The new Mini-14 Ranch Rifles and Tactical models are a hoot. I also picked up a NIB 583 Series Ranch Rifle some 3½ years ago. Out of the box it was about a 2 MOA shooter. Not bad for a M14/M1A styled semi-auto. However, with a few tweaks that only cost about what a quality trigger costs in an AR and shooting quality ammo, the new Mini-14s are near 1 MOA capable. No, not a tack driver but then it wasn't designed to be one. It's a great compact carbine. Near the size of an M1 Carbine but firing a much, much more capable caliber.
My Mini-14 after a few tweaks giving it a demonstrated 1¼ MOA accuracy with my 62grn Hornady HPBT handloads. Accuracy enhancements included trigger job, 1911 buffers on gas pipe and op rod spring, reduced aperture gas bushing and torqued gas block screws, new rear sight with target aperture and thinned front sight giving me 'NM' like sights, Choate HG for better cooling, and shimmed action. All easily done and costing about $120. The Accu-Strut under the barrel is for a bit of heat sinking and got give it a M14 style look as the new thicker barrels don't benefit from stiffening like the older, pencil barreled ones did.
Not being able to leave well enough alone, about a year ago I decided I wanted to get a bit fancy and make it more of a 'Mini M14'. I added a true walnut stock and a Choate Front Sight FH combo. Then I topped it off with some OE brand straight 20rd mags which feed and cycle as well as the Ruger brand curved 20rd mags to complete the M14 look.
Shown with it's 'Big Brother' my M1A with NM sights.
