[Thane_Banquo]

Is it me, or does that look like something similar to a later version of the M1 Carbine?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Nope - it's not you - that's what it looks like. Saving my pennies now to get the Mini-30.

[El Gato]

Is it me, or does that look like something similar to a later version of the M1 Carbine?

Quite intentionally so. Actually the action is closer to that of an M-14 or Garand, but shrunken to .223 size. In fact that's why Bill Ruger called it the MINI-14 to tie in with the M-14. Still it does share some features of the M1 Carbine.