My take is that it's a great design made of the wrong materials.
The new mini 14 580 series is light years more accurate than the old 180+ series. Although they look similar they really shouldn't have the same name because they're nothing alike. They still throw brass a country mile but with a smaller gas bushing (10$) and a rear buffer (6$) the brass drops at your feet.Sorry to have to go against the grain again but also avoid the mini 14 in my opinion. It is built much better than the SU-16 but the one I had (1987 production stainless ranch with 1:7 twist) was minute of barn door and was so overgassed it would throw brass 30 feet and hit other guys at the benches when I was at the range.
The T-97 is a disposable rifle with zero parts support and zero warranty. I would also avoid those even though the one I got to play with for a while was quite accurate and didn't have any stoppages.
If you want non restricted and are on a budget I would find a used Armalite AR180-B but wait for one on the EE for under $1600 and then pounce on it. If you can't find one of those then the next best thing is the XCR. After that you get into the Tavor and converted ACR price range.
These rifles may cost a little more but you will be much happier with one of them once you have it.
The new mini 14 580 series is light years more accurate than the old 180+ series. Although they look similar they really shouldn't have the same name because they're nothing alike. They still throw brass a country mile but with a smaller gas bushing (10$) and a rear buffer (6$) the brass drops at your feet.
Sorry to have to go against the grain again but also avoid the mini 14 in my opinion. It is built much better than the SU-16 but the one I had (1987 production stainless ranch with 1:7 twist) was minute of barn door and was so overgassed it would throw brass 30 feet and hit other guys at the benches when I was at the range.
The T-97 is a disposable rifle with zero parts support and zero warranty. I would also avoid those even though the one I got to play with for a while was quite accurate and didn't have any stoppages.
If you want non restricted and are on a budget I would find a used Armalite AR180-B but wait for one on the EE for under $1600 and then pounce on it. If you can't find one of those then the next best thing is the XCR. After that you get into the Tavor and converted ACR price range.
These rifles may cost a little more but you will be much happier with one of them once you have it.
Sorry to have to go against the grain again but also avoid the mini 14 in my opinion. It is built much better than the SU-16 but the one I had (1987 production stainless ranch with 1:7 twist) was minute of barn door and was so overgassed it would throw brass 30 feet and hit other guys at the benches when I was at the range.
The T-97 is a disposable rifle with zero parts support and zero warranty. I would also avoid those even though the one I got to play with for a while was quite accurate and didn't have any stoppages.
If you want non restricted and are on a budget I would find a used Armalite AR180-B but wait for one on the EE for under $1600 and then pounce on it. If you can't find one of those then the next best thing is the XCR. After that you get into the Tavor and converted ACR price range.
These rifles may cost a little more but you will be much happier with one of them once you have it.
Thanks for all the feedback guys! Made my decision fairly simple...save my money! One thing I forgot to mention is I'm shopping in the nonrestricted depot so it can see the light of day without needing to proclaim it's innocence. I do want something that will take advantage of the AR magazines and be as accurate as possible. A 3 inch group at 100 is a miss at 400! I don't want a bull pup design with the magazine behind the trigger. That being said, can anybody speak for the Robinson Armaments xcr-m's in 308 or 260?



























