Need Advice on a semi-automatic .223

[California Mark]

I'm newly in the market for a .223 and really need assistance.  

The following criteria is what I am looking for (by the way, I have heard the Ruger mini 14 in not accurate.  Let me know if I have heard wrong):

-Semi-automatic
-accurate
-Won’t fall apart from normal wear and tear, hence reliable
-sub $1,000
- I plan on this being a truck gun / range gun so I initially plan on not scoping this firearm

I am an avid handgun, bird shooter and am new to the semi rifle mkt.  I would like to keep this to the .223 caliber and not higher.

Many thanks,

Mark

[mountainview]

I have also heard from Mini 14 owners that these are not the most accurate 223 semi rifles. Bushmasters have a large following in this area and they seem to shoot pretty accurately and can be configured in a large number of ways. If I had the coin, I would get the fixed handle receiver version for myself. What are you going to be using the rifle for? The fast twist of the standard AR15 models generally lend themselves better for the higher weight bullets (55 grain and up) but one or two shooters I've talked with said their particular Bushy shot lighter bullets with very acceptable accuracy.