Author Topic: Mini 14 or Mini 30 and why please? (Read 1665 times)

pelagic1 · « **on:** June 20, 2006, 02:28:15 PM »

There's a sale on these right now in my area and I'm torn between them. .223 or 7.62 I realize, but what are the advantages/disadvantages of both? I have a 10/22 that I've done a little work to and I love it, so I'm somewhat brand loyal, but I really don't know much about either caliber. Ultimate destination is to learn to reload. Is one preferable to the other for any reason besides personal choice? Thanks to all.

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2006, 03:41:59 PM »

Ones a small bore,(.224") and the other is a medium bore( 30cal). What do you wan to use it for? Deer size game, get the 7.62. Varmints, get the 223. Niether one of these rifles is really known for its accuracy. If it were me I would save my money and get a A-R of some kind. KN

CyberSniper · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2006, 03:53:17 PM »

Another factor ( at least at this time ) is that cheap 7.62 x 39 ammo is hard
to come by. As for reloading, since these are semi autos, you'll
spend time looking for brass scattered all over the place too.

And again, 7.62 x 39 brass ( other than American loaded ) usually
is not reloadable. Most foreign "brass" is actually a steel case,
and is berdan primed.

If you are seriously interested in getting into reloading, maybe
you should consider a Ruger bolt action in .223...

pelagic1 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2006, 04:45:56 AM »

Thanks guys. I figured as much w/ the expense of the casings, but I didn't know about the steel casings. Sitting here flipping through a Bushmaster catalog. Hmmm... Stainless Varmint Special... Wonder what street price is on one of those? Thanks again.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2006, 06:41:29 AM »

I see that you are living in Kali------better just go throw away that Bushmaster catalog---because you can't have one there.

The Mini and M1A are about your only choices----and forget about those hi-cap magazines too.

pelagic1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2006, 07:07:46 AM »

What makes you say I can't have one here? They sell them here in several places, and I physically looked at one last week (brand new carbon model). I do know about the high cap mags though. I'll just run over to Yuma for them...

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2006, 07:12:43 AM »

Did they change the law-----I was under the impression AR's were banned there since around 99-2000.

Bringing one in from another state will get ya jail time too----if it were me---I'd be finding out about the local laws before I spent any money.

Don't get caught with it.

pelagic1 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2006, 07:51:32 AM »

I don't know... You aren't the first to ask about legality though. I just figured if my local store sold them, it must be legal. It does only come with 10rd mags though. When I contacted Bushmaster, they also sent me a list of dealers here, so... Not looking to get into trouble that's for sure. Haven't been there and don't plan to!

gunbuster · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2006, 04:28:26 AM »

Can't shoot either of the mini's at a shooting range. Well, that is unless where you shoot nobody minds getting bombed by empties. Both of the little rugurs will throw empty cases three to four lanes to the right, and will piss everybody off.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2006, 08:23:31 AM »

Get to the range early and find the FAR RIGHT lane. That's where gun owners belong anyway!!

Old Griz · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2006, 07:23:32 PM »

:cb2: I bought a Mini-30 as a "relative gun." When my relatives come to visit they always want to go shooting. Wolf 7.62x39 is the cheapest thing next to a .22 that there is to shoot. Plus the rookies love a semi-automatic. (My Marlin .38/.357 1894CB is my favorite fun gun!)

I bought a used Mini-30 (SS w/synthetic stock) that looked like it had never been fired, and, it shoots great. Always heard how they weren't very accurate, but this one is pretty darn good.

I couldn't find any high capacity mags that would even feed the cartridges into the chamber, but the 10-round stainless ProMag actually work smoother than my 5-round factory mags. If anyone else knows of a high capacity mag for the Mini-30 that works, please let me know. (Why is this such a problem? I don't hear about the Mini-14 having magazine problems?)

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2006, 06:57:59 AM »

The Mini 14 was around for about 15 years before the Mini-30 came out.

The 14 was passed off as a plinker--hunter and in the Gov't version as a police/prison rifle along with factory hi-cap mags.

The 30 has always been pretty much marketed as a hunter---the factory has never offered hi-caps---no quality after market mag producer has saw fit to make decent hi-caps for the 30--all the mags I tried when I had my 30 were junk---other than the factory 5-rounders.

The true solution for the 30 would be to make it accept AK mags and be done with it.

azshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2006, 12:06:08 PM »

I buy 1-2 guns a year and have only ever sold 1 - my mini 14.Â I applied the funds to a Bushmaster AR.Â I would take my money and buy an AR or if you like the style - get a DCM Garand for about the same money.Â My Garand would out shoot my Mini all day long. If you don't care about 3-4 inch 100 yard groups then the mini 14 is fine.

RGS · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2006, 06:04:19 AM »

I wouldn't be scared off of buying a mini 30. The ones coming off the line now have a much better reputation for accuracy then before. Of course if one insists on shooting Wolf ammo accuracy won't be as good as the better more expensive US stuff. I use it to "get on paper" then fine tune with the better ammo.

I never shot an AR so I didn't know they piled brass neatly at the shooter's feet. That is a plus.

I shot to the right of a M1A shooter once.....just once.....A few hot .308 cases in the forehead did not help my shooting that day.

My Mini 30 is an older one (not accurate). I can only shoot 2.5" groups at 100yds with it.

Lets face it, how many rifles do you have that have never been tweaked by you or a gunsmith? All my bolt guns have had trigger and bedding work, and have fancy shmancy scopes. That is to achieve 1" to 1.5" groups at 100yds. Why should one expect to not have to tweak a Mini? That is part of the fun as far as I am concerned. People go out and buy a 10-.22 for $200 and drop another $300 into stocks, barrels, triggers, you name it.

As to the original question of a choice between a Mini 14 and the Mini 30, that is just a personal preference. I have an old M77 in .22-250. I have shot a lot of squirrels with it. The US military not withstanding, I just can’t see using a .223 on bigger “game”. Others differ in their opinion.

Have fun with whatever you deside.

Rick

DWTim · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2006, 06:21:50 AM »

I'd go for the Mini-14, unless you had a certain type of hunting in mind. The days of surplus 7.62x39 are over. Every gunshop I've been to has .223 coming out their ears. If you pick 7.62, you get screwed with reloading, too. I'm trying to find components for my brother. Lapua is the only company that sells brass in the whole USA, and it costs more per unit that new, commercial ammo I buy for my handguns! The Wolf ammo is covered with a nasty green paint that I wouldn't want all over the inside of a die, and most of the surplus empties I find on the range are Berdan-type. Even when I look for .311 bullets, I'd have to settle for 150 gr. SP. The rest are for Enfield-class cartridges. I have not been able to find a single place that sells 123 gr. FMJ.

Personally, I think it's a conspiracy.

Simonovs are as common as TV sets now. There is no way the demand would be so low that all the major US components manufacturers wouldn't bother.

EDIT: In a nutshell, go for the Mini-14.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2006, 06:45:09 AM »

DON'T TRY RELOADING WOLF!!!!

Its a steel case and that green stuff is a rust preventative.

Midway has Remington and Winchester 7.62x39 cases at a lot less cost than Lapua/Norma.

Edited because my typing skills are suspect-----read my post again now

Brain thinks one thing and the fingers stamp out something completely different.

DWTim · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2006, 08:44:42 AM »

Really? Do the primer pockets give you any trouble?

RGS · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2006, 10:15:03 AM »

DWTim

Hornady makes a 123gr .310" bullet in SP and FMJ for the 7.62X39. The SP is #3140 and the FMJ is #3147.

Hornady goes on to say the Mini 30 has a .308 bore so that opens up a whole range of possibilities for the handloader.

Hornady die sets come with 2 expander balls so .308" bullets can be used.

See page 410 of vollume 1 of the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading.

Rick

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2006, 12:53:04 PM »

Pretty sure---but not positive---the Mini-30 story goes like this----the early ones had .308 barrels and the new production has the correct for cartridge .311 bore.

DWTim · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2006, 01:31:37 PM »

Thanks, fellas! How 'bout that, you learn something new every day. I knew I should have picked up that Hornady manual the other day.

RGS · « **Reply #20 on:** July 20, 2006, 04:53:49 PM »

Quote from: Omaha-BeenGlockin on July 20, 2006, 12:53:04 PM

Pretty sure---but not positive---the Mini-30 story goes like this----the early ones had .308 barrels and the new production has the correct for cartridge .311 bore.

I have heard that story too.

I guess the only way to know what size bore I have is to call Ruger and give them the serial #.

RGS · « **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2006, 04:47:09 AM »

Okay...I just got off the phone with Ruger

Prior to 1990, the mini 30 barrels were made .308"-.309".

After 1990 to pressent, the barrels are .310"-.3115".

For example, my 189 series was shipped in January 1993, so if yours is past that it is a .311 for sure. Just call Ruger with your 30's serial # and they can tell you when it was shipped.

Rick

DWTim · « **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2006, 10:25:12 AM »

The above post is good, solid information. I vote that it be its own sticky.

targshooter · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2006, 05:32:42 AM »

Gents,
I have a Ruger Mini-30 purchased in 2001 and a Mini-14 purchased earlier this year. Both are the stainless steel synthetic stocked version (All Weather in Rugerese).
The Mini-30 has seen 5,000 rounds of Wolf ammo without a hitch on its part. I use the Wolf 123 grain hollow point, and the rifle gives solid 2 MOA accuracy. It is the ranch rifle with the flip up peep. The sight picture is fast to acquire and the peep and front sight are nicely mated, IMO. The rifling is still crisp and not worn when inspected by unaided eye. The actio has smoothed out, but I see no question as to its ability to go another 5,000 rounds without a hitch.
The Mini-14 has the new sights, and I like these even more than the flip up peeps. They present a sight picture very similar to any Garand, M-14 or US Carbine shooter. These sights are also more durable than the flip up sights, IMO. This rifle is not as accurate as the Mini-30, but it gives solid 2-3 MOA performance with Wolf 55 grain FMJ steel cased ammo. I have about 700 rounds through the rifle with no problems.
Currently I have found that the 7.62x39 ammunition is not as cheap as it used to be, and it seems that the 5.56 is more readily available, and in many different flavors at quite reasonable prices.
Gun wise I would go with either (both now have the new peep sight), depending on what your needs are for the firearm; mid size game hunting hunting gives the 7.62 the nod, whereas to me, plinking and jump hunting of varmints gives the nod to the Mini-14.

jrdavis · « **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2006, 12:00:27 PM »

I'm in the same boat your in ...which on to buy. I want to re-barrel it into 6.8 Rem SPC. I found out I need the Mini 30 because of the larger bolt head(.421)...my view of the 6.8 is with 90 grain bullets I can hunt varmints and the 118 gr hunt deer if I want to ...I found out you can at the tme of re-barrel have a buffer spring put in to keep the brass from flying all over the range...check out this site http://www.accuracysystemsinc.com/

BRL · « **Reply #25 on:** July 30, 2006, 12:50:18 PM »

jrdavis...I just posted the other day about Accuracy Inc. I wondered if anyone has used them. I have a 7400 Remington, a mini 14 and a Bushmaster that I was thinking about having work done on. I can't seem to find anyone who knows anything about them.

BRL · « **Reply #26 on:** July 30, 2006, 12:59:35 PM »

Oh, the origional question...I have a fun time at the range with my Mini 14. I shoot with the origional open sight at 50 yards and only do marginal, but I am pretty bad shooting with an open sight. Still fun though and ammo is cheap. That's probably the only thing I will ever do with it. Oh, and yes. I was bombarded yesterday at the range from someone shooting one 4 lanes down from me. I didn't get hit until the guy next to me left. I guess they were hitting him the whole time before leaving. I have a Bushmaster in .223 and one in .308 that I absolutely love! .223 has a holo sight while the .308 has a Luepold Illuminator. The .308 I just shot for the first time yesterday and think I just found my new favorite rifle. It just fit perfect and was easy to shoot with almost NO recoil. Hmmm, I wonder if I can deer hunt here in FL with one? That's another post.

Good luck

jrdavis · « **Reply #27 on:** July 31, 2006, 02:30:13 AM »

some one posted their site on my 7x57 post on this site...I called them they can do it. they said it would be 120 days until they could start as they were in the process of making new stainless gas system for the 7400. I'm looking for a recent made 7400 to sent to have rebarrel. going to try the gun show in Macon on the 5th Aug...