[Quentin]

As usual, please tell us what you plan to use the AR for and how much your budget is. I'll go along with PSA for a tight budget as for about the same price it will give you a better rifle than a bargain basement DPMS.

[PlaysWithZombies]

Thanks to everyone for responding, i appreciate the input. Primarily this is gonna be my SHTF rifle but it'll definitely get a good bit of range time so reliability is my biggest concern.
I'd like to keep the tab under $1000 and don't have any problem assembling my own lower and just buying a complete upper. Like i said i just don't know what brands are good, and which to stay away from.

[mjkeat]

Originally Posted by PlaysWithZombies

Thanks to everyone for responding, i appreciate the input. Primarily this is gonna be my SHTF rifle but it'll definitely get a good bit of range time so reliability is my biggest concern.
I'd like to keep the tab under $1000 and don't have any problem assembling my own lower and just buying a complete upper. Like i said i just don't know what brands are good, and which to stay away from.

1k isn't necessarily a budget build. At that price I'd recommend BCM.

[PlaysWithZombies]

lol my bad, my budget originally included some decent optics but i just stumbled onto an EOTech 552 for pretty much nothing and forgot to recalculate. I'll definitely check out BCM though, they seem to be very popular in this forum

[mjkeat]

Originally Posted by PlaysWithZombies

lol my bad, my budget originally included some decent optics but i just stumbled onto an EOTech 552 for pretty much nothing and forgot to recalculate. I'll definitely check out BCM though, they seem to be very popular in this forum

Every forum really. One of the best in most aspects.

[PlaysWithZombies]

That definitely seems to be the case. I checked out their website a little but couldn't find prices on anything. Would it be better, cost vs. quality wise, to buy a complete rifle or just an upper and assemble my own lower? Opinions on this subject seem to be pretty well split down the middle.

[BenLuby]

Originally Posted by PlaysWithZombies

That definitely seems to be the case. I checked out their website a little but couldn't find prices on anything. Would it be better, cost vs. quality wise, to buy a complete rifle or just an upper and assemble my own lower? Opinions on this subject seem to be pretty well split down the middle.

Building mine completely. I think a lot of it depends on your mechanical aptitude. The lower seems fairly basic, and I think the uppers...by the time people get ready to order it, they simply are so eager to shoot it makes more sense to just order the entire upper.
I like to tinker, and really don't have any fear of doing the work (as well as there being a snotload of youtube videos out there showing step by step instructions, and we always have Tikki and the other AR gods on here to question.)

[mjkeat]

I think a lot of home builds have corners cut. Things like properly torquing castle nuts barrel nuts and staking get skipped more than you might think. These things take time and tools. I personally would rather let the pros do it for me but I have done it myself so the cool factor has worn off. Everyone should do it at least once.

That said I would get a pre- assembled upper and do what you want w/ the lower.

[BenLuby]

Originally Posted by mjkeat

I think a lot of home builds have corners cut. Things like properly torquing castle nuts barrel nuts and staking get skipped more than you might think. These things take time and tools. I personally would rather let the pros do it for me but I have done it myself so the cool factor has worn off. Everyone should do it at least once.

That said I would get a pre- assembled upper and do what you want w/ the lower.

Good point. I have torque wrenches and an assembly of tools, being a former millwright. With this being my first, I feel I want to know it's nuts and bolts.

[mjkeat]

Then by all means Mr. Cool tools guy