Gas piston, or a normal gas operated upper? I like my bushmaster alot, eats even the nasty ammo like Wolf, just needs a cleaning afterwards. I've heard nothing but good stuff about the POF gas piston uppers, so you may want to look into that if you want that kind of upper.
Wow, i wouldnt ever recomend running wolf ammo in any gun i cared about. My Bushy handled a few rounds of it but the ammo is consitently underpowered, ie big problems in cycling. I have good luck with Magtech.
As far as the which AR is right for you? you need to figure out what you want to use it for, target, plinking, hunting, competition, defense etc. there are several variations of them from each company. i am partial to Larue (sp) tacticals setups. But Mine i started of with your avereage collapsable ar15, and customized the hell out it, and absolutly love it.
Check out the blow for a wealth of info
ar15.com
gunbroker.com
look up the various ar 15 and tacticle rifle periodicls
rainierarms.com for parts
brownells.com
if you need a good gunsmith:
Accuracy Speaks
- located at usery mountian shooting range and rio salado sportsmans club
- Specializes in AR15's - custom barrels, custom uppers, can instal fix most problems, .22 conversion, good people affordable prices, nationally know in the private AR world
-Specializes in custom 1911's as well
Mine is pictured & here is a list of the mods i did
Bushmaster AR15 collapsable stock carbine"
Bushmaster upper
Bushmaster Lower
Bushmaster 16" barell
MAKO Ergonomic Pistol Grip
Primary Weapons FSC556 Flash Suppressing Compensator
Magpul Enhanced Trigger Guard
Timney Single Stage Match Trigger 4lbs skelotonized
Custom Painted selector switch
Custom Painted "Fire" "Safe"
Custom Painted forward sight
LMT Bolt Carrier Assembly Enhanced
M16 firing pin retainer
locking upper lower rear take down pin
Buffer Tech Tactical Latch (charging handle latch)
MI 2 Piece Free Floating Carbine Rail System
Magpul CTR Stock w/ rubber butt pad
Vltor Mil Spec Tube
Mag Grip - Dual Magazine Holder
2 stamp iron bushmaster 30 rnd mags
1 Magpul PMAG 30rnd
1 Windowed Magpul PMAG 30rnd
Aimpoint adjustable magnifacation scope, green light or black cross hairs, flip lense covers