[PatrioticAmerican]

You won't get many straight answers to your question. People have their favorites and want to tell you about them. I actually like that. That can be informative and entertaining. Anyway, a Ruger Mini-14 is not a bad choice. I suppose you got a great deal on them, so all the better. The Mini-14 needs work to be a battle weapon, but you said personal defense. In that role, the Mini-14 works well. Some Mini-14s jam a bit, but shoooting the thing will help you learn to clear jams quickly. Some Mini-14s never seem to jam, so practice with it and find out. The 223 makes a great close combat round and does better than most handgun ammo as far as penetration is concerned. The 223 penetrates building materials less than handgun ammo, so it is safer in dense communities of homes, but it does a great deal of damage to humans. It is cheap compared to many other ammo choices, and plentiful. I'd say you have a good weapon and an excellent caliber choice.