Getting the itch for a new 'toy', lots to choose from these days. Looking for some insight, opinions, and real world experience.

Going to go .223 Rem, for the availability of (cheap ?)ammo to choose from, the accuracy of the small round (at 2 to 3 hundred yrds), and I just like the ballastics of the 223.

Thinking about the Ruger Mini14, Ranch model. Want to go with either a reflex or lazer dot for short range targeting.

But by the time I get the rings and all for the Ruger the way I want it, I could almost pick up an AR style, maybe a DPMS.

Any body got one of these ?? Looking for pros and Cons, likes and dislikes to both. Will the Mini14R still take the AR style mags ?