If you're going to mount a scope on it, make sure and get the ranch rifle, the regular Mini 14 doesn't have any "real" way to mount a scope on it. There are some doofy aftermarket scope mounts, but the rifle will shake them loose.
I'm not a Mini-14 fan. My son and I have owned both a Mini-14 and a Mini-30. If you're not going to plink with the Mini-14 it's fine, but after about the 3rd or 4th shot, the rounds will start walking really badly. Our Mini-30 was better for plinking and was more accurate. The only complaint I had with it was that it didn't like the steel cased 7.62X39.
I have a Stag Arms AR-15 now that I love. The barrel can be so hot from shooting so many rounds through it that you can't touch it, and it's still just as accurate as the first round.