Ruger Mini-30: Comments and Alternatives?

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

The SKS is a Simonov design. It is actually based on a scaled-down anti-tank rifle and started as the SKS-41, introduced in that year in 7.62x54R, and then later the SKS-45, the design most people know.

So in effect what you have is a carbine (20.5" barrel in most cases) designed around a .30-06 class cartridge but chambered for a mid-range cartridge (think .30 Carbine or 5.56 NATO).

In other words, it's massively overbuilt. I even wonder if it was overbuilt for the 7.62x54R, but I'll concede a "probably not" there!

It's not going to break on you.

On the other hand, the AK is based on the Sturmgewehr 44's shape, but that's about it. It uses a rotating bolt instead of the SKS's tilting bolt and is designed for a less-than-full-power cartridge.

I believe the SKS would serve most best if needing a semi-automatic .30 caliber that's affordable. (I'd likely go with a Garand or M1 Carbine if I were going to spend more money.) If you're willing to take a bolt action, I truly believe you'd be best served by the M1903, Kar98, or Mosin-Nagant.

Regards,

Josh

 

[6x6pinz]

OK so you want a shorter version of the SKS

http://sgworks.com/

The Saiga is a great choice and you can pick from a variety of calibers. It can also be modified into what ever you want but it starts getting up in price when converting and brings in a lot of other choices. the 223, 545x39 and 762 x39 will work ok in stock configuration but are standard rifle length rifles. Converting them and putting a folding stock would serve well for storage and still allow it to be deployed into a long gun.

 

[kludge]

Another SKS vote.

Mine (Chinese, milled receiver) shoots as well or better than any Mini-30.

 

[dewalt-2]

My 189 series...

Trigger job, adjusted gas block, glass bedded stock, Wilson Combat 1911 buffers.
Shoots 2" groups @100yds with WWB 123 fmj's, better with hand loads before the barrel gets warm-then she starts to string some. Took a bunch of Blacktails with it in S.E. AK while I was there. Never had a single problem with it-just a great little carbine!

 

[BSA1]

I owned and shot a Mini regularly for over a decade. I never warmed up to it's ho-hum accuracy and sold it. The recent price drop on Saiga's got me interested again in this type of carbine. Mine was $316.00 shipping included. Even if it has the same ho-hum accuracy of the Mini I will have a rifle of the same quality as a Mini at the third of the money.

 

[Bill_Rights]

OP feedback, again....

Josh:
So as I was starting to clue in on, there is no geneological relationship between the AK and the SKS. See, this is confusing to us noobs.

6x6:
Wow. Cool little bullpup stock. I thought the mag well would have to be behind the trigger for bullpup. Oh wait! It is! (How'd they do that? It means that most any rifle could be converted to a bullpup with just a stock change - and here I thought there was some mystery...)

dewalt:
Sweet lookin' carbine! You say trigger job? What did you have done and can any gunsmith do it? Or is there a specialty shop? Also, what width of webbing do the D-rings for the sling like?
If you look closely at the newer models, looks like they thickened the barrel all the way out past the front gas block clamp (or whatever that is). Some say this will give more shots before barrel heating becomes a factor. When yours starts stringing, do the bullets drift up, down, left or what? Did Ruger ever put out any with thicker barrel and wood stock? Can you buy a wood stock to replace the syn stock on the new stainless/thick barrel models? What year did Ruger go to the thicker barrel? The syn stock?

BSA:
I bought a used Mini-30. (Still waiting for it to arrive.) But the guy who sold it to me held on to his SKS. Go figure. There's no accounting for taste in this world. Or for screwed up thinking....