Mini 14/30

[dj454]

I love the Ruger Mini 14 and Mini 30. I fell in love with them when I was kid maybe because they look like the M14 or maybe because of The A Team and the ACR 556 but probably a little of both. I like the wood stock stainless version the best but honestly I like every version they make. For one reason or another I have never bought one. I am currently building an AR15 in 5.56 so I'm leaning toward the mini 30 for variety. The local pawn shop has one of each. Both are the newer versions after the design changes. I am worried that the current administration will ban them and I'm going to have to make a move on one. I've heard the Ruger hi cap mags are the best but are there any less expensive mags that work well. I am serious enough about purchasing one as long as nothing comes up that I want to get some mags. Are the Ruger hi caps the only ones worth buying because they are a little pricey.

 

[welder]

Factory mags only for me. I want them to work and the price is but a small portion of the gun. I threw away a couple hundred dollars worth of junk mags some years back.

That said, I keep hearing there are some Korean mags that work and maybe someone with experience can tell you about those.
I just made up my mind to stick with factory. YMMV

Just found this on the Korean mags:
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=161511

 

[gunman42782]

I would only buy Ruger factory mags. Anything else is crap.

 

[9x19]

I'm not a fan of 30 round mags in my Mini 30 (too long and heavy), so I stick to 20, 10, and 5.

The Pro-Mag 10 rounders work for me, but I do replace the followers with Ruger factory parts. I use factory mags in 5 & 20 rounds.

 

[chkrdflg]

I just got a mini 14 with the tactical stock the day after the election. I have 3 Ruger 20 rd. mags and 2 ProMag 20 rounders. So far the ProMags have worked just fine. The reviews at Midway seem to show that the 30 rounders even from Ruger do not work as well as the 20 rounders.
Good Luck!

 

[Iceaxe]

What is the current thinking on the Ruger Mini 30 and ammo issues.

I had a mini 30 3 years ago and sold it because it would only shoot American made ammo reliably.
Wolf ammo has some primers that are set deeper than others.
American Ammo has primers flush with the case.
My Mini 30 would dent the primers but they would not fire.
Those same dented rounds would fire in my friends AK and SKS.

I put the higher powered hammer springs in both mini 30's and still had FTF of 2 out of 10 rounds with Wolf ammo only.
Even after multiple attempts those FTF rounds would not fire in the mini 30 then..
Once again, those same rounds fired instantly in an SKS or AK.

Upon closer inspection i found that my Mini 30 as well as a friends with the same issue had a much shorter firing pin travel than the SKS or AK.
Ruger said it was fine and that i was only supposed to shoot American through the 30.
Not trying to bash Ruger here.
I love Ruger.
Just wondering..
Has anything changed regarding this issue?

Sure miss my Mini 30 but seems ridiculous to pay so much more for ammo.
I would consider buying another one if there has been any changes made to the firing pin design by Ruger or if someone has the magic answer besides heavier springs (been there, done that).

 

[9x19]

See this thread for more on your ammo queries:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=163531

What is the current thinking on the Ruger Mini 30 and ammo issues.

I had a mini 30 3 years ago and sold it because it would only shoot American made ammo reliably.
Wolf ammo has some primers that are set deeper than others.
American Ammo has primers flush with the case.
My Mini 30 would dent the primers but they would not fire.
Those same dented rounds would fire in my friends AK and SKS.

I put the higher powered hammer springs in both mini 30's and still had FTF of 2 out of 10 rounds with Wolf ammo only.

Upon closer inspection i found that my Mini 30 as well as a friends with the same issue had a much shorter firing pin travel than the SKS or AK.
Ruger said it was fine and that i was only supposed to shoot American through the 30.
Not trying to bash Ruger here.
I love Ruger.
Just wondering..
Has anything changed regarding this issue?

Sure miss my Mini 30 but seems ridiculous to pay so much more for ammo.
I would consider buying another one if there has been any changes made to the firing pin design by Ruger or if someone has the magic answer besides heavier springs (been there, done that).

 

[Iceaxe]

Wow 9X19! thanks a lot. Reading...

Okay, so no resolution yet.

Mr Ruger, If you would please add 2 thousands or an inch to the firing pin of a Mini Thirty, it would solve the problem.
No you wont burst primers.. The AK's and SKS's prove that.
Anyhow, I would definitely buy another Mini 30 if i did not have to worry about FTF's or swapping in springs.

Oh crap... I just lambasted someone for pissing on the LC9 two weeks ago and here i am pissing on the mini 30...
I am a hypocrit i guess.. Sorry Revhigh (but i still hate prius's).

Until that time i will look elsewhere for my 7.62 X 39 rifle.
Sure liked that Mini 30 though when it did fire...

 

[welder]

Sure liked that Mini 30 though when it did fire...

Makes two of us. I had two and just got frustrated with the mag and ammo issues. I miss the gun but not the problems. I can't understand why Ruger won't fix these little problems with the gun. I would but another if they did.

 

[blume357]

Contrary to popular TV myth and those over on the AR forum... you really don't need 50-100 30 round mags fully loaded, just in case. I'd say two maybe 3 is all you will ever need. You shoot that many rounds through either a 14 or 30 and it's time to take a break and reload magazines anyway.

then again, another way to look at it is Ruger Factory magazines are not a bad investment.... buy two and use them and buy more and just keep them in the box.... never can tell down the road. I think I've got two or three like that.

 

[robertkirksey]

ProMags (steel) work just fine for me, but I also buy Ruger marked mags when I find them priced right.

 

[wontsay]

I love the Ruger Mini 14 and Mini 30. I fell in love with them when I was kid maybe because they look like the M14 or maybe because of The A Team and the ACR 556 but probably a little of both. I like the wood stock stainless version the best but honestly I like every version they make. For one reason or another I have never bought one. I am currently building an AR15 in 5.56 so I'm leaning toward the mini 30 for variety. The local pawn shop has one of each. Both are the newer versions after the design changes. I am worried that the current administration will ban them and I'm going to have to make a move on one. I've heard the Ruger hi cap mags are the best but are there any less expensive mags that work well. I am serious enough about purchasing one as long as nothing comes up that I want to get some mags. Are the Ruger hi caps the only ones worth buying because they are a little pricey.

I have found that the Ruger factory mags are very reliable. My experience with after market magazines have been poor. I rarely empty an after market magazine without without a jam. My advice: clean your new/used Mini 30 well, use Ruger magazines, try a variety of ammo types and find what feeds well. Consider not storing your magazines fully loaded. Maybe 18 rounds in a 20 round magazine.

For what it's worth; I have heard a lot of talk about Warsaw pact ammo not feeding properly. My Mini 30 has fired everything I have fed it. It is a 1985 vintage maybe that makes a difference.

Quite a few deer have met their maker on the receiving end of this rifle.

 

[DDDWho]

ProMags (steel) work just fine for me, but I also buy Ruger marked mags when I find them priced right.

ProMags were all that was available locally at Academy which was right down the street from the Wally where I bought my Mini14. I bought a 20 and a 30 round paying $20 and $25 respectfully. I used both extensively without any type of FT feed or fire. Examining both side by side with the 5 round that came with the gun everything seems to nearly identical with the exception of the latching part but both seem to be equally substantial. The metal thickness seems to be the same and every other part looks identical.

If I ever have a problem with either I'll probably go with factory mags but right now that possibility seems remote.

 

[Iceaxe]

[/quote]For what it's worth; I have heard a lot of talk about Warsaw pact ammo not feeding properly. My Mini 30 has fired everything I have fed it. It is a 1985 vintage maybe that makes a difference.

Quite a few deer have met their maker on the receiving end of this rifle.[/quote]


That is what convinced me and a friend to both buy our mini 30's.
We were crushed to find out they would not shoot Wolf ammo reliably.
I put the heavier "wolf" springs in both rifles.. still no luck.
About 2 out of 10 rounds were FTF.
We took our rifles and ammo back to the LGS and they test fired all of our FTF rounds with an SKS with 100% success.
The gunsmith examined both rifles and sent my friends back to Ruger, I kept mine.
His came back from Ruger a month later and had exactly the same issue.
Meanwhile i shot the hell out of mine and it never would shoot Wolf ammo reliably.
Both rifles shot american ammo like Remmington and Federal flawlessly.

We both had purchased 1,000 rounds of wolf ammo on the advice of the LGS when we first purchased our Mini 30's so there we were, a month later with 700 rounds a piece of wolf ammo that had a 20% failure rate in our rifles. (FTF, the ammo always loaded just fine.)

I sold my mini 30 and ammo back to the LGS.

The whole experience left a sour taste.
In fact i am just getting back in to Ruger now.
Thats also why i get a little testy when people bag on the LC9 cause i just don't want to hear anything bad about my second Ruger firearm.

Now 4 years on, I am still thinking about that Mini 30 and how good it felt to shoot when it did fire.
Thinking i might be able to put up with the American ammo only thing but it still kinda pisses me off deep down.

Just not ready to give up on the Mini 30 yet.

One thing for sure, this time i am getting the wood stock and iron barrel version.
Sure looks sweet and i'm getting tired of the stainless/synthetic craze.

Maybe i need to just run a classified on here and get an older mini 30, like you have, that shoots anything you feed it.
I have an FFL just up the street from me..

 

[blume357]

My opinion is why get all bent because you Mini won't shoot cheap Russian Commie made Wolf ammo.... I'd try some American Made stuff and see how it does. The deer will appreciate it.

 

[Iceaxe]

"The deer will appreciate it."

Awesome response. You got me laughing!

 

[Backlighting]

My opinion is why get all bent because you Mini won't shoot cheap Russian Commie made Wolf ammo.... I'd try some American Made stuff and see how it does. The deer will appreciate it.

LOL.

 

[tcpip95]

I went through a similar exercise with my Mini-30. Here's what I learned:

1. My gun LOVES Golden Bear ammo. Not a single FTF after over 1,000 rounds of it. I've since bought an additional 5,000 rounds of it. Also shot Silvef Bear as well, but I prefer the Golden Bear.
2. I tried Brown Bear - with the original firing spring as well as the Wolf spring. It didn't like this ammo. Had a tough time feeding it.

 

[robertkirksey]

Shooting "cheap commie ammunition" is the point and the only point to buying a 7.62x39 chambered gun of ANY manufacture.