Mini30 vs 44 Magnum Carbine

[lctrcjim]

Does or has anyone owned both a Mini30 and a 44 Magnum Carbine? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on one versus the other.

Thanks!!!

 

[Kanook]

Got both and love both. Both shoot great for 100yds.

The Mini is a faster reload for capacity

The 44 makes a bigger entry hole and hits harder closer IMO

Sorry I can't make an arguement for either one.

 

[Kanook]

And forgot to add, I've got a 44 pistol, haven't seen a 7.62x39 pistol that often

 

[Old Judge Creek]

Yup... owned both, still have the 44 mag rifles and Trapper.

The fact is the 7.62x39 is a "30-30 Light". It'll do pretty much what a 30-30 will do - only 50 yards less (closer to you).

Todays 44 magnum carbines/rifles are for all intents and purposes the ballistic equal of the 30-30. Yes, the 30-30 has a better BC. But in all practicality, there's not a lot of difference between the two - OTOH, the 429 bullet makes a decidedly bigger hole than does the 308 bullet.

Fow many years now, my old 30-30 has stayed home in favor of my 44 magnum rifles and Trapper.

My Mini 30 was never anything other than a plinker kept for use if and when al qaida come charging down Mian Street in my home town :roll:


ETA: and if you're thinking of the Ruger 44 magnum carbine, I had one of the old tube magazine models I got on a trade many years ago. Sold it to a LEO who took it to Hawaii for pig hunting and lost it there so I heard. The big problem with the newer model for me was the 4 round magazine capacity. Plenty enough for hunting, but for other serious uses... any lever gun beat it all to heck for utility IMO.

 

[lctrcjim]

Guys, thanks for your input........right now, I have a Ruger 44 mag carbine (the old style with tube magazine), a Mini30, a Ruger #3 in 44 mag, a recently restored Marlin 1881 in 45/70..............

and now it looks like I'm about to 'inherit' a 10/22 and a Remington 760 30-06 pump from my father-in-law..............I've got to clear something out of the house to maintain marital bliss, if you know what I mean. It's starting to look like the 44 mag carbine is gonna be the odd man out...............it's job is more or less duplicated by the Marlin, the Mini30 and the Remington pump......

 

[Kanook]

You can still buy a Mini 30 NIB. You can't do that with the 44 tube fed.

Think first long and hard on that one.

 

[hittman]

You can still buy a Mini 30 NIB. You can't do that with the 44 tube fed.

Think first long and hard on that one.

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[tomiswho]

I have a Mini 30. I think I'd rather have the .44 carbine.

 

[blume357]

Collecting and securing good guns, both long and short, is being done by fewer and fewer people. I can't really imagine getting rid of a good shooting gun in this day and time. and if it was a bad one, how and who would you honestly pass it on to?

There is a joke in there about something / someone having to go to keep marital bliss, but I can't quite get it right......

 

[Tomcatt57]

I'd keep the 44 Carbine and get rid of the Mini30.
Just my 2cents.
Tomcatt

 

[SReagle]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......
the Guns or the wife......................
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

 

[donw]

I've never had a 7.62x39 but, i have had several .44's...I'd opt for the .44

 

[targshooter]

I own both the Mini-30 and the .44 Deerfield. For hunting I would keep the Deerfield; for target shooting the Mini-30. I use the Deerfield with its factory peep and the Mini-30 is a Series 189 with the carbine peep installed.
Also, Ruger no longer makes a .44 carbine, so future collectibility may be a factor as someone mentioned.

 

[gatormark]

Floated the barrell on my mini 30 plus a few other little dittys, it does better than my 44 so the 44 went away. I have no complaints about the stainless synthetic stock mini 30, and beleive me it gets used and abused on the ranch.

 

[EBellville]

I have owner both a Mini 14 and a Mini 30. Sold them both with no regrets. Had a .44 Carbine I sold years ago and it haunted me till I replaced it. I now have 2, and no, neither is for sale. Of course if you are selling yours, PM me.

The SKS in paratrooper format (short barrel - never really produced by ANY country, just cut off and sold as such by importers) , specially the model M or Model D (I believe that's correct) use AK mags and IMHO shoot better than the mini 14. I have one in a Tapco stock that I use for wild hogs.

The .44 carbine is a top 3 rifle and I have had most everything at one time or the other. The Mini's wouldnt make my top 10, and niether woulr the SKS or an AK. Just my 2cents.

 

[felix cortinas]

I got a mini 30, but darn the .44 mag Deerfield would come in handy for up close hogs and my pastures are full of them, if I ever run up on one I will snatch it up fast (like I really need another rifle, I dont use the ones I got other that a couple of the ones that stay up in the front of the safe) I never really thought that in this part of Texas a Deerfield would be of much use, the hogs have changed my mind.

 

[EBellville]

I have two Model .44 carbines (old models 1976 and 1978) and a 2000 year production of Mini-30 stainless. I love the carbines. The Mini-30 needed a Accu-Bar to shoot decent but now gives 2" groups at 100 yards. Getting about the same from my .44's.

I'd give up the Mini before I gave up a .44.
:?

 

[DennisE]

Ruger's current .44 magnum carbine is the 77/44 all weather carbine. It's bolt action. I'm ordering one this week! Dennis

 

[don44]

I'd take the 44 magnum carbine---- good little gun!

 

[Anonymous]

I had a Ruger mini-30 and never really cared all that much for it so I sold it. In 7.62x39 I much prefer my Norinco SKS M or either of my AK's.