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Thanks MG - that’s exactly the kind of experienced info I was seeking. Looks like I’ll go for the AR clone. At least for that’s the one I’ll get first.

A good friend of mine picked up a Mini-14 for a very reasonable price. Being the type, he decided to stock up on spares to keep the rifle shooting. That's when he ran into a the brick wall of Ruger policy regarding parts. He dumped his Mini-14 for an AR clone.

What I haven't discovered is whether Ruger’s spare parts limiting policy applies to their 5.56 and 7.62 NATO AR-style clones. The AR is readily fixed and for Ruger to apply their stupid spare parts policy to these rifles would be a PR and financial disaster for Ruger. Ruger can get away with this spare part nonsense with the Mini-14 (and clones) market, but for the AR clones? It makes no sense when there are other manufacturers’ AR spares that probably will fit the Ruger AR clone rifles and carbines.