To me a Mini-30 or Mini-14 is a better buy than a beat up re-import M1 Carbine for about this price. OTOH, if you want more than a 5-shot magazine, I'd skip the Mini-30. Ruger only makes 5-rounders, and all the after market ones are doing good to go 10 rounds without a stoppage.
"Other than *that*, MS. Lincoln, how'd you enjoy the play?"
Unless you are married to the 7.62x39 round, consider the Mini-14 instead. Handy gun, not a tack driver, but as good as you average AK in terms of group size, and Ruger is selling the good 20-round mags to anybody now.
I agree for a little more money an AR is better overall, but I love the handiness of the Mini or M1 Carbine. But the M1 Carbine these days is an oddball pretty much one gun caliber.
--wally.