If your on a budget the Howa or Savage package deals are your best buy. Before you go listening to the rant by some let's get a few facts down. First a mini 14 while fun to shoot is by no means an accurate gun, it is not designed to be, not without dumping about a $1000 to clean it up. Second, anyone who needs a break on a 223 is either handicapped or can't shoot in the first place. There is not a thing wrong with saving some money on the gun to buy a better scope.