Cheap Mini-14 clone. Heck, it can even be an SKS that runs .223 Rem.
Essentially, the market is ripe for an unrestricted semi-auto .223 that costs $700 or less (Mini-14s and CZ858s all run over a grand).
Also, a good quality 9mm carbine running on Glock mags with aperture sights, preferable styled after a Ruger PC9 or Marlin Camp Carbine (both unfortunately discontinued).
CZ 527 10 round mags!!
I'm by far no expert, but I read about the RIA 10/22 clone online last year and a Google search produced many comments on ruger patents. RIA 10/22 is still very much available and many people claim that patents are expired for some ruger products, plus the garand action is even older than the mini 14 ....... Perhaps the older style mini or a 5.56 M1 carbine clone would be possible? The RIA comes already comes with different sights than the 10/22.
A 5.56 chambering would be slightly better than .223 and anything that looked M1 carbine or mini 14 like that actually took ar 15 mags would be golden!!! The main advantage that the su-16 has over the mini is that it takes ar mags. Even the u.s. Market might take notice of a semi-auto, traditional looking rifle that took ar mags.
Anybody knows what is the law in regards to that, I am not clear about it. I see Norinco copies all over the place but they do not respect copyright laws. For example Mini-14 is a great rifle but if anybody copies it to what extend it is Mini-14 Ruger.
I have heard Ruger comes after copies really hard .
Anybody?