Ruger mini 30 shoot surplus ammo??

[bfiles]

Just like the title states I am wondering if any of you Mini 30 owners shoot the cheap surplus ammo through them??

Thinking about picking one up but dont want to buy any other 762x39 ammo for it when I already have crates of the surplus stuff on hand.


Thanks for the help.

 

[G37]

When I owned a Mini-Thirty (Stainless), all I shot through it was the Czech-Corrosive stuff. No problems.

 

[300Spartans]

I've seen the old Norinco silverbox stuff choke up a Mini-30. Of course, this was back in the 90s.

 

[bfiles]

Did you encounter any problems with it??

Light primer strikes, need to replace firing pin or springs???

Even though I have several CZ 58's I have never had any rust in the gun (clean them thoroughly), what about the Mini any rusting problems???

 

[na1lb0hm]

I've fired a lot of czech surplus through mine. no troubles, just clean good.

some light primer strikes though. Wolff? sells a spring upgrade to fix it.

 

[Steve Janes]

They are hit or miss, Ruger uses you to quality check there rifles.

I have seen plenty of mini-30's eat surplus no problem, that being said, I have personally owned 3 of thems, 2 were new and stainless and they refused to feed surplus ammo, it had something to do with the lacquered case, one i sent back to ruger for a replacement, and the other I sold, the guy has shot hundreds of rounds of American factory ammo with no problems, but it wouldn't feed surplus. The only one that fed the surplus, was an old 189 series (blued) but the bolt failed and sheared in half and I could've lost half my face. Here's how it looked

Also every mini-30 I have ever shot has experienced light primer strikes with surplus. A extra power hammer spring fixed it every time!!! they cost about 10-15 bux

 

[bfiles]

Thanks guys for the replies.

I am kinda torn now between this. I really want another 762 rifle but hit or miss with it i still may buy it.

 

[jjohnwm]

My experience was with only one mini-30, roughly 5 years ago. I put well over 2600 rounds of assorted cheap surplus crap through it, all corrosive. I had maybe three FTFeeds in the whole bunch. Accuracy was uniformly terrible with all of this stuff, roughly 5MOA. Commercial ammo cut those groups in half. Overall, the mini-30 was my least favourite of the several mini's I've owned over the last few decades, but I admit that I might try another one eventually. I just like the ergonomics and feel of the mini platform.

 

[bluegrizz77]

Mine doesn't ike the lacquered case stuff, but will shoot anything that is not lacquered.