Mini 30 ?

The thing about the Ruger Mini series is that they either work fine or they are nothing but a box of problems, from what professional reviewers and owners have told me. Then there is the accuracy issue that puts them in the same class as the AK series that can fire 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x39mm Combloc ammunition but cost half what the Minis cost.

There are also plentiful, or were, magazines for the AK pattern arms with higher standard capacities than those offered for the Mini-30.

Regarding ammunition, I think you might want to avoid the lacquered cases of some of the Wolf and other Russian brand ammunition as the Mini-30 has tighter tolerances that sometimes make the cases stick in the chamber once fired and the barrel is warm. The AK pattern arms have looser tolerances and have virtually no problems in that respect.

If you are looking for hunting type ammunition, unless you have a brass catcher so you can reload your brass cases, you might as well figure on losing them in the field when the carbine ejects them. If you reload for your carbine you might be able to tune the ejection so that they consistently land close to where you are firing for easier retrieval.

I can do that with my M-1 Garand both with specific powder loads and by adjusting the aftermarket adjustable gas plug that I purchased for it so that I can fire regular commercial hunting ammunition in it without damaging the gas system.

If you don't care particularly for accuracy, you might be able to find inexpensive imported soft point hunting ammo without lacquer or plastic coating on the cases that would work for you. On that I cannot give advice as most of my customers want Wolf for their AKs and SKSs.

You also might want to get any special stock configuration and similar equipment for your Mini-30 before the manufacture of the items are again banned. Well, that is if you want a folding or collapsible stock.

Hogue overmoulded stocks do work as I have one for my Ruger 10/22 and it works rather well even when I have hot, sweaty hands in summer while going after poultry pouncing predators.

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I would challenge anyone here to think of a question upon which we once had a scientific answer, however inadequate, but for which now the best answer is a religious one. – Sam Harris

I might have to try that stock. The "stock stock" has always been slippery even with dot gloves on. I bought 3 mini 30's back in the early 90's for my nephews as their first deer rifles. My wife wanted a deer rifle so I traded my old 444 Marlin {very accurate} to my nephew. That trade really hurt, it was an older model with the straight stock, 20" barrel and just a half cock safety. I miss that rifle. A real crusher. Anyway I got the Mini with a Burris 1 1/2-6 power scope. I like the scope, my eyes aren't what they used to be, but I wish it was 1 power. Thanks for the info on the ammo. If I get in a sustained firefight, I'll switch mags out and use brass. Do you know of any premium bullets for reloading the 762?

You might be better served to have a holosight or non-magnified red dot sight forward mounted on your Mini-30 to allow you better peripheral vision while still being able to put your sight on target.

I cannot vouch for Mini-30s if they are in sustained firing as while they are similar to the M-1 Garand design, they are not built as heavy as one. For the M-1 Garand regular firing cadence for sustained fire was 20 rounds per minute. For brief rapid fire the rifle manual stated that it could be fired as rapidly as 40 rounds per minute for up to three minutes without permanent harm. Then again, the barrel is HEAVY on a Garand and it is built for battle.

Back on the thread topic, you can likely use Wolf or other coated case ammo so long as you do not fire rapidly for too long. This will slow the heat up of the firing chamber and thus slow the attainment of the point where the casings might stick.

My advice would be to be more of a slower but more accurate shootist than dependent upon being a lead slinger.

As for premium bullets, I use Hornady pretty much exclusively unless there is no bullet weight or type available from them that I wish to use. I have 123 and 154 grain .311 diameter bullets from Hornady that I use for the 7.62x39mm and for .303 British cartridges. The reason I like Hornady bullets so much is because not only do they have a great selection but their loading manuals have excellent ballistic and reloading data to research.

I use Hodgdon and IMR powders for my cartridges because they have decent milspec formulations for arms such as the M-1, M-1A, AR-15 and similar arms. This way I have a small number of powders that I need to stock to reload what I have in my stable.

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I would challenge anyone here to think of a question upon which we once had a scientific answer, however inadequate, but for which now the best answer is a religious one. – Sam Harris

You can get a spray on type paint material that makes a wooden stock look like a synthetic. They are rougher than a wood stock and easier to hang onto.

Bob