The following is a reflection on the Series 189 Ruger Mini-30 I own. I have had the rifle for over 6 years and fired about 5,200 Wolf 122 grain HP cartridges in the rifle. The rifle has been used for target shooting, primarily offhand at 200 yards, with both its factory flip up aperture and a Leupold 1-4x VX-I 20mm scope with 4 plex reticle.
Accuracy:
This rifle has consistently delivered 2-3 MOA accuracy. If I shoot the rifle until the barrel is too hot to touch, it opens up vertically to about 4-5 MOA. The scope can be removed and returned in the Ruger mounts with no alteration of POI at 200 yards. It does not shift to the left or right, and the windage adjustments have been steady since I originally adjusted the peep.
The sights:
After about 2,500 rounds the gun settled in the stock and I needed to adjust the sight up to the maximum setting for elevation. It held until about 4,500 rounds or so and settled again. There is no visible damage to the rifle stock, the action has merely settled. I filed the front sight down and the elevation is on at 200 yards with a better front sight picture than I had originally; as I filed a slight forward slope on the front sight to prevent the glare the rounded original gave in bright sunlight.
I like the rear peep sight, it presents quickly and the front centers almost immediately. I must note tho, I prefer the sights on the new 580 series.
The Rifle:
Endurance:
I had the metal liner in the stock lose a small clip after around 2,500 rounds, Ruger replaced this for free. Just after firing its 5000th round I dissembled the rifle for a cleaning and discovered the buffer bushing, Ruger part # KMS 04010 had failed. It was cracked in two with a small piece missing. It was still retained in the receiver well as it should be by the cross pin and the gun functioned perfectly. I had last cleaned the firearm somewhere around 4,500 rounds, so the failure could have occurred at any point in time between the 4,500 and 5000th shot. A call to Ruger and I bought 4 new parts for $16 including shipping, with their suggesting replacement of the bushing cross pin, buffer guide rod and recoil spring along with the broken part. They had the parts to me in 3 days. After 200 rounds I have no problems to report and the rifle shoots the same as before.
Obviously, I looked the rifle over for any untoward wear or signs of possible failure of other parts. I could find none. Some mating surfaces have galled slightly and some once sharp edges rounded, but this is the same as I witnessed on many US Carbines in my shooting past.
The rifling is still deep and sharp with no rounding of the rifling edges or darkening of the lands. There is also no evidence of barrel erosion.
Overall, this firearm appears to be ready to go several thousand more rounds with no major failure.
A Note on USA Magazines:
I have a 10 shot USA Magazine that I modified once the ban was lifted. The modification was simple, the follower had a tail I ground down to get a 20 shot magazine. This magazine has functioned flawlessly for at least 1,000 of the 5,200 rounds, and an unmodified 10 round USA Mag has functioned flawlessly for about 4,000 rounds; with the factory 5 shot magazine being utilized for about 200 or so shots (when I forgot the larger capacity magazines). I also modified a third USA magazine for 15 rounds, and it has put three mag loads through the rifle flawlessly.
Summary:
After six years and over 5000 rounds, I can recommend this rifle, as I consider the parts failures experienced so far to be routine wear. Additionally, my examination of the firearm after discovering the breakages indicates it is of robust design on a par with the US Carbine in endurance.
I would also recommend the USA 10 shot magazines for this rifle. There is the caveat that I purchased these six years ago and perhaps the quality has not remained, but the three I have work flawlessly, and one has seen a lot of use. These were $10 apiece including mailing when I purchased them.
