RE: Mini 14 vs. AR 15
I would suggest saving up a bit and buying a new accurized AR15 from one of the bigger names. If memory serves correctly, some are guaranteeing less than 1MOA.Even a standard AR15 is probably going to shoot fairly well. I like the AR platform because it is extremely modular and you can swap in any number of different uppers, cange the fore-end, and it has a plethora of different sighting options available.
It's much more fun to plink away with a gun accurate enough that you can attribute a miss only to yourself.
The AR15 I have is just one of the standard carbine length AR's, so I haven't personally shot the accurized ones. I have to believe, however, if a manufacturer claims they can get MOA or less accuracy out of it, they'd stand behind such a claim, or so one would think.