Mini-14/Mini-30

[Moondoggy]

Hi,

I stumbled onto this site a few weeks ago and I have to say that it's now my main source of information on the web.  Thanks for putting it together!

I've read through all the old topics and one of them (don't remember where) mentioned that it wasn't legal to use a Mini-30 or Mini-14 for hunting.  Does anyone know whether this is true?  I don't remember seeing it in any of the government booklets I've read, but I certainly haven't read them all.

I'll be going hunting with my brother soon.  We'll be using his rifle for the actual hunting, but I'd rather not go walking around the outback without something in hand.  So it's not that I want to fire off 20 rounds at poor Mr. Piggy, it's that I'd rather not purchase a new gun right now if I can help it.

If anyone knows the answer or can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

Michael

(Edited by Moondoggy at 1:02 am on Jan. 17, 2002)

 

[EVAN III]

Unless something has changed since the 1st of the year, it is legal to hunt with mini 14 or mini 30. (In California at least) I don't know about other states. I don't know how much damage a .223 would do to pig, but if you have a choice I would go with the 7.62. Good luck on your hunt. You might want to check the fish and game web site for your state, better safe then sorry.  

 

[kellyg]

They are both legal to hunt with in Texas. I haven't used either on hogs but used a Mini-14 for Hill Country deer for a few years. I just got a stainless Mini-30 and can't wait to try it out. Good luck!!

 

[Jackalope]

The only thing you have to watch out for in most states is the maximum number of rounds the rifle can carry while hunting.  You may have to buy a magazine that holds five or less rounds.  Not sure about the pig regs, though.

Mike

 

[Quacker Wacker]

Is there a reg limiting the number of rounds that can be held in a rifle while hunting?  I know shotguns are limited, and clip capacity, but is that only on new guns sold.  I ask because my .22 can hold 16 in the tube mag, and my Win 94 can hold, I think, 6 in it's tube.  Are these guns illegal to hunt with?

 

[Marty]

Tube mags are an exception to current regulations regarding capacity.  Unless there was something that just went into effect 01/01/02.

 

[yotegetter]

I've used a Mini-14 for about 6 years now to hunt coyote. It's legal in CA. I haven't heard of any bans on using semi-autos for hunting this year. You can call the DFG and see if it is legal in your area. If you're in CA there's an office in Seal Beach.

 

[Speckmisser]

Definitely check the local regulations, but I believe both weapons are legal.  On the other hand, I don't feel as strongly about the ethical side of using either round for big game, though...especially for pigs.  

The .223 certainly could kill a deer, but then, so could a .22 Long...  but it's not enough to provide reasonable odds of a clean kill.  I don't think I'd even daydream about shooting a pig with it.

That .308 short from the Mini-30 is borderline, even for deer except at close range. I'm sure there are going to be a couple of folks out there who like the .308 short for deer, and I'm not going to judge them.  But, I wouldn't use it for pigs, even as "backup".  

Take a shotgun and a few rounds of double-ought, if you're really concerned about walking around unarmed.  You'll be much better off.

 

[Fubar]

Speckmisser In California the only thing you can legally shoot a pig with, out of a shotgun, is a slug.

The Department of Fish and Game office in Los Alamitos is at 4665 Lampson
562  342 7100

San Diego office of DFG
4949 View Ridge Avenue, San Diego
858  467 4201

 

[Speckmisser]

I stand corrected, Fubar.  353 (b) of the DFG Mammal Hunting Regs...  

So change my suggestion to.. carry a shotgun and a few "punkin balls"... That better?  

Never hunted or planned to hunt big game in CA with the scattergun, so never bothered to check the regs.  That was my "backeast" thing popping up again.  

Seems kinda funny, the slug restrictions.  Wonder what they have against buckshot?  Anyone know?



(Edited by Speckmisser at 11:54 am on Jan. 17, 2002)

 

[Marty]

Speaking of "backeast" things popping up...
Pfizer Corp. (NYSE PFE) is making the announcement today that VIAGRA will soon be available in liquid form and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola (NYSE PBG) as a power beverage suitable for use as-is, or as a mixer, under the name
"Mount And Do."

Pepsi's proposed ad campaign suggests: "It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one."

Say, isn't Brittany Spears the spokesmodel for Pepsi...

 

[Fubar]

Speckmisser I am not sure why they wont let you use 00Buck. The only thing I can figure is maybe they think it is not powerful enough. It says in the regs you can use 0 or 00 buckshot for deer in areas where rifles and shotguns with slugs are not allowed, but only for deer.                  Fubar

 

[kellyg]

Just as an addendum to my first post, I have never used either round on a pig. In fact, I have never used anything but a 30" carbon arrow tipped with a 125 grain broadhead for pigs, using a rifle of any size just seems a bit tame after bowhunting them. Just MHO :-}

 

[wavesfr]

Is'nt the 223 considered a 22 caliber bullet?  In california it is illegal to hunt deer with 22.calibers. Or bucksot. I would assume all big game. We have to use soft point (expanding bullets) too. Remember? This is for ethical reasons. DFG wants us to kill what We shoot. Not just wound it. A 223 won't do anything to a pig. Well maybe a piglet. Or unless you got a clean neck shot maybe. If you could use a 223 for deer here. Thats probably what I would use. I can put a hole in a nickel 100 yds with Mine. I'm sure it would save meat as well. I use My 270 & I'm missing 1 whole side of the deer. Dang nosler partitions lol. Thats My veiw I guess

 

[Grey Taylor]

Page 15 of the Calif. hunting reg booklet, section 353, Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game, "...rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding bullets..."  

No mention of a minimum caliber.  

California does not have any hunting restrictions on magazine capacity.  There are other state regs concerning them but you can use any mag for hunting.  Shotguns are another matter, they are limited to a max of three rounds for any hunting in California.

 

[Moondoggy]

Thanks to everyone who replied!

Again, I wasn't actually planning on shooting anything.  Just wanted something to carry around until a rifle I ordered arrived.  And I'm pretty sure a .223 head shot would work on a pig.

However, it appears as if it might all be pointless.  I noticed that FHL regulations - where we planned to go -- give a minimum caliber of .243.  So now I'm thinking of a Remington 700 in .270.  

Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[Speckmisser]

Moondoggy,

You'll be ten times better off with the .270.  

Have a great hunt!  We want pix!

 

[Darren]

No way I use a mini 14 to hunt all the time.

 

[lintongb]

I always thought that a .243 was the minimum you could use for big game.  I could have sworn I had heard that somewhere.  Maybe that is the case for Utah and not California.(???)

 

[arizona jim]

In AZ it is ok to use a center-fire rifle, semi-auto on big game as long as the magazine capacity is no more than 5 rounds. - (no FMJ bullets )

When you say "pigs" are you talking feral hogs or Javelina ?  The .223 would be good for a 35 - 50 lb. Javelina, but would not be enoug for a big hog.

                 AZ Jim