Ruger Mini Thirty for All Around Rifle?

[Sheepdog1968]

Now a 10mm Carbine....that would be something to consider. It's still a pistol cartridge with limited range and energy though.

M

Didn't Jeff Cooper talk about a system he called Thumper that had I think the 44 automagically cartridge?

 

[MachIVshooter]

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.

That is why they're not even close. Nothing to do with energy, everything to do with how that energy can be turned into a wound.

It's pretty much the same as .357 Sig vs. .357 mag; while some loads put the Sig round very close to .357 mag in energy (a measurement that means little on it's own), the .357 mag can do that with 158 or 180 gr. bullets that will actually hold together and achieve penetration, where the .357 Sig is driving light-for-caliber bullets at high velocity to achieve the numbers that sell guns and ammo but mean little in the real world.

I'd take a .30-30 over a 7.62x39 for any hunting purpose every single day and twice on Sunday.

PS-if you're worried about trajectories and energies, perhaps drop your favored core lokd load and pick up some Hornady Leverevolution. Flatter trajectory and higher velocity/energy than the el cheapo Rem loads.

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-30-Win-160-gr-FTX-LEVERevolution/

 

[wamj2008]

Swampman, thanks for the tip on the VZ2008. The only issue is I'm not sure I can find 5 round magazines. In Maine, you cannot hunt with a semi-auto that holds more than 6 rounds. I suppose I could "permanently alter" a 30 round magazine to only hold 5 rounds, but that seems like a waste and I will appear to be hunting with a 30 rounder.

 

[alientrainwreck]

If your not dead set on an automatic I think the Bolt action mossberg patrolman's carbine in 308 or 223 whould be a nice rifle with it excepting AR style mags looks good. My local GS had one in stock about 2 weeks ago it sold fast But it is on my bucket list, they look to be a well built rifle having a short throw bolt and threaded barrel and high cap mags it may be your gun. Just a thought.

 

[Swampman]

@ wamj2008
You could order 5 round mags from any number of Canadian suppliers. I believe that 5 rounds is the maximum number they're allowed to have in a semi auto, detachable magazine rifle.

Zahal in Israel also makes them, although shipping would be expensive.

I've modified a couple VZ58 30 round mags into 20's. It's fairly easy and straightforward, the mags are aluminum and pretty easy to work with.

Look around in The VZ58 thread right here in Rifle Country for instructions and tips on the conversion.

Feel free to shoot me a PM or email if you've got any questions after researching the topic.

 

[jmr40]

I think a mini-30 and the 7.62 round can be used successfully. It is a far cry from an all around rifle though.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I'd also rather have the 30-30. Comparing apples to apples, a 150 grain 30-30 will probably do 2400 FPS, while a 154 grain 7.62x39 will only do 2100 FPS. It's true that the pointed 7.62 bullet is better at range, but at the distances where that starts mattering, I wouldn't want to be hunting with either a lever action or a Mini 30.