The Mini 14 is rugged an reliable, the only two problems are the light barrel an the aftermarket magazines, you just about have to use factory magazines for 100% reliable, an the light barrel that gets very hot . down here in Louisiana Summers are very hot to start with , run A thirty rounds through one an see how super hot the barrel gets. but all in all I still like my mini 14 . as for as the AR goes don't own one right now, maybe in the future.