That depends on what you want to do with it .A ranch rifle in stainless is better than a pre ban at accuarcy because it has ruger rings that attatch directly to the top or the reciver and ejects the shell out to the side as opposed to the top like a standard mini -14 .Top ejecting hits the scope with every shell.You can buy a mount to scope a standard mini but it's been my experience that they are less accurate than a ranch rifle.However if you want fun little features like a folding stock,flash hider and pistol grip then you must get a pre ban.either will accept a hi cap clip. and a folding preban is abit more money than a ranch but it's also more likely to retain it's value. I have shot both and enjoy them alot but if I knew then what I know now I would probably buy a pre ban AR 15 flat top and not mini 14s because the AR"S have a grater supply of clips ,parts,and kits ,You can change a AR to a long range varmit version for as little as 300 bucks or into a short c.a.r. for around the same. rebarreling a mini is going to cost alot more around 500-1400 bucks.Un like a AR you can't just buy a barrell and pop it on set the head space and go. You gotta have the gas chamber worked and fitted on a mini.
Most out of the box mini-14s are only capeable of margianal accuarcy 2 inch groups at 100 yds. A AR with a good long range varmit kit should make 1 inch groups at 100 yds easy.
