That is a good example. I have heard people say they aren't that accurate? Is that just garbage from people who don't know the gun? Or do they have some issues in quality control?
well there's the galil but that's pretty much just the isreali love child of the AR and AK.
the mini 14, though it can be hit or miss reliability.
other than that I can't think of anything in 223.
you might be able to find a converted SKS in 223 but those are mostly at home bubba-fication jobs.
Ruger reworked the tooling for the Mini-14 a few years ago; I understand that helped with the accuracy. The thin barrels they tend to have don't help much either.
If you're looking for tactical-style rifles in 5.56, there's a bunch of other options that aren't AR/AK variants. Steyr AUG, FN FS2000, Sig 551 and 556, Ruger Mini-14, there's a few others.
AR and AK just have a big following because they've been the main infantry rifles through most of the cold war. They're good, but they're not the only options out there.
Daewoo K2, AR100, DR200- most under-rated rifle in shooting. Parts/accessories can be hard to find, but in 17 years of shooitng mine, I've never broken anything.
Armalite AR180- Another sleeper. Very under-rated. Get the "b" model and use AR-15 mags.
If you willing to drop alot of benjamins...ACR, SCAR, XCR, HK33, Galil
If you're thinking bullpup...Steyr AUG, Microtech STG, FN2000, Keltech RFB
If you know what to look for before purchase...Century C93, Golani.
Although at that point, everything becomes a variation on a theme. VZ.58 short-stroke (as an alternative to a AK47) with AR-15 mags.
You could also just get a piston enabled AR15 which takes "piston" from the other angle. Pretty soon the line starts to blur. Plant your flag and just buy.
THE older models are kinda tough in the accuracy department.I have a 580 series mini 14 and could not be happier. You will be pleasantly surprised.Cliff
The Daewoo K-2 is a great rifle, as is the XCR-L. I have both of them, as well as a couple of AR's and AK's. If I only had to pick one, it would be the XCR-L.