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Posted: 11/29/2001 12:55:11 PM EDT
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Ok here is the deal....... I like the M1 Carbine,but the Garand is a far better gun and I wanted to be able to shot out to 200 or 300 yards. So I found a Mini 30. It's not 7.62x39,as you know NOT .308 but better that .30 carbine at that range. This is my first and only nonmilitary long gun and I don't really know what to think,I don't it yet it should be in next Tus. Can I get some feed back on this gun? It's made just like a M1 from what I can see so I think it should be a great gun,is it? |
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I have never heard a good thing about a mini-30. Epsecially in the area of accuracy at 100 yards. 4" groups would require a professional shooter. if you want a smaller big bore gun, get the MAK-90 or a standard AK-47, they are actaully more accurate and there are more reliable magazines for them. not to mention more goodies. However I do not have any first hand experience with the mini-30. I have just been told from many repected opinions not to even touch one if I like accuracy! Who doesn't like accuracy? -Chuck |
| I had a mini thirty and did get less then 4" groups with it, using a 3x9 scope and american ammo. I never did fire the russian ammo out of it. It probably would not do to well with the russan stuff. you can get a couple of boxes and find out, then get some american made 7.62x39 and compare. I hade some cheap after market high cap mags, a couple worked, and a couple did not work, it was hit and miss with those, I ussually just used a 10 and 15 rnd mag that I knew worked. Here again, it is like a mini14, not the most accurate (not like a AR), but a fun rifle, do check into putting a scope on it, just my .02 worth. |
| I like mine....it easily does the 4" groups with iron sights.....better with a scope....umc ammo works fine....and the six aftermarket mags work good too.......only shot a couple hundred rounds of the russian...it was filthy.....umc and s&b work for it.......put a brake on it...ramline stock...and a old winchester butt pad....it`s not like the m-2...but a WHOLE lot better than the sks paratroop...that did 12" groups at 100 yrds......the brake is to add a little weight to the front and with the plastic stock it`s balanced out nicely.....well made...reliable...... |
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Big Bore: I bought the mini-30 for hunting close quarters blacktail deer in the dense brush thickets of western Oregon. The rifle is perfect for this as it is quick to shoulder, shoots a powerful enough round for these types of critters, low recoiling, and accurate enough (minute of deer!) to do the job at 100 yards. But, I sold mine because I am a precision freak and worked very hard with my handloads and trigger job to get 1 moa groups. The best I did was 1.25". My average was around 2.25". I had constant problems with chinese, russian, and east german mil spec ammo (out of 20 rounds, 5 would not fire the first time). I had no problems with my handloads. I also had jamming problems with aftermarket USA 30 round mags. No problems with factory 5 rounder. In some ways I was sad to let it go, but i am happy that i broke even and used the money to buy a M21 that is a delight to shoot. It entirely depends on what you want from the rifle. Don't have high expectations when it comes to punching paper. But, when it comes to punching small deer at short ranges it should do just fine. Karl |
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I'm not quite sure why you wouldn't just buy an AK. The price is about the same. The mags and parts are a lot cheaper. The accuracy is about the same, unless you spend a wad customizing it (or better). And if you are totally content with low cap mags, then buy an SKS. -SS |
How did this topic end up like this? I gave my last AK to my brother,it was a POS. All I need is a small gun that I can shot out to 200-300 yards and take with me on horseback. An AR is to big,even a flat top will not fit in a rifle saddle sling. What if I got a mini14? will I still get flamed and told to buy an old commie gun? I mean come on guys.........what do you want me to just go beat animals to death or would it be ok if I shoot them  |
The Mini is fine for shooting at 300 yards as long as your targets are the size of panel vans. If your targets are any smaller, have you thought of a lever action? Most of those are capable of 2MOA. A Savage M99 even takes pointed bullets and is capable of the 300yd criteria.
Yes. I just don't understand, all this advice from people who have been there/done that, and newbies still insist on buying those things. The only thing I like about them is their handling. They have NOTHING else going for them. Why did you even ask if your just going to flame us for our opinions? BTW, My Mini 30 could manage, at best, 6MOA 5-shot groups with a 9x scope. You can dump another 5 bills into one and get it to shoot into <2MOA, even counting the flier. I still wouldn't call it a 300yd hunting gun, due to 7.62x39 ballistics. |
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Sounds like you need a Marlin 45/70 guide gun. They hit the market a few months ago, are really nice and come in blue or stainless finish.I don't hunt much anymore but if I did and on horse back this would be the Rifle for me.... www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigBore_levrAction/1895GS.htm John |
Dude if I ever decide to start flaming you, believe me you will know it. I am not a mild person nor I do like assholes who tell me that I am flaming them because I attempt in good faith to answer a question. Since you already have so much gun knowledge you sure as hell don't need my input or the input of anyone else on this board (although I don't really believe that anyone who can't get an AK to fire, and who believes that a Mini-30 is a 7.62x39mm version of the M1-Garand knows jack shit about guns). In the mean time you can take your cheap ass Mini-30 door stopper and your attitude and put it where the sun don't shine. Just for the record, anyone that wants to use a 7.62x39mm Mini-30, or any other 7.62x39mm for deer hunting is a tool. Get a man's caliber if you are going to hunt. If I were to go hunting with a "Battle Rifle" then I would use a .308, chambered in my M1a. Unlike the Mini-30, the M1a is not a cheap ass imitation of the M1 Garand. It is a quality rifle and would be accurate out to whatever range you can shoot (without optics). -Southern Shark  |
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200 to 300 yards, horseback...you did not mention these requirements. for this situation I would not recommend a mini30. mini 30 is more for 100 yrds or less. You can dump a few hundred bucks into and get the accuaracy improved by a professional. It is a fun rifle, dont get me wrong. But you might want to look into a lever action or even a remington semi auto or pump 30-06. I have a semiauto, my brother has the pump, both are fine rifles, can and will fit in saddle sling, and will be quite effective at that range. if you are looking for a rifle strictly for small game, there are other calibers in these rifles i mentioned above. Just what kind of game are you talking about? deer size? or not deer but smaller? |
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If deer hunting is what is being got at here, I can see the 7.62x39 out to 100 yards or so. But it's marginal to begin with and really loses a lot of energy pretty quickly. At 300 yards you might as well be shooting a typical pistol cartridge, as far as humane deer hunting goes. 300 yards is pretty far. I'd look more at a .257 Roberts or .260 Remington or 6.5 Swedish minimum for deer, or a .243 for up to deer, if that's really a realistic range requirement. |
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Thank you Beagles747,ILove2Shoot,Fuzzbean and BlackandGreen. Beagles747 most of all, I called my dealer about the 45-70,I think it's the gun I need. SouthernShark  you need to chill....maybe if your nice your sis. will give you some.BTW: A Mini-30 is a 7.62x39mm version of the M1-Garand,JACKASS!  |
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Hey, if you like lever actions, Browning used to make one, BLR maybe, in cartridges of the .243 and .308 family. A guy I know had one, and it was compact, handy, slick working and readily scoped. Just a little flatter shooting than .45/70. I don't know if they still make anything similar. Last lever action I saw from Browning had an aluminum receiver that looked like it was designed by Dr. Seuss. |
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