Mini 14 or Mini 30 or ???

mudman · 11-29-2008, 10:06 AM

Cheap, reliable, parts and accessories available, easy to maintain and reasonably priced ammunition are what I'm looking for. I really don't need anything with big take down power, just coyotes until the world falls apart.

billyboy · 11:17 AM

I've got a Stainless Mini 14. I have taken down many mammals that are much larger than a coyote with it. It's a very good, simple, and rugged firearm that you can count on. Ammo is readily available fairly cheap too.

http://www.tacshooting.com/image_rifle/mini14_01l.jpg

jtkkz · 11-29-2008, 11:49 AM

mini-14 is a fun rifle to shoot, .223 ammo are cheaper too.

jtkkz · 11-29-2008, 11:50 AM

Does Ruger make factory original 10 or 20 round mags for it?

mudman · 11-29-2008, 11:58 AM

I have seen 5, 10, 20, 30, 90 rnd magazines for mini 14s. Have only seen 20 rnd magazines for the 30.

Where are you getting your ammunition? I was pretty sure .223 was about $100/1000rnds more than 7.62.

mudman · 11-29-2008, 11:59 AM

The 90 round magazine is not Ruger made.

jtkkz · 11-29-2008, 12:04 PM

Eagle brand after market mags, works well...

Other after market mags, does not work well.

I have never seen a 10 or 20 round factory original ruger mags... anyone knows if they make them?

billyboy · 12:11 PM

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/Default.aspx

futuresoptions · 11-29-2008, 12:22 PM

DO NOT get a Mini 30 unless you will be content with 10rd clips... These are not after market mind you, the factory supplied clip is only 5rnds... I have only found that the stainless steel 10rds mags will work properly in the gun.. Promag makes them... Promag also makes a sythetic 30rd mag that will be good for plinking, but I would not put my life in their hands... Until someone comes out with a good quality steel 30rd mag, I would say go with the Mini 14... Just my opinion as a Mini 30 owner...

mudman · 11-29-2008, 12:23 PM

http://http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp

mudman · 11-29-2008, 12:25 PM

Doh! http://gunbroker.com/ is where I found lots for the mini 14.

competentone · 11-29-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by futuresoptions

DO NOT get a Mini 30 unless you will be content with 10rd clips... These are not after market mind you, the factory supplied clip is only 5rnds... I have only found that the stainless steel 10rds mags will work properly in the gun.. Promag makes them... Promag also makes a sythetic 30rd mag that will be good for plinking, but I would not put my life in their hands... Until someone comes out with a good quality steel 30rd mag, I would say go with the Mini 14... Just my opinion as a Mini 30 owner...

Agree mostly. I've owned quite a number of Mini-14s and 30s (I think my record was 5 at one time. I just have one of each now.)

If you can find pre-1994 USA brand 30-round magazines for the Mini-30, you will have some quality mags for it. There are no dates on them, so it is just a matter of looking at their construction. If they look like they are built well, they will probably work well. USA created a lot of junk magazines just before the 1994 ban and their junk is still floating around. I haven't seen any quality magazines for the Mini-30 since the ban expiration, but haven't really been looking, so maybe someone is making a quality magazine for it now.

Factory 20 (and 30-round) Mini-14 magazines are available, so they are the best option if you get the Mini-14.

If you want something that shoots the 7.62x39 round, I'd say go with an AK variant rifle. Much of the imported 7.62x39 ammo won't work 100% reliably with the Mini-30 since the primers can be harder and set somewhat deeper than U.S. produced 7.62x39 ammo. You can modify the Mini-30 to correct for this variability in ammo, but with the availability of inexpensive reliable AK mags and plenty of inexpensive ammo, I'd say just go with the AK design over the Mini-30.

An SKS is also a reliable alternative to the Mini-30 if you're looking for something in the 7.62x39 round, but the fixed 10 round box magazine is really the only good option with the SKS. The stripper clips can be pretty fast for reloading if you practice.

Ruger's Mini rifles aren't known for super accuracy, but are adequate for most "ranch" applications.

futuresoptions · 11-29-2008, 03:06 PM

Hey, tried to go back and edit my last, but cpu wouldn't let me, what I meant to say was that the 10rnd stainless mags are made by Promag, and THEY ARE aftermarket... The 5rnd mag that comes with the gun is factory... sorry for miss stating... I have removed my front factory sight on my gun and replaced it with a HK91 type front sight with muzzle break. I have also changed out my rear sight to an M1A type rear.... This has tightened my groups at 100yds greatly... went from 6-8 inch groups to 3-4 inch groups... Not the acuracy of my M1A, but very nice for a opensight carbine....

Jeff Higgins · 11-29-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by competentone

Ruger's Mini rifles aren't known for super accuracy, but are adequate for most "ranch" applications.

Understatement of the year. I have never seen one in any caliber that will shoot well enough to keep me interested. The very best one I have ever seen was a two minute of angle rifle with its favorite load. Most are three to four MOA rifles. Every one of them is cursed with about the worst trigger Ruger puts on a gun, and that's saying a lot.

If you need a cheap rifle with cheap ammo for bustin' coyotes and stuff, just get a bolt action rifle. They are available from just about every manufacturer of bolt action rifles, at a price to suit any budget. You can get anything from a light sporter weight, like the Remington Model Seven (at about six pounds with a scope), to a full blown heavy barreled varmint rig, like one of their model 700's. Any will outshoot a Mini - whatever all day long and be far less picky about ammo to boot.

MT930 · 11-29-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Understatement of the year. I have never seen one in any caliber that will shoot well enough to keep me interested. The very best one I have ever seen was a two minute of angle rifle with its favorite load. Most are three to four MOA rifles. Every one of them is cursed with about the worst trigger Ruger puts on a gun, and that's saying a lot.

If you need a cheap rifle with cheap ammo for bustin' coyotes and stuff, just get a bolt action rifle. They are available from just about every manufacturer of bolt action rifles, at a price to suit any budget. You can get anything from a light sporter weight, like the Remington Model Seven (at about six pounds with a scope), to a full blown heavy barreled varmint rig, like one of their model 700's. Any will outshoot a Mini - whatever all day long and be far less picky about ammo to boot.

Amen!!!

And I like Ruger Rifles (Bolt Guns)

If you have to have a semi auto buy an AR. Colts are the only accurite ones I have found. Although I have heard DPMS are tight groupers.

VincentVega · 11-29-2008, 05:51 PM

What's the allure of the Mini-14? I havent seen one that I consider cheap, but I guess that's subjective. Have you considered and SKS?

id10t · 11-30-2008, 12:58 AM

Look at the saiga. AK design, 10 round mags, can convert to take AK mags. Mini-14 is OK, but you can burn the barrel out in about 3500 rounds... Mini-30 hard to find mags for. Of course, with semi-auto stuff flying off the shelves just get what you can.

real550A · real550A's Garage

I've put 1000 rounds through an Oly Arms AR this fall and am duly impressed.
Nice tight groups @ 300 yds.

t951 · t951's Garage

I am a mini30 owner. I love it. It's got the advantage of not shooting a round that is in strong demand and rising. the 7.62 is fun and it is good enough.....

I would vote for a mini-30. There are SO many mods available, and I have a bunch of mags in various sizes with no issues.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

What's the allure of the Mini-14?

That's a lot of allure, sucka!