My understanding is that they have accuracy problems. Get yourself a DPMS Panther AR-15 .223/5.56x45 Nato, with a couple of 30 round magazines.
I bought one the first year they came out with the ranch rifle (integral scope mounts). best group was 4”-5” at 100 yards., From what I’ve read, later models were produced with tighter tolerances and are somewhat more accurate. Bought it for $250.00 new, no ten day wait, no check. (in CA.) Back in the good ol days.
A friend had one for his Jeep in the 80s. I saw him miss many coyotes and foxes. Every time I could talk him in to letting me shoot it, I would empty his 30 round magazine. Good times. I never remember it jamming, though.
I have a couple of friends who have them. They’re OK, but they can’t compare to an AR-15 as far as accessories or flexibility is concerned.
Get a Ruger 10/22, then replace it with a mini-14 stock. It’ll look like a mini-14 carbine, but will give you a way to shoot very cheaply to work on marksmenship, and for small varmits. I said small varmits.
As mentioned by others, get an AR-15 for a little more if you want range and accuracy.....and one-size-fits-all varmits.
I have one in stainless for years that I bought on sale. I am not a .223 fan, but the rifle is fine. It is a little loud. I like the .30 M-1 carbine better for shooting. The kids also like it better.
If you can buy one for a good price go for it.
I own a Ruger Mini-14, a Bushmaster Xm15-e2s, and a WASR10 (cheap AK47 clone). In terms of reliability, I would rank the Mini-14 with the WASR10. I have never had a jam with either weapon. The Bushmaster has jammed one time and it was because of a bad magazine. In terms of accuracy The Bushmaster is the best, then the Mini-14, and the WASR10 is only accurate to about 75 yards(for me). I can clean and reasamble my WASR10 in about 5 minutes, the Mini-14 in less than 10 minutes, and my Xm in about 15 minutes. Both the WASR10 and the Mini-14 lose accuarcy as they heat up, my Bushmaster seems not to have any problem with heating up. I have shot 1000’s of rounds through each of them and I love them all. The WASR10 was the cheapest, and the Mini-14 was a lot less than my Bushmaster. If you want a Mini-14 get it, it is fun as hell to shoot. I am a US Army Expert and a NRA Sharpshooter with 1 bar, and I can tell you that no weapon is perfect. So buy as many weapons as you can afford and find out what works for you.
Cabela’s also sells multi round clips 10s , 20s , 30s , and 40 rounders , folding stocks and other accessories .
Get an AR 15.
Fun, reliable, not too accurate. I know several people who keep them in boats.
You can modify M4 mags to fit with a dremel tool.
It’s based on the M-14 M1-garand. The mechanism is kind of clunky and noisy.
I uses it for zombies. An AK-47 knockoff is the nearest competition.
Get the mini 30. Ammo Is cheaper. You may have to put a heavy duty Wolff hammer spring if you want to shoot the hardest ruskie ammo. But that is an easy mod.
I’ve had the mini 30 for five years. I love it.
Ati makes a great after market stock called the strikeforce. Get the aluminum upgrad kit. Put on an eotech holo site and you will have an excellent tactical weapon that shoots cheap ammo.
I love the gas system which was copied from the M1 Garand. Easy to breakdown. Easy to clean. Fun to shoot.
One more mod. Adjustable gas block
Great gun.
Reliable as hell, but accuracy is wretched. Seems ok with iron sights, but put a scope on it and you’ll swear there is something wrong with it.
If going for a Ruger mini-14. 7.62x39 is the way to go, more punch for lunch than .223.
Not as accurate as the AR-15. But the design is a tried and true design that is very reliable. I have owned one and am buying a new one soon.
If you can swing it...the AC556 is alot of fun...about $4-5k nowadays, and your $200.00 NFA tax.
Love my Mini-14 in stainless, and almost all the points here are quite right on....
But best analysis/review I ever read nets it out best - by former combat experienced guys:
Under 100yds, they prefer the Mini-14. Near 100yds and out, it’s just not accurate enough, and you’d better have an AR-15 or something similar. Close up, they pick the Mini-14 hands down.....
Mini 14 - nothing wrong with it at all.