the mini-14 isnt nearly as accurate as an AR-15 but a mini-14 is plenty accurate if you keep your shots under 150 yards also the mini-14 is alot more reliable in all conditions and they are deffinately cheaper in price than a AR-15 I have both and know the limitations of them and I am happy with either so its a tossup between the two for me. AR's like to jam when they are dirty or get crap in the action. Mini-14's will function no matter what they can be caked with grit and still function flawlessly My mini-14 ive put thousands of rounds through it and it has never jammed once the AR is a different story.