reloading 7.62x39

[Tad Houston]

Anyone know the bore size of a ruger mini 30 is? can i load it with standard .308 bullets?

Thanks

[Mikey]

Yes - that is one of the issues with the mini-30s, that the bores are 308 instead of the 310 the 7.62x39 European ammo is loaded to.  This means you can probably shoot the US made ammo with 308 bullets fairly accurately.  Mikey.

[R.W.Dale]

Yes - that is one of the issues with the mini-30s, that the bores are 308 instead of the 310 the 7.62x39 European ammo is loaded to.  This means you can probably shoot the US made ammo with 308 bullets fairly accurately.  Mikey.

 NOT SO FAST

 In some of my research into the subject I've had people state that they have .310 diameter Mini 30's and that only the very first few minis had 308 bores. The ONLY way to know for sure is to slug your bore.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3805450#post3805450

This means you can probably shoot the US made ammo with 308 bullets fairly accurately.  Mikey.

 This is another ofter repeated MYTH

 Other than some small specialty ammo manufacturers Domestic 7.62x39 loaded by remington, winchester ect ect has NEVER been loaded with .308 diameter bullets This is no secret or mystery as you can order the componet bullets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=195939&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=405727&t=11082005

[R.W.Dale]

double tap

[steve4102]

Anyone know the bore size of a ruger mini 30 is? can i load it with standard .308 bullets?

Thanks

  That depends on when it was manufactured.   The first Mini-30s had a .308 bore with a tapered throat to accept .308-.311 bullet dia. bullets.   It is my understanding tha Ruger changed over to the larger .310 in about 1994.  If you call Ruger with yourseriall number they can give you the bore dia.

  As for ammo the .308, .310 and .311 will shoot safely in either bore, accuracy may be something else.  And yes, US manufactured ammo is loaded with the larger .310-.311 dia. bullets.

[Tad Houston]

Thanks guys, great information here!