Interesting Ruger Mini30 range trip

[DonD]

Went to the range today, roads finally cleared after a film crew was working on Terminator 4 in Albuquerque, NM

Shot some Fiocchi ammo, runs great with that stuff. Chronographed it over an Oehler 35 chrono, got 2476 fps/1674 ft lbs, ES 38, SD 19, or about 30% more energy than a similar length barreled AR, plus more penetration. Fiocchi advertises 2430fps but I don't know what barrel length they are using.

Shot some expensive Cor Bon ammo. NOT pleased. First two rounds blew the primers out although there was no apparent difference in sound or response of the gun. The third round misfired and I stopped shooting it.

Amusing thing happened, shot at some steel soda sized cans. On two occasions the rounds kicked the cans at least 30' into the air and back over the tall berm. Can't understand how that happened, I've never seen such a response even with far more powerful rounds. In any event, it was very enjoyable. Ran like clockwork and negligible recoil. Don

[eddief4]

T4 huh, Sweet!:wavey:

[moeman]

...Went to the range today, roads finally cleared after a film crew was working on Terminator 4 in Albuquerque, NM
Shot some expensive Cor Bon ammo. NOT pleased. First two rounds blew the primers out although there was no apparent difference in sound or response of the gun. The third round misfired and I stopped shooting it...
Don

You know, for pricey ammo, I don't think Cor-bon is so great... I had a box of 9mm +P and you could see a difference in how deep the bullets were seated in the case on several rounds right out of the box.

For handguns I like Speer Gold Dot for SD ammo, never tried Cor-bon in a rifle...

[ElevatedThreat]

I too am pleased with my stainless Mini-30.

I've found Remington 125 grain softpoint to be about 1.5 MOA accurate at 100 yards, for as many rounds as I can afford to fire.

I also have good luck with the 10-round nickel mags from Pro-Mag -- 100% feeding reliability, and short enough to shoot from the bench.

In a world of cheap crappy AK clones and ugly SKSs in Tapcrap plastic stocks, the Mini-30 is a real under-appreciated sleeper in 7.62x39.

-ET

[ChuteTheMall]

Too bad it needs the expensive ammo.
Too bad there are so many (aftermarket) magazine problems.

[tim21]

You probably hit below the soda can making it shoot into the air.

[mac66]

I've killed half a dozen deer with my Mini 30 over the years with various loads. It makes a handy dandy brush rifle. I bought mine as a back up hunting rifle. I don't have or need any hi-cap mags.