I have a Mini30. Haven't had an AK-47 but have had a Saiga .308 functionally identical to the AK. Hard to beat AK reliability but they are sort of crude. To me the Mini30 (581 series with the heavier barrel) is much more like a classic rifle. and certainly has a better trigger by far than the Saiga I had although I wish I hadn't sold that one. Reliable and .308 punch.

My Mini will do about 1.25 MOA off of the bench. I have a 20 rd factory mag that works just fine along with 5, 10 and 20 rd aftermarket mags.

My Mini runs 2450fps with Fiocchi 123gr FMJs just as an FYI. Don

 

That is all great news. The 580 and later Mini 14s shoot very well too.

 

I don't have extensive experience with a Mini-30. I've fired a few of them and like them a lot. 2 of the owners of the ones I fired said theirs wouldn't reliably fire steel cased ammo. The owner of the third rifle ran 5 boxes of my Tula poly through his new rifle to test it. That's not a lot of ammo but he didn't have any issues.

I'd happily buy one for $600-700 if I was certain I'd would run cheap ammo. Sounds like a good deal. I have no interest in a 7.62x39 that's picky about ammo though so I'd want to be pretty sure about that.

 

I have an older Mini 30 which I've used to kill a number deer with. It makes a pretty good little brush gun which was Ruger's intent for it originally. I do have several conventional AKs and a Saiga sporter in 7.62x39. I've kept the Saiga in sporter configuration because it is kind of a sleeper, Conventional looking but is easily fixed to use AK mags.

Comparing them, even good AKs like the Norinco and the Saiga I have are still pretty crudely made compared to the Ruger. AKs are probably better blasters however if that it what you're looking for. The mags are cheap and plentiful.

Ruger 20 round mags for the 30 are expensive which is the downside but the rifle itself has more of a classic American military look. If you do buy the Mini consider getting a Tech Sight rear sight for it. Much better click adjustable sight than the crappy sight that comes on them.

 

Mini 30 vs AK? Not a fair comparison but understandable. Deer rifle vs war tool, same cartridge.

Mine (older) is a finicky eater. Brass only. Works well first cold shot. (works well for ALL shots, just opens group when barrel heats up... an issue with early makes) Still prefer my Win 94 for Bambi tho and the SKS for steel cased fun.

Always wanted an AC-556K. Too much A-Team viewing one supposes

 

I bought a Mini-30 when they first came out....around 1989. What a complete POS. The thing didn't shoot groups, it shot patterns. About 10-12" patterns for five shots at 100 yards. The gun was so inaccurate, it wasn't even usable. At the time, I also had a Norinco underfolder and it would shoot 3" at the same distance. Years later I bought a Colt AR-15 in 7.62x39 and it shot sub-MOA with my hand loads.

Tony

 

I bought a Mini-30 when they first came out....around 1989. What a complete POS. Tony

That's because you had the old slim barreled model. New, heavier profile barrels are much better. If you don't believe me, go look at the Perfect Union website and you'll find a lot of support for my previously posted views. Don

 

Given the Frankenstein AKs currently on the market, I'd rather go for an SKS in lieu of the AK and Ruger.

 

The mini 30 is a great little rife, but you have to understand it's NOT a military rifle; it's a sporting rifle. As a sporting semi-auto it's one of the best. But if you expect to put 1,000 rounds per shooting session through it, you're going to be disappointed. Treat it well and you'll enjoy the heck out of it.

 

While I have both, a Mini30 and an AK47, I prefer the AK. I don't hunt 4-legged animals so the Ruger is just something to have around, I guess. It's fairly reliable, fairly accurate, fairly enjoyable to shoot, but heavy. The AK is, well, an AK. I carried one often while in Vietnam, and took a round from one while there. I know those rifles and strongly prefer them. The Mini30 is acceptable but no where near as enjoyable, to me, as the Mini14.
Would I buy a used Mini30 for $600plus? NO.

 

Geesh, nuthin' new to add, so I will add nuthin'...

I too have a Saiga-model AK and a Mini-30. Both have run perfectly for me. ONLY complaint with the Mini-30 is I can't keeo my scope tight on it. Have to snug it back down every three rounds...but I have a cheap,scope on it.

The Mini-30 barrel gets HOT fast!

And when field stripping, there is a fiddly-bit, a small cylinder that is loosly fitted and keeps the bolt assy together. Somehow, I lose that fiddly-bit more often than anything else, so I have taken to having a barn magnet handy so I can search the grass cor it when I clean it on the picnic table.

Note that thease are all user-based issues, and not rifle-based issues.

Do I have a preference? No. As noted, they are two different rifles for two different purposes simply sharing a common caliber.

 

So I saw a like new Ruger Mini-30 Tactical (all black with synthetic stock and birdcage flash hider) at the pawn shop for $699. It comes with a 5-rd mag only. I took a look at it. Nice little rifle. Anyone prefer these to the AK variants?

I can probably talk the store down to $100 less.

Absolutely NOT!

The cost of the magazines is reason enough not to own one. I have about 100 mags for my 11 AKs and would ONLY buy a Mini-30 if it was affordable and as a collector's item.

I do love my Mini-14 though!!!!!!!!


TGG

 

I have about 100 mags for my 11 AKs and would ONLY buy a Mini-30 if it was affordable and as a collector's item.

That's how I ended with my Mini-14: it was $212 in a rack at LGS. I bought it and fixed the broken rear sight with a $6 part that I bought at Brownells. It shoots fine! The 5-round magazine is a joke though. Bill Ruger was a gigantic ******.

 

That's because you had the old slim barreled model. New, heavier profile barrels are much better. If you don't believe me, go look at the Perfect Union website and you'll find a lot of support for my previously posted views. Don

I was simply stating my experience with the gun I bought in 1989. That's it.

Tony

 

Well, he is a big fan and you offended him with your first hand experience sir.

My dad also had an early Mini, it was absolute junk. Most inaccurate rifle I've shot to date.

 

The original Mini 30 was intended as a hunting rifle (hence the 5 round mags). It had a .308 bore instead of the .311 that the AK/SKS has and which most 7.62x39 ammo is. Bill Ruger specified using US made, brass cased ammo using .308 bullets rather than the .311 surplus ammo, most of which was steel cased back in the 80's. .311 bullets will work in a .308 bore, there is not much difference but accuracy suffers as the projectile is squeezed down the barrel. Those original 30s, used with the proper ammo were both accurate and reliable.

Current 30s use .311 bores and are offered with 20 round mags and are more tactical.

My original wood stock 30 fits in with my Garand, M1a and M1 Carbine which is probably the only reason I still have it. It is a conventional looking rifle distantly related to the above.

If I were looking for a high capacity blaster, particularly considering the ridiculous price of current 30's I would opt for an AK.

 

My first hand experience with a 180 series Mini was it was a 4 MOA with GI issue 5.56X45. With Commercial 223 it would hold 1 to 2 MOA depending on bullet weight.

 

Just thought I would post a photo of my old Mini 30 and my Saiga sporter for no particular reason

 

Just thought I would post a photo of my old Mini 30 and my Saiga sporter for no particular reason

Beautiful weapons but where are the magazines?

TGG

 

I thought for sure this was going to be a Mini-30 bashing thread. I have both a Mini-30 and a AK-47, I like them both. I wouldn't say one is better than the other as they both do what they were built for. The AK is more crude but rugged and the Mini is more refined and probably a better hunting rifle. My Mini-30 is fairly accurate with commercial brass ammo. It's certainly accurate enough for hunting up to 150 yards which is as far as I would consider using it for. If I was going past 150 yards I would use one of my 308s or 270s.

 

I have both I'd say they are apples and oranges. The Mini-30 is a nice little hunting rifle that easily accepts a scope. I'd prefer the AK for more serious situations but I'm an AR guy and out of the two, I'd pick a third, the MK47 . I'm badly wanting one.

 

I have no experience with the Mini-14 or 30 but I'll say this, it has a classic look for obvious reasons. Plus, you know, the whole A-Team thing. So I'd take a Mini-30 in a heartbeat but that's just me.

 

4" groups on the average with the old version.

proprietary scope rings, mags. no chrome barrel

Just get a AK

 

I've always thought the bolt held back on the last shot was a huge advantage......especially for a carefully aimed shot. In a situation like that, hearing that dreaded "click" just isn't acceptable.

On the other hand, if shooting fast, or spraying bullets.....I guess it just doesn't matter that much.

The AK was designed for the latter, while the Mini 30 is more in tune with the former.

I think I'd take the mini 30.........

 

I've always thought the bolt held back on the last shot was a huge advantage......especially for a carefully aimed shot. In a situation like that, hearing that dreaded "click" just isn't acceptable.

Ironically, the latest Russian version - AK-12 - introduces a bolt hold-open. It needs new mags, unfortunately.

 

I carried one often while in Vietnam, and took a round from one while there.

Would you mind sharing a few details?

Curious as all get out.

 

I've always thought the bolt held back on the last shot was a huge advantage......especially for a carefully aimed shot. In a situation like that, hearing that dreaded "click" just isn't acceptable.

On the other hand, if shooting fast, or spraying bullets.....I guess it just doesn't matter that much.

The AK was designed for the latter, while the Mini 30 is more in tune with the former.

I think I'd take the mini 30.........

When firing my AK's fast or slow, I can tell when the bolt closes without chambering a round. It feels and sounds different. I do expect it would be harder to make that distinction if firing under stress. Can't break a bolt catch if it's not there though.

One of the best reasons (for me) to own a rifle in 7.62x39 is that I can send 120rds down range for $26. If I'm going to pay for brass cased ammo, it's usually going to be 30-30, 270, or 308.

 

In 7.62x39 I've owned a mini 30, a couple SKSs and a few Aks. My mini 30 that I had about 13 years ago was reliable with all ammo. Shot hundreds of wolf steel case through it. Took a few whitetail with it. Shot about 2-3 inch groups at 100yds. I started going out west muley hunting more and went back to a far more accurate bolt action in a better caliber.

 

I will take a quality AK over a Mini-30 any day, with zero hesitation.

 

What pawn shop. I want it and I'll give you the extra $100 + (plus some)