But would maintaining an AR be more difficult? a buddy of mine made the comment of "They shit where they eat"... I had to ask for clairification on that... but he bascially said they get really dirty when shooting and need to be cleaned often. He also said they were a bit of a pain to maintaine... BUT that is why I figured I'd ask here.
Patrick A. Rogers (of the Patrick Rogers Carbine Course fame - http://www.eagtactical.com/ ) has a very good article in the December 2006 issue of SWAT magazine on "Keeping Your Carbine Running". If you are going to listen to anyone about how to keep your AR-15 rifle or Carbine clean I think Pat Rogers is close to the head of the list, if not at the top.