Better 30-30 gun for whitetails: Ruger Mini-30 or Auto Ordnance M1 carbine?

Vanity | 3-8-08 | Me

[Last Dakotan]

These two are comparable in price and probably in performance. Looks like the M1 is about 1-1/2 lb. lighter. Suggestions?

[Copernicus]

Both of the rifles you mention are 30 CALIBER as is the 30-30 BUT they are all as different as day and night and neither is a 30-30!

For what it is worth the 30 M1 Carbine projectile(bullet) is .308 diameter and the 7.62x39 mm projectile (bullet)is .311 diameter.

A tremendous difference in chamber size and not interchangable.

Best regards,

[Brucifer]

I agree. The 7.62x39 Russian is a decent cartridge, and roughly equivalent of the 30.30 caliber. Unfortunately the Mini-30 is an absolutely worthless firearm. I have an AK-47 that shoots tighter groups, and so does every SKS I've ever seen. Most everybody I know who owns a Mini-30 or Mini-14 keeps them in the closet to collect dust or uses them for door stops.

Whoever gave the go ahead to build the Mini-30 and the Mini-14 should be whipped and tried for theft. I will never buy or sell another Ruger.

[Hazcat]

The 7.62x39 in a proper launcher is one of the most accurate rounds in the world.

You are right that the 7.62x39 is accurate out of the right gun BUT I am looking at the knowledge level of the OP. This is a guy (no offense intended) that wants a good 'all around' rifle. He will not be reloading and wants to be able to walk into Wally World and get good ammo.

I think the .308 would be better as a "tatcticle/hunting' gun for this type of shooter.

[SIDENET]

Mosin Nagant M44

Try one of these babies. Tough as nails, powerful, historically significant, and CHEAP.

(Plus, they have a permanently attached, swing-out bayonet)

;-)

[Hazcat]

For what it is worth the 30 M1 Carbine projectile(bullet) is .308 diameter and the 7.62x39 mm projectile (bullet)is .311 diameter. A tremendous difference in chamber size and not interchangable. Best regards,

Agreed BUT they ARE all considered 30 caliber.

Have a nice day

[BikerTrash]

Hey Squantos, glad yer here. Got an off topic question fer ya.

I got a buddy who's looking at getting a .340 Weatherby for big yardage shooting. I remember you sayin' once you had a .338 Lapua...how do you think these two compare?

Thanks in advance.

[Copernicus]

The last time I was at a book liquidation store, they were selling “Cartridges of the World” for five dollars a copy. I bought every single copy they had. I took them to work and sold them to my fellow gun club members at cost.

At that price I certainly would have picked up a copy, but I like reloading manuals for the wealth of detail they provide.

For example, the exact same projectile-The Varminter .308 110 grain hollowpoint- out of a 30 M1 Carbine Cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 1981 feet per second. Out of a 30-30 Levergun it has a muzzle velocity of 2238 feet per second with a heavy powder load and 1925 feet per second with a light powder load.

Which one is legal for deer and at what range?

Best regards,

[Copernicus]

Agreed BUT they ARE all considered 30 caliber.

By whom?

Is a .357 30 Caliber? .375?

Best regards,

[Squantos]

I asked some questions of the poster above and he answers that we’ll have a better way to help him choose.

All arguments thus far , price , semi auto, quality, cheap, durable, accurate, general hunting round etc seem to lead to a M1 Garand from CMP for this man.......dual purpose, 5 round enbloc’s available for hunting......I use one now and then .

[Squantos]

.340 weatherby is a awesome long range rifle. A buddy in Lindrith NM uses one on a regular basis for elk at extreme ranges as he says he hates to track or chase a wounded animal..........:o)

He uses a Apache style finger hole phenolic stock from McBros and it has a muzzle brake as well.

Great rifle . I watch him use that rig for everything from long range coyotes to Bull Elk and Mulies up there !

Good Choice. His is a weatherby by the way.

Stay safe !

[jrp]

You sure you want a semi-auto? :)

How about a single-shot T/C Encore rifle? Interchangeable barrels mean you can switch calibers easy as pie. If you decide you don’t like 30-30 (or whatever cal you get), sell or trade the barrel for a different caliber.

Who needs more than one shot anyway. ;)

[BikerTrash]

Well, good deal! I’m glad I steered him in the right direction. Thanks.

[Lurker]

All arguments thus far , price , semi auto, quality, cheap, durable, accurate, general hunting round etc seem to lead to a M1 Garand from CMP for this man

Not a bad choice at all.

With those 5 rounds enblocs you could use it in just about any jurisdiction in the States.

Course in Wisconsin those surplus SKS rifles have become very popular 'blue collar' whitetail guns. I imagine a decent gunsmith could remove the grenade launcher and the bayonet and knock a couple of pounds off'n it.

Been tempted to pick one or two of 'em up myself for 'rainy days'.

L

[Shooter 2.5]

Squantos, the CMP is scrapping the bottom for M-1 rifles. The sights are loose as is the gas cylinders on the barrels. They need a lot of tender loving care to get them to shoot accurately.

I have another movie suggestion for you. City of God. WOW! The next installlment, City of Men is at the theatres right now.

[19th LA Inf]

I still enjoy bragging a little about qualifying "expert" with the M1 carbine in the Fightin' Chemical Corps in 1951. I wish I could remember the range distance. All I remember is "ten rounds, ball ammunition, lock and load". But I was only one of three out of about 30 who made the expert cut.

In training on the pop-up range, where troops in pits would hold up silhouette targets and were supposed to drop them when they took a hit, I knew I was not getting credit for my hits, so I started popping splinters off the crosstie rims of the pits. That worked pretty good (maybe I wouldn't do that now).

[endthematrix]

One great M1 Carbine movie scene is in The Thing from Another World (1951) when a character blasts a door on full auto. I was under ten fer sure, and wanted one real bad. Oh, until I saw the A Team bast away, but never kill, the bad guys with a Mini-14. I did get the Mini and still pine over the GI Carbine. John Browning was a great designer.

[Squantos]

Oh yeah ..........ya did tha guy a favor for sure BT !

I built a 240 Weatherby last year....yeah 2-4-0 weatherby !

That is a great bolt gun varmint round. I had a friend give me like 8 cases of that stuff he’d found at a garage sale. I built the rifle on an old 700 Action. Used a Shilen No Contour Bull barrel and a H&S stock with a aluminum bedding block. Great Coyote gun.

[Kitanis]

“Mosin Nagant M44

Try one of these babies. Tough as nails, powerful, historically significant, and CHEAP.

(Plus, they have a permanently attached, swing-out bayonet)

;-)
44 posted on “

So what are you going to use the Bayonet for? Charging those deer that refuse to run when you fire? :-)

[Shooter 2.5]

I never wanted one since most of the ones I had seen were in bad shape or commercial. The CMP finally released some and I have a nice Inland. I was hoping my daughter in law would like it but she just doesn’t like rifles at all. She has no use for any accordiing to her.

[PzLdr]

Marlin 336. Or get the newer one, with the longer barrel and the Hornady Leverevolution ammo. It’ll make your rifle a legit 200 yd deer gun. Even if you go w/ the regular 336, try the ammo.