[Shawn Watson]

I bought a SS mini 30 yesterday. I have been wanting one of these riffles for a while after owning my 10/22. I have some questions.

I was wondering what are some cheap modifications i can do to get a little mor accuracy out of the gun? I have heard Muzzle breaks are good and something about bedding the barrel. What are some muzzle brakes i can get for the mini 30? I only see them listed for the 14.

What does bedding the barrel involve?

what does installing a recoil buffer involve and where can i find one?

Also what are the best 30rd magazines for this gun? I bought one made by usa magazine yesterday when i bough the riffle and it didn't fit too well. After bending the upper lips of the magazine it seems to work better now.


Also what sot of scope do you recomend for the mini 30?

Thanks
Shawn

 

[special poop]

try www.gunaccessories.com or www.cheaperthandirt.com

they both have some nifty mods for your new prize, including muzzle break/flash hiders that fit the 30. I think they have the recoil buffer there too.

There's some pretty good bedding info on the accurizing forum at the top of the page.

Also, try fire lapping your barrel - it's inexpensive and helps accuracy alot. You only need to reload, or in my case, find somebody to reload the polishing rounds. It's less than $30 and has helped my barrel significantly from an accuracy as well as maintenance perspective.

I have a Leupold X-II scope that I spent about $300 for when it was the off-the-line model. You can dick around with cheaper scopes and get away with it, but this thing is sweet, and will last me the rest of my life no matter what else I shoot with it (.50 cal excluded). I put a Harris bi-pod on when that's mounted for LR shooting. For SHTF practice I just ordered an Aimpoint ML red-dot off e-bay. It too is close to 3 Bills, but I hope worth every penny. Any decent red-dot will do probably do, but again may as well get something that will last. I'll take the Harris off and also drop in a Choate light weight fiber stock.

You really need two 30's: one for the long single shots and one for the 30rd COB. Go buy another one now.

 

[EdinKali]

I bought my muzzle brake for the mini30 from clipsnstuff.com for $17.95. Stainless brakes are $19.95. The brake helped my groups a bit(also changed the point of impact by almost 2 feet at 100 yds) and helped keep the muzzle climb down a bunch. Another thing that helped accuracy was a Ramline synthetic stock(camo). It fit the action really tight so it is almost like I bedded the action.
A little trimming with a dremmel was required in the magazine well(mini-14's don't require trimming) as it is designed to fit both rifles. That got my groups down to about 4"(using russian or south african surplus ammo) at 100yds with the occasional flyer(groups were really bad before I made any mods ie.. 6-8"). The biggest improvement came from handloads(a very nice guy at the range let me try some of his handloads and gave me the specs). Groups imediately went from 4+ inches to 1.75" consistently. Needless to say I went out and bought a bunch of reloading gear. He said I should experiment around a bit with the load to see if I can improve the groups a bit for my rifle as the reloads he let me try were for his AK. I will be loading up some rounds today with different amounts of power and try them out Friday. I'll let everyone know if I see any improvement over the current specs. If anyone wants to try out this load in their mini30, here are the specs:

BULLET: Hornady 7.62x39 123gr V-Max(Part #3142)Bought from Graf&Sons
CASE: Lapua
PRIMER: CCI #34 Military Primer
POWDER: 27.0gr Hodgdon H335 (FYI Max. listed by Hodgdon is 31.5 gr)
OAL: Seat to Cannelure and roll crimp

I will actually be using Winchester regular rifle primers instead of the CCI's as I have heard that the hard primers can bend the firing pins in the mini's. Other than that, I think these specs are a good starting point for a more accurate round for the mini.

Ed

 

[Shawn Watson]

Yeah i like the looks of the ramline synthetic stocks. I think i will get the black one.

I have another question. I will be using a scope on mine. Iwant to use one of those little laser lights that you stick in the end of the rifle to sight the scope. Will the muzzle brake allow for this?

Also does anyone make any other kind of muzzle break?

I don't have any clue or equipment to do any reloading so i guess i will just have to stick with factory loads.

Still wondering about the magazines. I want to find me a 30 rd that works a little better than the one i have now.

thanks
Shawn

 

[cajungeo]

Hey Shawn, congrats on your new mini. If you can't find a muzzle brake at CTDirt, try http://www.johnmasen.com/Merchant2/merchan...ategory_Code=RM
They are the same as the Blackwarrior double muzzle brake. About $20. I'm not shure about your lazer bore sight not fiting. I just get on the paper at 25 yds, then adjust 1" high then shoot at 100 yd or whatever to set scope or sights.

As far as bedding goes, you bed the receiver to the stock (not the barrel), so the receiver dosen't shift in the stock causing the muzzle to shift your POI. Bedding kit $14

Optics, you know a very tough good quality scope is the Leopold VX-1. they start at $179. It is fog proof, water proof, shock proof, and warrentied forever! Its the same as my older Vari X-II.
Also I would highly recommend a gas port bushing kit from Mike Knifong @ NW Shooter Support. It will greatly reduce your recoil which will be easier on your scope, and allow you to stay on target during rapid fire. If you send Mike your trigger group, and $50 He will give you a smooth 3 1/2# trigger job, and the gas port bushing kit.

A simple, but often overlooked, improvement in accuracy can be had by finding the correct ammo your mini likes. Each gun is different! Try a box or 2 of several types of ammo before settling on buying a large quanity. It could save you from buying ammo your gun dosent like. I hope this helps ya

 

[cajungeo]

Welcome to the forum EdinKali, and thanks for your input.

Ed this isn't a caution to you as it is to anyone who wants to try reloads not worked up in their gun.

The caution I would make for shooters is to watch out accepting other peoples reloads, as they have been worked up in their rifle. If they are loaded hot, in a shorter barrel than yours, or a looser chamber than yours, It will be even HOTTER in your gun. Most of the time you may get by, but sooner or later it could damage your gun or worse. I've seen one gun after it blew up. The guy was luckey he wasn't blinded. I'm sorry guys, but I'm a cautious type, and I feel better to be over cautious in advise than to go to bed wondering if I didn't warn some unwarry lurker in this forum of a potential danger .

Ed if you havn't seen it already there is a search button in your upper control panel, a click and a couple of key words, will give ya a plethra of posts related. Glad to have ya aboard

 

[Bam Bam]

I talked to the guy that runs Accuracy Systems in Colorado. He said that he prefers the Ramline stock over the Choate or others, as it fits the gun so tightly and the stock is so rigid. He says bedding is often not needed to get a great fit, when using the Ramlines.

 

[EdinKali]

Shawn: A laser bore sighter should still work even with the muzzle brake as it does not obstruct the bore. This is the only muzzle brake I could find for the mini-30. A bunch are made for only the mini-14(they don't interchange). For factory loads in the mini-30, I hear the Winchester stuff is pretty decent as well as PMC and Remington(from magazine article on the mini-30). As far as magazines go, since I am in Kali I am stuck with 10rounders. I went with the ProMags. They are made just like the Ruger factory mags and pop in and out just as easily.

cajungeo: Thanks for the welcome! I agree, one has to be careful about reloads. One should always check specs to make sure they are compatible with what you are shooting. At 27.0 grains of H335, it is loaded pretty light(recommended load is 28.5 grains and max is 31.5) but as you said it is a "use at your own risk" kinda deal. Yup, saw the search button. This board is a great source of info.

Bam Bam: Yeah, my Ramline stock was really tight. With the trigger guard on the action doesn't move at all. It barely fits into the stock(have to use a little pressure to get it in) so I can't see any gain by bedding it.

 

[cajungeo]

Edin, could you do me a favor? Could you take out your trigger group, then grasp the rear of the reciever, and try to move it side to side in the stock? I did this to my Hogue it moved about .030". Now thats with the trigger group out. This simulates the max movement of your action/barrel in the stock "under recoil". My .030" translated an ocasional flyer about 3" out from the group. The bedding eliminated the flyer, and tightened my group average by 3/4". Could you post the movement if any? maby Ramline stocks are tighter?

 

[EdinKali]

cajungeo: no movement at all with the trigger group out. It is really tight. When I first got the stock I almost sent it back because the action didn't just drop in. I thought it didn't fit.
A bit of pressure got the action into the stock(had the same problem with the front metal stock insert as well, really tight fit).

 

[Satan2655]

Sounds like bedding your stock will give you no improvement. Could even degrade performance. You are lucky.

 

[cajungeo]

Thats great! You won't have to bed it then!