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Looking at getting a Mini-14, Rem 750, or Spring M1a

8K views 20 replies 13 participants last post by  bobby28 
#1 ·
I'm getting tired of my Marlin 30-30 rifle. I am having feed issues with it and want to get an auto loader. I like the Mini-14 but feel 223 is a bit too small of a caliber. I have looked at 308 Winchester and don't mind saving up for a Springfield M1A but I also noticed the Remington 750 autoloader comes in 308 but I have heard the rifle jams quite frequently. I know the M1A and the Mini-14 (which shares a similar action to the M1A) almost never jam. I love Ruger but I'm not sure about the 223.

The rifle would be used for deer hunting and the 'zombie' apocalypse if and when 'that' happens. My friend has an AR-15 and used an M-16 in the Marine Core and is confident with 223 but I have heard stories that it tends to frequently make through and through wounds. In summary I want something that I know will be a one shot drop. That leads me to 308 in a M1A or Rem 750. What would your choice be gentlemen?
 
#4 ·
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The rifle would be used for deer hunting and the 'zombie' apocalypse if and when 'that' happens.
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Ah, yes ... the ever-present and imminent post-apocalyptic, zombie hoard, SHTF scenario I keep hearing about on message boards. :D

I bought my Mini-14 sort of as a stepping-stone to an M14/M1A. Half the price to buy (compared to Springfield Armory) and half the price to shoot (.223 vs. .308). I discovered I love the Mini in .223/5.56 and I will probably get another before I move up to an M14. I have an All-Weather Ranch in stainless steel / synthetic and I'd like to get another ranch in blued / hardwood just 'cause I want one.

SA M1As are nice but when I get one I will almost certainly get one from LRB:
M14 Rifle

Their M14s are pricier than SA M1As but they are considered second-to-none in the community. Just beautiful rifles.

JMO. Good luck in you choice.
 
#5 ·
Blammo you made me laugh out loud when I read your response. When I intially posted this topic a few minutes ago I did not realize the mini 14 had a large mini 30 cousin that fires AK47 rounds. I will look into the mini 30, thanks guys.
 
#6 ·
Steven, note that it also comes in 6.8 SPC.

I like to joke about it. I know that the whole zombie thing is just a metaphor but the way some people talk about it, they sound like they're putting so much time, thought and resources into preparing for the apocalypse, they're almost hoping for it. That's called a decent into madness.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I can understand what you mean by hoping it comes but that's for another topic. For the record I hope it doesn't but better to be prepared right?

Anyway the reason why I am replying is I am looking at Ranch Rifle Mini 30's with wood stock these were all made between 2001 and 2004 from my understanding. However in 2005 Ruger changed the front and rear sight plus the reciever on the whole Mini 14/30 line. Is it still worth it to buy a pre 2005 Mini 30 or should I pay extra for a post '05 model with the upgrades and swap out the stock for wood stock?
 
#12 · (Edited)
Steve, what you need is something to fill your .30 cal. void. I too needed to fill it. I own A ruger .44 carbine and shoot Honady Leverevolution. I love it to death. BUT, after 150yds. I want more. The answer to my problems after many hours of research was the mini 14- IN 6.8mm. Hornady superformance 110 gr. ammo is on sale right now for $17.99 a box of 20 at midway. It does it all in my opinion. Anything after 250yds. ya want 30-06. anything under 150yds ya want your .44.The mini 14 in 6.8 will take down the inbetween, and then some. p.s. I swear by hornady ammo. It will fill the voids with muzzle velocity and mushroom take down.
 
#13 ·
M1A is alot of rifle. It is nice but they are tough to hump around all day. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
Incredible platform and worth every penny just know it has some drawbacks:
1-Price, expect to spend 1250-1500
2-The afore mentioned weight.
3-If used for hunting the military style peep sights prevent precise aiming in low-light conditions eg. dusk/dawn when deer are frequently seen.
4-If you don't reload and shoot alot, ammo gets pricey.
You may want to go with the Mini-30 for now and see how you like it.
 
#14 ·
I'd have to agree with the majority on this one, the Mini-30 sounds like the ideal choice. 7.62x39MM was designed for hunting so it definitely will fit the bill for a lot less I might add. Yeah it's not a tack driver but I have a Mini-14 and am confident in its accuracy and I'd imagine the Mini-30 being no different.
 
#15 ·
Buy the M1A
After that you will need a plinker...
I love my M1A would never sell it. I've gotten to old and fat to cart it around.

This is how I decided on a Mini 30
My M1A with bipod & scope too heavy and expensive to hunt and plink with any more.
Needed a light 30 cal. autoloader for plinking and hunting out to 200 yards max.
Mini 30 does that...
I saw alot of posts about the Mini and accuracy and not working with cheap ammo.
But I took a chance and the one I have works with everything so far. It is a 581 series.
If you go with a Mini30 stay away from the aftermarket mags. Most are trash you can get some to work but not worth the trouble.
My Mini 30 groups 2-3 inches at 100 yards. Good enough for me.

I still needed something for long range so I picked up a Spanish Mauser cal.308 at a gun show for $125 good bore rough stock $75 for gun smith to mount my spare 3x9 Bushnell. For hunting over 200 yards bolt action was OK for no more than I would need it. Good behind the seat truck gun.
 
#16 ·
Right now I am bidding on a Mini 30 serial number 197-09583. It is a blued rifle with wood stock on gun broker. Thank you for the advice. The M1A is too expensive I agree. A local gun shop by me does have a Federal Ordnance M14A but when I did some research online on that brand I found a lot of shaddy stuff out there about them. Too bad though as that rifle was only $900, considerably less than the real Springfield version. I did look at a Ruger mini 14 in 6.8 but the choices out there are just too limited. I was able to bid on a Mini 30 for much less money. Thanks for the help guys, I'll let you know if I win the bid.
 
#17 ·
I would take some of the stuff about the FO M1 with a grain of salt SFA also uses surplus parts and some of there rifles also need some TLC. That is why they sell different grades of rifles your not just paying for a better stock it is usually new parts.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Steve, I too had to search for the 6.8. I had one in my hands at kittery trading post but wasnt familure with the round so I let it go. It was gone 2 days later. for good reason. Patience my friend, I truley feel after buying one you will say it was worth the wait !!!!!

I looked for take down power for deer and bear at different yardages, but didnt want to put a baseball size hole in a Grey fox or coyote worth mounting, and like you I needed something for A 100yrd - 200yrd void, but still cover the under and over on yardage w/ take down power, but not over power on the under (too much gun ) the 6.8 out of an 18" barrel kicks a$$. notice the differance between the 7.62x39 and the 6.8, not much at all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2IaBtJphyA

Check out this link. I found this after I bought mine.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Well I won the bid on the Mini 30 and now have it in my posession. I have not fired it yet. Here are the pictures!















I picked up 200 rounds of Winchester ammo at the War Memorial gun show down here in Ft. Lauderdale. I also picked up two Pro Mag thirty round mags as you can see in the pictures. Now before you all jump on me I was previously aware of the fact the aftermarket mags for this gun generally suck. The only factory Ruger Mag I saw at the show was a 10 rounder and I really wanted a 20 rounder. The retailer selling Pro Mag 'assured' me that these were as good as the the factory Ruger mags so I bought them. Took them home, fed twenty rounds in both of them and then pushed each round out individually and some of them kept getting stuck on the way out of the magazine. Some file work later and I retested it and now I can push all the rounds easily out of the magazine without it catching anything.

I have not fired it yet but I figure if the rounds push out of the magazine easily by hand then the bolt shouldn't have a problem feeding them at the range. I could be wrong though, I could be but will find out next week when I take it for a test drive. As far as what I did specifically to the pro mags well let me show you this picture.



You see thoose little L shapped lips on the front of the mag that hold that plastic piece down where you slide the ammunition onto? The rounds seem to get stuck on thoose tiny L shapped brackets as I pushed them out of the magazine. So I took a file to them on both the left and right sides, mainly the left, and sanded them down. After a few minutes on each mag, I was able to easily load and unload both Pro Mag thirty rounds without any issues. I cannot say for sure how it will perform under live fire but this should hopefully indicate that there won't be any issues. Did I mention that this rifle is my first autoloading gun, hand gun or long gun, I have ever owned? No didn't think I did so. Anyway, thanks for your help guys! I appreciate it.
 
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