Well i was asked (nicely:lol by another member here to come and tell everyone how great my 581 Mini-30 is so.....
I bought my Mini this month last year and have put right around 1600 rounds through it, give or take a few boxes. A 120+ rounds a month or so. Not that that is a ton but it goes to the range once or twice a month and I either practice controlled rapid fire or shoot for group size. The rifle has so far been the picture of consistency grouping about the same now as it did new.... Or maybe its just that I'm not getting any better :lol: It will still put all 20 in under 3" and has a scoped small 3 shot group of .75". The norm is about 2-1/2 and 1-3/4" scoped. It does have an occasional flyer that is thrown several inches out of a grouping but I truly believe that it is me pulling the shots because of the heavy trigger with a small amount of creep. The trigger really needs to go out to Doc to get worked and after having it a year I feel this might be the number one thing someone can do to improve their Mini.....
In the past year I have always used Ruger 5rd or 20rd magazines and never anything else. The horrible aftermarket mags were the reason I sold my first Mini-30 so I have absolutely NO interest in tying them. I have two 5 rd mags and 10 20rd mags that I shoot. I shoot the 20rd mags for my rapid fire secessions and the 5rd mags for my accuracy secessions. They have been flawless so far as I have never encountered any type of FTF or FTE yet. As a matter of fact the carbine itself has been flawless in its working as there has been zero malfunctions or breakage and has been shot a max of 400rds or thereabouts without cleaning in one sitting and still had zero issues.
The rear sight was easy to sight in, though it is near the max windage adjustment to the left. And the rings mount easy and were tightened with only a quarter and stayed tight for several hundred rounds before I took the Leupold off to re-sight the the carbine's irons for the Winchester load.
The rifle, as stated when I got it, is very free of casting lines and its overall finish is as good as I would expect a rifle in this price point; no mars, blemishes, scratches and good deep stamping of logo and lettering. The fit is good but not great. The mechanical pieces are great but the stock to action fit leaves some to be desired.... A good bedding or aftermarket stock would be an improvement. I have a Circassian that I will fit and bed for it at some point.
Overall impression is very good! I think this is probably the funnest gun I have ever owned.... Maybe second to the 10/22 that was my first when I was a kid
This Mini-30 has shown to be very reliable (zero issues :usa, easy to maintain (stainless, clean when you want ), accurate for a carbine (its not a sniper rifle :sniper, and just overall a ball at the range (fun, fun, fun ).... When I hand it over for new people to shoot at the range they are ALWAYS pleased and have great things to say about it.
In the end it has surpassed my expectations and has left just a little to improve to make it fun to work with over time.... With the flexibility of the 7.62x39 round you have a carbine that works great as a defensive weapon, a SHTF weapon, and something you can grab a go deer hunting with. I highly recommend the Mini-30 for anyone looking for a tough, reliable, accurate, do-it-all carbine!
I bought my Mini this month last year and have put right around 1600 rounds through it, give or take a few boxes. A 120+ rounds a month or so. Not that that is a ton but it goes to the range once or twice a month and I either practice controlled rapid fire or shoot for group size. The rifle has so far been the picture of consistency grouping about the same now as it did new.... Or maybe its just that I'm not getting any better :lol: It will still put all 20 in under 3" and has a scoped small 3 shot group of .75". The norm is about 2-1/2 and 1-3/4" scoped. It does have an occasional flyer that is thrown several inches out of a grouping but I truly believe that it is me pulling the shots because of the heavy trigger with a small amount of creep. The trigger really needs to go out to Doc to get worked and after having it a year I feel this might be the number one thing someone can do to improve their Mini.....
In the past year I have always used Ruger 5rd or 20rd magazines and never anything else. The horrible aftermarket mags were the reason I sold my first Mini-30 so I have absolutely NO interest in tying them. I have two 5 rd mags and 10 20rd mags that I shoot. I shoot the 20rd mags for my rapid fire secessions and the 5rd mags for my accuracy secessions. They have been flawless so far as I have never encountered any type of FTF or FTE yet. As a matter of fact the carbine itself has been flawless in its working as there has been zero malfunctions or breakage and has been shot a max of 400rds or thereabouts without cleaning in one sitting and still had zero issues.
The rear sight was easy to sight in, though it is near the max windage adjustment to the left. And the rings mount easy and were tightened with only a quarter and stayed tight for several hundred rounds before I took the Leupold off to re-sight the the carbine's irons for the Winchester load.
The rifle, as stated when I got it, is very free of casting lines and its overall finish is as good as I would expect a rifle in this price point; no mars, blemishes, scratches and good deep stamping of logo and lettering. The fit is good but not great. The mechanical pieces are great but the stock to action fit leaves some to be desired.... A good bedding or aftermarket stock would be an improvement. I have a Circassian that I will fit and bed for it at some point.
Overall impression is very good! I think this is probably the funnest gun I have ever owned.... Maybe second to the 10/22 that was my first when I was a kid
This Mini-30 has shown to be very reliable (zero issues :usa, easy to maintain (stainless, clean when you want ), accurate for a carbine (its not a sniper rifle :sniper, and just overall a ball at the range (fun, fun, fun ).... When I hand it over for new people to shoot at the range they are ALWAYS pleased and have great things to say about it.
In the end it has surpassed my expectations and has left just a little to improve to make it fun to work with over time.... With the flexibility of the 7.62x39 round you have a carbine that works great as a defensive weapon, a SHTF weapon, and something you can grab a go deer hunting with. I highly recommend the Mini-30 for anyone looking for a tough, reliable, accurate, do-it-all carbine!