Ah, but that's a rite of passage for new M-14 owners in Canada.
uh oh, bought mine used, didn't have to clean it.
I own both a m14 and a mini 30 (7.62x39mm).
mini 14/30 are less complex to disassemble, with no tools other than a nail or screwdriver to pop the trigger guard up.
that being said, there is less you can really tune on them to make them shoot like a m14. also less after market parts here in Canada. Don't fall into the plastic stock sh*t like tapco.
mini's are notorious brass throwers.
my 30 throws em about 14' to the three o clock position, makes brass hard to find.
there is A LOT of animosity towards bill ruger and his rifles due to his not supporting regular capacity mags for the mini (20 rounders).
the early minis were inaccurate due to pencil barrels, and this has provided a lot of bad stories about them, no matter the generation.
minis are a great little "working" truck gun and nowhere near the weight or the length of an m14.
$ wise? the mini will cost you more, $650 (used) - $900 or so new vs. $370- $500.