You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Ruger’s Mini-30 and Russian steel case ammo?
- Thread starter jski
- Start date
Short answer.... yes. They don't run steel cased with 100% reliably. I knew someone that fell for a gunsmiths BS he could address that and his rifle still wasn't 100 percent reliable. There is a you tube video of a guy who put a stronger hammer spring in and that took care of MOST of his issues. The 223 Mini 14 will run most steel cased ammo with few hiccups but the min 30 is less forgiving. I suspect the spring is really rated for small rifle rather than large rifle primers. That doesn't mean they are bad guns, just picky eaters that like the mini 14 need a strut for accuracy to become more consistent.
bamaranger
New member
mine
I've posted before that my early 1990's Mini30 has never given me problems with a wide variety of steel cased ammo that I have run through it. It's been shot a fair amount too, bamaboy and I even ran it in local outlaw 3-gun matches a bit.......with no problems.
I have read plenty about Mini30's and steel case rendering failures to fire, enough to believe that there is credibility to the claim. However, I've followed the Mini30 since it first appeared, and the steel case issue, to me, seems more prevalent in carbines from the past decade or so. Sure could be wrong about that.
I recall seeing a youTube video about a fella modifying the bolt face in some fashion, and that solved his problem regards fail to fire. Also, with the Garand style trigger group, adding an extra power hammer spring should be no issue. I'll add that my observation regards 7.62x39mm ammo in general, especially import steel case, is that quality is all over the map.
I've posted before that my early 1990's Mini30 has never given me problems with a wide variety of steel cased ammo that I have run through it. It's been shot a fair amount too, bamaboy and I even ran it in local outlaw 3-gun matches a bit.......with no problems.
I have read plenty about Mini30's and steel case rendering failures to fire, enough to believe that there is credibility to the claim. However, I've followed the Mini30 since it first appeared, and the steel case issue, to me, seems more prevalent in carbines from the past decade or so. Sure could be wrong about that.
I recall seeing a youTube video about a fella modifying the bolt face in some fashion, and that solved his problem regards fail to fire. Also, with the Garand style trigger group, adding an extra power hammer spring should be no issue. I'll add that my observation regards 7.62x39mm ammo in general, especially import steel case, is that quality is all over the map.
Ignition Override
New member
My 2005 Mini 30 needed a second primer strike (Russian ammo) on roughly one in every 20-30 rds or so.
If the larger OEM mags had been available at the time, then the hard primer issue would have been the only hang-up.
If the larger OEM mags had been available at the time, then the hard primer issue would have been the only hang-up.
I purchased a Government batch of 300,000 9mm ammo, that had failed the drop test (whatever that was?) from a retired General working for the at the time, IVI the Canadian Government Official manufacturing, supplier. These rounds were sold to friends who belonged to gun clubs. Original use in the Canadian military, for use in Browning high power pistols, and Sten Submachine guns. Very hard primers. We Glock shooters had misfire problems.
A retired Engineer of my acquaintance came up with a solution. Using a hand primer seating tool, set to lightly crush the primer home, in his words, tenderized the primer, that stopped the misfires. Glock helped somewhat by changing the angle of the tip of the firing pin 1984? The true fix, the boring sitting watching TV activity, taking the ammo out of the 64 round Mil-Spec cardboard boxes, then putting the "Treated" rounds into aftermarket plastic 100 round capacity boxes.
Why go to all this trouble? The price, 9c per round (Canadian) they would be handy to have just about now, yes?
Bye the way, for those of us who belonged to military ranges, we could shoot these un-treated cartridges in Stens and other fully Auto guns. Worked fine.
I owned a Sten and a Sterling then.
A retired Engineer of my acquaintance came up with a solution. Using a hand primer seating tool, set to lightly crush the primer home, in his words, tenderized the primer, that stopped the misfires. Glock helped somewhat by changing the angle of the tip of the firing pin 1984? The true fix, the boring sitting watching TV activity, taking the ammo out of the 64 round Mil-Spec cardboard boxes, then putting the "Treated" rounds into aftermarket plastic 100 round capacity boxes.
Why go to all this trouble? The price, 9c per round (Canadian) they would be handy to have just about now, yes?
Bye the way, for those of us who belonged to military ranges, we could shoot these un-treated cartridges in Stens and other fully Auto guns. Worked fine.
I owned a Sten and a Sterling then.
Berdan primers just means the brass isn't reloadable. Mind you, steel cases aren't reloadable with boxer primers.
"...IVI the Canadian Government Official manufacturing, supplier..." Is pretty much gone now. Our Socialist Rat Offspring of Unmarried Parents government sold it first to one of their buddies from France(who made a huge mess of it) called SNC. Same company Trudeau Junior got caught obstructing justice for. Then it went to Colt Industries' General Dynamics Ordnance.
"...and Sten Submachine guns..." And Stirling smgs. Our 9mm NATO ammo is considered to be +P by SAAMI. Primers are no different than any other ammo though. Mind you, Glocks are known for being ammo particular.
"...IVI the Canadian Government Official manufacturing, supplier..." Is pretty much gone now. Our Socialist Rat Offspring of Unmarried Parents government sold it first to one of their buddies from France(who made a huge mess of it) called SNC. Same company Trudeau Junior got caught obstructing justice for. Then it went to Colt Industries' General Dynamics Ordnance.
"...and Sten Submachine guns..." And Stirling smgs. Our 9mm NATO ammo is considered to be +P by SAAMI. Primers are no different than any other ammo though. Mind you, Glocks are known for being ammo particular.
jetinteriorguy
New member
Stens are a lot of fun, tough on the ammo supply though. Pretty easy to go through a thousand rounds in a short time, but you really need the loading device for those magazines, or one really tough thumb.