After 4 1/2 pages, it's still nothing more than a pissing contest. I had an Ar for several years. Guess what, even it had magazine problems. In the last few years this has been addressed with different followers and springs. When I had my AR, the only reliable mags were 20 round Colts.
DI vs. piston. They both work. One is
thought to be more accurate. One is
thought to be more reliable. But to get a few things straight. Direct Impingement is not an older design than the Garand design. Direct impingement is not 50 years old. Direct impingement was first used in a battle rifle in 1942. It was the Ljundmann AG-42 of Swedish design. The Garand was patented in 1934 and put into production in 36. The Ljundmann was designed in 1941 and put into production in 42.
Both guns do what they were intended to do, and they do them very well. Accuracy is just fine for both in real world (battle type) conditions. I'm not talking target range here. Any body that doesn't think the Mini is accurate enough, would you be willing to stand out at 300 yards with someone firing a Mini at you? I didn't think so. Each of mine (and every other one I've shot) will shoot minute of chest past 300 yards.
As for the heating up issue, if you can't do what you need to do in 300 rounds, in 10 minutes, you may be better off throwing that last cartridge at your enemy. I've put 100 rounds through my Mini in 1 1/2 to 2 minutes before. Yes it was hot (hot enough to melt a hole in my plastic bedliner), but I wasn't scared to shoot it anymore. I would've been willing to put another couple hundred through it without stopping to take a break. But then again, any of my shooting friends can attest to the fact that I'm extremely rough of my tools. Fine antiques and collectibles I take care of. Hammers, axes, and hunting/defense guns, not so much
For the record, I got rid of my AR for two reasons. #1 I made a couple hundred dollars on it the short time I had it. #2 I absolutely hated it. It had horrid ergonomics to me. That's when I figured out I like wood more than plastic, and traditional more than "new fangled". I got a Mini 180 series to replace it. I got the Mini with what I made on the AR, and still had the cost of the AR to play with. I since have gotten two more Minis. None of which are the 580 series. And none of which I payed more than $350 for.
So AR vs. Mini. Two good rifles, built for different purposes in mind.
Next topic, comparing the .223 Remington cartridge to the .460 Weatherby, or maybe "Will my Old Timer work in a gun fight?":banghead:
Wyman