Ruger Mini 30,.. Thoughts, Opinions? Prior to Purchase.

[twyacht]

With ammo going up across the board, I have a chance to buy a new Ruger Mini 30 in 7.62.

Not familiar with this rifle, but ammo is cheaper than my .223 Sig 556, and considering the stainless and black polymer stock, Garand style action, is this a good rifle or are there other comparable choices?

Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Trevor]

As far as I know, Ruger still does not recommend that the less expensive foreign or surplus 7.62x39 ammunition be used in the Mini 30.  If you follow this advice, you will not sustain any savings in the cost of feeding it.  If you do not follow this advice, you risk many jams that will make you wonder why you bothered to save money to begin with.

The Mini 30 is not known for great accuracy, but it is probably no worse than the AK rifles in the same caliber.  It is handy and points well.  With a decent set of ghost ring sights it should be a good trunk rifle.  The Mini 30 only works properly with factory Ruger magazines.

I don't know if a Mini 30 can get through a demanding rifle course such as the one at Gunsite.  If it can't, I would not use one.

That said, a bolt-action carbine, built right, would do the same job of a trunk gun and be more reliable.  It would also be available in a better caliber.

[texcaliber]

I have sold a few mini30's  and every one has had excellent feed back except for the lack of Factory mag being available. Now there is this to be said, every one of the mini30 owners has a AK which cost less and in all but one groups are very close.

So if you want it for the

and considering the stainless and black polymer stock, Garand style action,

then its a good pick. If that was a poor attempt at a salesman line look at some AKs in the same price range or less.

NOW that being said, I have a bunch of projects going at the same time, and the 5.45 AK74 has sparked a itch due to super cheep ammo and a TON of mags with better than average AK accuracy.

hope it helps man.

tex

[Long Armed Devil]

I went through the same delima as you did and I almost bought the Mini 30.  But when it came down to it I went with an AK instead.  Both guns are reliable and tough, but I though the AK trumped the minin in both these catagories.  Also an AK will shoot just about anything.  Mine gobbles up wolf and other surplus ammo with ZERO problems.  I've also been able to use any mags I want in the thing and have had ZERO problems there.   That was the main deal breaker for me for the Mini.  No high cap quality mags.

Now all that being said, if your heart is set on it and you are getting a good price, buy it and you won't regret it.  But if your on the fence like I was, go for an AK.   There are tons of aftermarket stuff for them and you can make it into what you want.

Hope this helps 

[LMIB]

I've never heard that minis whether 14 or 30, don't like surplus ammo.  I have one of each and 95 % of their diets have been Wolf steel case laquered ammo.  My 30 has a Choate pistol grip camo stock and Choate birdcage flash suppressor and front sight.  I've also put an after market rear sight on it.  Mags are the ONLY shortcoming of the Mini-30.  It feels and handles better than my tricked out Maadi AK-47.  Shame on Ruger for the mag problems. 

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Thank you for the input and experience. An AK is also an option but I want a GOOD one, the one's here look like an Afghan soldier cleaned parts of camels and such with it.

Is an AK-74 any better? Read some magazines about them and would want one that would be THE ONE to get. The 5.45 seems too expensive and an expensive one to shoot.

Good plentiful ammo that isn't a "variant caliber" would be awesome, due to ammo prices going one way, up.

Please advise, I really respect the entire spectrum of this forum and as Lucas posted, I too, have been disappointed with other forums that want to get in a P****** contest over what an individual wants in a firearm.

Thanks again,

Tom W.

I went through the same delima as you did and I almost bought the Mini 30.  But when it came down to it I went with an AK instead.  Both guns are reliable and tough, but I though the AK trumped the minin in both these catagories.  Also an AK will shoot just about anything.  Mine gobbles up wolf and other surplus ammo with ZERO problems.  I've also been able to use any mags I want in the thing and have had ZERO problems there.   That was the main deal breaker for me for the Mini.  No high cap quality mags.

Now all that being said, if your heart is set on it and you are getting a good price, buy it and you won't regret it.  But if your on the fence like I was, go for an AK.   There are tons of aftermarket stuff for them and you can make it into what you want.

Hope this helps 

I went through the same delima as you did and I almost bought the Mini 30.  But when it came down to it I went with an AK instead.  Both guns are reliable and tough, but I though the AK trumped the minin in both these catagories.  Also an AK will shoot just about anything.  Mine gobbles up wolf and other surplus ammo with ZERO problems.  I've also been able to use any mags I want in the thing and have had ZERO problems there.   That was the main deal breaker for me for the Mini.  No high cap quality mags.

Now all that being said, if your heart is set on it and you are getting a good price, buy it and you won't regret it.  But if your on the fence like I was, go for an AK.   There are tons of aftermarket stuff for them and you can make it into what you want.

Hope this helps 

[texcaliber]

the AK74 ammo is super cheap right now in respect to others. Even with prices out the roof you can still find quantity deals.

Oh yeah..........and i want one. 

[Long Armed Devil]

An AK is also an option but I want a GOOD one, the one's here look like an Afghan soldier cleaned parts of camels and such with it.

Yeah I know what you mean by that. ...When I got mine(AK) I bought from a local builder here in Mesa,Arizona.  I paid a little more but got a rifle that was, I felt , a good build.  I went the builder route because I did not know which of the many variants were good or bad.  Also as he is a local guy, I was able to go to his shop and check things out.  

I don't know much about the 74s.  What I have read/seen on tv and heard about them were good.  It was an update of the 47.  So you got more accuracy, less recoil and when the bullet hit the target it would tumble, causing lots of internal damage.   I think the military channel did a special on Russian Special Forces a while back.  I think weaponology??  Anyways, it was a good show with info on both guns.  You could probably find some clips on Youtube.  

If you want  info on the builder that I used and what I paid ect. PM me.  I'll be happy to help.  I would post  that info here but don't know if that would be appropriate.  

Please advise, I really respect the entire spectrum of this forum and as Lucas posted, I too, have been disappointed with other forums that want to get in a P****** contest over what an individual wants in a firearm.

Man you said it.  This is pretty much the only forum I go on anymore.  It seems that everyone here tries very hard to be polite and civil even when they disagree.  

Again, hope it is of some help and by the way I still want a Mini 30 to call my own.

[Jim Urban]

Tom

One option that solves the AK quality/condition concerns is to buy "new".Though it may be more than you're willing to spend.

http://www.cz-usa.com/news_events.php

[HAWKFISH]

I would tend to agree with the prior posts so far. I would take a good quality AK anytime over a mini-thirty. I even kinda like the mini-thirties I have shot. But, a good AK is just as accurate, tougher, easier to shoot all kinds of ammo, and more reliable in my opinion. For some, the mini-thirties can be a pain to clean and reassemble. lol an AK you don't even have to clean. But, some people really like mini-thirties and mini-fourteen's. And they are what they are, still a good value. It would sure beat the heck out of throwing rocks.. ya know..   so if it was a good deal and I liked it.. I would get it. Get what makes you happy.