Double Vision
Member
I agree. My Thirty and 14 are great rifles.
If I could get my Thirty to shoot the really cheap Russian ammo I'd be even happier.
For now it's happy with Yugo surplus.
Need a semi-auto rifle.....
- Thread starter Big D
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I agree. My Thirty and 14 are great rifles.
If I could get my Thirty to shoot the really cheap Russian ammo I'd be even happier.
For now it's happy with Yugo surplus.
A Garand may keep shooting till the sun goes down, but not the Mini. Despite what the "A Team" did on television the Mini -14 simply does not hold up to extended hard use as well as the AR. There have been several smaller countries who briefly adopted the Mini as a cheaper alternative to the AR as well as some law enforcement agencies over the years. They proved that the Mini would not hold up to hard use and it has been long ago forgotten for this use.
The rifle was designed as a cheap gun to keep in a truck or tractor for farmers to shoot coyotes and other predators. Not for battle. When they sold for 1/3 the price of an AR they made a lot of sense. Now that you can buy an AR for less money they don't make a lot of sense.
I've never had a single malfunction with ANY AR rifle including magazine, or ammo related. None, no excuses. Can't say that about any of the Rugers I ever owned. 3-4 in 223 and one in 7.62X39. I'm still using mags a lot older than 1994 and can buy new Magpul's for around $15.
I've shot well over 1,000 rounds through a Colt M4 on ranges without stopping to clean it (I wasn't paying for the ammo). All I did was pull the bolt carrier group before starting and oiled it down real good. It didn't give me any problems.
How many rounds are you putting downrange that you have to stop to clean your AR? Personally, when I'm shooting off duty my wallet breaks down long before I have to stop due to any issue with my rifle.
The bulk ammo store around here sells P-Mags for $15 with the window and $13 without it.
For the OP, is work issuing you magazines, mag pouches, chest rigs, etc.? If so you could save money by going the AR route and using mags and gear you have anyway.
How many rounds are you putting downrange that you have to stop to clean your AR? Personally, when I'm shooting off duty my wallet breaks down long before I have to stop due to any issue with my rifle.
The bulk ammo store around here sells P-Mags for $15 with the window and $13 without it.
For the OP, is work issuing you magazines, mag pouches, chest rigs, etc.? If so you could save money by going the AR route and using mags and gear you have anyway.
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gatorjames85
Member
This is a huge downside to the mini-30 in my eyes. One of the best things about a rifle in 7.62x39 is the cheap Russian ammo. The yugo stuff is cheap and high quality, but I'm not a huge fan of running corrosive through semiautos if I can avoid it. Otherwise, I would take a hard look at a Mini-30.
i guess it depends on the ammo im using before the AR gets dirty and starts having problems. my Mini will run Tula all day long...my DDs wont. and its not that i dont know how to properly clean and lube em either...not my first rodeo. the ARs (in my experience) simply dont like crappy ammo, my Minis dont give a crap what i feed em. im not talking about a couple hundred rounds per session, i reload bulk and have shot roughly 1000 per gun per session as well.
*add what kinda ARs are you buying for less than a mini? i went down that road before and they all were problematic.
*add what kinda ARs are you buying for less than a mini? i went down that road before and they all were problematic.
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I like the new mini-14 for sure, groups almost as good as my AR does, but the thing I like the most is the way the rifle shoulders, I like AR's but could never warm up to the stocks availible. The mini to me is more balanced, and as the others have said, it eats anything you feed it. Not a big fan of the AK's or Saiga's. Nothing against them I just don't like the fit and finish of them.
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almherdfan
Member
I had big problems shooting the Tula from my Mini-30 before I replaced the hammer spring with a Wolffe extra power spring. Now, it's rarely a FTF.
BemidjiDweller
Member
If it were me, I would purchase the SKS and a few thousand rounds.
speedway
Member
Remington 870 12 gauge.
Assuming agruendo that this is true, it is really a non issue. When was the last time you shot 10K through a gun without cleaning it, let alone 30K+?
Pat Rogers' BCM "filthy 14" did what 31,000+ rounds without being cleaned.
I've never been able to shoot enough steel case through my Noveske to make it choke. I'll typically put a few thousand rounds through it before I clean the bolt off and bore snake it.
A PSA could likely be had for less than a mini 30 near the same price as a mini 14.
Any 7.62x39 rifle that wont run the various steel case ammo available is not something I would care to own.
mortablunt
Member
I'm a 5.56 skeptic, so my advice automatically goes to a heavier rifle or a pistol caliber carbine. It's just one of those things I'm a stickler over. Sorry.
Option 1: Get yourself an AK, load it with JHP's, and sit back on the $400 you saved.
Option 2: Get an SKS. Load it with JHP's. Sit back on the $600 you saved.
Option 3: Get a pistol caliber carbine in 9mm, 40s&w, or 45 ACP.
Option 4: Get a Saiga.
Option 1: Get yourself an AK, load it with JHP's, and sit back on the $400 you saved.
Option 2: Get an SKS. Load it with JHP's. Sit back on the $600 you saved.
Option 3: Get a pistol caliber carbine in 9mm, 40s&w, or 45 ACP.
Option 4: Get a Saiga.
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Jeff F
Member
Yes, as long as you run them wet and lubed the AR's will run way dirty. There was a kid at the range a while back having problems with his AR choking. I watched him for awhile and he was getting real frustrated. I went down to my jeep and came back with a can of CLP spray. I told him to pull the bolt and spray it down good then shake it off. He got it back together and ripped of 3 30 round mag with no problem after that. I mostly use CLP for light cleaning and wipe downs but it will will work as a lube. My lube of choice is Duralube, the kind you pour in your motor. I use it everywhere oil is called for.
Jeff F
Member
That could end up being an issue down the road with a broken firing pin. Mini 30's do not like that hard berden primmed ammo as it is and hitting the firing pin harder just is not the answer.Theres also some question as to weather the mildly corrosive commie 7.62 x39 is corroding the tip of the firing and causing it to break.
gatorjames85
Member
If you're talking about ammo listed as non-corrosive(Wolf, Golden Tiger, etc.), my experience has been that it is completely non-corrosive.
Rifleman 173
Member
For a good overall survival/personal defense rifle, go with a scoped AK that has a folding stock or a collapsing stock. Mount a simple 4 X or 4 power magnification scope on it and you should be ready to go anywhere and any time if the scope has illuminated reticles on it. You can get an AK in any of the 3 calibers: 7.62 X 39, 5.45 X 39 and in .223 caliber too.
sixgunner455
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 3,052
big D, I think you answered the question when you said you were in law enforcement. Go to Colt or Ruger or one of the other companies that does LE discounts, and get an AR. Use ammo from work, or whatever discount house they get their ammo from to get a case for yourself, or bite the bullet and order some. Use mags from work if they issue them, or buy a handful of Magpuls.
Carry your rifle at work, if you want and can get authorized to do so.
Carry your rifle at work, if you want and can get authorized to do so.
Jeff F
Member
No, I was talking about the Wolf extra power hammer spring. There have been a few guys that put one in trying to get hard berden primed ammo to fire more consistently and ended up with a broken firing pin.
The corrosive I was talking about is some of the Russian surplus that is on the market, and some think it may be the cause of of some firing pin failures. Myself I think its just the berden primed ammo. No one shooting boxer primed ammo seems to be having any issues.
The corrosive I was talking about is some of the Russian surplus that is on the market, and some think it may be the cause of of some firing pin failures. Myself I think its just the berden primed ammo. No one shooting boxer primed ammo seems to be having any issues.
gatorjames85
Member
I would agree with that. I try to stick to combloc ammo in combloc guns and western ammo in western guns, mainly due to the differences in primer hardness (I know some will vehemently disagree with this position).
JustinJ
Member
Arsenal in 5.45 is about $800. 1100 rounds is about $130. And it will run dripping wet or bone dry. "Will run for x amount of rounds if kept wet" does not impress me as just about any mechanical device will operate with enough lube.
kopcicle
Member
Mine just lies there ...
~kop
JustinJ
Member
Why buy a gun if all it's gona do is just lie there?
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