The quest for an accurate 7.62X39 (Ruger Mini 30 VS the AR 15 platform)

[whatnickname]

Admittedly "accurate" is a relative term. I certainly wouldn't expect bench rest accuracy out of your basic AKM (civilian version of the AK47). These rifles weren't designed as bench rest rifles. They were designed for a combat role and for this they do well. Perhaps their greatest asset is their ease of use and reliability. On the other side of the coin the ever prolific Romanian AK that seem to flood our market today is simply dismal in the accuracy department (I suspect that someone or a lot of someones in Romania are seriously pissed off with the US and have elected to get even with us in this manner.) I just finished reading an article in the current issue of Rifle Shooter about as US manufactured AK in the $1000 range that the manufacturer touts as a 2 MOA rifle at 100 yards. The rather limited range test in the article praised the weapon for its 3" groups at 100 yards. So if the author is this impressed with the accuracy of this rifle, and has tested the many AKs as he claims to have tested, then I infer from this that your basic AKM is piss poor in the accuracy department. All of this said, I find value in the ballistic attributes that the 7.62X39 brings to the table as a tool to carry in my truck to deal with the odd porcupine and armadillo I come across out here in the Mid-West. So if the AKM isn't going to work for me, I'm considering either the Ruger Ranch Rifle in stainless or perhaps building one on an AR15 platform (my M4 shoots sub MOA groups so I know what it will do) I read a while back that Ruger put some more rigor around the mini 14 rifle with the idea of improving the accuracy. I've not seen much in the way of any reports on the results here. Does anyone have a recent example of the Mini 14 / Mini 30? If so, how do you find the accuracy and reliability of this rifle? Should I just abandon the idea of a Mini 30 and build the AR? I would like your opinions please.

 

[TurtlePhish]

basic AKM (civilian version of the AK47)

Just nitpicking, but this is false. The real AK-47 was only produced for a few years after it was designed, at which point it was redesigned as the AKM, which has a stamped receiver instead of the complex milled and welded receiver of the original AK-47.

That aside, the AR will be more accurate than the Mini-30, though the newer Mini-series rifles are definitely more accurate than the older ones. Only problem with the 7.62 AR is magazines, which can be a pain.

 

[Kachok]

I was also looking for an "accurate" 7.62x39 recently, I say accurate in loose terms because I know that there is no way I can beat what my 270 WSM and 6.5x55 do at range, but an inch at a hundred is not too much to ask right? Turns out that in general neither the Mini or the AR can perform that well with any regularity, and the only one that really impressed me was the CZ 527 but it is a bolt gun, and I have plenty of them, and cheap mil-surp is no more cost effective then my handloads, so I gave up on the whole idea.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I would suggest the Mini 30, based solely on the reliability experienced with the 30. It is a damn fine hog rifle, and gets shot as much if not more than my Saiga of the same caliber due to its accuracy over its Russian counterpart.

I tend to stick with ARs chambered in the caliber they were designed for. 7.62x39 out of an AR platform seems bastardized at best.

 

[7.62x51NATO]

7.62x39 doesn't work that well in the AR platform due to the magazine design and the tapered cartridge. Reliability problems are fairly common with AR-15 7.62X39 designs. As far as the Mini-30, if accuracy is anything like it was with my Mini-14, (2 moa) I'd pass. My WASR, which is generally regarded as bottom of the barrel as far as AK models are concerned, will hold a 2-2.5 moa group with Wolf ammunition all day long. Plus you can get all the surplus steel magazines that are nearly indestructible, or polymer mags, or anything else you could need as far as mags are concerned. The Mini-30 does not accept AK magazines and I think they are more expensive. Plus the AK has tons of cheap parts that work just fine if you ever need a replacement. My AK suits me just fine for what I need it for. However the Mini-30 will most likely treat you well. But in the end, I would avoid the AR pattern if it were me.

 

[meanmrmustard]

The 30 has potential. But, only if you do your part. Scoped, mines 2 MOA. Good enough for hogging', and obviously there are more accurate platforms in 7.62x39 than the WASR, most are to be honest.

The Mini 30 will do its part.

But, as NATO said, I'd refrain from AR builds in this chambering.

 

[armoredman]

...

 

[gunnutery]

Rock River Arms just came out with an LAR-47 that accepts AK mags. I haven't heard on it's accuracy or reliability.

 

[Double Vision]

I'm picking the Mini Thirty all day long. I'm just not a fan of the AR platform.
My Ruger is accurate enough - far more so than my Saiga.
I find the 7.62x39 to be a nice caliber for a variety of uses.
Good luck.

 

[jlpskydive]

I have a YHM AR in 7.62X39 that is amazingly accurate and runs flawlessly. Ever since C Products figured out the mags the 7.62 AR's are losing that unreliable title. My Colt 7.62 upper also ran perfectly with the C Product mags. Now YHM also makes mags that are very reliable as well.

 

[Robbins290]

my yugo sks has pretty good groups

 

[msrfrog]

op"All of this said, I find value in the ballistic attributes that the 7.62X39 brings to the table as a tool to carry in my truck to deal with the odd porcupine and armadillo I come across out here in the Mid-West"

Just curious about this are these critters pest or hunted for game?

 

[shrewd]

my roomie has a yugo ak that hits consistently at 400 yards with irons. He certainly keeps up with me and my ar.

if you find a nice ak, snatch it up. His cost him ~500


Then get a cz bolt gun to accompany it

 

[Inebriated]

Just another option is a Savage Scout in 7.62x39... bolt action, but just thought I would toss it out there for you.

 

[Casefull]

I have recently put together 3 ar 7.62 rifles. They are very accurate and I have not had any magazine problems...sometimes being late to the game is better as the bugs are already worked out. There is nothing inaccurate about this round. My last build is a 10.5 inch barrel. It only lost about 200fps over the 16 inch version. These rifles shoot 1 moa with handloads.

 

[whatnickname]

MSRFROG...Pests or hunted for game?

Pests!!! All it takes is two porcupines to set up on a Cotton Wood tree and they will strip all the bark off the tree in a weeks time...result is a dead tree in an area where trees are not very plentiful. As for the armadillos they basically moonscape pastures. The ranchers where I hunt in the panhandle have asked us to shoot every one we see as well as any coyote. We're covered up out here with coyotes!!!

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I have a newer Mini-30--it came with a 20-rounder and I bought 2 more mags----one of the mags won't feed the first round---so now I just load them all to 19 and its been flawless using 10 year old Barnaul steel cased ammo.

I have yet to scope it up and take it to the bench to see what it really can do--just been having fun plinking with the irons so far---I've been hitting everything I aim at.

Had one of the Colt 7.63x39's back in the day but the magazine situation was abysmal so got rid of it---probably should have kept it.

If you want accurate---get a bolt action. Semi autos are just so much more fun.

 

[savage1r]

I can nail pop cans at 100 yards easy with my Yugo sks, you can get them from $250-$325 at most local pawn shops and spend te other $300 you would have spent on the mini-30 on ammo.

 

[tulsamal]

As for the armadillos they basically moonscape pastures.

I admit I used to shoot them when I was a teenager myself but don't kid yourself on the "damage" they do. I live on 90 acres up here in NE Oklahoma. There are probably 20-30 armadillos that live on the northern part of my property. I see them out and about all the time. I've never shot any of them since we moved here in 1999. I've grown to enjoy watching them and see them as basically harmless. And there is certainly no sport or challenge to shooting them. They can't see you at any distance and even a .22 will go through their soft shell.

They _do_ dig holes but they are actually mostly just small ones. They are looking for grub worms. They sniff the ground until they smell their prey and then they dig them up. So you will find all these little holes where they have been feeding. It looks like some golfers came by and left divots with irons in the ground. They _do_ dig deep holes in the ground for their burrows. But I've got dozens of 'dillos and I only know of maybe ten of those deep burrows. They don't dig ten per 'dillo (as far as I know).

My pasture is lush and green. My trees are tall and green. And the deer are thick and happy. We are a very far reach from a "moonscape."

Gregg

 

[Robbins290]

i agree savage, thoses yugo's are heavy duty rifles. the 300 extra would get you alot of plinking ammo.

 

[brnmuenchow]

Inebriated:

Just another option is a Savage Scout in 7.62x39... bolt action, but just thought I would toss it out there for you

I am with this one.