Hi hockeyguy59,
I have a 580-series, stainless steel, Mini-14.
The Mini-14 is a decent, magazine fed, semi-automatic NON-RESTRICTED rifle.
The older versions of the rifle (180-series, named for the first few digits of their serial numbers) had thin, "pencil", barrels. They were criticized for being inaccurate because the barrels would quickly heat up and their point of aim would change.
The newer versions of the rifle (580-series, made after 2008) have much thicker barrels. This has improved their accuracy. They are not...and never were intended to be...sub-MOA target rifles (though Ruger does sell a target version of the Mini-14). They are intended as a Ranch rifle/truck gun.
They are essentially a miniature .223 version of the M-1 Garand. Mechanically, I have always felt they are basically a .223 version of the M-1 Carbine.
I think it is a good rifle. It is not an AR-15, so it doesn't have quite as many accessories available, and Ruger is the only manufacturer (which can make them hard to find sometimes as they are in high demand and the factory has had trouble keeping up). It is not a target rifle, but I have found it shoots perfectly well (for me) out to 300m. It is also not terribly expensive. I picked up on brand new for under $900. They are often available on the EE for $600 - $800.
The biggest thing for me is that being NON-RESTRICTED, I can take them out shooting on my buddy's farm and am not limited to just going to the range (as is the problem with all the very nice, but RESTRICTED rifles like the AR-15).
- Jayne
