Ruger Mini Thirty for All Around Rifle?

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wamj2008

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Merry Christmas!

Does any own a Ruger Mini 30, especially a newer model? I'd really like to have one gun for white tail deer hunting in Maine and any SHTF situation that may arise. It seems like the 7.62x39 is the best round to accommodate this goal. AKs and their variants seem a little on the heavier side and are too "commie" for my tastes, so I am really interested in a Mini 30. Windham Weaponry (Maine company) also makes an AR in that round so that is a possibility as well, though I'd prefer something less "EBR" looking. If anyone has any experience or suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!
 
as long as your deer hunting doesn't involve shooting farther then a 100 yards youll be fine. the two I had would shoot about a 4 inch group at that range and that's after some load developement
 
I've been thinking about Mini 30 for quite some time now. To make good use of the caliber 150yd accuracy should be around 3" or better, which means that I either need a particularly good example right out of the box (not likely to happen) or Accuracy Systems' target barrel and gas block, which essentially defeats the whole purpose in terms of cost and weight.

This doesn't mean I won't buy one if I find one at a good price, but I'm not actively looking for one anymore. My 99/44 does everything a Mini 30 does up to 100 yards and for longer distances I have other rifles.
 
I used a Mini-30 Stainless Ranch for hunting this pas year with success. I've shot it on the range and accuracy was good at 100 yards with 3" groups and so-so at 200 with @7" being the norm. Where I hunt, 100 yards is about as far as I have a to shoot.

I think the Mini-30 ranch makes a fine all-around rifle.

I also own a Mini-30 Tactical that I installed the excellent Tech-sights rear sight on that is seriously fun to shoot and is an excellent choice for a HD or truck rifle. No plans on running optics on this one.
 
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I understand your needs, but having gotten an AK, a Mini-30 and a new Rock River LAR 47, I would consider going with the bolt action CZ 527 or the Rock River. I understand about wanting a little bit more understatement, and I included the CZ because of that. They are clearly a superior gun with accuracy as well. Very light and you can carry multiple mags if necessary. Mine shoots all American ammo as well.

The Rock River is everything I hoped the Ruger Mini-30 was. That is its accurate and dependable and very easy to move around with . It digests anything I put in it and does not jam. It takes AK magazines and that is a huge advantage in my book. I'm not getting down on the RUger, as I've gotten it to where its pretty reliable, but it didn't like cheaper 7.62x39 ammo to begin with and can't begin to match the reliability of that Rock River. The Mini is usually fairly accurate and believe my best groups were in the 2.5inch range. More commonly, 3 inches can be expected. Rock River's Lar 47 is pretty pricey, but very fun and has a bit more in the possibility range than the little Mini-30. Its groups are in the 1 inch range with good ammo.

The AK probably trumps all the auto's, but is what it is. The least accurate of the bunch and the most reliable.

I still vote the CZ 527. It NEVER does worse than 2 inches, and does that with your cheapest ammo. With hand loads, there are not too many thin barreled guns that can match it in my mind.
 
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Soft Point/Vmax hand loads and Burris scope have gotten me 2-inch five-shot groups at 100 yds with the Tactical. I don't hunt with it, but consistent hits at 200 yards on eight inch plates with a bit of hold over makes it viable if not optimal in a SHTF scenario.

The Colt AR betters that with 1 MOA, decent mags, easy optic mounting. In the case of the RRA, the ability to take AK mags would be optimal in the AR platform.

My Saiga also hits the 8-inch plates with ease...irons or optics...with Wolf MC HP.

BTW, I shot next to a guy with his CZ 527 last week. In talking with him, I was surprised to learn the CZ doesn't light U.S. made (WWB) ammo. He said the CZ website and service rep told him to only shoot European brass or Russian steel ammo. Apparently it was a headspace issue. Doc, I wonder if you have encountered this problem?

I almost forgot, the SKS in it's better iterations would work, too. Forget optics, though.

OP: Good luck with your decision.

M
 
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Check out the CAI Centurion 39 Sporter. It is an AK variant, but 100% American made. Milled ATM receiver, Green Mountain barrel, pretty laminated furniture. Mine shoots just under 2 MOA with Silver Bear SP's, sighting through an Aimpoint 9000 on an Ultimak gas tube rail. It is my go-to pig gun.
 
Ruger Mini Thirty for All Around Rifle?
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No. IMO, it lacks the power, accuracy and durability to be that. Look to its full sized inspiration (or another proven .308) if you want a true do-all.

I had a mini, and they're fun, handy little carbines. But they are not hunting rifles, and they are not combat weapons. Plinking is the only role they fill well.
 
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Ruger Mini Thirty for All Around Rifle?
No. IMO, it lacks the power, accuracy and durability to be that. Look to its full sized inspiration (or another proven .308) if you want a true do-all.

I had a mini, and they're fun, handy little carbines. But they are not hunting rifles, and they are not combat weapons. Plinking is the only role they fill well.
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I agree with the accuracy concerns with the Ruger, that rep is pretty hard to escape. As for power, I don't see any meaningful difference between the Russian round and the .30-30. In fact, the pointed rounds pass the round nose 30 WCF past 175 yards or so. It is plenty for whitetail if you have a rig that can hit them.
 
While I believe the Russian round is enough cartridge for deer, I also agree with Mach4shooter, I don't think I could limit myself to 7.63x39 round as a "do everything" rifle. There are better choices. If it is what I had and if it shot well, I could live with it and be thankful to have it, but an accurate .308 carbine would likely be my first choice. My "do it all" would look something like a Ruger gunsite scout or Remmy 7600p.
 
AKElroy said:
While I believe the Russian round is enough cartridge for deer
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It definitely is. The problem with Mini, however, is that most of them are not accurate enough to take advantage of what the caliber can do. Otherwise I'd highly recommend a Sako M92S for a perfect combination of accuracy, reliability and quality, but finding one is no easy task. I only put a couple of hundred rounds through mine before I realized how collectible it is and they're better kept as safe queens.
 
I'm the new guy here, but not to shooting.

I picked up a mini 30 couple of years ago and it is my go to. I use it for pest control and it is my truck/boat gun. The accuracy is OK for the ranges I use it for (200yds or under).


I have tried a lot of different rifles looking for one with the right balence of power, portability, and noise. The mini is about as loud as I can take if I have to make a quick shot on a coyote or other predator. I like the ergonomics of the mini over the AR platform so I replaced my last AR in 300blk and have never regretted it.


I will say the biggest down side is the mags. The factory mags are the only reliable mags I have found and they are expensive.
 
Thanks for your responses. I've read that older mini's have issues with the barrel getting hot and throwing shots. Newer barrels do not have this issue, especially the "tactical" model with the 16.25" barrel. I've had an SKS in the past but did not like the integral magazine.

Basically I'm looking for a light semi-auto in a popular caliber with large capacity magazines, that are reliable and powerful enough to hunt deer with. Many .223's fit the first requirement but not the latter. .30 Carbine does not seem to be a good deer hunting round, either. So that leaves me with the 7.62x39 and the many rifles in that caliber. If I don't get the 30, I'd probably go with the Windham Weaponry AR, since it is a local company.
 
For deer, an AR-15 in 300 Blackout (can somewhat mirror 7.62x39 ballistics) would be a better choice than a Mini 30. Reloading for that caliber helps also.
 
I don't understand how you would say that a 300blk would be a better choice. It is a better choice for some applications, as in suppressed rifles. However you are saying that it is almost as powerful is true.

If your recommending the 300blk because of accuracy then, I would argue that even if the mini can only hold 2-3moa then it's still plenty accurate to hit game sub 200yds. Where it runs out of power anyways.

The 7.62x39mm also has cheap plinking ammo, something not available with the 300blk.

The 300blk really shines if you are shooting supressed with subsonic ammo though.
 
"....30 Carbine does not seem to be a good deer hunting round,..." Use the right bullet and ammo. Factory is usually somewhat anemic, but loading 110 grain HP's will change that. No milsurp at all.
And any M1 Carbine will shoot circles around any over priced, inaccurate, Mini-Thirty.
.223 needs the right bullet as well. And the right rifling twist. I think it's light as well, but there are lots of good deer bullets available now. Has to be legal in Maine to start too.
 
Ok, here we go again....

I've killed a bunch of deer with my original Mini 30. Longest shot was 173 yards using factory Remington ammo.

I also have 5 SKSs of various makes and the Mini is more accurate than any of them and much better made. I also have 4 AKs including A Chinese MAK90, Romanian and 2 Saigas, one converted and one left as a sporter. The Mini is more accurate and better made than any of them.

In that the Mini is based on hybrid M14/M1 Carbine system it is quite reliable and durable.

So yeah, if you want a reliable sporter looking semi auto rifle that is ok* for deer then Mini 30 is a decent choice.

* while I've killed a number of deer with the 7.62x39 it is not my favorite and comes no where near a 30-30. Even though people who don't hunt says the ballistics are the similar (they aren't even close).
 
7.62x39 and the 30-30 are not even close? 7.62x39 123 gr SST carries 1147 ft lbs at 100 yards, 850 at 200. Sighted in 1.5" high at 100, it will still be less than 2" low at 200.

My favorite .30-30 load, 170 gr Corlokts carry 1218 ft lbs at 100, dropping to 795 at 200. Sighted 1.5" high at 100, you must deal with being 7" low at 200.

I love my .30-30's and have taken lots of whitetail and pigs with them. Probably my favorite hunting choice. That said, I do not feel the least bit disadvantaged carrying an accurate 7.62x39 in the woods. I Consider myself a frequent hunter, by the way. You do need quality soft points for cleanly taking game; folks that venture into the woods with cheap surplus may have the experience you describe. With good bullets, the deer will not be offended by either choice. The math is the math.
 
I have owned a parkarized mini 30 for several years now, I do my own Reloading and I suppose I have found the sweet spot, my gun has a pinned birdcage flash hider and I put a limbsaver xring about 3"s down from the muzzle and I am getting 2" or better groups sighted 1" high at 100yrds and about 5"s low at 200yrds I limit my shots on deer to 150 but coyotes and such at 200 I have taken several deer with 1 shot kills and Just recently I shot a coyote at almost 300yrds with it, I thought I missed at first as he ran then he tumbled up and I went to see were I hit him, it was a perfect heart shot he ran about 40yrds. I held over aiming at his spine so it dropped about 8" more from 200 to 280yrds. I just love mine and several people have offerd to buy it. I won't ever sell it.
 
I suppose I could look for a 45 ACP Carbine since I already have a hand gun in 45 but I don't know how effective they'd be for deer.
 
wamj2008 said:
I suppose I could look for a 45 ACP Carbine since I already have a hand gun in 45 but I don't know how effective they'd be for deer.
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Now a 10mm Carbine....that would be something to consider. It's still a pistol cartridge with limited range and energy though.

M
 
In my opinion, any pistol caliber carbine would be a very poor choice as an "all around rifle" for hunting and self defense.

Even the 7.62x39 is going to limit you quite a bit in your maximum effective range, a good semi automatic rifle in .308 like the Zasteva PAP 77 will give you considerably more range and power than any 7.62x39. At $519, it's also a good bit cheaper than the Ruger.

https://www.classicfirearms.com/zastava308calibersemiautorifle10rd

If you really want a 7.62x39 you should take a hard look at the VZ2008. It has better ergonomics than an AK, SKS or the Ruger Mini 30 and the accuracy is excellent for a weapon of this type. It's also a good bit lighter than an AK or SKS and is only 8 ounces heavier than the Ruger.
Both of mine will shoot into less than two inches at 100 yards with decent ammo. They're also much cheaper than a Mini 30. Palmetto State Armory has them for $379 and they come with three, 30 round mags, a sling and a cleaning kit.

palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/18765/s/century-vz2008-7-62x39-w-3-mags-cleaning-kit-sling/

I'd still recommend that you get a weapon in a real rifle caliber. Assault rifle calibers such as 7.62x39, 5.56x45 and 8mm Kurtz are compromises designed to allow controllable fully automatic fire and to make it possible for each infantryman to carry more ammunition.

Neither of those attributes are likely to be of great value to a civilian, the increased range, power and killing ability of a traditional rifle caliber are.
 
I very much like the minis and even more so after the retooled the lines in the mid to late 2000s. I agree that a 7.62x39 is a good cartridge as it is very close to the venerable 30-30. Likely get 2 or 3 MOA out of it which is more than good enough for hunting or self defense. Jeff Cooper felt 3 MOA was enough accuracy needed so it's not just my opinion. Put a wood stock on it and you would have a very nice looking rifle there.
 
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