i'm not sure what Knightia is talking about. but the mini 30 does use the cheap surplus. it uses a 7.62x39mm shell. which is very cheap and easy to find anywhere. it can be found for less than .10 a round anywhere. i am not sure but i think the .308 cal is a 7.62x54. the biggest reason that i have found that the mini's have a bad rep is that everyone wants to shoot tons of cheap shells threw them. i do the same when i want to make some noise or watch the dirt fly. with cheap ammo or shooting fast do not expect much. but they really are not that bad if you find the ammo that the guns likes. mine likes the pmc 55 grain and it shoots them pretty good. i don't have a sks but my brother does and you just never know if it is going to fire or not.