I’ve seen a pre-03 Mini-14 that came from the factory unable to consistently hit inside a 15” circle at 100 yards from a machine rest let alone the shoulder. It was sent back while Bill Ruger was alive; the reply from the factory was that the rifle was working within tolerance and there was nothing wrong with it.
I continue to wonder what Bill Ruger’s acceptable accuracy spec for the Mini-14 was - minute of very large barn?
If I am using a rifle, I don’t want it putting rounds where I want them (to the limit of my user skills) ‘most of the time’, I want it doing it all the time. Under 50 yards, I’ll take my Saiga 12 instead. It’s more accurate and being a shotgun it’ll put way more metal on target be it shot or slugs. :P