Mini-30 or Mini-14: If you had a choice which would you choose.?

I happen to own both the Ruger Mini 14 and the Ruger Mini 30..... The new 580 series Mini 14's are much more accurate than there predecessors the 180 series Mini14.......

The Ruger Mini 30 is my choice as a scout rifle.... I will be the first to say it is not super accurate... The Mini 14 is much more accurate than the 30..... With the Mini 30 I can get 3 inch groups to 100 yards on steel plates..... Once that barrel gets hot its all over the metal plate and not consistent.... I topped mine off with a 2-7X32MM Nikon shotgun scope......

Of course the Mini 14 is better for small animals since the .223 cartridge has a flatter trajectory. The Mini 14 also is capable of more accurate shots at longer distances that the 30.......

As for protection in the forest I will only take the Ruger Mini 30.... Here's the part where I might get thumbs down.... I don't care what kind of animal threatens or charges me.... A crazy deer with lots of antlers, a mountain lion or a huge bear... A Ruger Mini 30 chambered with brass FMJ will stop any animal.... I regularly shoot straight thru 3/16ths inch steel plate at 100 yards with this rifle... This unit will stop any pissed off north American animal... My rifle has a top quality 10 round stainless box magazine.... Forget 20 or 30 round magazines for these... I haven't found one yet that doesn't cause feedway jambs or stove piping..... FMJ ammo rarely causes feeding problems... Sometimes the SP (soft point) fails to feed... Its easy to unjamb but doesn't happen to often.....

As a scout rifle I think these Ruger carbines are the finest rifle you could go off into the woods with. They are lightweight, feel comfortable across your back, are decently accurate and follow up shots are fast and quick.... A bolt action generaly is too large and slow to shoot, an AR15 although depending on the model is a bit more accurate feels bulky and uncomfortable on your back... The Ruger Mini 14 or 30 in wood are polite looking... If you run across hikers or other outdoors folks they arent spooked by the sight of a sinister looking AR15... To the untrained eye a Ruger Mini looks like a .22 but in reality packs a punch....

http://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_mini-30.htm

http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/ggps/46...

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/featured_rifles/rug...

Mini 30 Scout

I have both and I like the Mini-30 for it's versatility. If I am hiking through the mountains or even the fields I want something that will stop a large Predator not just tic it off. The .223 has never impressed me as a stopper of anything larger than a varmint. In the Army we hated them and would even take a 30 carbine along for emergencies. The 7.62-39 has more stopping power because of it's larger diameter. Just as the 45 acp has more stopping power than a 9mmL .

The mini 30, that 7.62x39 is a good round. The mini 14 is a fine rifle but that little round it shoots never impressed me although it’s a fine varmint round the .223 just doesn’t have the wallop I like.

I lived and hunted in that area and there are mountain lions, black bears and grizzlies there and I would much rather have the larger 7.62x39 round if I had to defend myself from one of them while bush whacking. Yes its NOT Griz medicine but I would stain my shorts against a Griz with the .223 but would feel I have a prayer with the Mini 30.

Also you can get the cheaper military surplus ammo for the mini 30. I have taken many a coyote with the 7.62x39 and also deer, turkey and a bunch of varmints. You mentioned wolves well a 200 lb wolf can be killed with the .223 but again I would go for the larger size bullet of the 7.62x39.

By the way good to see you back!

I believe that both rifles are adequate for most of what you want to accomplish.

The advantage of a 5.56 NATO round is that is is ligher weight than the heavier 7.62 Russian. This is just one reason that the US Military sticks with the smaller .223 diameter cartridge...you can carry more ammunition with you. It might not seem like a big deal at first, but when you have to carry that stuff around (marching and running), every extra ounce weighs you down.

Mini 30. Hands down.

Mini-14. I've had both, and for the purposes you mentioned, I think the .223 will be more useful.

either are fine scouting rifles. i say mini-14, though the mini-30 don't hurt =]

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

According to recent studies made by World Bank, the coming crisis will be far worse than initially predicted. So if you're already preparing for the crisis (or haven't started yet) make sure you watch this video at http://www.familysurvival.tv/ and discover the 4 BIG issues you'll have to deal with when the crisis hits, and how to solve them fast (before the disaster strikes your town!) without spending $1,000s on overrated items and useless survival books.