Just recently I re-acquired a Mini-14 from my brother-in-law. Used to be mine then after a year or so I got it back in a trade. I'm not an expert rifleman or anything like that but I do demand a reliable weapon and this rifle has never failed me. Not one malfunction that I can remember. Of course, everyone has their thoughts on the Mini-14 as we well know but these are just mine. It's just an excellent "weapon" (for me). I'm in a transitional period in that I had a Glock 21 for a house gun, sold it, my other guns are "elsewhere" so for the house I've got a brand new sig P-220 or the Mini. So until I function fire the P-220 the Mini will serve as a house gun. We live in the country where the closest neighbor is about a 1/4 mile away. All the kids are downstairs in a daylight basement. Mini-14 for home defense? What do you think? Best Regards, J. Parker