Mini 30 a fine machine based on the Mini-14. I had a Mini-14 years ago but traded it in on another AR. I was upset with the accuracy of the Mini-14. Ruger has since corrected that problem with a better barrel.
My favorite rifle is the M1-Garand. It is a beautiful beast. I have three. At one time I had four but traded one in on the 50 year edition of the Remington 700 300-Win Mag.
Relative to hunting in the past I did for years and really enjoyed it. I just got tired of killing things except vermin. I have a lot of deer on my property and my neighbor comes over and kills a few and we share the meat. Venison is the best.
Actually hunters are the deers best friend in Texas. The population is scientifically managed by the Wild Life Commission to keep the deer population at it maximum in relation to food which mean how much rain did we get this year. We have had a lot so it will be necessary to kill a lot of deer next hunting season. Otherwise the deer population get to large for the local food sources. The allowable has always been more than I need.
Learning to shoot that Ruger was fun. It didn’t kick as much as I thought. I like the M1 carbine the best, it’s an Israel Arms model. Then too, the Marlin Campgun.