Hey guys, i am looking at buying a Ruger mini-30 in 7.62x39 for hunting whitetails and boar. I would like to hear everyone's experience with this rifle. I know it isnt a target rifle, but it can shoot 3" at 100 yards which meets my requirements for brush hunting. I would probably put either a Weaver v3, Burris ff2 1.75-5, or a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4. Thanks.

NH_Hunter

I have an older mini-14 that my grandfather left me when he passed away. Great gun, shoots well, and it would probably be great with a scope on it (the sights are not very precise). The gun has never had a problem as long as I've had it...it just isn't the gun I pick up when I'm going hunting. Much rather have my Marlin 1894 .44 mag for hunting in the brush :)

It depends. 3" groups @ 100yards, to me wouldn't qualify as anything but a paint stirring utinsil. At that distance however the gun will have enough power to do what you want it to. The mini-30 is definitly reliable, and a short "brush" type gun. If the given accuracy works for you, then the gun won't let you down.
Cheers

I dont think i will get it now. I have been reading negative things all over the web, so i think i will stay away.

NH_Hunter

Give the range limits of the caliber and rifle, it will work find for deer in the brush (best to keep things inside of 150 yards).

Do have to say it's not the greatest choice in hunting rifles. It will work, and I suspect you want the mini-14 for other uses besides deer and that hunting is secondary...it that way, think it superior to the .223 versions, superior to the various SKS/AK types. But if deer hunting is you #1 use, then a gun better suited to that use would be prefered.

NH_Hunter...if you're a Ruger fan, and you're set on a semi-auto, you might check out one of the Deerfield carbines in .44 mag. Much better choice for deer hunting the brush!!!!

You have decided not to buy it as a hunting rifle, and that is probably a good idea. That cartridge is marginal on deer, and I believe you mentioned hunting boar with it. I wouldn't recommend boar hunting with a 7.62X39. I know the poachers in Africa kill elephants and rhinos with that caliber, but they are shooting full autos and there are usually six or seven shooters all cutting loose at once, and still a lot of big animals escape to bleed to death in the bush. That would likely be a wounding rifle on boar, especially the big, Russian, wild variety, and though boar rarely go after the hunter, they have done so with disastrous results for the hunter. The recommendation to use a Ruger .44 mag. autoloader is a good one, though you ought not to shoot at a big pig beyond 50 yds. with it. Try to avoid shots at a moving animal, and especially with such limited power. A good Remington autoloading rifle in .308 or .30-06 will do the job a lot more reliably, and if home defense is what you're after on the other end of the scale, there are 10 rnd. magazines available that turn the Rem. 740, 742, 7400, etc. into an awsome weapon. It'll even kill a car if need be.

I recently sold my Mini-14 - accuracy is marginal with the Mini's. Expect 3-4 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Ruger factory will not even look at them accuracy wise unless they shoot WORSE than 4 MOA. They will almost always feed and function without failure.

If you want a super 30 cal Semi - you may even want to consider an M1 Garand. They are a bit heavy but mine shoots 2 MOA with iron sights.

Hey guys, i am looking at buying a Ruger mini-30 in 7.62x39 for hunting whitetails and boar. I would like to hear everyone's experience with this rifle. I know it isnt a target rifle, but it can shoot 3" at 100 yards which meets my requirements for brush hunting. I would probably put either a Weaver v3, Burris ff2 1.75-5, or a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4. Thanks.

NH_Hunter

Hi!

Arrgh!!! The 7.62x39 is a marginal deer cartridge at best. Stick with a .30-30 WCF. If you want a scope, buy a Marlin and be happy. You have good taste in scopes, by the way.
Did a comparison test with 7.62x39 rifles back in the early 1990s using a Mini-30, a Russian SKS, and a Chinese AK-47 clone. Accuracy from all three was 3 moa at the very best, vs
< 1moa from a Steyr-AUG and 1.5 2 moa from a gussied up M-1 carbine. One shooter said that he would feel safe in front of a mini-30 or AK at 100 yards.

Larry

Don't do it! My Ruger Mini-30 is good for making noise and little else, other than self-defense against man sized targets. The chambers are so oversized that fired cases come out looking "improved" or fireformed. Sent it back to Ruger but they said it was fine! At 100 yards it will group around 4". The only way these things shoot is to send them to a custom smith for a $750 rebuild. There are many better alternatives out there.

axlenut

AR-10 in .308 would probably be a much better choice if you want a semi auto for hunting and whatnot. They can also be had in more powerful chamberings, but a .308 has plenty of punch inside 100 yards for most anything, provided you use appropriate bullets.

If you aren't familiar with them, they're made by Armalite and look like a AR-15 on steroids for the most part. If you want one with a match trigger that shoots moa, all you have to do is pay the extra money. The two "standard" models I've fired where plenty accurate, under 2 moa with factory ammo, for what you're looking to do. The rifle can be had in several variations to suit many needs.

Don't do it! My Ruger Mini-30 is good for making noise and little else, other than self-defense against man sized targets. The chambers are so oversized that fired cases come out looking "improved" or fireformed. Sent it back to Ruger but they said it was fine! At 100 yards it will group around 4". The only way these things shoot is to send them to a custom smith for a $750 rebuild. There are many better alternatives out there.

axlenut


AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry