7.62x39 preference

[Ignition Override]

An SKS, but Not a Yugo.

Both of my very nice M59 (no grenade launcher) Yugoslav suffered from bad “popped primers” until they were cured at Murray’s Gunsmithing.
Buy a firing pin Spring for the SKS.

—-if a Mini 30 is reliable with Your Anmo, fine. My ammo was Russian , and hard primers Promag (OEM mags were not yet avail.) aftermarket magazines Didn’t work reliably.

They were perfect after that. The only catch was that my SKS and Makarov “fever” became imported AK and German Sig “fever”.

 

[Logs]

I had a Mini 30 years ago and it wouldn't put all rounds on a paper plate at 100 yards. Groups were terrible.

 

[scoobysnacker]

I'd go SKS. I have a couple, they run fine, and serve the purpose if you need one.

Classic has Norinco's in stock right now, $299.

 

[Ignition Override]

Reminder: only the Yugo 59/66 SKS has the grenade launcher. This is what creates that extra forward center-of-gravity. “C.G.” Is too difficult for many people to understand.

The very First Yugo SKS series, the M59, has No grenade launcher-neither do the other SKS (Russian, E. German, Romanian, Chinese, Albanian, Vietnamese, N.Korean)....just the Yugo 59/66.

The first Russian SKS were actually built with firing pin springs.
Available now at Murray’s Gunsmithing, Bowie TX:
SKS specialists.

 

[JJ45]

I'll take a Russian SKS over a Mini-30, nearly any day.
Other SKSs, however... I'm not much of a fan. The Chicom stuff, in particular, is rarely anything other than garbage.

Honestly, one of the biggest factors for me: I like stripper clips.
...And 7.62x39mm stripper clips work very well, and are very reusable.

This may be your experience but I have had several SKS carbines. All were Russian military, un-bubbaed, as issued or re-arsenaled. Including a 1950 Tula, sans chrome bore and with a firing pin return spring later, as you know, discontinued .

I had one Chicom factory 26, 1966, full military, as issued and when I bought it, I actually thought it was unfired. It even had the spring-like sling attachments which are fairly rare.

It was just as good or better than any of the Russians. It was all milled, threaded, etc and the parts such as springs, gas pistons, trigger, latches and everything else seemed to better or at least just as good as any of the Russians I had. Surprisingly, it also had a decent blued finish.....it was also a shade more accurate than any of the Russians.

 

[m&p45acp10+1]

I wold get the SKS> I tired the mini 30. It shot fine. I just find the SKS to be more comfortable for me to shoot. I still have an Egyptian SKS. I had a Chinese once upon a time. Sold it to my cousin. He still has it, and it goes where he goes on the farm in his truck. It has killed a slew of deer, and hogs.

 

[Pistoler0]

Why not an AR pattern rifle in 7.62x39? They can be MOA (or better) accurate, and with the proper firing pin they are ok to shoot steel case heavy primer ammo.

Atheris rifle offers them with MOA guarantee.

 

[stagpanther]

Why not an AR pattern rifle in 7.62x39? They can be MOA (or better) accurate

+1

 

[44 AMP]

After 7 months at idle, the OP may have put the project on hold...

But, if we're bringing this back, I'd choose the Ruger. Primarily for one reason. If you have trouble with a Ruger, you go to Ruger. Who's your go to if you have trouble with an SKS??

 

[doofus47]

44 AMP:

If you have trouble with a Ruger, you go to Ruger. Who's your go to if you have trouble with an SKS??

You go to thefiringline.com
Then Scorch tells you more than you wanted/needed/imagined you needed...

Just sayin.

 

[Logs]

I have an Armalite in 7.62x39 AR platform that I just took a deer with. Great rifle and I have to use 10 rounds mags for hunting. I owned a mini 30 many years ago and accuracy was terrible. If you are only looking Mini or SKS I would go SKS since mine has great accuracy and is a smooth shooting gun.

 

[Sarge]

SKS. None of the light strike problems that haunt the Mini 30 and if my experience with both is any indication, the SKS will be more accurate.

 

[The Happy kaboomer]

I've owned a Mini-30 for over 25 years. Scoped it and killed deer with it. Still have it. My newest is dedicated 7.62x39 upper on my ar-15 lower. Scoped its a deer killer too. A bolt gun would make a good hunting rifle too. To me the military stuff is not as accurate and not interesting at all.