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...
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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.