Looking for a .223 , but not an AR-15 type.

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Nothing wrong with a Mini 14 either, if you prefer the looks and function. The newer ones are capable of shooting groups similar to most out of the box AR's with decent ammo. They are best left in their original "ranch rifle" form IMO. The downsides are that only Ruger factory magazines are worth using, and are more expensive and less common than AR mags.
While any thread mentioning the Mini 14 invariably turns into an AR vs Mini debate, they are two very different platforms. The AR can be an uber-light PDW, or a 15lb prairie dog rifle. The Ruger falls somewhere in between. Both are completely reliable and easy to maintain.
 
$700 would be cutting it real close for an AR of any quality. Many of the other suggestions are way out of your price range (Galil,AUG, Tavor,VEPR, Sig,HK,etc.)
I personally like the mini-14 better than most folks do these days, but their assembly and disassembly admitedly is a headache, and the fact that they pretty much have to have expensive factory magazines is a negative (I have another 20-rounder coming from Midway as we speak, couldn't resist $24, and i was already ordering something).
But, if you're really looking for a semi-auto 5.56/223, the AR really is hard to beat (and I say that having sold all of mine).
 
I think aside from an entry level AR like an M&P Sport, which the original poster has already ruled out, the Mini-14 is about the only choice in the price range.

I only owned one briefly, but I didn't find disassembly for cleaning to be too bad. I wouldn't have guessed that you start by pulling the triggerguard out though.

As noted, the biggest downside is the cost of magazines. But if you're happy with just having a few 20 rounders around and don't need a whole stack of them, then maybe a newer Mini-14 is exactly what you'd want.
I to see the appeal of them. I owned one briefly and loved the handling, and they retain all the function of a tactical rifle while remaining largely non-tactical.
 
Go for the Mini 14. The new ones shoot just as well as an average AR. I have proof of this. Take all the Mini bashing with a grain of salt.
 
An AR is much easier to work on, disassemble, field strip, etc., etc., and is a much better, more accurate rifle than is a Mini.

I suggest that the OP is just no familiar with the AR and made a supposition about the complexity, not based on empirical information.
 
I'd go for the Mini. Less maintenance from, what I know,it'll run almost any ammo and with a little trigger work, mine shoots 1-1 1/2" at 100 yrds all day. Not bashing the AR, the mini just sounds like a better fit for you.
 
I've had ARs, now my only .223 is a Mini 14. I just prefer the Mini 14, and mine shoots just as well as an AR. There is absolutely nothing wrong with ARs, they are just not for me. I think you'd be happy with either choice.
 
Maybe the OP just wants something different, something that not everyone has. I wish there were more options, just because I like variety. For instance, I think it was too bad Remington didn't do a version of their 7400/7500 fitted for AR and M-14 mags like they did with the 7614 and 7615.

Just for variety.
 
For got to mention I have a Sar-1. It was fun when i was shooting in the woods. I'm definitely looking for something that will give me better accuracy. I'm not mentioning any ones post. Just wanted to mention that.
 
If you're wanting better accuracy the easiest way to get there is a base model AR-15 carbine from a reputable manufacturer, and then add a free float handguard. The great thing about AR-15 pattern rifles is that they're very easy to accurize.

If you're not into carbines you could get a rifle, and there are even CMP compliant free float handguards that externally look like the stock A2 handguards. You might have to slightly increase your budget or look into some very minor parts assembly to get into a free floated rifle, but it's doable for close to your budget.
 
Another thing to think about. If you get a baseline AR15 now. Shoot it for a while and get used to the manual of arms. Then in the future if you want to upgrade and accurize it, tac it out, put glass on it etc, it can be done far cheaper than buying a new rifle or replacing a barrel on a bolt gun. I did not want an ar for many years. Then I really started looking at what they had to offer. Just way too versatile not to have one in the stable.
 
I own both a 580 series mini 14 and an AR with about 700 rounds through each. This is my personal experience:

Both will shoot about the same group size when cold, but after a mag or two getting hot the mini14 groups double in size while the AR stays about the same.

The AR has been 100% reliable. But I had issues with stuck cases in the mini14, and now the bolt has a crack in the rear so it needs to go to Ruger for repair (must be factory fitted).

The mini 14 is fun to shoot, slightly softer recoil, and very simple design. But it's simple design also does not lend itself to consistent accuracy. There are ways to acurize it but they're not cheap fixes. The mini14 is a great idea, a scaled down Garand, but the execution of that idea came up a little short.
 
The Steyr AUG is very well made and I haven't had any problems except for failure to lock open on a empty mag when shooting weak Russian ammo. That was solved by turning the gas regualtor to the 'adverse' setting.

IMG_0004.jpg

BSW
 
There is no logical reason not to just get an AR. In the long run a Mini will end up costing more for less gun.
 
chetrogers said:
Just by looking at them it seems to me that they would have a ton of parts.
Click to expand...

Sir... we teach privates to use this rifle. PRIVATES. The dumbest creatures on the planet.
 
Over the years I've been round & round with this and spent a lot of money buying-selling-trading only to realize that the AR15 is perhaps the most logistically sound, most efficient design from which to fire the 5.56 & .223 cartridge. The one non-AR I'm keeping is the AUG A3.

AKs in this caliber typically suffer from reliability and lack of standardization of parts & mags.

HK93s are great, but they're heavy, expensive beasts with a very small & finite pool of parts and support.

The SIG 556 has been riddled with issues from day one, and it seems SIG refuses to give the people what they want. Garbage furniture and a bolted-on optics rail are big negatives for me. The genuine Swiss SIG 550 series rifles will run you $5k+. Swi$$ parts aren't cheap either.

I like the SCAR, but the stock system is weak and there is one single source of parts and the knowledgebase for repairs is slim.

The Mini14 isn't so cheap anymore, which makes a decent AR a much more viable choice for accuracy, reliability, speed, manipulation and long term support.

I really like the Daewoo rifles, but there is hardly any market support for them at all. It's all fun until something needs to get replaced. Then the headaches begin.

The ACR has been a huge letdown for most of the folks who were impressed with the design/build specs of the original Magpul showing. High price, unestablished rifle, single source of parts, etc.

I haven't spent time with a Tavor, but at the moment they suffer the same problems as other choices, parts, support and knowledgebase are slim pickins. There's a lot of reports of them being overgassed.

The FS2000 feels like you're holding a big tuna fish. I'm not a fan of an inaccessible action. FN generally makes great stuff though.

The AUG has been around since the 70s, and Pete Athens has always been selling parts for these rifles here in the States. They take some getting used to, but they are excellent quality guns. Expensive, yes, but they are a sustainable option unlike many of the other choices out there. Mags are cheap right now. There's a good number of options for outfitting one, and more AUG models/options are in the pipeline. The trigger pull and non-free float barrel are the only limiting factors in accuracy. I find them to be extremely well designed and that has been proven in their Military & Gov't service around the world. I think they are just under $2k right now.
 
No one has mentioned an SKS which is at least equal to some of the rifles mentioned here and it costs considerably less.
 
No one has mentioned an SKS which is at least equal to some of the rifles mentioned here and it costs considerably less.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately the SKS was never made in .223 Rem / 5.56 NATO.
 
ugaarguy said:
Unfortunately the SKS was never made in .223 Rem / 5.56 NATO.
Click to expand...

Yeah I just caught that right before I saw your post. Just another case of brain lock I guess.
 
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