RE: Ruger mini30?
I had one. Ballistically, it is so close to a .30/30 that there's no reason to choose one over the other. BUT, after about a year of continuing effort (unsuccessful) to get it to shoot, including bedding it like a National Match M1, several scopes, and an infinite variety of ammo experimentation, I got rid of it!! And the Mini-14's aren't much better!!
Keep yore powder dry!!