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.
Well when i shot cheap 7.62.39 i expect to hit something & my sks fires everytime& does. And cost me 100 bucks per rifles(some a lill more some even less)
Otherwise why not thow firecrackers for noise& flying dirt?
It was about the diameter of the barrels- sks etc being made to shoot that cheap ammo.Being the same ppl who do make the ammo