Yeah I generally just send an invite to whoevers on when we're re-partying up, which is often (the party system kind of sucks), hence all the invites, don't worry about not accepting them.
Right now I've been rocking the GALIL, I'd recommend that one when you can get it firsttimer, its probably got the best stopping power of the ones I've tried so far.
And Blade I got to 30 last night so I can take care of aircraftery until you get there in a few weeks like OOBL said