Agreed. If you want 7.62x39, get an AK.

Lots of AR manufacturers out there. I have friends who swear by their Olympics, I think the same of my Rock River, but my Colt has been a steady shooter for years. The only problems I've seen have been "kit" guns put together at home by amateur gunsmiths (usually feeding problems) and a lone Bushmaster that apparently got out of the factory without a quality inspection (but has since been fixed).

Maybe the tougher question is which "style" of AR? M16A2? M4? something inbetween? A "varminter"? flattop?