Which should I buy?

[Red Ranger]

I'm considering a future purchase: Ruger Mini 14 or Mini 30. I've looked around for pros and cons, but I want to know what you guys think.

[fmunk]

Mini 14
Pro: Less recoil.
Con: Ammo used to cost more than the 30, expensive now. Can't find any.


Mini 30
Pro: AK power and you get to dodge the silly bullet button rule
Con: Ammo used to be cheap, not any more... if you can find any!

Conclusion:
Don't buy a damn thing now.






*

[Swagman00]

Of the two, Mini 30 hands down. Cheaper then 5.56/.223 (even before this insanity), good knockdown power, and a great round to reload for. More types of bullets have been made in a .310-312 diameter then you may know and lets you play with those weights for tinkering. Inside 300 yards, nothing does the job for less money with the same punch IMHO.

Accuracy is the biggest downside. The small case also limits what you can really jam in there too. A personal fav is H4198 @ 24 gr w/a 150 gr JHP from the bigger rifles like the 7.62x54, 7.7 Arisaka, or .303 british but only if the bore mikes in bigger then .312 for the last. Not sure how big it is on the Mini 30, but I slugged the bore on my SKS and that thing shoots pretty flat w/the x54 pulls.

Also consider deer hunting. The NATO round is borderline for the job. As for the old soviet warhorse, there's no doubt considered when used with soft points.

[89 Vision]

Between the two.....Mini 14. If you want a rifle in 7.62x39, just get an AK or SKS. And yeah, don't buy anything right now. Wait out the panic by stroking your old guns.

[Divernhunter]

I have both and enjoy both. With the stupid high prices now I would not buy either. Plus ammo is very stupid high priced IF you can find it.

[Mrhavasu]

I have the 14 and love it. If you can, try to shoot both and see what you like. My buddy has the 30 because he is always trying to prove who has the bigger dick.

[Nick5811]

In DiFi's proposal, the Mini-14 is specifically mentioned while the Mini-30 is not. It may be covered in the 'any rifle that is a clone of the listed rifle', but it may not, since it has a different name and different caliber.

I'm trying to decide between a mini-30, a GSR, and an M1A Scout. I may sell some other guns to provide funds for the M1A. I already have a few .22's, time to step up to the .3's