I've done a few and Its really easy... and you get to screw the government out of the firearm tax

We built an AR-15 that way... we used cheaper than dirt to order the parts. The day the package arrived it took him 5 minutes to put it together and we were shooting... PLUS you can buy the style you want... EX: handle, the type of grips... lol

I'm a gun dork so yeah.. lol

If you buy assembled uppers and lowers it's easy as pie to put together. If you buy parts kits that aren't completely together you have to have a couple of special tools.

Haven't done one, yet. Both AR's I have were "factory" built; a Colt and a S&W M&P15. I have done some work on them like new handguards, lights, optics, etc. Looking to buy a new drop-in trigger for my S&W. Building an AR may or may not save you money but it would be pretty rewarding. I have a lot of friends who have built some really nice AR's and they run flawlessly at the range. Good luck with yours and share some pic's when it's done.

I have built a bunch. It is fun to custom design your own rifle, build it and go from there.

Get an armorers wrench and lower/upper receiver blocks.

As a note- when you put the spring and detent in for your take down pins- BE VERY CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE YOU DONT DO IT IN THE BASEMENT FULL OF ODDS AND ENDS. That is called experience talking...

I think the AR I liked building the best was my wifes- I rebarreled a colt upper with a pencil barrel and swapped out her flash suppressor for an AAC blackout so she could mount a suppressor. Hers is a KISS carbine and is very light and fast (my wife is 5'2" and weighs like 110)

As for companies- I am a huge fan of Spikes lowers. Never had a problem and I have a couple of Infidel engraved ones that raise the hackles of my local jihadi's.

That is how we did our AR. Love our gun and saved a couple of hundred also.

I'm bored and looking for a new hobby, so I've been trying to do some research on how to make the best quality rifle for the lowest amount of money. Please note, I'm not *that* much of a cheapskate. I just like lookling for deals.

Found a polymer lower receiver for under $40 bucks. Ordered.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/featured/ati-omni-stripped-lower-receiver.html

Next couple of weeks, I'll be combing the internet for a lower parts kit and a stock for a ridiculously low price.

I'm setting the bar at $500. Finding a solid upper and still staying under budget will be next to impossible, but I'll give it a shot.

Stay tuned..

Thanks for sharing the link to the lower. If you find some good deals on complete uppers, please share them. I am looking at building a 24" bull barrel AR.

My first "build" was a Spikes lower and a rifle kit from Del-Ton.com- looks just like an M-16A2

I ordered it on Black Friday when they had a 15% off code.

I'm doing my second "build" slower, bought the Palmetto State Armory lower a year ago on Fathers' Day weekend.
I think this one will be mid-lenght with Magpul MOE furniture in the Flat Dark Earth.

Just got the Lower parts kit from Palmetto State Armory today!
Not sure about the upper, can't decide what barrel twist rate I want.

What distances are you wanting to shoot and what bullet weights?

What distances are you wanting to shoot and what bullet weights?

I don't plan on shooting anything heavier than 64 grain
I will likely mostly be using 55 grain ball rounds and 55 grain hunting rounds

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rifle.aspx?id=797

I have a 1 in 9 twist on my 20 inch barrel and I'm happy with that.
Just wondering why it seems like everyone is going for the 1 in 7 on the
16 inch barrels.

My 16" has 1:9 and is plenty accurate with the cheap scope I use on it at 100 yards. I don't have any ranges longer than that close to me. From what I have read the 1:7 is better for the heavier bullets to keep them stable and can actually over spin a lighter grain bullet. I am sure it wouldn't throw it off much but I would say the 1:9 would be fine. Maybe split the difference and get a 1:8