BigTiny

I would go with the AR, they tend to shoot a little better than a mini and there's tons of accessories available. Getting different uppers can be a plus as well. You could switch from .223 to 9mm, .40, .22lr, or .50 Beowulf with one receiver.

npaden

Thanks for the replys all. I think I'll let someone else get a "Steal" on that Mini-14 at $700!

Folically Challenged

I was in your boat a few years ago: saw an AR, & didn't NEED it, but was intrigued. That, and the fact that there was some knucklehead in DC causing trouble witha Bushmaster at that time. I figured I should get one while I still could.

It never fed well, & had extraction problems, & I had no idea how to do the care & feeding of it, so it sat in the closet for 4 years. Upon seeing it in the closet one day, I decided that I should either [produce excrement] or get off the pot, so I called the mfgr. to tell them my tale of woe. The helpful guy told me that something didn't sound right, & that I ought to send it in.

I did so, & they returned it in 5 working days, even over the 4th of July holiday. Their no-charge invoice claimed they did something with the headspace, plus some other things,spending nearly 3 hours on it. Now it feelds well, & shoots VERY well. It went from being a "trader", to a "keeper".

The Mfgr? DPMS. I've heard people praise this company, & others curse it (like EVERY company out there), but I am very pleased with how they stood behind their productin my circumstance. I wasn't sure what they'd tell me when I called them 3 years after the 1 year warranty had expired, but the question of when I bought it never came up. They just wanted to make it right.

The rifle isa LoPro in .223. As I recall, this one set me back about $750 in 2002.The only beefs I have with it are the plastic mags that came with it, and the trigger with light-years of creep in it: both easy enough to replace.

If I were a tinkerer, I'd try to part-out an AR on my own. Being the klutz that I am, though,I have no problem with buying one straight-up. And I'd have no problem buying it from DPMS.

I would recommend, however, spending some time with someone who knows how to strip 'em down & reassemble them. They do seem to like to be clean.

FC

EKM

AR-15 absolutely hands down.

asttbe

I own both. The AR (bushmaster vaminter) is a tack driver. The mini 14 is so so but a fun gun. If they are anywhere near on price the AR hands down.

Here is a cheap AR for playing around with
http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?shop=1&cart=978319&cat=33&

jtb1967

I've owned a couple Mini 14's but only own AR's now. The AR wins hands down.

bronko22000

I would also suggest the AR, even though I've never owned one personally. I've shot several and they are well made rifles. The military uses the same platform so it must be OK.
As for the Mini 14 not being accurate - I musthave gotten a fluke. I have a red dot scope on mine and at 50 yds it will punch a ragged hole in the target with a full mag with a few flyers. At 100 yds it will keep them in 4" which is probably as well as I can aim with the dot. Now this is with 60 gr bullets. The lighter bullets don't shoot worth a darn.

whiskeysnoot

Uhhh...Dang! That's what I was going to say.

bigtim6656

heck for 800 or 900 you can get a new bushmaster AR
i know a friend who bought one at a gun shop pre owned never shot for 775
the first owner bought it one month before the assault weapons ban went out and wonted a pre pan model. so traded it back to the dealer