I think the Mini-14 is a good gun if you are a Garand fan. It's the only Garand I know of chambered for 5.56 NATO.
That being said, I have had great experience with the Kel Tec PF-9 and the Kel Tec PLR-16. The designer George Keligren IMHO is a brilliant designer, and it shows in his designs.
The PLR-16 pistol and the SU-16C share many of the same components. Consider:
- It is designed as a gas piston design from the ground up.
- It uses the same bolt face as the AR-15 and also uses the same magazines.
- It comes with a 1/2 x 28" threaded muzzle. My PLR-16 uses a Phantom 5C2 FH.
- It comes with a Picatinny rail topside. There is an optional foregrip you can purchase and install which comes with a bottom rail.
- Unlike the AR, THERE IS NO BUFFER TUBE. The gas piston recoil mechanism is like that of the AK-47, co-axial with the gas piston above the barrel.
- Lack of a buffer tube means the stock can TRULY FOLD.
- The bolt carrier assembly is similar to the mechanical design you see in the SCAR.
- The materials used in the rifle are tough polycarbonate, like the Glock. (Not a true carbon fiber, like the Bushmaster Carbon-15. But it costs less, too)
Now, just swap the 9" pistol barrel for a 16" barrel, swap the pistol grip for a folding rifle stock, and you have the SU-16C. There are also two SBR variants (SU16D) with two different short barrel choices.
SO... don't sell the SU-16 and Kel-Tec short. The Kel-Tecs are heavily discounted even when new. They are utterly reliable. They are amazingly accurate. You can't compare the SU-16C to a "normal" AR. You should compare it to the modern Gas Piston AR-type designs.
My personal experience with the SU-16C's little brother has been very, very good. I like it a lot, and I think you will be impressed with a 16C...