Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

Ok, here goes..

I just purchased a ruger mini thirty, and I love it. Accurate enough to get the job done and fun to shoot. I just have one question...Wolf sells ammunition in the 7.62x39mm size that I need, and it is cheap, very cheap. Better than paying 8 bucks a box for winchester or remington, this is around 2-2.50 a box. My only concern is that this ammo, made in russia could possibly damage my new mini thirty. I have talked to the gun shop dealer and he says the russian ammo shouldn't cause a problem in a .308 american bore, being as the ammo is made for an AK or SKS at .309 - .310, which is hardly any difference at all, but might cause more fouling than normal.

Any opinions/facts on this? I don't want to destroy the rifling in my barrel or have to clean it every 10 shots.

Thanks,


Eric

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

No it won't damage it at all. I shoot it in my sks all the time.

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

Is the SKS not a russian bore size, though? I thought the ruger had a slightly different bore size, smaller, by 1 or 2 thousandths of an inch. This is possibly why they say only use ammunition made to american specs in the manual, but i'm not sure :/

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

What you need to look at is the corrosive powder some cheap ammo is still using and the steel cases. I would think steel would wear your camber out.

I never got my mini 30 shooting good enough for my taste. I did pop a coyote or two and many dozens of rabbits.

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

The Mini 30 has a maximum barrel diameter of .308, while the actual spec of the 7.62X39 is something between .310 and .311. If Wolf ammo is produced with bullets of this diameter I'd be hesitant to use it in the Mini 30. I would expect it to produce additional wear on the barrel and additional pressure on the gas system.

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

mrcOmputer SKS is a model of a rifle not a caliber , designed by the Russians .

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

yeah :)

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

NO,NO,NO, dont do it Unless you want bad groups, and worn out barrel. Yes it will Physically fire but the bullet is larger and will create more pressure in your gun. If you want to shoot the surplus stuff, wolf, and European ammo buy an SKS or Saiga rifle(semi AK). If you want a nice deer rifle that doubles as a good tactical gun then buy the Ruger. I had a ruger mini 30 a few years ago and it was a nice rifle and very accurate. People say these guns are not accurate probally used the .311 european ammo. It is confusing I know. I believe that Ruger uses the same 30 caliber barrel blank for many guns. Then they cut them down and chamber them depending on caliber(.308, 30-06,300 mag,etc). With all the 30 caliber cartrages out there and with how many Ruger offers this makes since to me.
Jay

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

The mini 30 is chambered for 7.62x39, and should say it right on the barrel. The conversion from metric to standard is somewhat shaded becuase in the US the 30 cal is considered to be .308. Shoot what the gun is chambered for. The manual is probably referring to ammunition manufacturers outside the US are not required to meet SAAMI specs. A quick check of the Ruger website confirms that it's chambered for the 7.62x39.

RE: Mini 30 with Wolf 7.62x39
 

Oh yea, show us a factory loaded 7.62x39 cartridge that uses a .308 bullet.