[Quentin]

Why did you decide on the Mini 30 vs. M4gery? I'd first choose the caliber I really wanted before going further.

[robocop10mm]

I saw nothing about the Mini-30. I saw Mini-14.

As stated, the Carbon 15 is not the best choice. They have had some issues.

Please do not buy into the "M-4" name. An M-4 is a machine gun with a 14.5" barrel. An AR pattern carbine with a 16" barrel and a grenade launcher step is NOT an M-4. You can call it an M-forgery if you wish.

Gun shows have become poor choices for gun purchases. Too many unscrupulous DB's marketing entry level and airsoft quality parts presented as first rate guns at first rate guns.

Do your homework and either build one yourself or find a reputable local gun store (LGS) to deal with.

[Quentin]

Originally Posted by Ruger703

Looking to hopefully purchase the Mini 30 or the M4 at the next gun show in April. I was just seeing if I could get some feedback on either gun? Thoughts, pros/cons? What's a good price I should be looking for?

RC, I was going by his post, maybe he meant Mini-14

[Ruger703]

No the mini 30 by Ruger.

[locutus]

I would choose any AR platform over the Mini-30.

[Ruger703]

Cool, I'll have to do my research

[hawkguy]

i have never owned a mini 30 or shot one. seems if i was going that calibre i might just go the AK route. i don't know the truth of it, but there are whispers that the mini 30 won't reliably shoot the surplus and steel cased ammo.

however, i do own a mini 14 (5.56). it has been a great little gun and i would recommend it highly. in my limited experience shooting AR's and shooting next them, it holds its own.

AR's are a good choice as well, i would think. just think about what you want this rifle to loook like & what you will be doing with it. its intended purpose and your expectations make a huge difference.

[robocop10mm]

The big drawback of the Mini-30 is magazines. Factory high caps are more scarce than the proverbial hen's teeth. Few aftermarket mags work at all. I am not a big fan of the Ruger Self Loaders. They have come a LONG way of late. I might consider a Mini-14 as Ruger has one a lot to improve them and since Bill Ruger's passing, 20 rd mags are available.

An AR is twice the gun (IMHO) for less than twice the price.

[Clem]

As a matter of personal preference I prefer the SIG 556 series over the AR-15 series. As much as I don’t particularly care for the 5.56mm round, it is ubiquitous and so are the AR-15 mags, so live with it. Get what you want that takes those two. The SIG 556 does. If I get a 7.62x39, it will be a 556R or perhaps a Mini-30.

[Quentin]

Originally Posted by Clem

As a matter of personal preference I prefer the SIG 556 series over the AR-15 series. As much as I don’t particularly care for the 5.56mm round, it is ubiquitous and so are the AR-15 mags, so live with it. Get what you want that takes those two. The SIG 556 does. If I get a 7.62x39, it will be a 556R or perhaps a Mini-30.

I can't follow your reasoning, you say don't get an AR, get something else but make sure it uses the 5.56 round and AR magazines because they're ubiquitous. Then you reverse logic and say you would buy a something that uses 7.62x39 (a good choice) but doesn't use the ubiquitous AK style magazine.

I would say if you're going 5.56x45 get a good AR which is ubiquitous along with its magazines and if you're going 7.62x39 get the AK and its magazines. Oh yeah, that's exactly what I did!