Got rid of my mini (bought brand new) after: blown extractor, gas
tap falling out inside the stock, rear site breaking off. The extractor
blew with factory ammo within the first few 100 rnds of factory ammo
I put thru it and the gas tap when it was just "too cold" outside (but,
the factory had the nerve to accuse me of attempting to disassemble it).
I'll take responsibility for the rear site --I think I bumped it too hard one
day against the dry wall inside my closet when I put the POS away...
funny it didn't hurt the wall....
But accuracy was "acceptable" at plink ranges and it fed fine with original
factory 20 rd mags (what are those? $39 right now?)....when it wasn't
sitting at the factory for a few months at a time.
The "I can't afford an AR-15" thing comes up a lot here. If you really want
a semi auto 223, sure you can. Buy the lower and a parts kit with the
pre-assembled upper and head over to the local gun club and someone
will have you up in running in an hour. I suppose the mini is nice for states
where you can't have the pistol grip.
I'm not anti-Ruger, they make nice bolt actions.