RUGER Mini-14 Mag in a Mini-30 ???

shemp · September 24, 1999, 07:02 AM

Purchased a used Ruger Mini-30, s/n 189-15XXX, at gunshow this past Sunday. However, after arriving home, suprised to see floorplate on factory (?) five round magazine reads "RUGER mini-14 (logo)". 7.62x39 cartridges fit into mag, and mag pops right into mag well. A pull on the bolt handle seems to properly load a round out of the mag. Are the Mini-14 and Mini-30 magazines interchangeable or could this be (my suspicion) a Mini-30 mag mislabeled with a Mini-14 floorplate ??? Thanks...

**Mal H** · September 24, 1999, 12:47 PM

7.62x39 cartridges will fit in the mini-14 mag. The real test to see which one you have is how many will fit in the mag. I could only get 4 7.62's in a Ruger 5 shot mini-14 mag. If you can easily get 5 in, then the floor plate has been swapped. That shouldn't cause a problem.

But, this brings up an interesting alternative. How many .223's will fit in a mini-30 mag and will they cycle flawlessly? I don't have a mini-30 to test with.

shemp · September 24, 1999, 06:30 PM

Mal, five rounds (and no more) of 7.62x39 fit smartly into this mag no sweat. Based on your test, will conclude it's not a Mini-14 mag but indeed the correct Mini-30 mag with wrong floorplate. Don't have any .223 on hand but will borrow some to test fit, out of curiosity. Thanks...

**4V50 Gary** · September 24, 1999, 10:16 PM

Had an opportunity to conduct a side by side comparison of the Ruger 5 round Mini14 and Mini30 magazines and found that the difference was in the lips. If I recall correctly, the Mini30 are slightly further apart and from the back towards the front, tapered wider.

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September 24, 1999, 07:02 AM	#1
shemp Junior Member Join Date: September 22, 1999 Posts: 2	Purchased a used Ruger Mini-30, s/n 189-15XXX, at gunshow this past Sunday. However, after arriving home, suprised to see floorplate on factory (?) five round magazine reads "RUGER mini-14 (logo)". 7.62x39 cartridges fit into mag, and mag pops right into mag well. A pull on the bolt handle seems to properly load a round out of the mag. Are the Mini-14 and Mini-30 magazines interchangeable or could this be (my suspicion) a Mini-30 mag mislabeled with a Mini-14 floorplate ??? Thanks...

September 24, 1999, 12:47 PM	#2
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	7.62x39 cartridges will fit in the mini-14 mag. The real test to see which one you have is how many will fit in the mag. I could only get 4 7.62's in a Ruger 5 shot mini-14 mag. If you can easily get 5 in, then the floor plate has been swapped. That shouldn't cause a problem. But, this brings up an interesting alternative. How many .223's will fit in a mini-30 mag and will they cycle flawlessly? I don't have a mini-30 to test with.

September 24, 1999, 06:30 PM	#3
shemp Junior Member Join Date: September 22, 1999 Posts: 2	Mal, five rounds (and no more) of 7.62x39 fit smartly into this mag no sweat. Based on your test, will conclude it's not a Mini-14 mag but indeed the correct Mini-30 mag with wrong floorplate. Don't have any .223 on hand but will borrow some to test fit, out of curiosity. Thanks...

September 24, 1999, 10:16 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Had an opportunity to conduct a side by side comparison of the Ruger 5 round Mini14 and Mini30 magazines and found that the difference was in the lips. If I recall correctly, the Mini30 are slightly further apart and from the back towards the front, tapered wider. ------------------ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt