Help locating Ruger Mini 30

[bcp]

Ruger says they are "allocated" - meaning they disappear as fast as they're manufactured. Makes it very difficult to find.

I placed an order for one in March of this year, at one of the few dealers that would use a waiting list. I did verify with Ruger the rifles are still being shipped.

Ask Ruger which distributor they are shipping to, then ask your dealer to order from them.

Bruce

 

[Egbert]

MotorSeven ... thanks for the links. You got that "pricey" description right - lol. My order in March locked the price at $710 - if it would ever show up! I may be willing to part with $800-$825 but after that I'll start looking for something else in 7.62x39.

I've looked at the slip-on units but they add length. If I wind up having to add, I'll have the barrel worked.

 

[MotorSeven]

Check Armslist too:
ARMSLIST - For Sale: Ruger Mini 30 Stainless

I thought about a Mini30 since ammo is so cheap. But, I know as soon as I bought one, ammo prices would hit a record high

 

[Deerherd]

Here's one on gunbroker: New Ruger Mini 30 Thirty 7.62x39 762 7.62 SS 5806 : Semi Auto Rifles at GunBroker.com

 

[Egbert]

I've always loved these Ruger "minis." Had a stainless mini 14 years ago but really looking to up the caliber as the 7.62x39 has so much more penetrating power. It seems the scarcity has driven the prices above actual worth - at least to me. I'm going to hold out and see if I can still manage to grab one of these for closer to the $800 figure.

 

[RobertN]

I like the Mini-14; had one years back. Scoped and handloads, I even got some decent accuracy out of it. And, I like the miniature Garand action.

Now though, it is hard to beat the AR platform. You could get or put together an AR in a variety of calibers for the price of a Mini-14; 556, 204 Ruger, 762x39, 6.8SPC, 458 SOCOM, and more.

you can customize the Mini-14 a little, but the AR platform is amazing with options to customize.

Just a thought...

I do like this site for Mini-14 stuff; always thought a real HBAR/bull-barrel Mini-14 would be nice. If you browse the "Ruger" menu, they have some great stuff
Mini 14 Accessories Ruger Rifle 30 Muzzle Brake Gas Block Compensator Steel Bedding System

I've always loved these Ruger "minis." Had a stainless mini 14 years ago but really looking to up the caliber as the 7.62x39 has so much more penetrating power. It seems the scarcity has driven the prices above actual worth - at least to me. I'm going to hold out and see if I can still manage to grab one of these for closer to the $800 figure.

 

[dusty3030]

I have to agree that to me no Mini is worth $800.
I really want to love the Mini - I have owned two in my life, both bought new, both traded off and never regretted it.

Problem with 7.62x39 is good ammo. There is SOME domestic good hunting ammo, but it is always a order proposition, you will rarely ever see it in a shop. On the other hand most times your Wolf and similar steel case ammo is usually easy to come by, but, even if they are hollow or soft point I wouldn't count on them to perform like you would a Nosler, Sierra, Hornady, Speer, Norma etc. premium type hunting bullet. The cheap foreign stuff no matter what bullet type it is just consider it a FMJ load.

If you are set on a 7.62x39 rifle and you can find an AK style rifle with a chrome lined barrel, I would seriously consider it. Mini's aren't much if any more accurate from my experience. Mini has better sights and easier to mount a scope. AK has better mags and mags are cheaper and easier to find. AK is bullet proof reliable and if you get one cheap enough you really don't care if you scratch it up, etc.

I had a bunch guns underwater in the 2011 floods. 3 of them were AK's. One of those 3 had wood furniture, the other two were synthetic.
After being submerged for 3 weeks or so, the 3 AKs all survived. The wood was swollen on the one that I replaced it, but it still functioned fine with the ugly wet stock. All I did was hose out with WD 40 and let them dry and no rust, no problems at all, no other damage.
Several bolt rifles I had did not fare so well and were a loss.

Good luck in your quest!

 

[dusty3030]

These Saiga's aren't as popular because they are "sportered" and most AK buyers want them to look like the original.
On the other hand, they are very well made by the Russian factory and the "guts" are as good as you can get.
This rifle is really and apples to apples contender to a Mini 30 in my opinion that it is a stretch to say the Mini is worth twice the price.

EAA SAIGA for sale (936084470)

Saiga IZ-132 Sporting Rifle 7.62x39mm NIB for sale (914284259)

 

[RobertN]

The link I posted earlier has options for other calibers. But, they are expensive additions after the initial purchase.

Agree on the 7.62x39 soft point stuff.

I would add though, 25 years ago I had an AK. Put a scope mount and a 3-9x40 on it, and cut a magazine down to a 5 rounder. Took Wyoming antelope with it, using commercial soft point ammo. Clean shots at ~100 and ~150 yards, two antelope in the freezer.

Problem with 7.62x39 is good ammo. There is SOME domestic good hunting ammo, but it is always a order proposition, you will rarely ever see it in a shop. On the other hand most times your Wolf and similar steel case ammo is usually easy to come by, but, even if they are hollow or soft point I wouldn't count on them to perform like you would a Nosler, Sierra, Hornady, Speer, Norma etc. premium type hunting bullet. The cheap foreign stuff no matter what bullet type it is just consider it a FMJ load.

 

[dusty3030]

The link I posted earlier has options for other calibers. But, they are expensive additions after the initial purchase.

Agree on the 7.62x39 soft point stuff.

I would add though, 25 years ago I had an AK. Put a scope mount and a 3-9x40 on it, and cut a magazine down to a 5 rounder. Took Wyoming antelope with it, using commercial soft point ammo. Clean shots at ~100 and ~150 yards, two antelope in the freezer.

I really wish the comm block would have at least made their .30 bores the same as the rest of the world too.
Their 7.62 bullets are .311 where the standard over here for a .30 bore is a .308 bullet. Ruger had to work out an engineering solution to this for the Mini 30.

So for instance, some of the .308 hunting bullets that work really well in the 30/30 Winchester (open up good at lower velocities) in my opinion would have made the 7.62x39 an absolute AWESOME medium game / medium range round. But all the SKS's and AK's have .311 bores and the off the shelf good component bullets available are hit or miss accuracy in those rifles.

So, demand for premium or at least really good domestic .311 bullets has been low and therefore not ammo availability of really good 7.62x39 loads. I wish there was though, there are millions of good rifles out there to shoot them.