Recommendations for a mini-30?

[Snerk]

Hey y'all.

I'm picking up my Mini-30 soon and want some recs on optics. I've never had any optics before, aside from a Vortex I also literally just bought for another rifle that's coming soon.

I'm not looking for anything with crazy magnification but I also don't have the best eyesight, so I'd likely want something more than 1x even for just shooting at 100yds, for instance. I'm not intimately familiar with what I can expect out of 7.62x39 performance-wise but my only local range only goes out to 300yds, so I'm also not going to be trying to shoot further than that, plus the other rifle I'm getting should be better suited for longer-distance work anyway.

Physical size of the optic itself doesn't really bother me. Something that's bright and crisp and has a forgiving eye relief would be nice.

Ideally looking around $300-400, including whatever I'd need to mount it to the gun. Though it does come with scope rings, I haven't had the chance to measure it and I know that some of the smaller optics like red dots are typically picatinny rail mount, so I'd need to figure that out as well.

[theduracellbigd]

red dot or 3x9

The rifle you talk about I assume you will be shooting factory FMJ. So unless you handload and if you do you probably did not buy the mini 30 for accurate sub moa bench rest shooting. So even if you hand load you'll probably use fmj.
Anyway what I'm getting at is that rifle by design, and typical ammunition used, and caliber is more of a 300 yd and in steel shooter. If you are shooting paper, you will not see holes in paper till you get to about 10 times magnification. I would say red dot no magnification and get a spotting scope or good binoculars. If you must have magnification to see 30 caliber holes at 100 yds, then a decent 3x9 should suffice. If this gun is to double as a home defense , SHTF gun then I would not put any magnification. Shoot whatever at the range with open sights or red dot and spend some money on a spotting scope and have fun shooting without a bench offhand, kneeling sitting and prone, working on your marksmanship.

[aeromech]

This is a fantastic scope for your rifle

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beeman-SS3-Short-Scope-1-5-4-16/283908778837?hash=item421a482b55:g:mpMAAOSwjDpe4BLY

I've had one on my mini 14 since about 1987. It's made by a Japanese company who are well known for their optics. It was marketed by Beeman back in the 1980's for use on their spring powered pellet guns. When I bought my Mini 14 I took the scope off my Beeman R10 and got a bigger one for the pellet gun and I've been very happy with it.

You should do some research on this scope. I think they originally sold for something like $250 back then.

Here's the description on eBay. BTW, I'm not the seller

Beeman SS3 Short Scope 1.5x-4x. Condition is Used.

Here's a link to read: https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009...2-short-scope/


The SS3 Short Scope by Beeman is a rugged scope that was specifically manufactured in Japan by Hakko for use in airguns. It has very bright and clear optics for such a small unit.

What differentiates this scope from the norm is these tough little scopes are made to absorb the extreme recoil of an airgun. Most ordinary scopes "pop" when mounted on a magnum airgun. These dont. They never have an issue in my experience.

At 8.5 ounces and 5 inches, these great little scopes are very lightweight. They add ounces not pounds to a rifle. This can mean a lot if you are carrying a rifle around all day. The SS3 provides the shooter with speedy target acquisition. This can mean the difference between a shot made or the target getting away.

This particular SS3 is used. It has a few blemishes. (See pics) All of the ocular functions work properly. It is fitted with the dovetail rails, but comes as is with no pins or extras.

This listing complies with eBay’s air gun guidelines found here and I will only sell and ship air guns to buyers in jurisdictions where permitted by applicable laws

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/firearms-weapons-knives.html

[Glockrocks]

This is a fantastic scope for your rifle

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beeman-SS3-Short-Scope-1-5-4-16/283908778837?hash=item421a482b55:g:mpMAAOSwjDpe4BLY

I've had one on my mini 14 since about 1987. It's made by a Japanese company who are well known for their optics. It was marketed by Beeman back in the 1980's for use on their spring powered pellet guns. When I bought my Mini 14 I took the scope off my Beeman R10 and got a bigger one for the pellet gun and I've been very happy with it.

I still have my SS3 mounted on a Beeman Kodiac 25cal. Great scope and very clear for it's small size.

[Snerk]

The rifle you talk about I assume you will be shooting factory FMJ. So unless you handload and if you do you probably did not buy the mini 30 for accurate sub moa bench rest shooting. So even if you hand load you'll probably use fmj.
Anyway what I'm getting at is that rifle by design, and typical ammunition used, and caliber is more of a 300 yd and in steel shooter. If you are shooting paper, you will not see holes in paper till you get to about 10 times magnification. I would say red dot no magnification and get a spotting scope or good binoculars. If you must have magnification to see 30 caliber holes at 100 yds, then a decent 3x9 should suffice. If this gun is to double as a home defense , SHTF gun then I would not put any magnification. Shoot whatever at the range with open sights or red dot and spend some money on a spotting scope and have fun shooting without a bench offhand, kneeling sitting and prone, working on your marksmanship.

Correct, it's going to be one of my home defense guns / shooting regular *** box ammo, nothing fancy. No real care for long-range (200+yd) accuracy on this one, and I'm fine running a smaller/lower magnification optic. I have another rifle that's a lot more well-suited for long range hole punching than this thing will ever be.

I like the recommendation below for that small 1.5-4x, it'd be nice to have something more than 1x, just to help me make sure I'm on-target when shooting at the range. Like I said, I have a hard time picking out my target that well on open irons, so I'd assume a 1x/no magnification would be similar.

Sadly my local range only allows bench shooting (go figure) but I don't even own a rest so I'm at least holding the rifle up with both hands. Also looking at other ranges, even if they're a bit more of a drive, so I can get more practice doing more than just bench shooting.

[theduracellbigd]

1x4

1x4 is a better magnification range then 3x9 to keep that rifle more of a true self defense rifle. However the scope recommended will bring some mounting issues. if you do mount optics you should use one that works with your factory rings. However since you have another rifle for precision work, I would keep your designed battle rifle(your gun is a scaled down copy of the US battle rifle) a true battle rifle and just get bigger or orange targets. Use your peep sights, invest in a leather or cotton web military sling, learn to use the sling properly and shoot off
hand from bench seated. Then use your scope on other rifle to confirm your hits on target, or even better get a spotting scope for 200-300 yard confirmation, or nice 10 power binoculars if range is 100 yds. Or just wait for a line break and go check your target. If you plan on getting serious about range work with your other rifle you will want a spotting scope anyways.

[kcheung2]

I have bad eyesight so I'm a fan of the Primary Arms 3x or 1-6x bdc scopes. But I do agree that you should buy the orange splatter-type paper targets. They cost a dime or 2 more per sheet but I think it's worth it to see the holes even with minimal magnification. I also agree that a good spotting scope can be helpful- if you use iron sights. However if you use magnified optics, it is a wiser purchase focus the money on the riflescope itself & skip the spotting scope vs mediocre riflescope + mediocre spotting scope.

But one thing you can save your money on is a bench rest, just resting the gun on a range bag can suffice.

[c good]

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1020613695?pid=365819

[land locked]

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1020613695?pid=365819

This would be my recommendation also. 1-4x and its about $200 most places. At one time I had a 1-3x weaver that would also do well on a mini. I currently have a leupold freedom 1-4 mounted on an AR and it's a good optic for the money.

Having owned several Mini 14's, if you plan on scoping, use the factory steel rings. I did not care for the pic rail thats included because most of the rail space is unusuable plus you still have to mount rings to that. It also blocks the bolt and action in case you have a manfunction. Kind of useless.

After mounting scopes on several, my prefered Mini set up is just iron sights.