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Mini 30 Mags

32K views 54 replies 25 participants last post by  Beck 
#1 ·
Did a search (although my search-fu skills may be weak) but could not find any information on which manufacturer makes good/reliable mags for the Mini 30.

I have one sitting in my safe that I don't shoot much because other than the factory 5 round mag the 20 and two 30 round mags I got with it are very unreliable. I actually got (3) 30 round mags with it but one was actually a Mini 14 mag.

So I am looking for some information on who makes a quality mag for the Mini 30.

Thanks
 
#5 ·
Believe me when I say this. There are no aftermarket large cap magazines that work with a Mini 30, period. I speak from experience. I wasted a LOT of money and time trying to find one. Ruger has never made one, and according to the factory rep never will, make a large cap mag for the mini 30.
Seriously, the only mags that work reliably in the 30 are the Ruger factory fives. That is why I bought a Poly Tech AK, to take advantage of the cheap commie ammo and be able to rattle off 30 in a row. My mini 30 is my brush deer gun.
 
#10 ·
In my experience Ruger factory magazines (both 5 and 20 rounders) have been 100% reliable for the Mini 30 and Mini 14. I have yet to see my first dependable aftermarket magazine for either. I have not tried a great variety of aftermarket magazines, but I have been sorely disappointed with any aftermarket magazine I have ever purchased new or used. The extra cost of the factory magazines have been worth the lack of frustration over nonreliable, poorly functioning aftermarket magazines that I have tried.
 
#29 ·
I have 2 polymer mags from promag for my Mini-14 and I've put about 300 rds through both and never had a problem. I tried to use the factory 20 rd mag and it has never worked right. I don't know if I just have a lemon but I don't really mind because both poly mags work just fine.
 
#11 ·
Pay the small amout of extra money and buy Ruger mags, they work.
I thought that Ruger did offer a 30 round mag for the Mini 30 for just a short period of time but pulled them because of too many problems.
Could have just been a rumor.
I do know that none of the 30 rounders work worth a darn with the Mini 30.
Don't waste your money. Ruger mags are the best by far.
I have some aftermarket 20 and 30 round mags for my Mini 14's that I have got to work well. They are still the last mags that I would grab. The Ruger Mini mags would have to be empty without time to re load them before I'd use the aftermarket mags. Other aftermarket mags I have stomped on and thrown away

Best Regards, John K
 
#12 ·
Mini-30 20-rounders from Ruger - last 5 rounds nosedived

I am looking for some information on who makes a quality mag for the Mini 30.
No-one does.
I bought 4 Ruger factory Mini-30 20-rounders from Ruger, and the rounds all nosedived on the last 5 rounds on all the mags. I sent them back to Ruger, and the ones I got back were not much better. So I sent them back for a refund, which I got.
Ruger developed their new hi-capacity Mini-30 mags in a joint project with Promag. At the end of the project Ruger got to manufacture and sell 20-rounders and Promag 30-rounders. Most kinds of Promag mags have a terrible reputation - like their poly 30-rd Mini-30 mag, or their poly 50-rd drum for the 10/22.
Midway is selling the Promag hi-cap Mini-30s and the 2 reviews - one good and one bad. And the reviews on the Perfect Union messageboard are no better for the Ruger OEM Mini-30 hi-caps.

Also the Mini-30 has the light-strike problem that Ruger says is not a problem.
 
#17 ·
I bought 4 Ruger factory Mini-30 20-rounders from Ruger, and the rounds all nose-dived on the last 5 rounds on all the mags. I sent them back to Ruger, and the ones I got back were not much better. So I sent them back for a refund, which I got. Also the Mini-30 has the light-strike problem that Ruger says is not a problem.
I have experienced both of these issues thus far with Wolf Ammo, argh!:mad:

I just ordered some Ulyanovsk ammo instead, so maybe this will work better.
 
#21 ·
I have not tried the Herters... I have only shot Brass/Boxer stuff so far. Both Fiocchi and MFS have been used the most although I have put WWB and Rem through it to.
Just shot another 100 through it yesterday (MFS and Fiocchi) and this puts me somewhere near 1400 rds without one failure of any kind. It has been the most reliable weapon I have ever owned to date.
I will say that with as good as the MFS has worked I am inclined to try some of their Steel cased stuff. The MFS is the only Steel cased ammo that I can find that touts itself as CIP standard. AND, AND, they offer a 174gr round in 7.62x39 at an advertised 2250fps :D I want to try that bad boy!
 
#22 · (Edited)
I was told by the gunsmith at a local shop that some of the Wolf ammo may be laquer coated instead of polymer coated, and that prolonged high-rate firing can cause this to gum up and essentially turn to goo...not cool! :eek:
 
#40 ·
I just noticed that the tin of Herter's I purchased has L.C.B. printed on the lid, and I sincerely hope this does nots stand for 'Lacquer Coated Bullet'! :(

Any other ideas?
 
#23 ·
OK, so I went ahead and ordered a case of Herter's from Cabela's because the deal was to good to pass...640 for $130! I had to order this over the phone from their mid-winter sale catalog and I will be picking it up at the store here in WA, but for ~$0.20/round it's hard to beat.
 
#24 ·
Let us know how it goes so I can stop by my Cabela's here in the area.

I once had bought some bulk TulAmmo, 1000 rds for $190. It was too good to pass up but had 3-5 FTF's per box of 20. I saved those & ended up putting them through an AK......so far there was only 1 FTF out of the "recycled" M30 FTF rds.

Hmmm...maybe that's a hint to just get an AK variant, SKS, or Saiga to bang away at this stuff.
 
#28 ·
New to the forum but not Ruger.
Thanks for the heads up on the MFS 2000 7.62x39 Ammunition CZDiesel.
I will never use Wolf ammo again. Horrible all around.
I used to own a older model Mini-30 and have missed it. So tomorrow morning I am going to pick up the newer stainless model. Still have my old wood stock that I may pop on.
 
#31 ·
I was wondering if anyone here have ever used Eagle International Inc. magazines in their Mini 30. I bought two 10 round Polymer springless mags which have performed flawlessly everytime. Really don't like the look of them but they work.

Just wondering if others have had the same results with theirs.
 
#32 ·
I was wondering if anyone here have ever used Eagle International Inc. magazines in their Mini 30. I bought two 10 round Polymer springless mags which have performed flawlessly everytime. Really don't like the look of them but they work. Just wondering if others have had the same results with theirs.
How does a springless mag work? :confused:
 
#38 ·
I got them on ebay back when sellers were allowed to sell such items. They seem pretty difficult to find now.
Good to know, and I will keep an eye out for them.

I just bought a ProMag Polymer 30 round, and it is a major POS. It is almost impossible to load and wouldn't even lock into place.

I'm returning it tomorrow, and might go with a ProMag steel instead. Not very impressed and will stick with stock mags from now on.
 
#41 · (Edited)
Just ordered a Ruger 20rd factory magazine. Finally I will have a reliable 20rd mag for my Mini-30. So now I have three five round Ruger mags, 1 10 round Steel ProMag mag, 1 10 round Eagle International Polymer mag, and 1 20 round Ruger mag. Next payday I may order another :D

I generally fire 35-65 rounds at the range but now not having to reload those little five round mags over and over I might be shooting 65-95 rounds now :)

Well I guess that depends on if ammo prices are hiked up.
 
#42 ·
I generally fire 35-65 rounds at the range but now not having to reload those little five round mags over and over I might be shooting 65-95 rounds now :) Well...I guess that depends on if ammo prices are hiked up.
Nice! I usually go through 3 x 30 round or 4 x 20 round mags at the range, and I like to split them up between the 50 and 100 yard targets. I just got a new red dot, so I can't wait to give it a shot as well...
 
#47 ·
Look at us! We're raising the dead! Not many forums can say they do that.

I have not tried the 50-Round drum for the Mini-30. That would be ProMag Part #DRM-A101. I have found Lanbo's Armory has some the best prices and most consistent availability for Mini mags of all kinds. Link below.

https://lanbosarmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=76095

Hopefully someone with first hand experience with the drum will weigh in on how they function. Oddly enough no one on youtube that I can find has given it a try.
 
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#48 ·
None of the guys that participated in this thread are around anymore.
Don't be that guy with one post who drags up ancient threads.

Your first post when joining a forum community should be to go to the New Members section and introduce yourself.
What ever happened to manners ?

If you have a need for a drum magazine, you probably have some more serious problems that should be helped along by artillery and air support.
 
#49 ·
There sure has been a lot of these fly by posts by new members lately. They either never show up again, or post just enough to start an argument in the thread they started.

The funniest is when they begin with a question, and then by post #8 they're an expert and want to tell you how it's done.

As for me, I'm not answering these anymore. They are dead to me.

Sorry new members, but you'll have to establish yourselves to talk to me.
 
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