Opinions and experiences: Ruger Mini 30

blackdog_507 · January 3, 2010, 10:52 PM

Just bought a mini 30 off of GB. It is used, but according to the seller was an "estate" gun. Its in EXCELLENT condition. Came with one 5 rd, and a Simmons 3-9x32. I paid $546 including shipping and my FFL transfer fee. I actually sold a Saiga 7.62x39 with a tapco bolt on stock and two 30rd mags for $450 to help fund the purchase. I hear so much chatter from "Mini-haters" saying they inaccurate, hard to clean/maintain, and unreliable. This is a range toy, maybe a coyote gun, and of course, always a standby for "just in case" situations. I plan on shooting a lot of cheap steel ammo through it, brown bear, wolf, etc. For self defense and larger varmints (anything larger than a squirrel or prairie dog) I figure if I can break a clay bird at a given range for a given gun (say 25 yards for a pistol, 100 yards for a rifle such as this) then I'm good to go. Basically, I'm not obsessed with 1" groups at 800 meters like some folks out there. Please offer me your opinions and experiences concerning Ruger mini's, especially the 30, and let me know if I've made a good decision.

plainsman456 · January 3, 2010, 10:55 PM

I don't think you did so bad.If you get a adjustable gas block for it you will like it more.

Ignition Override · January 3, 2010, 11:27 PM

Just my limited experience here with a 30, and have never determined the accuracy.
"Insurgent" bricks and juice jugs from eighty feet don't care, and all of my guns are original with nothing added except slings.

Out of about 1,400 rds. using only Russian-made ammo since I bought it, there have been about a dozen ftfs on the first primer strike. A Wolff spring can reportedly reduce the ftfs. The gun was designed to use softer US-made primers, and maybe this was before affordable ammo was imported in bulk from Russia (?). Even with the two ('08) aftermarket metal Promag 10-rounders, they very seldom misfeed.

And for the first time, Ruger recently began producing 20-round mags for the 30

. This will increase the popularity. Notice how few responses you have seen on this topic-lots of people don't realize the problems caused by the fact that Ruger never produced larger mags for these until this winter. They may not be aware that the situation has changed.
Ruger also began selling 20-rounders for the Mini 14 to civilians, only after the presidential election, by the way.

My Mini 30 was offered for sale in order to fund an M-1 Garand, but I decided to keep it (one of three favorites) and save the money instead.
Both of my Minis are very easy to clean, but have not removed the bolts.

gbran · January 3, 2010, 11:41 PM

I understand the newre 30's are more accurate. Mine is about 5 years old and does about 3" @ 100yds w/Wolf ammo. Sometimes better. It's been reliable and my only complaint is inserting mags, even factory mags are a little tough to slam home.

McBuck · January 4, 2010, 12:38 AM

I have owned three Mini-30's in the past and all three performed great, and would eat anything I shoved into the mags without complaint. Check out perfectunion.com and you will find a ton of guys there that are Mini shooters and know them inside and out..

http://perfectunion.com/vb/index.php

uncyboo · January 4, 2010, 03:54 AM

Quote:

I hear so much chatter from "Mini-haters" saying they inaccurate, hard to clean/maintain, and unreliable.

They are very easy to clean/maintain, and extremely reliable. The only validity to the chatter you have heard could be the accuracy statement, and certainly wouldn't apply to every Mini 30 ever built.

However, there are some things in design of the rifle that can lead to less than stellar accuracy. Fortunately, as McBuck pointed out, the boys and girls over at PerfectUnion have some simple, inexpensive solutions and tweaks that can be applied to the Mini series of Rugers. If you own a Mini, you should really check this site out.

It will never be a bench rest competition rifle, but if improvements are called for they generally won't break the bank, and you can do alot of them yourself if you have any mechanical skills at all.

k in AR · January 4, 2010, 05:30 PM

I shot a ton of ammo thru my stainless Mini30 during the past 15 or 20 years,
Fun Gun, great to carry, the accuracy is nothing to write home about, but with good US ammo or reloads 2 to 3 inch 100 yard 5 shot groups were the norm, downside was 5 & 6 inch groups with some of the cheeper import stuff. My gun did demand a good cleaning every 500 rounds or so, but that was never a real issue.

Only real problem I ever had was when I purchased a tin or 2 of Russian ammo that had Very hard primers. No problem for a SKS or AK, but the Mini30 had far too many light strikes when using that stuff. The firing spring was just a little light for that particular Mil ammo. Still, they would usually go off if I fed them thru for a second time.

4sixteen · January 4, 2010, 08:17 PM

Mines been reliable and shoots 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards using the steel-cased ammo. Here it is with a Weaver 1x3 scope. Nice handling rifle.

Lloyd Smale · January 4, 2010, 08:30 PM

I just sold mine and bought a bushmaster ar in 762x39. Mine was a decent gun but finding mags was about impossible, at least good high capasity ones. I heard ruger is doing a run of them though and that will make it a much better gun to pick up. Dont expect any kind of accuracy unless your willing to bust your but reloading to maybe find a majic combo. Also if your going to shoot wolf buy a wolf extra power hammer spring or you will get alot of missfires.

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 09:10 PM

never never fire wolf or mil spec ammo in a mini 30 the mini has a .308 bore the mill spec ammo has a .311 bullet you will eat the bore right out of the gun.

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 09:14 PM

i see by the postes above that no one read there manual !!!!!!!!!! that tells you not to use mill spec ammo in a mini 30 . because the primers are to hard and that they have a .311 bullet

blackdog_507 · January 4, 2010, 09:29 PM

Are you guys telling me not to shoot any Brown Bear, Wolf, Silver Bear, Golden Tiger, etc. out of my mini?

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 09:46 PM

if you call ruger or read your owners manual it will tell you the same thing . the bore on a mini 30 is .308 us standered millspec ammo has a bullet that is .311 you will eat the bore right out of the gun i know i did it . and had to pay to rebarrel it

4sixteen · January 4, 2010, 10:06 PM

The manual states on page 11 to use "either standard U.S. military or factory loaded sporting 7.62x39mm cartridges manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice."

It goes on to state "the use of corrosively primed ammunition is not recommended."

My interpretation of the above is that any commercially available 7.62x39 ammo is ok to use, which is loaded with .311" diameter bullets (American Eagle, Prvi Partizan, Federal, Winchester, etc.). I believe the .311" bullet diameter steel-cased ammo should be ok, however, I was advised it uses corrosive primers so the rifle should be cleaned thoroughly after firing this ammo.

I also have a blued Remington 799 7.62x39 that I've been firing this ammo thru and cleaning thoroughly after use. Maybe not so critical in a stainless Mini-30??

I have an older edition of the Speer Reloading manual (No.11, from 1987) which states that the Mini-30 rifles at that time had .308 bores. Speer Reloading manual No. 13 (1994) states "the standard bullet diameter for the 7.62x39 is .311". I thought then the more recent Mini-30's have .311" bores.

Thanks Ranger Dave, it's good to review this information.

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 10:28 PM

no all mini 30 have a .308 bore and us standered is a .308 bore not .311 . i found out the hard way i went from 2 m.o.a. to 6 m.o.a. it will destroy the bore

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 10:34 PM

fed and win are all loaded with a .308 bullet . and recb sends two different sizing bells depending on what you are loading for. i love my mini 30 but you have to use the right ammo. yes wolf and the like are comm. loaded but there are stright off the mill spec presses that have been loading 7.62x39 since 1947

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 10:40 PM

ruger is making the mini in 6.8 . ive had one on order for a month now i cant wait

4sixteen · January 4, 2010, 10:42 PM

Same with Lee dies, they give you a .308" and a .311" expander for the full length resizing die. Maybe that was an issue in the past when the Mini-30 had a .308" bore??

The newer Mini-30's should have a .311" bore, as does my Remington 799, in accordance with what the Speer Reloading manul No. 13 states about the .311" standard bullet diameter.

6.8mm SPC, more velocity, more shock.

chris in va · January 4, 2010, 10:44 PM

I just measured some Wolf (not sure which), measures .308" on my caliper. Whichever one is laquer coated.

So does the Winchester SP I have on hand.

The S&B SP measures .309.

4sixteen · January 4, 2010, 10:53 PM

Should be a manufacturing tolerance of +/- .002", not sure exactly??

ranger dave · January 4, 2010, 11:10 PM

im not sure ruger ever made the mini with a .311 bore i will call in the am to check for sure

4sixteen · January 4, 2010, 11:31 PM

Great, the way to find out for sure.

ranger dave · January 5, 2010, 09:41 AM

ruger has never made a mini 30 with a .311 boreif you fire mill spec ammo in it you void the waranty. you should fire only us made ammo with .308 bullets. thats stright from the horses mouth

uncyboo · January 5, 2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

ruger has never made a mini 30 with a .311 boreif you fire mill spec ammo in it you void the waranty. you should fire only us made ammo with .308 bullets. thats stright from the horses mouth

Was this a phone call, e-mail, or what. Please let us know who is "the horse", in this case.

The reason that I am interested is, as about 18 months I inquired to Ruger Customer Service myself about this very subject. I have had a Mini 30 since late 2007 but had not done much with it. I knew I was gonna handload for it, but there seems to be alot of hearsay about the bore diameter of these rifles. When I called, I was told that since 1992, Ruger has tried to maintain a nominal bore diameter of .3105. I slugged mine with a piece of buckshot and got .3103 in mine. So, it seems someone is blowing smoke.

22-rimfire · January 5, 2010, 11:53 AM

Both the Mini 14 and Mini 30 are a hoot to shoot. If you are not fanatical about cleaning, the mini's are for you (and me). I don't have a 30, but the only thing I shoot with the 14 are plastic jugs, clay pigeons, 5-gallon cans, refrigerators, and so forth. Shoots well enough for me and functions perfectly. Just buy Ruger mags as most others are hit or miss.

January 3, 2010, 10:52 PM	#1
blackdog_507 Member Join Date: March 28, 2009 Posts: 73	Opinions and experiences: Ruger Mini 30 Just bought a mini 30 off of GB. It is used, but according to the seller was an "estate" gun. Its in EXCELLENT condition. Came with one 5 rd, and a Simmons 3-9x32. I paid $546 including shipping and my FFL transfer fee. I actually sold a Saiga 7.62x39 with a tapco bolt on stock and two 30rd mags for $450 to help fund the purchase. I hear so much chatter from "Mini-haters" saying they inaccurate, hard to clean/maintain, and unreliable. This is a range toy, maybe a coyote gun, and of course, always a standby for "just in case" situations. I plan on shooting a lot of cheap steel ammo through it, brown bear, wolf, etc. For self defense and larger varmints (anything larger than a squirrel or prairie dog) I figure if I can break a clay bird at a given range for a given gun (say 25 yards for a pistol, 100 yards for a rifle such as this) then I'm good to go. Basically, I'm not obsessed with 1" groups at 800 meters like some folks out there. Please offer me your opinions and experiences concerning Ruger mini's, especially the 30, and let me know if I've made a good decision.

January 3, 2010, 11:27 PM	#3
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,887	Just my limited experience here with a 30, and have never determined the accuracy. "Insurgent" bricks and juice jugs from eighty feet don't care, and all of my guns are original with nothing added except slings. Out of about 1,400 rds. using only Russian-made ammo since I bought it, there have been about a dozen ftfs on the first primer strike. A Wolff spring can reportedly reduce the ftfs. The gun was designed to use softer US-made primers, and maybe this was before affordable ammo was imported in bulk from Russia (?). Even with the two ('08) aftermarket metal Promag 10-rounders, they very seldom misfeed. And for the first time, Ruger recently began producing 20-round mags for the 30. This will increase the popularity. Notice how few responses you have seen on this topic-lots of people don't realize the problems caused by the fact that Ruger never produced larger mags for these until this winter. They may not be aware that the situation has changed. Ruger also began selling 20-rounders for the Mini 14 to civilians, only after the presidential election, by the way. My Mini 30 was offered for sale in order to fund an M-1 Garand, but I decided to keep it (one of three favorites) and save the money instead. Both of my Minis are very easy to clean, but have not removed the bolts. Last edited by Ignition Override; January 3, 2010 at 11:37 PM.

January 4, 2010, 09:10 PM	#10
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	danger never never fire wolf or mil spec ammo in a mini 30 the mini has a .308 bore the mill spec ammo has a .311 bullet you will eat the bore right out of the gun.

January 4, 2010, 09:14 PM	#11
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	i see i see by the postes above that no one read there manual !!!!!!!!!! that tells you not to use mill spec ammo in a mini 30 . because the primers are to hard and that they have a .311 bullet

January 4, 2010, 09:29 PM	#12
blackdog_507 Member Join Date: March 28, 2009 Posts: 73	Whoa whoa whoa, Are you guys telling me not to shoot any Brown Bear, Wolf, Silver Bear, Golden Tiger, etc. out of my mini?

January 3, 2010, 10:55 PM	#2
plainsman456 Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 260	I don't think you did so bad.If you get a adjustable gas block for it you will like it more.

January 3, 2010, 11:41 PM	#4
gbran Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Middle California Posts: 364	I understand the newre 30's are more accurate. Mine is about 5 years old and does about 3" @ 100yds w/Wolf ammo. Sometimes better. It's been reliable and my only complaint is inserting mags, even factory mags are a little tough to slam home.

January 4, 2010, 12:38 AM	#5
McBuck Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Location: West Slope of the Blue Ridge Posts: 19	I have owned three Mini-30's in the past and all three performed great, and would eat anything I shoved into the mags without complaint. Check out perfectunion.com and you will find a ton of guys there that are Mini shooters and know them inside and out.. http://perfectunion.com/vb/index.php

January 4, 2010, 05:30 PM	#7
k in AR Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 436	I shot a ton of ammo thru my stainless Mini30 during the past 15 or 20 years, Fun Gun, great to carry, the accuracy is nothing to write home about, but with good US ammo or reloads 2 to 3 inch 100 yard 5 shot groups were the norm, downside was 5 & 6 inch groups with some of the cheeper import stuff. My gun did demand a good cleaning every 500 rounds or so, but that was never a real issue. Only real problem I ever had was when I purchased a tin or 2 of Russian ammo that had Very hard primers. No problem for a SKS or AK, but the Mini30 had far too many light strikes when using that stuff. The firing spring was just a little light for that particular Mil ammo. Still, they would usually go off if I fed them thru for a second time.

January 4, 2010, 08:17 PM	#8
4sixteen Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: Up North Posts: 145	Mines been reliable and shoots 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards using the steel-cased ammo. Here it is with a Weaver 1x3 scope. Nice handling rifle.

January 4, 2010, 08:30 PM	#9
Lloyd Smale Junior member Join Date: February 11, 2005 Posts: 822	I just sold mine and bought a bushmaster ar in 762x39. Mine was a decent gun but finding mags was about impossible, at least good high capasity ones. I heard ruger is doing a run of them though and that will make it a much better gun to pick up. Dont expect any kind of accuracy unless your willing to bust your but reloading to maybe find a majic combo. Also if your going to shoot wolf buy a wolf extra power hammer spring or you will get alot of missfires.

January 4, 2010, 09:46 PM	#13
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	yeap if you call ruger or read your owners manual it will tell you the same thing . the bore on a mini 30 is .308 us standered millspec ammo has a bullet that is .311 you will eat the bore right out of the gun i know i did it . and had to pay to rebarrel it

January 4, 2010, 10:06 PM	#14
4sixteen Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: Up North Posts: 145	The manual states on page 11 to use "either standard U.S. military or factory loaded sporting 7.62x39mm cartridges manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice." It goes on to state "the use of corrosively primed ammunition is not recommended." My interpretation of the above is that any commercially available 7.62x39 ammo is ok to use, which is loaded with .311" diameter bullets (American Eagle, Prvi Partizan, Federal, Winchester, etc.). I believe the .311" bullet diameter steel-cased ammo should be ok, however, I was advised it uses corrosive primers so the rifle should be cleaned thoroughly after firing this ammo. I also have a blued Remington 799 7.62x39 that I've been firing this ammo thru and cleaning thoroughly after use. Maybe not so critical in a stainless Mini-30?? I have an older edition of the Speer Reloading manual (No.11, from 1987) which states that the Mini-30 rifles at that time had .308 bores. Speer Reloading manual No. 13 (1994) states "the standard bullet diameter for the 7.62x39 is .311". I thought then the more recent Mini-30's have .311" bores. Thanks Ranger Dave, it's good to review this information. Last edited by 4sixteen; January 4, 2010 at 10:31 PM.

January 4, 2010, 10:28 PM	#15
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	.311 no all mini 30 have a .308 bore and us standered is a .308 bore not .311 . i found out the hard way i went from 2 m.o.a. to 6 m.o.a. it will destroy the bore

January 4, 2010, 10:34 PM	#16
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	ammo fed and win are all loaded with a .308 bullet . and recb sends two different sizing bells depending on what you are loading for. i love my mini 30 but you have to use the right ammo. yes wolf and the like are comm. loaded but there are stright off the mill spec presses that have been loading 7.62x39 since 1947

January 4, 2010, 10:40 PM	#17
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	a little off the thread ruger is making the mini in 6.8 . ive had one on order for a month now i cant wait

January 4, 2010, 10:42 PM	#18
4sixteen Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: Up North Posts: 145	Same with Lee dies, they give you a .308" and a .311" expander for the full length resizing die. Maybe that was an issue in the past when the Mini-30 had a .308" bore?? The newer Mini-30's should have a .311" bore, as does my Remington 799, in accordance with what the Speer Reloading manul No. 13 states about the .311" standard bullet diameter. 6.8mm SPC, more velocity, more shock.

January 4, 2010, 10:44 PM	#19
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I just measured some Wolf (not sure which), measures .308" on my caliper. Whichever one is laquer coated. So does the Winchester SP I have on hand. The S&B SP measures .309. Last edited by chris in va; January 4, 2010 at 10:50 PM.

January 4, 2010, 10:53 PM	#20
4sixteen Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: Up North Posts: 145	Should be a manufacturing tolerance of +/- .002", not sure exactly??

January 4, 2010, 11:10 PM	#21
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	ammo im not sure ruger ever made the mini with a .311 bore i will call in the am to check for sure

January 4, 2010, 11:31 PM	#22
4sixteen Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: Up North Posts: 145	Great, the way to find out for sure.

January 5, 2010, 09:41 AM	#23
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	ruger ruger has never made a mini 30 with a .311 boreif you fire mill spec ammo in it you void the waranty. you should fire only us made ammo with .308 bullets. thats stright from the horses mouth

January 5, 2010, 11:53 AM	#25
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	Both the Mini 14 and Mini 30 are a hoot to shoot. If you are not fanatical about cleaning, the mini's are for you (and me). I don't have a 30, but the only thing I shoot with the 14 are plastic jugs, clay pigeons, 5-gallon cans, refrigerators, and so forth. Shoots well enough for me and functions perfectly. Just buy Ruger mags as most others are hit or miss.