mini-30 bore dia. .308 or.311?

RoyP · October 7, 2004, 05:20 AM

which dia. is the mini 30? can i shoot the cheap russian ammo through it? or does the bullet dia have to be 308?I would like to reload for it but don't know which bullet dia. to use.

MrAcheson · October 7, 2004, 09:42 AM

My bet is that its .308, but chances are you can still put russian ammo through it. 0.003 inches probably won't kill it. Use at your own risk though.

keens · October 7, 2004, 12:09 PM

Check this out to be certain, but I think the mini-30 shoots the 7.62X39 cartridge...plenty of this ammo around especially gun shows etc...also, I think the bore is really .303...which has made me wonder why they call it the 7.62...personnaly if I was handloading, I would not use the .308 bullets...FWIW

Tamara · October 7, 2004, 12:17 PM

I am pulling this from a pretty dusty corner of my memory, so take it for what it's worth, but I seem to recall that early Mini-30's had .308 bores (just like early U.S.-mfrd 7.62x39 used .308 bullets,) but switched to a .311 bore at some point in its production life. Specific dates elude me, but mid-late '90s rings a rusty bell.

Jim Watson · October 7, 2004, 12:35 PM

I don't know about the production line changes Tamara mentions, but the Mini 30 was originally made with a .308" barrel (groove diameter, not bore) and a long tapering throat so it could safely fire either Communist surplus ammo with .311" bullets or US make or reloads with .308".

The answer to Roy, is: Yes, you can shoot about anything you can buy or make. Some reloading dies come with expanders for both .308" and .311" bullets so you can try both to see which is more accurate.

RoyP · October 7, 2004, 03:57 PM

Jim thats what I thought I had heard at one time but wasn't sure.I though I remember something about being able to shoot either size bullet but wasn't sure.I looked on Rugers website and they don't say anything about the bore size.

Jamie Young · October 7, 2004, 07:24 PM

I never heard about the switch to .311 but my 7.62x39 reloading dies did come with an expander ball so you could reload .308 or .311 bullets.

Does anyone know if anyone is making reliable Mini 30 hi-cap mags yet?

Gewehr98 · October 8, 2004, 09:28 PM

The throat in the Mini-30's barrel is purposely tapered, much like the freebore found in Weatherby Magnum rifles. This keeps pressures down, while gradually allowing a .311" bullet to engage the .308" bore diameter further down the barrel without any problems. While it doesn't help the accuracy potential of .308" ammo, it does allow interchangeable usage of either diameter bullets in a utility-grade rifle like the Ruger Mini-30.

Tamara · October 8, 2004, 10:13 PM

Quote:

There wasn't really a switch to .311"

There was always the chance that someone was blowing sunshine up my... er... nether regions.

(Always a big danger when one relates old 'file info' without checking it against more credible recent source data.

)

Lawyer Daggit · December 15, 2004, 09:52 PM

Mini 30 is definitely a .308 and to my knowledge this has always been the case.

Trying to get a 7.62 x 39 to shoot is an interesting proposition. SAAMI in its infinite and Americentric wisdom decided to make the SAAMI specifications for the 7.62x39 different to the specs used in the Eastern Block- this causes a lot of probs for bolt action owners with guns in this calibre- my CZ won't headspace on commercial ammo for this reason.

skinnygun · December 16, 2004, 12:19 AM

I have shot Russian and UMC 7,62x39mm ammo in my Mini-30 and find no problems yet.Both kinds of ammo target the same for me ,no stalls of any kind and I clean the rifle after any shooting.Ruger Co. says not to use anything but US ammo .

Danindetroit · December 16, 2004, 12:56 AM

There was a pretty long discussion on this topic, sort of it was about russian guns, and then american ammo. It seems that american ammo is .310 dia, in federal, I e-mailed them about it.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...hlight=wasr-10

Lawyer Daggit · December 16, 2004, 01:26 AM

Thanks to Danindetroit for the earlier thread. Very interesting. I understand the decision to chamber the 7.62x39 as a .308 by Ruger was originally made because they felt most shooters who reloaded would chamber .308 projectiles and because of the greater range in that calibre.

Their 7.62 x39's are loose enough for the difference not to be a huge problem, where problems arise is where you are shooting a rifle with a 'tight' chamber like the CZ.

Gewehr98 · December 16, 2004, 01:15 PM

CZ is, after all, a European company. For that matter, I'd wager the stuff would work fine in the sought-after Ruger M77 bolt guns that were chambered in 7.62x39. A difference of .002" won't phase them, CZ and Ruger don't run benchrest gun tolerances. If anything, the larger bullet might even give an edge in accuracy.

MeekAndMild · December 16, 2004, 06:35 PM

I read the manual of one made in the mid to late 80s and they devoted some good little bit of effort warning about shooting commie ammo. Was 308 back then.

October 7, 2004, 05:20 AM	#1
RoyP Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2002 Location: corning,new york Posts: 217	mini-30 bore dia. .308 or.311? which dia. is the mini 30? can i shoot the cheap russian ammo through it? or does the bullet dia have to be 308?I would like to reload for it but don't know which bullet dia. to use.

October 7, 2004, 09:42 AM	#2
MrAcheson Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2002 Posts: 442	My bet is that its .308, but chances are you can still put russian ammo through it. 0.003 inches probably won't kill it. Use at your own risk though. __________________ These views are not representative of those held by the US Army, DoD, or US Government. Jeffthebaptist.blogspot.com

October 7, 2004, 12:17 PM	#4
Tamara Moderator Emeritus Join Date: March 11, 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 16,002	I am pulling this from a pretty dusty corner of my memory, so take it for what it's worth, but I seem to recall that early Mini-30's had .308 bores (just like early U.S.-mfrd 7.62x39 used .308 bullets,) but switched to a .311 bore at some point in its production life. Specific dates elude me, but mid-late '90s rings a rusty bell. __________________ MOLON LABE! 2% Unobtainium, 98% Hypetanium. The Arms Room: An Online Museum.

October 7, 2004, 07:24 PM	#7
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	I never heard about the switch to .311 but my 7.62x39 reloading dies did come with an expander ball so you could reload .308 or .311 bullets. Does anyone know if anyone is making reliable Mini 30 hi-cap mags yet? __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

October 8, 2004, 09:28 PM	#8
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	There wasn't really a switch to .311" The throat in the Mini-30's barrel is purposely tapered, much like the freebore found in Weatherby Magnum rifles. This keeps pressures down, while gradually allowing a .311" bullet to engage the .308" bore diameter further down the barrel without any problems. While it doesn't help the accuracy potential of .308" ammo, it does allow interchangeable usage of either diameter bullets in a utility-grade rifle like the Ruger Mini-30. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires Last edited by Gewehr98; October 8, 2004 at 11:03 PM.

October 7, 2004, 12:09 PM	#3
keens Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2004 Posts: 446	Check this out to be certain, but I think the mini-30 shoots the 7.62X39 cartridge...plenty of this ammo around especially gun shows etc...also, I think the bore is really .303...which has made me wonder why they call it the 7.62...personnaly if I was handloading, I would not use the .308 bullets...FWIW

October 7, 2004, 12:35 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	I don't know about the production line changes Tamara mentions, but the Mini 30 was originally made with a .308" barrel (groove diameter, not bore) and a long tapering throat so it could safely fire either Communist surplus ammo with .311" bullets or US make or reloads with .308". The answer to Roy, is: Yes, you can shoot about anything you can buy or make. Some reloading dies come with expanders for both .308" and .311" bullets so you can try both to see which is more accurate.

October 7, 2004, 03:57 PM	#6
RoyP Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2002 Location: corning,new york Posts: 217	Jim thats what I thought I had heard at one time but wasn't sure.I though I remember something about being able to shoot either size bullet but wasn't sure.I looked on Rugers website and they don't say anything about the bore size.

December 15, 2004, 09:52 PM	#10
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	.308 or .311 Mini 30 is definitely a .308 and to my knowledge this has always been the case. Trying to get a 7.62 x 39 to shoot is an interesting proposition. SAAMI in its infinite and Americentric wisdom decided to make the SAAMI specifications for the 7.62x39 different to the specs used in the Eastern Block- this causes a lot of probs for bolt action owners with guns in this calibre- my CZ won't headspace on commercial ammo for this reason.

December 16, 2004, 12:19 AM	#11
skinnygun Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 257	I have shot Russian and UMC 7,62x39mm ammo in my Mini-30 and find no problems yet.Both kinds of ammo target the same for me ,no stalls of any kind and I clean the rifle after any shooting.Ruger Co. says not to use anything but US ammo .

December 16, 2004, 12:56 AM	#12
Danindetroit Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2004 Location: Detroit Posts: 757	There was a pretty long discussion on this topic, sort of it was about russian guns, and then american ammo. It seems that american ammo is .310 dia, in federal, I e-mailed them about it. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...hlight=wasr-10

December 16, 2004, 01:26 AM	#13
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	mini 30 .308 or .311 Thanks to Danindetroit for the earlier thread. Very interesting. I understand the decision to chamber the 7.62x39 as a .308 by Ruger was originally made because they felt most shooters who reloaded would chamber .308 projectiles and because of the greater range in that calibre. Their 7.62 x39's are loose enough for the difference not to be a huge problem, where problems arise is where you are shooting a rifle with a 'tight' chamber like the CZ.

December 16, 2004, 01:15 PM	#14
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	I'd wager that the CZ in 7.62x39 would still gobble up .310-.311" ammo, no sweat. CZ is, after all, a European company. For that matter, I'd wager the stuff would work fine in the sought-after Ruger M77 bolt guns that were chambered in 7.62x39. A difference of .002" won't phase them, CZ and Ruger don't run benchrest gun tolerances. If anything, the larger bullet might even give an edge in accuracy. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

December 16, 2004, 06:35 PM	#15
MeekAndMild Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2001 Posts: 4,988	I read the manual of one made in the mid to late 80s and they devoted some good little bit of effort warning about shooting commie ammo. Was 308 back then. __________________ In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL.