This Old Gun: Ruger Mini Thirty

Watch the American Rifleman Television "I Have This Old Gun" video segment above to learn about the Ruger Mini Thirty semi automatic sporting rifle chambered in 7.62x39 mm.
In the early 1970s, Sturm, Ruger & Co. introduced a semi automatic box magazine fed rifle that would gain recognition in the civilian, law enforcement and military market, the Mini 14 series. The Mini 14 used a John C. Garand style rotating bolt with a fixed piston gas system similar to the M-14 in a size profile between the M1 Garand and M1 carbine. Originally chambered for 5.56x45 mm NATO and .223 Rem., the design was modified in the 1980s as the Cold War began to ease and the 7.62x39 mm cartridge became accessible to the commercial market.
The new rifle chambered for the 7.62x39 mm cartridge was introduced in 1987 as the Ruger Mini Thirty. The cheap cost of the cartridge along with its ballistics made for a great paring with the Ruger design as a choice for both sporting and target shooting. More than 30 years after its release, the Mini Thirty is still produced and has a dedicated following in the civilian market.
For the latest firearms and shooting content, please visit www.americanri...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the following links to learn more about your NRA:
National Rifle Association of America - bit.ly/32dwH2D
NRA Publications - bit.ly/38GpKtj
NRA's American Rifleman - bit.ly/39IW2E4
NRA’s American Hunter - bit.ly/2HF0oAa
NRA’s Shooting Illustrated - bit.ly/2udFtRR
NRA Family - bit.ly/2HEYNdC
NRA’s America’s 1st Freedom - bit.ly/3bNhBW2
NRA’s Shooting Sports USA - bit.ly/2wvFRvK
NRA’s Hunter Leadership Forum - bit.ly/37FkK77

[@nunya7319]

I have the Mini-30 and use it for deer and hog hunting. I never shot the Mini-14, mainly because I don't trust the .223 for whitetail deer or bigger. It's a great varmint round but that's it. I've got a wall hanger 8 point with my Mini-30. Like they said you've got to know the limits of the round. I reloaded some Barnes and got that 8 point at 162 yards. I will admit that it did run away about 30 yards and piled up. Very pleasant gun and round to shoot.

[@Briantholt]

Amazing rifle that's legal in California unmodified. Mine only shoots the cheap steel cased Russian without any problems. After 1000s of rounds fired only a handful of rounds didn't go off. Super reliable and accurate gun IMO, surplus ammo is still dirt cheap. To bad Walmart stopped selling tulammo 7.62x39, 40 rounds was like $10. Mine shoots very accurate at 100 yards too. Ruger still makes 20rd mags for it that feed perfectly.

[@bluescatreimer]

I sold my AR15 and bought a Mini 14 and love it, in fact I bought another one for my son.

[@sallybrown1459]

@Clay Baker Ours will shoot both very well.

[@jonmeray713]

Clay Baker wrong.

[@ScoobWRX04]

@Clay Baker If your barrel states .223 on it...DO NOT put a 5.56 round in it. That only works when your rifle is chambered in 5.56 then you can use .223.

[@jamesmiller4085]

@@ScoobWRX04 all mini 14 are 5.56 clambered the reason the mini 14 was known for being inaccurate is because people like shooting 223 instead of the 556 the older mini 14 were a twist rate of 1 and 7 ment for 70 grain and heavier 5.56 rounds the only reason they stamped 223 on them in the past was to avoid the assault weapons ban it had nothing to do with the chamber its just that people believe that everything that applies to the ar15 applies to everything else nothing worse then someone like this guy thinking their an expert because of what they know about their there cheap ar

[@garyK.45ACP]

You missed the short lived attempt by Ruger to make a 7.62 NATO version which they called the "Ruger USGI". I am not sure any made it to the market, it was quickly discontinued. There were numerous problems with it that, apparently, could not be overcome. It was pictured in catalogs though.

[@deadhorse1391]

XGI, I remember the adds they had for it but it was, lots of gun writers wrote it up pretty well. But Bill Ruger held it up for accuracy problems. I always wondered why they didn’t work the bugs out because you know it would have been a great seller. Think they only made 100 of them

[@gutfinski]

gary K I actually handled one at the Ruger factory but did not get to fire it. Ruger “jumped the gun” on that one as they did a couple of others. The Mini 14 was fine as a downscaled M14 but the USGI was not so fine as an upscaled Mini 14. There were issues in chambering especially when transitioning from 7.62 mm NATO to .308 Winchester which has different specs, pressure limits, etc. Ruger really should have gone “full bore” and made a full size semi-auto M14 (M1-A) which would have been a great success.

[@rifles_up2263]

There was also a version in P 243 that we never got

[@sallybrown1459]

We have had many RUGER products. Very reliable. Mini14 and 30 are gas piston operation. Makes them much more reliable than the AR's.

[@rebvodka4873]

@Sally Brown Why don't you just get an AK then? They require less cleaning and are cheaper than Rugers.

[@davidpallin772]

@@rebvodka4873 Smart ass, all Sally was stating was a valid point, much like yours.

[@reb1050]

I have had my Mini-30 since the late 80s. Although, back then, it's accuracy left something to be desired. About a 4 in. group at 100 yds. However, I added an Accu-strut and that brought it down to an average of 2 in. or less. Great improvement over an already great rifle.

[@Briantholt]

The new ones seem more accurate or maybe I got lucky with mine bought it in 2018

[@pg981]

Mine is a late eighties also. Horrible accuracy until I put a barrel strut and a cheap flash hider/muzzlebrake combo to get some weight on the end of the barrel. Under 2 inch group with Federal ammo. Very ammo picky with the .308 bore it was made with.

[@rebvodka4873]

Mini-30s jam from carbon fouling. Get an AK.

[@katanapr3]

Great little rifle, I had one in the late 90's and had lots of fun with it. I would love to buy another one but for $1,000 I can buy something much better. I just went to my local gun shop today and saw a mini 14 for $1,099 their is no way I am paying that much for one of this rifles.

[@jpb1231000]

I bought mine NIB at Wal mart in 2017 for &786 OTD.... I saw a New model a few weeks ago for $968 online.... M&P Sport's are going for are going for ~ $800 now.... I have an AR556, MINI 14 in 556, and 2 SKS;s..... In SHTF I'll probabaly PRIORITIZE the MINI!!!

[@deadhorse1391]

I have a friend that has one...I can outshoot him with my chi com SKS

[@genericdenizen1]

Same here. My Yugoslav SKS is much more accurate than my Mini 14...for half the price. Sorry Ruger.

[@mywifehatesguns]

20 round magazines that Bill didn't want us peasants to own

[@johnfeliciano585]

The A-Team gun

[@Thundarr995]

Almost. They used the Mini-14

[@jasonk8541]

I pity the fools!

[@victorjohnson7512]

I'm dying for a mini-350 Legend. Hey Ruger are you listening?

[@kevinmoore.7426]

Can I buy an m 14 surplus ? Fully auto removed ?

[@toddwindbigler1983]

Dear Ruger, The 10-22 is very popular. And usually it works very well. I think we all would a 10-22 but in different calibers. I'm gonna call all of these '10'-something. For example something like your PC Carbine would be a 10-9mm. Could you also make a 10-10mm? Or a 10-.357 And a 10-.40 Let me not forget, a 10-.327fm (ps: I don't care what who says what, .32H&R is not a magnum round. It's .32H&R. I don't want to call .327Federal Super Magnum. .327FM is as such. .32H&R is simply .32hr.

[@kennethlindahl9206]

I 2nd the .327 and .357 they had a 10-44 so all these calibers are within there wheelhouse

[@Bones6987]

I was fortunate enough to get in on the 80s Sks with a 100 dollars worth of Cosmoline😂 For 50 bucks Man all that yellow box Norinco we shot everything from deer to red clay river banks 😂 If only we had known But that’s not what we were thinking about in 1985

[@tommccormick9290]

Mine initially had some trouble igniting the hard primers of some Russian ammo but installation of a stronger hammer spring took care of that.

[@myfire4667]

The gun and cartridge are NOT linked together..Ruger purposely used a shorter firing pin so that it would not fire foreign steel ammo..well documented..ask the multitude of people who have had to find a proper aftermarket pin ..sheesh..the SKS is still a better rifle after all these years ..the object was to be able to shoot affordably, and they tried to force the more expensive brass case ammo on their customers..fact

[@tonycolca2241]

Producing a rifle eith the wrong bore diameter horrible accuracy bore not chromed. Is their an assumption on rugers part that most people are stupid and would not know the difference. It is interesting how people say it is such a good gun then almost in the same breath list everything that is wrong with it.

[@AK-ky3ou]

Great rifle. American gun chambered in 7 six 2 commie! I’m all in.

[@hailtothe_rooster1572]

I’ve never had a reliable mini 30...... For the same or less price you can get a much more reliable and accurate option

[@turtletruth]

I watched this 3 times and still can't figure out what this guy is saying!

[@andyaskew1543]

I had one when they first came out. It sucked..

[@destroyingdadxx2274]

Just got a new mini thirty from PSA. Shoots all ammo fine. No issues with steel case ammo at all. Ruger must have fixed the problem.

[@strongarm3408]

I got one two years ago I had to shave a couple of microns from the bolt & it doesn't light strike anymore.

[@ChoneyPony]

The mini 30 has trouble firing ammo with harder primers though. Idk if i got lucky or if they fixed this but mine fires all ammo including the cheap Russian stuff. Bought mine new in 2016.

[@Briantholt]

same with mine bought in 2018, fires the cheap stuff no problem

[@lonewolf2364]

I bought mine in 85’ stainless, love it.

[@schutendohkji548]

Stainless bbls wear out faster than of steel. i don't dink ppl know datto. Bbl makers just loooooouve SS since it's EZ and faster to machine, saves their cutting tools, etc. So to whom who buys the shit mat'l bbl n receivers (well, rcvrs don't wear out much, so for those ladies, buy TopperWear rcvrs) bully 4 u. With the thin groove channels in the bore, it'll b so fast to wear them out. So stoipeds. Just dink (think) a little ... Gun buyers should study metallurgy and do some machining of various metals Demselves for practical learning hands on.

[@darkwarrior9743]

Dam I miss my mini 14 and 30 in Australia

[@Peripatetic_Proletariat]

Escape Australkatraz

[@genericdenizen1]

Love my Mini 14, totally reliable and indestructible.

[@JR-xs2ec]

Loved this video…thanks for all this information…I just got a 184 series…very exciting rifle…again, you video is awesome, I was to know more, see more…thanks ❤

[@life_of_riley88]

2:13 Are we not gonna talk about that?

[@tonycolca2241]

The first mini 14 were chambered for 223 remington when prople fired 5.56 the primers punched a hole in them.

[@twintwo1429]

American cartridge as well as a Russian cartridge, thanks for that acknowledgement. Americans love reliability. Its mostly due to the sks and ak47 rifle designs. I have seen many American veteran testimony to this amazing round and rifles.

[@danbanks7930]

Here's a little tidbit of gun trivia a gunsmith was talking to me about Mini-14 to one time and he said there was a limited trial Edition but was never put into production that they were going to make for prison guards that was going to be the Mini-14 rifle caliber in a 3030 cartridge but it never went past the blueprint stage I guess our the prototype trials

[@tplyons5459]

The Russians label their guns by the inside of the barrel not the diameter of the bullet. All the surplus ammo I ever had for my SKS had bullets meandering .310

[@wastelandgentleman]

Most sold is not the mini platform it was the Ak series of firearms

[@nmr6988]

I really want a rifle that is not an AR-15 type, but just a traditional looking rifle and scope. I think I could shoot this rifle without breaking my shoulder or collarbone. I'm a very small senior lady. Does anyone have some helpful words of wisdom for me?

[@timothycontreras8424]

The 5.56 or 223 has virtually no recoil.

[@nunyabidniz2868]

The advantage the original Mini-30 had over the Mini-14 of the time was better accuracy, and of course, chambered in a cartridge that was legal to hunt deer. The problem was, it was still multiples of the cost of a milsurp skS, which had better accuracy yet. When Ruger overhauled the Mini-14 ~ 2010 and at last fixed the hinge in the barrel, etc. so it would finally group instead of pattern, they also had the -30 and 6.8SPC variants that similarly benefited from the redesign, and by then skS's were no longer sub-$200 rifles. Bottom line, I wouldn't mind having one of the post-2010 versions in any of the offered calibers, but there're plenty of better choices out there if you're pursuing a vintage gun...

[@rebvodka4873]

I have 2 modified Chinese SKS rifles. They cost $160 each NIB. You need a better straw.

[@walksfletcher]

How is a Mini-30 an old gun ?

[@TheFrogfeeder]

Is there an adapter made by somebody that will allow me to attach a laser sight to my mini30? It has the teeny tiny mounts for a scope, is there a way to turn that into a picatiny Rail?

[@timothycontreras8424]

Yes.

[@IAMRONIN]

I didn't know they had fixed the bore issue?!? There I was thinking I could only shoot American made 7.62x39 because of the .308 bore!

[@fredcgodwin7660]

Perfectunion.com is chock full of good info on Minis

[@rymic72]

Does it still have trouble reliably cycling steel cased ammo?

[@robertdowning8869]

Mine is 3 years old and still will fail to fire about 1 in 3 cartridges. The problem is that the steel case cartridges have a harder primer designed for AK 47. The fix is the mill the firing pin to allow a little more stroke. There is a youtube video on this. It fires brass fine.

[@Ogrematic]

No mine eats steel all day you're fine.

[@gary19222]

My Mini-14 would shoot steel cased ammo but sometimes the casing will get stuck in the boar in bore. Guessing because it expands??

[@nickcirillo6191]

Big fan 🔫 Excellent

[@jsgll...godgunsliberty1197]

Unless your shooting brass amo its junk and does cycle correctly. . True or not ?

[@muchachonextdoor5608]

You'll get mixed responses on this. I recently bought a used mini-thirty and immediately changed the hammer spring $8 and polished the bolt face, some mini have protrusion where the firing pin meets the primer causing light strikes on steel cased ammo. 1k rounds of tula later, not a single misfire or failure to feed.

[@myfire4667]

Not so..swap out an Accuracy Systems stainless steel firing pin, and it will eat through steel case ammo all day, and you will be surprised that the cheap foreign ammo is more accurate than the brass case ammo.. from experience..just saying

[@uncouthboy8028]

Say his name.

[@masakiedward8448]

dude

[@lonebikeroftheapocalypse9527]

Piston > direct impingement

[@Kalashnikingz47]

Make one that can shoot steel case!

[@varicodin]

You can modify the mini 30 to shoot steel case. It just needs a heavier striker. You can fix this either with a longer pin or stronger spring.

[@mptorecon]

An American SKS. Nice.

[@Ogrematic]

Not really.

[@tedkenne]

Ruger Is Making Rifles Great Again!!!

[@AlphaChimpEnergy]

I bought my dad one of these. It’s good enough. I love how light it is and that it’s a traditional rifle. I hate the rock & lock mags and the price$$$$. The accuracy should be much higher. I’m guessing that the barrel should be thicker and free floated.

[@reb1050]

Although not really noted for great accuracy, the older models of the Mini-30 can be improved quite easily in many cases. I got mine back in the 80's and at 100 yds, I often averaged 4 in. groups. Definitely not something to brag about. Then, about 10 yrs. ago, I added an Accu-Strut. Now I am averaging 2 in. groups at 100 yds. It's a simple "bolt on" accessory. I would like for the groups to be smaller, but at least it is something I can live with considering I often use it deer hunting and where I deer hunt, you would be hard pressed to get a shot over 100 Yds.

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

@@reb1050 I've had my Mini 30 for Atleast 12 Years, i Love it but accuracy at longer distances aren't the greatest, I've seen you have Good things to say about the Accu-Strut. I've always contemplated on purchasing one. Seems like you like it, and i guess it's worth it ?

[@Buzbikebklyn1]

All this is nonsense. I ended up building a 30-06, with 20 round, "B.A.R." magazines that was once a Garand. Nice but no cigar.... The 223 is ok for "varmint". The 308 is good, shooting a 30-06 is better when you absolutely have to kill something RIGHT NOW from a distance. It's a fact. Look it up.

[@phlodel]

.So, you built a crippled M-14. The difference in ballistics between the .308 and the 30-06 is negligible

[@Buzbikebklyn1]

@@phlodel Crippled how? My Garand is a more than capable weapon. Yes, 308 is a more modern cartridge, but as you said, there's hardly any difference, and my Grandfather and Farther carried 30-06, why would I be any different? Grow up. Snapper head.

[@GregorsOutdoors]

Have three of them. Dead deer don't recognize a 4-inch group. Love the 7.62 for a farm truck gun.

[@victorboucher675]

Thank you for this post. I have always wondered about the Mini 30 bore issue, there are many more 30 (.308) cal bullets than the odd ball sizes. There is a supply advantage when you can use standard NATO if/when things go "Portland", so for my use that would be a consideration.

[@keithlucas6260]

.311 dia is exactly what the British Enfield uses in their .303 bullets. I happen to reload them.