Ruger Mini 30

[Catahoula]

There seems to be a lot of Mini bashing on the web.   They aren't accurate,they aren't reliable, etc.  I've had a Mini 30 for years and it is one of my favorite rifles.  (My wife tells me it is never to be sold!)  It is an early blued/wood version with a .308 bore scoped with a Simmons 1.5X5 Whitetail Classic..  My handloads are typically Remington small primer brass, Remington 125 grain soft points and H335.  It doesn't care for surplus/imported steel case ammo, which makes sense as most is made with .310 bullets. It's a fantastic woods rifle for deer and I wouldn't hesitate to use it for hogs or bear if given the chance, although I'd probably develop a 150 grain load.  Here are some results from today.  The first target is the first three shots from a cold bore with no fouling shots at 80 yards.  The second target is the same target with an additional five shots for a total of 8 at the same distance.  The barrel was not allowed to cool, and as you can see, the last two shots did walk a bit.  The first five shots were touching.  I don't know if I just got lucky or is all of the bashing from those that have never owned or shot one or from someone who didn't take the time to develop loads?
3 Shots, 80 yards:

8 shots, 80 yards, 1.47 inches:

[Bigeasy]

A few years back I was considering getting one, mainly to take advantage of the cheap and available surplus ammo that was available, but also questioned the accuracy of a .308 bore with this ammo.  I did own a .223 version of the Ranch Rifle for years, and it was nothing but reliable, if not overly accurate.  I seen a guy at a range this past summer who was using a new version of the Mini with a heavy barrel, and an adjustable weight near the muzzle to fine tune barrel vibration.  He was shooting sub MOA groups at 100 yards.
 
Larry

[JonnyReb]

 Nice groups and darned nice rifle. I stupidly sold my own a few years back, still miss it and hope to get another.  J

[Ranger99]

wanted a mini30 for a good while,
but never found one priced right.


never had any problems with
the mini14

[Catahoula]

wanted a mini30 for a good while,
but never found one priced right.


never had any problems with
the mini14

Now is not the time to buy!      I'm not sure when I bought mine.  It was sometime in the 90s.  I think I paid a whopping $250.

[mannyrock]

 
   Though I've never owned one, my understanding is that the main problem with the Mini-30 is that it cycles great with Remington, Federal or Winchester brass cased factory loaded hunting ammo, but will not reliably feed and eject the foreign made FMJ military ammo.   Whether it is the steel cases, the lacquers, the sizing, I don't know.  But, for most people who want to buy a semi-auto in 7.62 Russian, it's a show stopper.
 
  Mannyrock

[Ranger99]

i wouldn't try to buy anything like
that right now. i'm kind of thinking
all the panic and "investment " buyers
will have to take it on the chin when
they eventually have to unload all
the stuff they bought thinking to
to make a quick buck.

[SHOOTALL]

I sold mine for a M1A , mine were not tack drivers but were ammo sensitive also. I still like them better for hunting in the woods over an AR.

[Oldshooter]

I have  70's model mini 14, it shoots MOC (minute of coyote). A mini 30 would be a nice weapon to have I think.

[mattmillerrx]

Glad to see her shooting well.  Bet that makes a nice deer/hog gun.


I wanted one for a while and held back because figured with the 308 bore would not shoot the cheep stuff very well.


Ended up with a CZ bolt chambered for the 7.62 x 39, have been very please with it.  I have found it to be a great round.

[mattmillerrx]

Double Post.

[Catahoula]

Glad to see her shooting well.  Bet that makes a nice deer/hog gun.


I wanted one for a while and held back because figured with the 308 bore would not shoot the cheep stuff very well.


Ended up with a CZ bolt chambered for the 7.62 x 39, have been very please with it.  I have found it to be a great round.

Mine definitely doesn't shoot the cheap stuff well.  Groups are terrible and I have the occasional failure to fire.  The hard primers don't work well. 

[drdougrx]

I's like to find one and have it converted to a 50Beouwolf!