[DougD]

I'd recommend building your own AR. If you can build a Cobra, an AR will be really easy.
I bought a stripped Bushmaster lower receiver from a local gun dealer, and the rest through the mail.
The advantage is that it costs a lot less, and you can pick and choose just the options you want. I had trouble finding a factory built AR outfitted just the way I wanted.
Instructions on how to assemble one are on the net. I joined the forum AR15.com and got all the info I needed.
It took me about an hour and a half to build my first one.
Give it a shot (pun intended) - you'll have fun, know exactly how your rifle is put together, and save a couple hundred dollars to boot!