Ruger Mini-30 knowledge needed

[beenjammin]

I picked up a ruger mini-30 from a friend a few weeks ago, but it really is just not my flavor of rifle. Can anyone tell me anything about this rifle. The only ones I can find now are all stainless in wood or sythetic stock. It may just be preban I do not really know. I guess i could call ruger, but figured I would ask here first.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Ruger Mini-30 knowledge needed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beenjammin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I picked up a ruger mini-30 from a friend a few weeks ago, but it really is just not my flavor of rifle. Can anyone tell me anything about this rifle. The only ones I can find now are all stainless in wood or sythetic stock. It may just be preban I do not really know. I guess i could call ruger, but figured I would ask here first. </div></div>

I had a little trouble opening your post. Not sure what it is you want to know. It looks like a ranch model mini-30, where
someone made an odd choice to remove that optic. I have a Mini-14 with a similar profile barrel. Not terribly accurate,
about 2.5-3.5" at 100 yards with decent ball ammo. Don't know it taht cross bolt (in the stock) is standard. Never fired the 30 but it wasn't meant to be a match grade rifle. I didn't know it ran with
AK/47 magazines.

What don't you like about it? The beefy buttpad? Guess the fierce recoil of 7.62 X 39 in a semi auto was pretty intense for someone!

 

[beenjammin]

Re: Ruger Mini-30 knowledge needed

Thanks for the feedback. I bet my camera's settings are too high. I need to make the pics use less space. I hope this does not do anything to host server or anything. If the pics size istoo big will Sh allow you to post it still?

You told me what i was looking for, but I challene you to find another one. i checked gunbroker and gunsamerica etc. and I cant find a blue/wood version at all. i figured the model could be discontinued or something.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Ruger Mini-30 knowledge needed

I think their fine.

I'm seeing 14s going for under $700.00. Don't know about the 30s. I bought mine in '86' for $275! One of my few wise investments...

 

[JoeSmith]

Re: Ruger Mini-30 knowledge needed

I got one of the first prods back in the 80's. It functioned reliably (no issues, ever) with any ammo and magazines including non-factory. Had more thump than my Mini-14. But I was never impressed with its accuracy- Ok, but not stellar. That may have been a function of the ammo.
I actually had ordered a XGI and had it at the distributor but Ruger recalled it before I could take title, darn it! Ah, the collector possibilities. So I settled for the Mini-30.

 

[Vintagejeeper]

Re: Ruger Mini-30 knowledge needed

The prefix of the serial number (first three numbers) will help you figure out the year. Here is a link from the ruger website to help verify the year (i am assuming it is a pre 2005 looking at the front sight), http://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RI-MiniThirty.html

Ruger just recently released 20 round factory magazines for this rifle which might make them more desirable nowadays?

If all else call ruger, they are usually very helpful and can look up the configuration in which this rifle left the factory and the date.