When I realized my "budget build" cost more than buying complete

[Alan]

I told myself I'd save money building my own AR. Started with a $60 lower, then 'upgraded' to a better barrel, nicer trigger, free-float handguard, and before I knew it I'd spent $1,400 on a rifle I could've bought complete for $900. The math didn't math, but at least I know every part intimately. That's what I tell myself to sleep at night anyway.

 

[WIlliams_shoots]

Budget builds are just expensive hobbies wearing a clever money‑saving disguise honestly.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Well, I’ve built a few ar15s but I’ve never turned a $60 lower into a $1400 rifle! Overall, I find that if I’m gonna build a nicer rifle, I like the arrow M4 E1 set. I think it runs about $150-$200 for the upper and the lower.

Then, of course, it needs the appropriate trigger, and the appropriate barrel matched up with it to make it into a useful rifle.

My overall pro tip for a working rifle is to buy the colt OEM rifle. That allows you to add some furniture or maybe a trigger or something else and still not be raked over the coals on the end price. It also will be about the most reliable, best quality rifle that one can buy.

 

[Scythe]

All of my AR's are Frankenguns, a mixture of parts. For the first time I bought a complete upper off of Palmetto State for $379.

Most of the time I buy an upper and a lower and then I slowly add parts. So far I'm satisfied with my creations and the cost has never bothered me.
While I know every part is quality, Geissele, MI, LMT, Toolcraft, etc. I will say this, I've never taken any of my rifles to a Tactical or otherwise course where you fire up to 1000rds a day.

I bought the upper off of Palmetto because I wanted one in that chamber, complete. I've already purchased a new 18" barrel for it so that price is pushing $700 now and I don't care. Why did I buy the extra barrel? In case the original one sucks