I am a 30 cal and M1A guy so I really wanted to love my Mini-30. It’s light and handy like a 10/22 but mine lacked acceptable accuracy – like every Mini-14 I’ve bought and sold. The deal-killer was learning that they are known to consistently suffer light primer strikes on Russian steel ammo, which has very hard primer cups. I was lucky to get 70% function, usually much less. It shot brass just fine, though accuracy never improved. Although I reloaded for it for a short time I ultimately decided that is was too much time and trouble for a range toy back when Tula and Wolf were 25-30 cents a round and my SKS meets my needs for a 7.62×39 carbine. In fact I think I’ll take it out and shoot it this morning!
2 replies on “This Old Gun: Ruger Mini Thirty”
I am a 30 cal and M1A guy so I really wanted to love my Mini-30. It’s light and handy like a 10/22 but mine lacked acceptable accuracy – like every Mini-14 I’ve bought and sold. The deal-killer was learning that they are known to consistently suffer light primer strikes on Russian steel ammo, which has very hard primer cups. I was lucky to get 70% function, usually much less. It shot brass just fine, though accuracy never improved. Although I reloaded for it for a short time I ultimately decided that is was too much time and trouble for a range toy back when Tula and Wolf were 25-30 cents a round and my SKS meets my needs for a 7.62×39 carbine. In fact I think I’ll take it out and shoot it this morning!
You too!?!