Mini-30?

[IWAC]

O.K., I admit to being a complete noob at this AR-15 stuff. I didn't know you could actually get an AR upper in the 7.62X39 configuration. It looks to be a good combination. I appreciate what the AR-15 platform has slowly become over the decades it has been in service. BUT..It isn't what I grew up with, or feel really comfortable with the ergonomics.
Instead of building a rifle from some of the decidedly quality components available, why not consider the Ruger Mini 30? A Mini 30 can be had for about the same price as a build. The rifle seems to have a good reputation for durability and reliability, and you have the backing of a major firearms manufacturer, if the unthinkable happens, and something breaks.
The 7.62 X 39 cartridge seems to be a good one, hampered by its original platform, but capable of good accuracy to 300 yards and beyond, surpassing the M1 Carbine performance, and using heavier bullets that can also be used for hunting. So, now I will don my Nomex underwear, and await enlightenment.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I don't know what it could do that an SKS wouldn't do just as well for half the cost.

I'm a fan of the Minis, they're fun guns and I really like the traditional layout and stock. But they're awfully expensive for what you get. They're just stuck in the middle between a lot of things. They're more accurate than they're given credit for, but an AR will still outshoot them. Reliable, but they're definitely commercial grade. They're a nice size to shoot, but I think they're a little bigger and heavier than carbines I'd want to carry. And last I checked, they were around $800. That's a lot of money for something that doesn't fit neatly into any box but plinker.

 

[Jackal]

Mini's made sense when they were $350 and AR's were $1200. Now when you can get a quality AR for $650 and a Mini 14/30 is running almost $800, its a different story.

I like the Mini, just not at the price Ruger is asking for them.

I also think that a lot of AR folks (myself included) dont care about warranties, when we can stack up a pile of spare parts, which you cannot do with the Ruger.

A decent spare AR barrel and bolt combo can be had for around $160 and take only minutes to install.

 

[agtman]

Mini's made sense when they were $350 and AR's were $1200. Now when you can get a quality AR for $650 and a Mini 14/30 is running almost $800, its a different story.

Agree.

Minis were always overrated as the non-AR alternative, and the .30 Mini isn't any more accurate than it's .223 counterpart, ... which isn't saying much to anyone who's shot both.

 

[carbine85]

I have always loved the Mini and have owned them since around 1983. In this market they are over priced compared to other offerings. The AK has even become more of a Lego set then the Mini 14. If you want a 7.62x39 get an AK or the AR.
I can't understand why the Mini cost what it does. It's not a complicated rifle and have been in production for almost 40 years.

 

[WardenWolf]

The Mini-14 / Mini-30 platform is NOT known for accuracy. The current versions are much better (older ones were sub-AK accuracy), but they're only about as accurate as a decent AK, and a premium AK is even better.

My honest advice? Get a VEPR in 7.62x39. It'll be more accurate and adaptable, and you'll be happier. You get the wood stock you love, and a better gun for less money. Only $660 from K-Var.

https://www.k-var.com/shop/VPR-76239-01.html

Want a longer barrel? They have that, too, although the 16-inch version will be more accurate:

https://www.k-var.com/shop/VPR-76239-03.html

Note that you can install a bullet guide in them yourself in minutes with simple hand tools (I was there when my friend did it; it literally took less than 10 minutes) and then you can use any standard AK magazine.

 

[orionengnr]

For the record, I have both a Mini 30 (owned since ~1992) and an AR in 7.62x39 (owned for about a month). Paid, IIRC, $475 for the Mini and about $500 for the AR (bought the complete upper and the complete lower from PSA).

I've only had the AR out once, but based upon that one experience, if I had to sell one of them, it would be the Mini.

 

[rbernie]

Mini's made sense when they were $350 and AR's were $1200. Now when you can get a quality AR for $650 and a Mini 14/30 is running almost $800, its a different story.

I like the Mini, just not at the price Ruger is asking for them.

I also think that a lot of AR folks (myself included) dont care about warranties, when we can stack up a pile of spare parts, which you cannot do with the Ruger.

A decent spare AR barrel and bolt combo can be had for around $160 and take only minutes to install.

This.

And then read it again.

I am a Mini fan, and have a Mini30 as well as as Mini14s in 223 and 6.8. I like the platform well enough, mostly for the way that its profile ('c' stock, flush magazine/mag well) is just right for carryin' and for snap shooting offhand and for sticking in a scabbard. I like it despite the fact that the Mini is an inferior carbine compared to the AR platform in many ways - usability and toteability are its virtues, and when those virtues are important then the Mini is a neat option.

But for the money that Ruger wants, they just don't make sense unless you just have to have one.

 

[Boarhunter]

I have a couple of SKSs and a couple of AKs, and I was interested in picking up a Mini-30 to help burn up a large inventory of surplus ammo that I have accumulated over the years, but I was told by someone who ought to know that the Mini-30 is not guaranteed reliable with the surplus ammo (it shoots well through the other guns). And that alone caused me to back off the purchase....

BOARHUNTER

 

[WardenWolf]

I have a couple of SKSs and a couple of AKs, and I was interested in picking up a Mini-30 to help burn up a large inventory of surplus ammo that I have accumulated over the years, but I was told by someone who ought to know that the Mini-30 is not guaranteed reliable with the surplus ammo (it shoots well through the other guns). And that alone caused me to back off the purchase....

BOARHUNTER

Not a big deal nowadays. Surplus 7.62x39 is long gone. Also, shooting corrosive ammo through a gas-operated gun results in a nightmare cleaning job. In an AK or SKS, it's not as bad because they disassemble so easily. But western guns do not break down in seconds without tools, at least not to that extent.

Any 7.62x39 rifle should function fine with Wolf ammo. Otherwise, it's not even worth considering. Wolf is, by no means, bad ammo. It's come a long ways since the company's early days. Tula is the closest you can get to surplus ammo, largely because it's made in the same plant, on the same assembly lines, as the military ammo came from. The only difference is they substituted non-corrosive primers. It's not junk, but it's pretty bottom barrel.

 

[FL-NC]

I had one. Extremely unimpressed with the accuracy, given the price- and I did try numerous US manufactured rounds. I used it for a season deer hunting, and while I did get 2, I ended up dumping the mini 30 and going back to a bolt action deer rifle and keeping my SKS to shoot x 39 with.

 

[Llama Bob]

I've always felt like the mini 14/30 fell in the category of guns with feed and accuracy problems I don't need in my life.

 

[Reloadron]

The Ruger Mini 30 and Mini 14 are just naturally attractive little rifles, sort of like a sized down M14. The accuracy of the Mini 30 can be argued for pages, some love them and others had rifles that just wouldn't group for them. While I bought and sold many during my gun shop years I never had much desire to own one. My only rifle in 7.62 x 39 is a single old SKS I retained from the early 90s.

As to the cartridge itself? Again, it can be argued but I see it as a 200 yard cartridge right in there with to .30-.30 Winchester cartridge. Again, just a matter of personal opinion. I suggest if you want a Ruger Mini 30 then buy one. You obviously have one on your mind and I am not going to be the one to talk you or try to talk you out of it. Buy what you like, what trips your trigger and what you are attracted to. After all, it will be your rifle. Make the A Team proud. Well the Mini 30 and Mini 14 look close anyway.

Ron

 

[Kame B.]

For those arguing about the price of a Mini 14/30... Why do you think Ruger has the best customer service than anyone else, some one has to pay for that kind of unwritten guarantee. All of Ruger's firearms cost more than what they are worth, you are also paying for a lifetime unwritten no questions asked, replace your rifle if need be guarantee.

Also for those arguing about the poor accuracy of a Mini 30...Accuracy is up to the shooter. Here is a little youtube video of a guy makeing a 1000 yard shot with some Lapua Ammo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S93SP4hnYM0

 

[badkarmamib]

Now that ARs have workable 7.62x39 mags, I would look at 3 criteria: cost, reliability, and optics options. With these in mind, options would rank as follows: AR, AK, Mini. If I wanted to stick with traditional ergonomics, I would get a Saiga (unconverted) or an SKS.

 

[VA27]

I like the look and feel of the Mini and have had several over the years. With the new Ruger 20 round mags the Mini14 is reliable with just about any ammo you'd care to try. The Mini30, not so much. The one I had was resonably accurate, but did not like steel case ammo. Oh it cycled fine, it just wouldn't reliably set off the primers. I have an SKS Para, Polytech AK and a Vz that all go bang every time with anyyhing that will chamber so I don't need a Mini, but I'd sure like one.

 

[ttarp]

Get the mini, if AR ergo's aren't for you, you can either train yourself to adapt to them, or buy a rifle thats already set up the way you like.

One of the few firearms that people adamantly demand justification for the price is the mini. Folks who would pay $2K for some fancy AR balk at a $700 mini. So be aware that you can buy a nicer and better rifle in the AR for a little cheaper, or build one cheaper yet, but make no mistake $700 in todays world is not an unreasonable price for a new rifle.

 

[Swing]

I don't know what it could do that an SKS wouldn't do just as well

Detachable box magazines that actually work comes to mind. And Ruger does sell factory 20-rounders for the Mini-30 to the public these days.

I've always felt like the mini 14/30 fell in the category of guns with feed and accuracy problems I don't need in my life.

I've owned and/or or shot pretty much every variant of the Mini line over many decades. They have some areas in which criticism is warranted, but reliability ain't one of them. Not even kind of with factory magazines (available to the public since at least 2005) or quality aftermarket mags (yes, they do exist).

 

[Ibmikey]

I have a Tactical Mini 14 in .223, I also have twenty five AR 15's so you can see where my interest lies. Since you are looking at .30 caliber try a supersonic 300 Blackout Mini or AR for a real treat. I built several 300's and love shooting them, for those that doubt the potency I took a 350+ pound Texas hog with one shot from my 300 Handi single shot. Several more have fallen to the AR

 

[ThomasT]

I have a 580 series mini-14 and with steel cased ammo it will stay under 3" at 100 yards and with my handloads using a hornady 55gr soft point it will stay under 2". And thats with open sights.

And for all those telling you how inaccurate the mini-30 is I wonder how many have actually owned one of them. And if they did, did they just shoot it with steel cased junk blasting ammo? Or did they ever treat it like you would treat a new deer rifle and try different factory loads or better yet spend some time at the loading bench working up loads that that particular gun likes. Because if the mini bashers didn't do that then you can ignore their advice. Its worthless and they are just repeating what they have read and not what they have learned from hard experience.

 

[dmoserwy]

I have a 181 series mini 14 that I really like. I have heard about the lack of accuracy but mine hits what I aim it at. Doesn't seem to matter what ammo I use. I have used several brands of factory loads and anything I could find to reload with.

 

[C.R.]

Oh boy a can O worms for sure ! every time someone posts about liking the Ruger Mini 14/30, ALL of the A.R. fan boi's come out of the woodwork . Get what you like! I have a Mini 14 and its a great little rifle. Now,if you are buying a used one,be carefull. A good friend of mine bought a used Mini 30 and it was not accurate at all,but upon close inspection we found marks on the gun that indicated the previous owner had some kind of "Rock and roll" trigger device on it and the barrel was toasted . Not the guns fault that the previous owner abused it.

 

[Stargazer65]

I remember a well known group of operatives (in the mid-80s I believe), that used the Mini as their go-to rifle on all their missions. To me, that's a solid vote of confidence. I pity the fool that thinks otherwise.

 

[Jackal]

If a person likes the ergo's of a traditional rifle but wants most of the benefits of the AR system, the Ares Defense SCR is a winner:

 

[agtman]

If a person likes the ergo's of a traditional rifle but wants most of the benefits of the AR system, the Ares Defense SCR is a winner:

Nice hybrid.

The problem is, from a user's perspective, that a rifle designed structurally to satisfy two worlds of form and function ends up satisfying neither.