I am in Iraq right now and use an M-4. I dont have much experience with civilian models, but I can tell you that cleaning is a bit of a challenge. Its not too hard if you keep the rifle cleaned constantly. If it is clean when you take it out to use then it makes it much easier to clean once you are done shooting. Q-tips and pipe cleaners definantlyhelp out. I do have to admit that when I fist had the rifle I was thinking it would be a piece of crap, but it is really fun to shoot and is making me think about buying one when I get back home.

i hope youstay safe and thanks from the bottom of my heart for protecting our freedom and the freedom of the iraq people

i cleaned my ar everytime i shot it i found that if i did not that it might jam up i loved the gun and once you get it down cleaning gets better but i also found that the easy of removeing the upper makes it alot easyer then cleaning a gun that i one peice every time i cleaned it i removed the upper and would take most of he parts apart for the upper
another thing do not go shoot 3 or 400 rounds through one and put it in a foam lined case because you wont have much foam left and a good amont of time cleaning it off the barrel

Nope, deffinately do not shoot the M1A, thats something that our Cadets would use. My C-7 looks like that airsoft gun that you posted, so it looks almost identical to the remington R-15 aside from the hand guards and the paint job. I beleive I have an M1A in the closet at my grandparents tho.

if anyone wnt a good pic of the ar go to bushmaster.com