There is no such thing as a match grade barrel on a Mini 30 unless you spend much more money ($700 above the price of the gun) getting a custom barrel put on. The Mini's are expensive to modify and you will never get your money back if you sell it. A factory Mini 30 will cost you in the $700 to $800 dollar range unless you can find a bargain on one.
Check at you BX to see if you can order a rifle. If you want a Mini in a common caliber with ammo that is easy to get, get a standard NEW (581 series or later) model Mini 14 in 5.56/.223. Because of other issues (hard primers) the cheap 7.62x30 ammo may give you problems in the Mini 30. That Russian ammo is cheap for a reason. You get what you pay for.
Your next best solution is an AR. Do some research and you will find one in the $600 range or possibly less. If you have 15 years in the Air Force you should have enough rank and time to afford something in the $600 to $800 range. Your Air Force base may have a gun club. Check around, good values are out there. A highly modified Mini 30 is not one of them.
kwg
Check at you BX to see if you can order a rifle. If you want a Mini in a common caliber with ammo that is easy to get, get a standard NEW (581 series or later) model Mini 14 in 5.56/.223. Because of other issues (hard primers) the cheap 7.62x30 ammo may give you problems in the Mini 30. That Russian ammo is cheap for a reason. You get what you pay for.
Your next best solution is an AR. Do some research and you will find one in the $600 range or possibly less. If you have 15 years in the Air Force you should have enough rank and time to afford something in the $600 to $800 range. Your Air Force base may have a gun club. Check around, good values are out there. A highly modified Mini 30 is not one of them.
kwg