I had dream of a mini-30 with the older receiver for years, Lee made it happen, thanks Lee!
Lee Hadaway did the work on the receiver (open it up to take the 7.62x39 magazine), re-barrel and gunkote.
his website:
http://www.thearmsroom.com/


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damn.. i struggle..

looks nice

I found the hand guard on gunbroker, the ranch stock on ebay.
I removed the rubber butt-pad (just two screws) and I drilled out the hole that held the rear sling swivel, using a rat-tail file I fit a A2 sling swivel from a AR-15 butt-stock.

I then I drilled out the back of the mini ranch stock and use a lower bolt from an M-14 butt-stock to hold the rear AR-15 sling swivel in place, replacing the lower wood screw that was on the Ruger stock.

I then stripped the wood, the stain I used was Brownells, formula XIII. When I first applied it, it looked really red, and I didn't think I would like it. The second coat gave it the old G.I. look that I was hoping to get. Then I applied Tung oil from "The Real Milk Paint Company".

The front sling swivel I removed the "Loop" from a German 98K swivel mount, after I re-sized the hole in the gas block on the mini (don't drill to deep) it fit right in.
Drilling the gas block on the mini was very hard, the rifle is stainless steel.

im confused.. what mags does it take?

It uses the Ruger mini-30 magazine.
The mini-14 (.223) receiver was machine to take the mini-30 bolt and magazine.

Wow, that is a nice looking rifle.

very nice!

Wow!

Looks good,.......what is on the wood?

That is very sharp! Love the color of the stock.

Well, the weather here was nice, windy but nice, so I took the rifle out with me and took a long walk out back, knee high in the mud, I just wanted to ran a magazine through it to see how the brass was eject.
Lee had change out the gas bushing with a smaller one from Great West Gunsmith, when he first fired it with the original bushing, he told me that the brass was eject miles away and he had to change it out.
So, I ran one mag and all the brass was eject in a nice pile at my 3 o'clock about 12 feet away, I didn't think that was to bad, about what my mini-14 does.
I haven't email Lee yet to ask if that was to excessive, do you guys think that's to excessive for a mini-30?
I have a smaller gas bushing I can install to slow it down.

That's about what mine does. You can always give the smaller bushing a try.

Nice rifle, btw.

beautiful i dont blame you that is nice looking

that is sweet. Love the wood!

That is absolutely OUTSTANDING! Simply everything that I ever wanted a Mini to look and be like.

what type of rear sight is that?? the rifle looks great btw!

lol..its an older receiver that was machined to take the 7.62x30 magazines.

I was thinking about posting another pic with the G.I. green M-14 sling I have on it, I was so happy to ditch the small sling loops!

The next step is to take a bayonet lug from a M1 30 carbine and mount (weld?) it to the gas block, I think it will look sharper with the carbine bayonet!

Thanks man!
I'm very happy with it.

Some pics of the German 98K sling loop and the AR-15 rear sling loop:

By the way, her name is Sally:

Bout time I heard someone else name their carbine

__________________
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." -George Washington

lol...yeah, I have to name them,
Sally (mini-30), Molly ( mini-14, next project ) and Polly (Mini-14 chambered in 5.45 after the next project!).

Very nice looking Mini you have there, thanks for showing the photos.

I love this gun, I have an NRA .30carbine from the 60s, I should be happy with that ...but.. I what to copy this M30. I am just learning the last few weeks about ruger production. Not easy to buy, still want to learn before I jump. I will keep reading forum for info. I want the most accurate model and I have read there is newer production (850) that might be an inprovement. Don't like the Tac barrel for this project. Greywolf you made a REAL gun, something that can last forever and be past down. Great job. Would like to talk shop sometime.

Here's some pics of the next step:
I removed the bayonet lug from a 30 Carbine band:




I just have it sitting on the gas block to get some idea of what it will look like:



Once I have Lee attach the lug to the gas block I think it will work out good: