI bolt rifle - but that took a lot of years for me to accomplish).
We tend to forget that the human being is a very delicate soft target and comparatively easy to put out of action. That's why the 223 works so efficiently. And as well, lets not forget the 222/223 rounds were initially designed to be SMALL critter varmint rounds.
So there ya go... one old man's opinion.
With the foregoing in mind, I long ago relegated the Mini14 to my now late wife's use and chose the Mini 30 for myself (and then later moved up to a 308 combo: an M1A SOCOM16 paired with a Ruger 77 RSI bolt rifle - but that took a lot of years for me to accomplish).
We tend to forget that the human being is a very delicate soft target and comparatively easy to put out of action. That's why the 223 works so efficiently. And as well, lets not forget the 222/223 rounds were initially designed to be SMALL critter varmint rounds.
So there ya go... one old man's opinion.
I own both.
If you go Mini-30, shoot only Russian Silver Bear (steel case), Yugo milsurp (corrosive) for economy and Winchester USA, Fiocchi, PMC, Prvi Partizan (all brass-cased, reloadable) if you don't mind paying more for ammo, or your own brass reloads.
Avoid the rest of the Russian imported stuff or you will eventually likely need a new firing pin from Ruger (only reliable source and you will have to send in your rifle).
Mini-14s don't have this problem with steel ammo, BTW.
This info is considered to be the consensus on the Perfect Union forum (enclave of Ruger mini fanboys).
Good Luck
M
If you go Mini-30, shoot only Russian Silver Bear (steel case), Yugo milsurp (corrosive) for economy and Winchester USA, Fiocchi, PMC, Prvi Partizan (all brass-cased, reloadable) if you don't mind paying more for ammo, or your own brass reloads.
Avoid the rest of the Russian imported stuff or you will eventually likely need a new firing pin from Ruger (only reliable source and you will have to send in your rifle).
Mini-14s don't have this problem with steel ammo, BTW.
This info is considered to be the consensus on the Perfect Union forum (enclave of Ruger mini fanboys).
Good Luck
M
Ignition Override
Member
I had both calibers and both were the older models with the thick front post sight.
Sold them both because I only use iron sights.
You might actually enjoy an SKS with a nice aperture Tech Sight (the Mini's old sights can't compare), but
ten rds. are not enough for many people.
Sold them both because I only use iron sights.
You might actually enjoy an SKS with a nice aperture Tech Sight (the Mini's old sights can't compare), but
ten rds. are not enough for many people.
dprice3844444
member
they wee having bolt probs with the 30 mini according to reports on thr. steel ammo residue was clogging thhe firing pin hole. use brass only
NWcityguy2
Member
If you plan to use it to punch hole in paper the Mini 14 seems like the obvious choice. If you want to use it for hunting something bigger than a Yote the 30 seems pretty obvious. If you plan to punch paper with it and keep it loaded for SD or some kind of SHTF gun, take your pick and become a good shot with it, both calibers can get the job done.
I've got a 14 because I got a good deal on it and don't ever plan to use it to save my life. And even if I have to I feel confident with 223 anyway.
I've got a 14 because I got a good deal on it and don't ever plan to use it to save my life. And even if I have to I feel confident with 223 anyway.
Hollerpoint
Member
My mini 30 wouldnt ignite any of the surplus ammo with hard primers... Thus I sold it. With a red dot sight it would hit a 5 gallon bucket at 50 yards. I am opposed to owning a firearm that requires manufacturer service. The local gunsmiths around here wont touch any Ruger products.
Gunsmiths won't touch Ruger products
I tend to get a trigger job on just about every firearm I buy, even my Berretta 92FS - which has the reputation as one of the best pistols available in terms of out-of-the-box trigger pull. Mine was horrible.
But my gunsmith said there was nothing he could do on any of the most popular Ruger firearms. I was buying a .44 mag, and the single action pull on the Redhawk and Blackhawk (super and std.) was at least 6lbs. on all of them - there's no excuse for that.
The Minis have really bad, unfixable, out-of-the-box triggers. They might might make some quality guns by other measures, but their triggers will prevent me from ever owning one.
Different people have different priorities on accessing quality. S&W semi-auto pistols continue to sell, including the DAO models with a 12 lb. pull. I can't believe the buyers accept that.
I tend to get a trigger job on just about every firearm I buy, even my Berretta 92FS - which has the reputation as one of the best pistols available in terms of out-of-the-box trigger pull. Mine was horrible.
But my gunsmith said there was nothing he could do on any of the most popular Ruger firearms. I was buying a .44 mag, and the single action pull on the Redhawk and Blackhawk (super and std.) was at least 6lbs. on all of them - there's no excuse for that.
The Minis have really bad, unfixable, out-of-the-box triggers. They might might make some quality guns by other measures, but their triggers will prevent me from ever owning one.
Different people have different priorities on accessing quality. S&W semi-auto pistols continue to sell, including the DAO models with a 12 lb. pull. I can't believe the buyers accept that.
Did your gunsmith say why there was "nothing he could do" on Ruger triggers? Trigger work certainly can be done on Ruger guns, including the minis. I'm guessing the reason that your smith won't do trigger work on Rugers is because of their policy of making many "trigger" parts "restricted to factory installation" only. So, if the smith makes a mistake or finds a part that needs to be replaced he may not be able to easily obtain a replacement.
My newer models have very acceptable triggers (I ain't no prima dona) but John Baker at Great Western Gunsmithing by all accounts does exceptional trigger and accuracy work on Minis.
http://www.greatwestgunsmithing.com/
M
http://www.greatwestgunsmithing.com/
M
jimmyraythomason
Member
I've had many Rugers since my first Blackhawk .357 in 1972 including multiple minis(have a Mini-30 now),never once had a trigger problem. As to the OP's question regarding which to buy between the two,I suggest getting the Mini-30. Mini-14s are easier to find and are usually less costly than the 7.62x39mm.
Snubshooter
Member
I like the mini platform. I have an older stainless mini 14 that is very reliable and accurate( hand sized groups at 150 yards). I think you would be happy with either the 14 or the 30 for general shooting. If you are going to take game the 30 is a better choice. If you are talking defense the 14's ammo is more readily available.
Ignition Override
Member
For what it is worth, I never learned whether the (2004) Mini 30's hammer spring had been replaced by the previous owner.
About every 60 rds. or so a round would fire only after the second pin strike.
And a round would misfeed from an aftermarket mag about every 60-100 rds.
Again, the only reason I sold both the 14 and the 30 was because of the thick front post sights.
About every 60 rds. or so a round would fire only after the second pin strike.
And a round would misfeed from an aftermarket mag about every 60-100 rds.
Again, the only reason I sold both the 14 and the 30 was because of the thick front post sights.
Belated response
I have to confess that I'm really picky about light triggers. A crisp 4-5lbs is OK, but a long DA pull? Even the 3.5 comp. trigger on my Glock 30 was too much - I got rid of it.
I've always needed a light trigger for accuracy, but a real-life "old war wound" to my spinal cord has progressively weakened my hands. Now, in my 60's, I'm pretty fussy about it, my gunsmith knows that, and he's probably - premptively -warning me to avoid guns that he can't easily tune to my satisfaction.
I guess I should have stated my bias upfront. Some Rugers that I've wanted to buy have aggravated me when I found out everything was as advertised, but (like the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag), they consistently put too much weight -even on a SA revolver trigger.
Their AR is nice. How much? $1300 or so? But an 8lb trigger?
Come on, folks!
(let a cranky old man gripe!)
I have to confess that I'm really picky about light triggers. A crisp 4-5lbs is OK, but a long DA pull? Even the 3.5 comp. trigger on my Glock 30 was too much - I got rid of it.
I've always needed a light trigger for accuracy, but a real-life "old war wound" to my spinal cord has progressively weakened my hands. Now, in my 60's, I'm pretty fussy about it, my gunsmith knows that, and he's probably - premptively -warning me to avoid guns that he can't easily tune to my satisfaction.
I guess I should have stated my bias upfront. Some Rugers that I've wanted to buy have aggravated me when I found out everything was as advertised, but (like the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag), they consistently put too much weight -even on a SA revolver trigger.
Their AR is nice. How much? $1300 or so? But an 8lb trigger?
Come on, folks!
(let a cranky old man gripe!)
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