I've had a Mini 14 since a few years after they first came out. Nice little rifle - not as accurate as AR's, but when I got mine you couldn't get AR's, but you COULD get surplus Korean .223 for nada, fun to shoot. Well made, tough. Not as good at targets as it's AR competition. I added an 'accu-strut' 'stabilizer' bar to the thinnish barrel which cuts back on vibration and cuts the target grouping from bulk ammo by an inch or two. Worth the grief IMHO.
http://www.accu-strut.com/