New Mini 30 issues

[Robes]

Got a yote problem. This one is big and bold. He has had a couple of chicken dinners out of my barn. Everything I got is bolt action so I ordered up a Mini 30. Wanted something with some knockdown power and semi auto as yotes run in packs. I am a Ruger fan...big time. I ordered the Mini 30 back in November and it just came in a few weeks ago. I loaded up a magazine and test fired it. First and second round ...no problem. The third one fired but the breech was jammed shut. I removed the magazine and used the heal of my hand to pop open the breech. Fired two more rounds and then a mis-fire....and the breech was jammed again. (I could not engage the safety either time). I used the heel of my hand again and the brass ejected, but the bullet was lodged in the barrel. There is a couple of pages in the manual that talks about clearing the barrel and Ruger does not recommend reloaded ammo. This ammo was Cabelles "Herters" brand. I picked up some Remington green box ammo and fired 20 rounds without a problem. I did some investigating and found that a lot of the 7.62x39 ammo is made in Russia, sent over here in bulk and then packaged up under a local brand name. Anyone else run into this? I love the rifle,... and I understand out of spec ammo. I have no problem buying the good stuff,... I just wonder who makes the "good stuff" :?:

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Welcome to the forum!

While it is not cheap, I would suggest continuing to buy that Remington ammunition. My experience with Mini's is that some break in is required. Your Mini does not like that Herters brand of ammunition. You might want to consider buying some other brands, a 20 round box at a time and see if you find something that your rifle will fire reliably. I am sure that some members will go into the issue of firing pin problems that can develop while firing the Russian stuff.

I would zero that rifle with the Green box Remi and get ready for some action with those Coyotes. As a side note, here in Arizona, I seldom get a second shot with my semi auto's while hunting Coyotes. After the first shot, they become a furry, blurry mass that is leaving the area at warp 7. :lol:

Good luck with it and please post a picture of the rifle and some decommissioned yots.

Read carefully about sight adjustment. Do not bugger up those small allen screws.

Bill

 

[DGW1949]

Who makes "the good stuff", you ask?.....well, that would be Remington, Federal and Winchester.
If your new rifle don't run right with either of those three, ya got's a gun (or mag) problem, not an ammo problem.

DGW

 

[blume357]

On occasion Georgia Arms will off some brass 7.62x39 and it is pretty good stuff at a decent price...

even though lots of folks here like and use the cheap Russian stuff I just don't care to.... if for no other reason I don't like the way it smells....

 

[gramps]

When I had my mini 30 I used some steel cased Russian ammo, for plinking it was OK. Of course that was back in the late '90s. Mine really liked the Remington's. Good out to 250 yds with 3x9 scope. Good luck.
gramps

 

[Robes]

You gentlemen have verified what I have concluded after banging around and reading up on the Mini 30. That is actually how I found this site. :mrgreen:
I have read up on the firing pin problem and am aware of it, but am not too concerned with it. It is interesting to read up on where some ammo is made (even though it is sold in an American brand name box). I have a box of PMC that I am going to go through next and Federal is next on my list to acquire. I will look into the Georgia Arms ammo too. I am itching to test fire the next batch if the bloody rain would stop. :evil:
I am not opposed to buying and paying for the good stuff as I am not much of lead sprayer. I much prefer to take my time and see how tight a pattern I can put down...

Buckeye Bill.... as the yotes have migrated east, they have mated up with wolves and the ones out here are MUCH bigger that the western yote. This one is as big as my 100lb doberman.... There is a gated community over the next ridge that has had some missing foo-foo dogs

 

[Eray]

I use the PMC and like it. My next experiment will be the Fiocchi. They make a soft point that is priced below most brass cased FMJ.

 

[martyj]

I know from shooting AK rifles that Silver bear ammo seems to shoot well.
I always check to make sure on some of that ammo has .308 diameter bullets and some is .311.

 

[Robes]

I just went through a box of PMC and the rifle worked flawlessly. I am going to try other ammo to see what works and what doesn't. I was shooting from a standing position in light wind at 100 yards. The trigger is quite a bit heavier than the accu-trigger on my Savage .223 (which I REALLY like), but just takes a bit getting used to. The first few rounds were on the third ring, the next three were in the second ring,... but the last one was dead center. I have a picture, but I am still figuring out how to post it here...
Have not read up on that yet.

On another note,... I was up on the ridge a couple of days ago clearing some downed trees and that bloody yote was standing on the trail looking right at me. About 100 yards away. We had a stare down for about 20 seconds before he turned and trotted off.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Robes,

Good to hear your Mini 30 is a dependable shooter.

Triggers will get better with use.

That Coyote was sizing you up.

It is "ON' now!

Check your messages. I will post my email. If you email me your picture, I will post it for you.

Bill

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Buckeye Bill.... as the yotes have migrated east, they have mated up with wolves and the ones out here are MUCH bigger that the western yote. This one is as big as my 100lb doberman.... There is a gated community over the next ridge that has had some missing foo-foo dogs

I saw this show 'Meet The Coywolf' on PBS not too long ago. Very interesting. :shock:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/meet-the-coywolf/meet-the-coywolf/8605/

 

[Robes]

Jimbo,.... that is exactly what that yote looks like except he is a golden color. I am a bit surprised that I have not seen him run with a pack....ever....

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Mini 30 Target posted for robes.

 

[DGW1949]

From the standing position, that aint bad shooting.
Was you using a sling?

DGW

 

[Robes]

There is a sling on it, but I do not incorporate it when I shoot. All said, I have about 25 rounds through the rifle right now. I'll get more of a feel for it the more I shoot it. I really like the weight and balance of the rifle, and once I get the ammo thing worked out, that will be my sub 100 yard rifle. I have a Savage 223 set up real nice for the longer distance shooting.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Jimbo357mag,

I just watched that complete video on the Coywolf and I could not turn it off. Very interesting.

Bill

 

[K-MO]

Someone else mentioned Silver Bear as reliable, and I have found the same to be true. My Mini-30 Tactical can eat it all day long without any issues...

 

[Oldfed]

K-MO, what brand of magazine is that? Been looking for a reliable 30 round mag for mine.

 

[K-MO]

K-MO, what brand of magazine is that? Been looking for a reliable 30 round mag for mine.

I thought I had found a winner when I saw these 30-round Korean-made mags for the Mini-30. I have since traded them away. The springs were no good, so I replaced them with Wolff springs. The lips required far too much tweaking also. By the time I got them to function, the capacity was reduced to 24 rounds, and my cost was a wash with Ruger factory 20-round mags. I should have known better...

 

[Oldfed]

Bummer! I was hoping you had made a new discovery!

 

[WAYNO]

Splitting the difference in price between American made and steel-cased commie ammo, this stuff is brass-cased, appears to be extremely well made, and in my experience shoots flawlessly.



WAYNO.

 

[Hunter6657]

What kind of groups do you get with those, Wayno?
I have some of those coming in from Gras and should be here about the same time I get my rifle.

 

[Robes]

Those were on my list of the prospects. I'll have to push them to the top and try them out next....

 

[WAYNO]

What kind of groups do you get with those, Wayno?
I have some of those coming in from Gras and should be here about the same time I get my rifle.

I have never scoped my Mini 30, so I do not really know what groups are attainable.

What I do know is, any target that I could see thru the peep sights is a target I could hit with regularity, be it a little bitty rock, a shotgun shell, or a piece of clay pigeon.

I've not scoped my 30-30's either, and the accuracy results would also be as described above. I would put the Mini 30 and the PPU ammo against a Model 94 and be very comfortable describing both guns as comparable in performance.

WAYNO.