This is causing me to consider the possibility of getting a mini-30 and Ruger American in 7.62x39.
The idea being the mini-30 for short range and the Americanski for short to mid range with better accuracy.
Same mags, same ammo. Nice.
This mini-30 stripper clip guide appears to be the only other way to get a semi auto besides the SKS and the VZ58 in 7.62x39 using AK stripper clips. This combo appears to be the only way to get a bolt gun and semi in 7.62x39 using the same mags. It also appears to be the only bolt gun offering a decent capacity and not totally proprietary and weird mag. Plus while mini-30 mags are expensive, they are not as bad as, say, CZ527 mags, and about the same as HOWA 7.62x39 mags.
OTOH mags are expensive and proprietary and I might be better off doing something different. What otehr 7.6x39 options in thsi theme do you propose. Alternatives need to be 7.62x39, otherwise I would definitely do something quite different
For example could a straight pull AR with free floated barrel be as accurate as the ruger bolt gun?
Why not just focus on stripper clip guides for the magazine and get the best rifle? I don’t think I’d buy any rifle simply because it had stripper clip guides.
This is actually all because of the Ruger American in 7.62x39 using Mini-30 mags. That is where it started.
Having a bolt gun in 7.62x39 with the ability to take 20rd mags (and they are actually obtainable albeit not particularly affordable but not worse than other box mags for 7.62x39 bolt guns) is kind of a big deal.
The concept would work just fine and be good to go even without the stripper clip guide for the mini 30. That was just icing on the cake.
Ruger will quite likely offer an American bolt gun in .233 and/or .300 black next (that would be very cool too).