How do you like your stainless Mini 30? I am particularly interested in hearing about the 581-xxxx series. How is the accuracy and reliability? Do they function with the Brown, Silver, Golden Bear ammo? Thanks.

I love mine, have only put about 100 rounds through it which were Russian Barnaul soft points and it ran like a dream. Only shot it at 50m so far and it was within 1.5". I am going to rezero at 100m soon and use it as my deer rifle.
Certainly much more of a cannon than my 580 mini14 but it's all bark and no bite as far as recoil goes I think anything on the pointy end would be most unhappy

On a good day mine groups about 1.5" at 50 yds with the ammo it likes (yugo surplus and silver bear softpoints). I have not performed any accuracy modifications yet. This rifle shoots much better than my old model mini-30 (189 series), which shot so poorly ( 10 - 12" at 100 yds) that I couldn't wait to unload it. The new mini 30's are much improved, and good shooters. I'm dieing to try out some 130 gr. handloads (using Horn #3020 bullets) Good luck.

I think all the bear ammo are from the Barnaul family, they should fire ok in a 30.

still, you need to check various threads on "mini-30 pin vs. military primer".

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-- mini's are great rifles, the firing pin is the only weak link.
-- So, to be safe, never buy a used mini (you can never really tell how many rounds had been fired by the firing pin)
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Thanks for the comments. I'm leaning towards the stainless version over the tactical model.

Wife and I like our Tactical 30. We ONLY shoot brass-cased, boxer-primed factory and handloaded ammo due to the FP issues others are having. If you think you will be able to shoot Russian steel ammo with impunity...you won't.

M

I love my Mini-30, it's going deer hunting with me this Saturday and I can't wait!

You might eventually break a firing pin, but it's all about economy of scale. My rifle cost about $700. Brass cased ammo is around $1 per round. Steel cased ammo is about 25-30 cents per round. If you Practice with 1000 steel cased rounds and save the brass cased rounds for hunting you have saved enough money to buy a spare Mini if your firing pin breaks. Multiply that out to 10,000 rounds and the steel cased ammo makes a lot of sense for practice.

I will primarily be shooting handloads and the Yugo M67 surplus (followed by a careful cleaning with soap and water). Silver Bear 123gr SP would be tested for hunting with limited shooting.

depends on how ruger will handle the "warranty" pin replacement. If they charge you, it will be a $120 bill plus shipping charges.

Not sure how many round the pin can last on hard primers, I'd guess between 2000 and 4000 (to be safe). The price difference between hard-primer rounds and soft-primer rounds does pay for the pin replacement or another mini in the long run, so yes, if you have set your mind on getting the mini30, get two of them

__________________
-- mini's are great rifles, the firing pin is the only weak link.
-- So, to be safe, never buy a used mini (you can never really tell how many rounds had been fired by the firing pin)
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I just got back from a 50 yd. shooting session with my new model stainless. The silver bear SP load shot a 1.5 inch centered group. I also got a 1.0" group using a handload (26.0 gr AA1680 and Horn. 130 gr. SP (#3020), WLR primer in PMC brass. I will be taking these 2 out to the 100 yd line next. This Mini 30 has not had any accurizing work or parts done to it (yet), but it definately needs a trigger job. I will definately take the mini and the handloads deer hunting.

40nascar,

Thanks for the update on your stainless Mini 30. Sounds like you are developing a nice load. I'll look forward to hearing how it does at 100...

i've had my 581 stainless about 5 months now. i've only ran about 1000 rounds through it so far. all have been wolf 55gr steel case. its dang good with just the iron sights. jammed at first but after cleaning it the first time it hasnt missed a lick since. its now my favorite "take to the pasture" gun. dont wait, buy one soon.

I have had my Mini 30 SS for over a year and I love it. Had the trigger pull taken down to 3 lbs. and a trigger block installed. Then had a muzzle brake put on. I then put a Weaver 3X9X40 installed on it. I have only fired FIOCCHI 123 grain ammo in it and have excellent accuracy

This thread is about 7.62x39, not .223/56.

I have an older 196 series I bought dirt cheep. It is a very accurate rifle, I even posted some pictures of some targets on this forum. We like it so much we are thinking of a new one. Looking for all the feedback I can get on the 581 series. Seems all of them I've seem are SS and syn stock. Has anyone gotten group sizes over 2 to 2.5 moa?

Does Ruger still make a stainless mini-30?

Yes, they still make them.

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Nevada, The last free place in this country.

I'm fond of my 189 series, some tweaking has it shooting fine wish I had more time and cheap ammo too.

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'the beatings will continue until morale improves'
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I have a 2003 model (196) SS dressed in walnut, wearing a bushnell 1.75 scope. It's a fantastic rifle. I've shot golden bear through it since it's purchase 2 years ago with not a single problem. It's also a very accurate rifle in my experience. I would recommend it to anyone, but try to find one in wood.

I have a 582 stainless ranch rifle for about six months. I had a series of failure to feed issues. Sent it back to Ruger, and they replaced the bolt and filed the oprod which was rubbing against the barrel shroud and causing the failure. I have nor had an issue since.

Only vex I have is my glass loosens after three rounds so I have to snug down the sight every few rounds.

I would love mine if it would fire wolf ammo without misfires.

mine runs the currently available Yugo mil-surp fine, accurate too. it's brass cased and copper jacketed slug, no steel. it is however mildy-corrosive boxer primed so windex it down good after fireing.

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'the beatings will continue until morale improves'
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Yep
Ruger® Mini Thirty® Rifle Autoloading Rifle Models

they ough'ta be gold plated for that price

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'the beatings will continue until morale improves'
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The price listed on Ruger homepage is only MSRP...real world price for a Mini-30 stainless steel (if you can actually find one) is around $700 where I live.