The Ruger Mini 30 ??

[Rule3]

Is it still considered a really inaccurate rifle after it heats up?? I like the carbine design and that it shoots cheap ammo (even though I reload) But do not reload 7.62

Yes, I have an AK and other assorted rifles that shoot 7.62.

I have a Mini 14 (tactical, 16" shorter barrel) and it is very accurate,

Now I am asking about newer Mini 30,not stuff from when they first came out or old reviews or a friend who told a friend who told someone else.

 

[scaatylobo]

Owned one for a few years

I own one and have had it for a few years,NO PROBLEMS at all !.

Shot a few 'K' rounds through it and lots of steel cased Wolf Silver.

No jams or ftf's.

So even with all the naysayers that will show here [ sure as the sun rises ],I like it and its my "truck gun" .

 

[Rule3]

I own one and have had it for a few years,NO PROBLEMS at all !.

Shot a few 'K' rounds through it and lots of steel cased Wolf Silver.

No jams or ftf's.

So even with all the naysayers that will show here [ sure as the sun rises ],I like it and its my "truck gun" .

How about accuracy? I know they are reliable. Yes, the naysayers will be out for sure! Can't hit a barn etc.

Would Sue use one? Heck she would miss anyway! J/K ya.

 

[M1key]

M-30 Tactical, 5 shots, Vmax handloads, 50 yards, irons

Why mess with steel with this kind of accuracy?

YMMV

M

 

[Rule3]

Can not open/enlarge your picture?? Says invalid??

 

[rbernie]

For quick and handy offhand use inside of 100 yards, which is the need that I have for it, it works fine.

 

[Rule3]

Nice shooting M1key!

 

[scaatylobo]

Why use steel

Because it was VERY reasonable and came in a case lot with the Hornady SST bullet from Hornady.

Its a shooter with groups that are "minute of woodchuck" !

That is about very good for an old man to shoot with irons.

I will be putting glass on her soon,but still deciding where [ scout scope etc ] that I want to mount them and where.

Hate to lose the irons ,so conventional scope might not be the route to go.

 

[FROGO207]

I have a pair of them and the barrels on mine are .308. Someone here recently said the newer ones have .311 barrels now but I have not investigated this. I worked up 130 grain loads in the Mini 30 that were much more accurate than any of my SKS's loads, I find 1 1/2 MOA is easy if I do my part. Sometimes it is better, like 1 MOA but that is not always so, still my groups do not seem to wander or string if I shoot a whole 10 round MAG change it out and empty another in rapid succession. They will never be a 1000 YD match rifle but for around 75 - 150 YDS as a quick to point/acquire target type rifle they are good enough to be minute of coyote and usually roll them when hit, that's all I ask of it. A SKS will be less money and an AK will be around what the Mini 30 costs locally but in my experience neither of those have quite the accuracy of the 30 using .308 bullets either. YMMV

 

[C.R.]

a bro of mine had bought a used a mini 30 and he couldnt hit a barn with it. We got to looking at it and could see some marks on the trigger guard and figuered that the previous owner had some kind of "rock and roll " trigger device (one of the hellfire things i think) so the barrel was shot out. Not the fault of Ruger ,more on the previous owner . I would have NO problem with a Mini 30,I have a Mini 14 and that is a sweet little shooter.

 

[MAKster]

Get the model with 16" barrel. It's more accurate.

 

[Rule3]

Get the model with 16" barrel. It's more accurate.

Yes, that is what my 5.56 is.

 

[M1key]

I have a pair of them and the barrels on mine are .308. Someone here recently said the newer ones have .311 barrels now but I have not investigated this.

http://www.brownells.com/GunTech/Ruger-Mini-30-Bore-Specs/detail.htm?lid=15904

Ruger Mini-30 bore specs
This rifle is chambered for the 7.62 x 39mm cartridge. This cartridge, traditionally, uses a projectile with a nominal diameter of .311 to .312 inch.

At the time the Mini-30 was introduced very few bullet makers where producing .311/.312 inch bullets for reloading in the light 125-130 grain weight required. Ruger initiated the use of barrels with a groove dimension of .308 inch and a long tapered throat. The throat allowed the use of ammunition with .311/.312 projectiles by gradually squeezing them to the .308 diameter. In addition, ammunition loaded with more commonly available .308 diameter bullets could also be used.

Commencing in 1992 Ruger initiated a change to using .311/.312 nominal groove diameter, 1-10 inch right hand twist barrels in all Mini-30's. It was likely well into 1993 before all rifles coming of the production line incorporated the .311/.312 barrels.

M

 

[Balrog]

The only problem I have with my Mini 30 is that with Russian ammo, sometimes the firing pin doesn't strike hard enough to fire. Anyone else have that issue?

Is there a way to fix it?

 

[hq]

Yes. Try different ammo. Some cheap ammo has harder primers than others so you'll just have to try different brands and see what works. The worst ones are real junk, I've come across some that wouldn't fire consistently even in FEG AK and Sako M92S. Surprisingly, price doesn't always correlate with this. Wolf at $.23 a pop has been totally reliable so far.

As far as stringing problem from cold to hot barrel is concerned, I recommend taking the gas block off, sanding both halves on a glass plate perfectly flat and barrel channel with 600 grit wrapped on a .6" pipe. It should be torqued back gradually and evenly to 35lbs-in. That alone ended temperature-related stringing on mine.