For a fraction of the cost of either your Mini 14 or CAR-15, you can buy a WW2 vintage M1 Garand straight from the US gubbermint through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Prices start at just $295.
That's AWESOME!!! Definitely have to look into that.
The fine print of the CMP is it's for developing marksmanship. In other words, you have to be a competitor in order to buy from the Civilian Marksmanship Program even if it's for a single match. You have a lot of other requirements such as belonging to a approved club or state association. Belonging to the NRA doesn't count.
Don't let any of this discourage you. Half the fun of getting a rifle from the government is getting the govenment to deliver you that rifle to your door. A friend loved the look on his Mailman's face when he told him what was just delived. The Mailman was shocked and told him he couldn't do that. My friend said he didn't. YOU DID. Still funny. Today, it's handled by one of the civilian shipping companies like FedEx.