do your self a favor stay away from funshows, unless you looking for a nice adobe lamp,or some elk jerky. that is the only deal's i've found at them in my last few visits. arctic down here in pueblo, or sportsmans supply have had about the best deals i have seen latley for new, if you want used, a good deal pops up every now and then in the for sale forum here. as far as brand's I have 2 bushmasters and am looking to buy a third, so I'm partial to them and my opinion would be biased but I would go bushmaster.

my xm-15

my carbon-15 m4 with 37mm launcher and a bunch of other crap that adds weight to the rifle and makes it not much more than a conversation piece