Hope this is the right place to post this... Anyways, since I live in California and I missed the opportunity to get a AR-15 receiver, would the Mini-14 be the next best thing?  What parts and modifications to look for?  If not, what would be the next best .223 thing while staying CA happy?

No. Mine is like an American AK with bad mags and no chromed barrel.

Bill Ruger is an evil genius.

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"Cry and let your grief out."

Seems how you live in CALF. you may be better of with a sharpened stick all joking aside.They do make CALF legal AR lowers but they are single shot only with no mag wells.You'r best bet might be the MINI although not known for accuracy (3-4moa) if still legal in you'r state i'd jump on it,don't give the racher to much as a second look.Iron sights stink,get the basic MINI and bed the stock it helps with the accuracy load up on five and ten round mags,if you have a friend out side of CAlf try and get some PMI 20 rounders,(note doning so may be against the law in your area).I don't know if the install of a muzzel break is legal still or not though they are note realy needed.Alot of pepole will bad talk the MINI but when you picks are limited half of us would take one.Some of the ten shoot AKs may fet the bill to.

There are places that rebarrel mini, and gaurantee 1 moa.  I see their ads in the gun rags.  That would be my suggestion.


Good luck, and Come to Texas.

WL

For a basic plinker got the the Blue and wood version for about $398.00.

Dont buy a Mini-14 if you plan to use optics, buy a Ruger Ranch Rifle instead, (which are more expensive and more diufficult to disassemble).

I'm sure you stocked up on PMI 20 & 30 round mags before the ban.


Ps..
An M1 Carbine is another good choice.