Ruger Forum

azmark · July 20th, 2012, 07:17 PM

I've always loved this platform and will save for one. I can't decide on which caliber. Help me out.

Sr40ken · July 20th, 2012, 07:26 PM

Depends on what you want to do with it. Distance? get the 14. If you want.30-30 ballistics get the 30.
I guess being a VN era veteran I just don't want anything related to commies. I know, stupid principle, but it is what it is, jmho.

Hans13 · July 20th, 2012, 08:19 PM

Mini 30 looks appetizing to me as well. The price tag is the thing that isn't though.

Redleg · July 20th, 2012, 08:29 PM

Well, to me the fascination of the Mini 14 is that it is a Garand platform that is far simpler and more robust than the AR platform, but just as powerful. And the .225/556 ammo is cheap and plentiful.

Nothing wrong with the Mini 30 though as long as you don't mind the cost of the ammo.

For downing Zombies I'll take my Mini 14.

Hans13 · July 20th, 2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redleg

And the .225/556 ammo is cheap and plentiful

Not much in SE Nebraska to hunt with a .223 though. I can deer hunt with a 7.62.

azmark · July 20th, 2012, 08:53 PM

I do understand the commie problem. I served during the cold war, too.

From what I see, the 7.62 ammo looks cheaper if it's steel cased. I use steel case ammo in my 1911 and have no problems. If I'm missing cheap .223, tell me where to look.

Lead Slanger · July 20th, 2012, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azmark

I do understand the commie problem. I served during the cold war, too.

From what I see, the 7.62 ammo looks cheaper if it's steel cased. I use steel case ammo in my 1911 and have no problems. If I'm missing cheap .223, tell me where to look.

Wal Mart. Federal AR223. Black box 20rds - $5.99 per box. Brass cased

Lead Slanger · July 20th, 2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redleg

Nothing wrong with the Mini 30 though as long as you don't mind the cost of the ammo.

I can get 7.62 Soviet for $4.99 per 20rd box. It's steel cased and dirty, but I can get it cheaper than .223.

Mayor Al · July 20th, 2012, 10:00 PM

I have no experience with the Mini-14, but I have a Mini-30 and find it to be a very accurate and dependable hog hunting gun. It looks good and shoots well, and that's good enough for me.

Here's my "30"

wingspar · July 21st, 2012, 04:08 PM

I have a Mini-14 and would love to shoot a Mini-30 to compare it with my AK. I also have an AR.

I only shoot steel out of my AK and my AR. If you shoot steel, prices between .223 and 7.62 is comparable. I think I recently paid $4.20/box 20 for Brown Bear .223. You should be able to find steel in both .223 and 7.62 for $0.18 to $0.22 per round. I expect that price will be going up if it isn’t already.

I will not shoot steel out of my Mini-14. The hard berdan primers in the steel casings is known to break firing pins in the Mini’s, and is hard on extractors. Having said that, I do know people who shoot steel out of their Mini’s without problems, but I won’t do it. If you do shoot steel out of a Mini, clean the chamber before you shoot brass as the steel casings do not expand like brass does, and the chamber will get dirty from shooting steel and the brass casings will get stuck.

Shop around, and if you are patient, you can find .223 in brass for $0.35/round, but the going price these days is closer to $0.40/round.

For hunting, the 7.62 is probably the harder hitting round.

Smithy · July 21st, 2012, 07:54 PM

A lot of places don't consider 223 as a round to hunt with, but they do the thirty. That's why my last mini was in thirty. Smithy.

NCLEO89 · July 21st, 2012, 07:59 PM

Whichever one you decide to buy, get it while you can...before the Dumbocrats outlaw them in response to the Colorado incident.

Hans13 · July 21st, 2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCLEO89

Whichever one you decide to buy, get it while you can...before the Dumbocrats outlaw them in response to the Colorado incident.

I don't know who here has Twitter but, AR-15 was "trending" (a lot of people where using it in their tweets) and it makes you sick reading them. The Democrats (referred to as simply "Rats" around here) are wondering why AR-15 "assault rifles" with 100 round "clips" are legal when pot isn't. I'm surprised I didn't pull my hair out reading these. About 1 out of 10 where pro-gunners.

sirgilligan · July 22nd, 2012, 05:44 AM

Well, I recently went through this same thought process and got the Mini-14.

I tend to lean towards the "original" caliber of a firearm design. For instance, Browning Hi-Power or CZ 75 in 9mm, MINI-14 in .223 (but you know I am not 100% certain the first MINI-14 was .223 or not)...

When I get a real 1911 I would like to get a .45 ACP.

The current pistol I have that is not the same caliber as the original design is my PPK. I am pretty sure they were designed around the .32 AUTO and mine is .380 ACP. On the Walther forums you get the feeling (true or not who knows) that there are less feeding issues with the .32 than the others. With that said, mine has never had a single issue and is spooky easy to shoot accurately.

So, I got the MINI-14 Tactical. I am happy.

dano03 · July 23rd, 2012, 12:03 PM

Hello, Just shot the mini-30 tacticle. Very good ! Most surprised with the 200 yard group ! I used to have the older Mini-30. I must say very much improved.