Badger, you're quite right that Ruger's Mini-14 is not noted for accuracy. But the last one I had that I was shooting against the SKS was the "best" of them I'd ever owned. The time I shot them one against the other was off a bench at 50 yds. The Mini would cut a group about 1 1/2" and the SKS was easily doing half that. Surprised the hell out of me. Both of them were with original peep sights. I wouldn't waste my time scoping either one.