Mini 30 Ammo

[Bill Easton]

Does anybody have any experience with using some of the cheap russion steel cased ammo in a mini-30. My mini dents every shell that it ejects so there is no way I'm going to reload (that is of course if I had the patience to start with - which I dont), and I have heard that the mini's dont do well with the russian ammo (broken extractors from the hard steel cases and junk building up in the chambers from the lacquer on the cases).

Thanks.

-Bill

[Packrat]

Don't know about the extractors (but it fits, knowing the rest of the things Bill did with the Mini-30), but I've never heard of a problem with lacquer build-up except from hot chambers melting it. I don't think you're going to get that in a Mini-30.

I don't know if there's any still floating around, but Bosnian (Yugoslavian) is brass-cased, and is nearly as cheap as Russian. (Some of it, at least, is corrosive, but that's not a problem if you clean the rifle each time you use it.) You can also Cheetah ammo, which is brass-cased, and only about 1 cent a round. Still cheaper than .223 ammo.

[Dunsel]

If you read your Ruger manual, using the russian steel cased ammo voids your warrenty.
You can't effectivly reload steel cased ammo.
Steel cased ammo will eventually damage your weapon.
As long as you clean your weapon you won't have much problem. The Colts, on the other hand, jam after the laqure build up, as I found out from expierence. but my BM shoots it without a problem(223) I did have a Colt Carbine in 762X39, shot the Russian stuff all day long without a problem, just couldn't find any good mags.
If you go to the Rugar web site I think they have an article about the stuff.
good luck

[Bill Easton]

I know about the mini-30 warranty issue. Also ranges hate the steel cased ammo. I guess it interfears with their selling of the used brass although I can think of a one word solution to that (ie, MAGNET).

Packrat had a good suggestion (THANKS PACKRAT) with the Zim ammo. Its almost as cheap as the Wolf junk so I think I'm going to go and get a case or two.

Thanks all.

[Packrat]

Bill, if you get the Cheetah ammo, post your opinion on it. I'm sure that a lot of people would be interested in it's accuracy, carbon buildup, flash, etc. As you said, it's almost as cheap as Russian, and if it has better qualities, that could be a reason to switch, or at least use it for special occasions. And if there were enough proplr asking for it, they MIGHT be convinced to load it with a SP or true, functional HP for hunting. I see more people using AKs, especially Saigas and Veprs, for hunting. The Barnaul ammo is good as far as terminal ballistics go, but I've never tried it for accuracy. I got a case of the Wolf 154 gr SP, but it disappeared someplace, so I never got a chance to try it. One of the members here who is interested in accuracy has been loading the 7.62x39 as well as the .308 for use in Saigas, and has had good results with 150 gr bullets in x39 and 165 gr in .308.

[Bill Easton]

Packrat,

Will do, but it may be a little while. Its fricken freezing here in Nueve Jorque and the only respectable range that I have nearby is outdoor. Going to try to avoid frostbite on the cajones.

-Bill

[torque65]

I dumped my Mini-30 because it would not eat Wolf. (Hard primers) Had a 24% FTF rate with it, and when DID fire, it wasn't very accurate.

Never had any problems with any domestic ammo I tried, tho.
Wolf rep I contacted stated that their 100% policy was void in the Ruger, as Ruger had printed a "Do not use" statement in the manual.
After collecting all of the unspent ammo, it fires fine in my AK's & SKS's.

[Packrat]

Wish I could dump my Mini-30. It makes an AK look like a sniper rifle.

[Bill Easton]

I agree that the mini is a pain in the butt. On the other hand (for me at least), living in such close proximity to sooooo many liberals (shuddder), its nice to have a rifle that doesnt look like it came out of an Arnie movie (most liberals sole expience with firearms). Pure optics, but to these morons it matters.

[1saxman]

Aside from the warranty, corrosion and hard primers, the AK bullet is .311 and the Mini 30 bore is .308. That's why it says to use only American-made ammunition in it. You could develop higher pressures with the bigger bullet. All these reasons, plus the crummy aftermarket mags and Ruger's policies (won't sell you a bolt - rifle has to be sent to them), are why I got rid of my Mini 30 years ago and got an AKM. The ammo is right and so are the mags.