3 Guns Only

[wyntrout]

I hope that your Mini-30's shoot surplus ammo better than mine did. I bought one with the intent of using surplus ammo. With a scope and rest, I could put the first round dead center at at least 100 yards on a range. The rest would be all over the place further from center with each subsequent shot. I heard that they were bored for U.S. spec ammo ~.002" different... I don't remember which way .308 vs .310. I didn't want to pay for US ammo so I sold the gun. For a while I toyed with sending it to an outfit in Texas for cryogenic stress treatment. I just gave up though and sold the gun.
I would love to have an SS Mini-.45ACP for home defense, though.
Wynn

[ltxi]

Mine has never had a problem with "junk" surplus ammunition although 3 inch groups at 100 yards isn't uncommon..no rest, no scope. Doesn't matter with that stuff....quite well suited to the purpose. Quality US ammo is a different matter...more like an inch.

Gotta understand that for me this isn't exactly a primary hunting rifle....it's a practical "off-hand" ranch carbine.

[Bawanna]

The Rugers are 308, the import AK's, Sks's and such are 310 or 311. I was told by the folks at Ruger that it was ok to shoot surplus in the ruger but accuracy might be questionable. The average person wouldn't shoot enough to cause barrel damage. Not sure what a normal person implies, probably not me. The domestic ammo usually doesn't shoot that well in the foreign guns, guess the bullet rattling away down the barrel doesn't contribute to accuracy. Justa guess.
As mentioned they aren't match rifles, any of them, just fun to shoot and great tools for fending off the storm troopers when/ if they come.

[wyntrout]

Hey, you both have good points there, and 3" groups at 100 yards without a scope or rest is great. I just expected better accuracy with a scope AND a rest, even with cheap ammo. I don't know what else I would have done with it. I didn't buy it for hunting. I should have bought a $90 SKS or $100 Russian AK back in the '90's for a when-the-SHTF gun with a few cases of canned ammo. I just wanted a quality stainless gun and was disappointed with the accuracy of my chosen ammo -- the cheap stuff.
I really like pistols and liked to shoot cans and stuff that would move when a large caliber pistol bullet hit it. 22's just whiz through cans and such without moving them unless you hit the rim of the can, and they don't kick -- no fun!:33:
I can't wait to get the P380N I ordered and then look for a PM4544N. My wife decided that I can get another new gun since I didn't care for all the pricey fragrance stuff she got me. I like night sights and my S&W 645's have died and my K9's have dimmed to where acquisition is a problem. When I get another gun, I'll have the K9's sights replaced. I shall have had the K9 12 years in March, which is about as long as you can expect those tritium sights to last. I like Rugers but I don't care for the looks of all of their newer automatics. Kahrs just look and feel so great in my hand, though DAO wouldn't be my first choice normally.
Well, I think I'll see if I hit the lottery. GN.
Wynn

[medezyner]

After reading these posts, I may have to add one more: my son's Russian (Tula amory) SKS. I had him buy it 8 years ago. I wont say for how much, but lets just say you cant even find a piece of junk for what we bought it for. What a shooter! Wolf, surplus, doesnt matter. It's accurate and dependable. I'll have him take that one. Then someone mentioned a .22, well maybe I'll have my daughter pack that one. Ok, so now I'm up to 5, not really, I'm still hanging on to 3, but I'm making sure the remainders get spread around to family. So, if I can get my brothers from MA to take of the remainders, I'll sleep better at night. Damn, why did I start this thread anyway? I'm having freakin anxiety attacks!

[ltxi]

To be clear/fair, that was prone, not standing, but no rest. I actually bought the Ruger for the same reason you appear to have. I'd picked up a bunch of $69 SKSs 'cause they were cheap enough to play amateur gunsmith with and a challenge to improve. I culled out some that were pretty good, looks and accuracy, and still have them. The rest got sold or junked. But then I really wanted a quality gun to fit all the ammo I had lying around. Then 'cause I had a quality gun I went out and bought quality ammo.

And then there was my 7.62x54 phase.......

[medezyner]

I'd picked up a bunch of $69 SKSs 'cause they were cheap enough to play amateur gunsmith with and a challenge to improve. I culled out some that were pretty good, looks and accuracy, and still have them. The rest got sold or junked. But then I really wanted a quality gun to fit all the ammo I had lying around. Then 'cause I had a quality gun I went out and bought quality ammo.

And then there was my 7.62x54 phase.......

Man, $69 SKS's, I'd do the same; pick up several and and put together 1 really nice shooter. Keep the surplus parts for backup. We kept ours bone-stock and from an appreciation point, I'm glad we did, but so many aftermarket parts would make that baby sing.