Is there a 30-06 semi-auto as durable, reliable and handi as a Mini?

[briannmilewis]

Just wondering if there is a 30-06 semi-auto out there that has the durability, reliability, lack of cleaning tolerance and handling characteristics of a Mini, that does not weigh as much as a bag of hammers, or costs a fortune? I want to run 110gr thru 250gr cartridges thru it.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Graybeard]

Yes in fact far more so and is even accurate enough to hit what you aim at unlike the mini it's called an M1. Tho in commercial rifles the Browning semiauto too has it beat hands down.

[mirage1988]

I have a browning semi-auto in 7mag. Trigger sucks, but shoots good. I would rather spend a few more dollars for the m1  like GB says, they are kind of heavy though.  Here is the link to springfield-

      http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=22

[Arier Blut]

I really wouldn't call the mini anything you did, but got burnt on one years ago and never tried again. Here is the place I got my M1 and M1 carbine. They have went way up but cheaper than buying at the local shop still. By the way the garand is everything you mentioned.
http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm

[briannmilewis]

I really wouldn't call the mini anything you did, but got burnt on one years ago and never tried again. Here is the place I got my M1 and M1 carbine. They have went way up but cheaper than buying at the local shop still. By the way the garand is everything you mentioned.
http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm

I do appreciate the advice. Unfortunately, I have lived here legally for 28 years and am not a citizen. Every time I consider it, the price goes up. It is now $600+ to go thru the process. Not being a citizen doesn't stop me buying any gun commercially, so I am lucky that way.

[Arier Blut]

A .308 may be a hair better for you then, as more of them are on the market today. If you are looking for a military style, the fn fal, cetme and h&k 91 clones are running below $600 locally. Reach up towards a grand or over and there is the M1 Garand(30-06) and M1A1(m14). I had one of the remington 7400 semis and wasn't very impressed with accuracy or durability. Never had a browning. There is also a Saiga in 308(kind of like an ak47 sporting rifle). They are cheaper than the others. Most claim them to be adequate in accuracy and no need to tout the dependability of the ak platform(though it probably has the rpk platform). Never owned one of them either, but have known of a lot of guys hunting deer with them.

[MZ5]

I'd have suggested (and do still suggest) the M1 as Graybeard did.  Either the original Garand or the A variant in .308 if you don't mind that cartridge.  Alternatively, the Browning BAR (again like GB).  That you're not a citizen only stops you from buying from CMP.  You can still get Garands, they're just noticeably more money for the same or lesser thing.

You didn't mention accuracy as a criterion, so the cheap off-shore guns mentioned may fit your needs just fine.

[Drilling Man]

  How about the Winchester semi auto 30-06 that's on the market now?  Anyone have any experience with one of those??

  DM

[briannmilewis]

I am pretty sure the M1 is what qualifies in my mind for just plain ruggedness, a gun that will reliably shoot just about anything you put in it, and is not finicky if it is not thoroughly cleaned after each outing. As for weight, 9+ pounds for me = a "bag of hammers", however, I am sure there are after-market light-weight stocks like Ramline that would help that.

I have also looked at all the usual hunting grade suspects like the BAR and Rem 750, but they are "too much" hunting rifles for what I want. Also looked at the Saiga 308 with a hunting stock. While heavy the Saiga does meet my "ruggedness quotient", but it is not in 30-06.

I would like something that has really good barrel life too, so I can shoot it a lot, to get better than average with it.

I may just get a 30-06 single shot or budget bolt for the all-purpose gun and get a Mini-30, add a barrel strut and use that as the point and bang, bang, bang all day long rifle for reasonably big critters. 

I appreciate everyone's help, keep new ones coming if you think I can benefit from your insights.

[Lloyd Smale]

not trying to be sarcastic but if youve lived here that long and have reaped the benifits maybe the 600 dollars would be better spent on citizenship then an 06

I really wouldn't call the mini anything you did, but got burnt on one years ago and never tried again. Here is the place I got my M1 and M1 carbine. They have went way up but cheaper than buying at the local shop still. By the way the garand is everything you mentioned.
http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm

I do appreciate the advice. Unfortunately, I have lived here legally for 28 years and am not a citizen. Every time I consider it, the price goes up. It is now $600+ to go thru the process. Not being a citizen doesn't stop me buying any gun commercially, so I am lucky that way.

[briannmilewis]

not trying to be sarcastic but if youve lived here that long and have reaped the benifits maybe the 600 dollars would be better spent on citizenship then an 06

That's an interesting point, that thought had never crossed my mind, because I have already paid my dues.

By being a legal resident I was subject to the draft till age 42 (15 years), which is a heck of a lot longer than the average kid is subject to selective service. I figured if the U.S. military wanted me, that it was a fair swap for allowing me to live and work here.

I consider supporting the 2nd Amendment by my actions, not just my words, way more important than my residency status or right to vote. I would spend my last dime on ammo before paying the govt. $600 for the right to vote. I pledge allegiance to the U.S. every day I continue to live here.

I never considered myself having any right to vote in the U.S. anyway, as I was not born here, regardless of what the law says, so I put little to no value in getting my citizenship. If I had my citizenship I would not be an out-of-work hitech worker these days, as I would have a secret clearence job. I guess I am a nativist when the chips are down.

I consider every day I am in the U.S is by the grace of the her citizens. If I was asked or told to leave by the authorites, I would, regardless of what the law says about my having any "right" to be here after so many years.

So, if money was not short and I could do both, I would. But if I have to make a choice, and I do, supporting the 2nd Amendment is much more important for the U.S and my native born children.

[Bigeasy]

not trying to be sarcastic but if youve lived here that long and have reaped the benifits maybe the 600 dollars would be better spent on citizenship then an 06

I really wouldn't call the mini anything you did, but got burnt on one years ago and never tried again. Here is the place I got my M1 and M1 carbine. They have went way up but cheaper than buying at the local shop still. By the way the garand is everything you mentioned.
http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm

I do appreciate the advice. Unfortunately, I have lived here legally for 28 years and am not a citizen. Every time I consider it, the price goes up. It is now $600+ to go thru the process. Not being a citizen doesn't stop me buying any gun commercially, so I am lucky that way.

Yea, I was kinda thinking I'd spend $600 to be a US Citizen before I worried about some un-needed rifle...

Larry

[prairiedog555]

I have killed many deer with my M1.  I use it in woods on deer drives.  Actually not much heavier than a scoped rifle.  And if you can't hit a pie plate with an M1 at 100yd with open sights I would be surprised.

I have also heard that the Saiga .308, which is built on AK reciever is very reliable and 2-3 moa accurate.
And I think it sells for around $400.

[bcp]

I am pretty sure the M1 is what qualifies in my mind for just plain ruggedness, a gun that will reliably shoot just about anything you put in it,

Many reloading manuals have a separate section for M1 Garand loads.  There are tales of bent operation rods, slam-fires, and bullet nose shaving using commercial soft-primer, soft-point sporting loads.   

It was built to handle military loads of 150 gr. at 2700 fps and 174 gr at 2640 fps.  Modern commercial sporting ammunition is higher performance than that.

Do some searches and some reading.  Lots of discussion about it on the internet.

Bruce

[casca1]

also the JOHNSON RIFLE was not to bad of an auto loader ,as long as you are talking 30-06
makes me cry every time I think of guns I let go

[prairiedog555]

I still have a Johnson.  Used it to hunt with.  A nice gun, but when I found out what it is worth now I retired it.  I plan on selling it soon and buy a bunch of guns with the money.
If you buy things and live long enough it pays sometimes.  I got mine in the mid 80's.

[MZ5]

It was built to handle military loads of 150 gr. at 2700 fps and 174 gr at 2640 fps.  Modern commercial sporting ammunition is higher performance than that.

It was built around the 174 (and heavier) bullets over the powders of the day (very like IMR4895).  The lighter bullets were an afterthought.  The 'problem' of today's higher-performance ammo is entirely solved by a $30 adjustable gas plug.  Run that instead of the stock one (and it's CMP-legal if you want to shoot in Service Rifle matches), and you can run any ammunition on the planet through a Garand.

O.P.  Have you had more thoughts as to what rifle you're leaning toward?