I hear you on that! I am lucky because of where I work. I know a few people who have the tools and interest in helping me build one. That being said, part of me thinks I should just buy one. At this rate, I’ll debate way to long and end up buying another carry gun before I decide on an AR! 
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Wife’s mother’s day present.
600 minus the aimpoint on it
It’s a palmetto state armory midlength upper and lower with a midwest industries quad rail, geissele 2 stage trigger and lower parts kit, hogue grip and BCM stock, magpul flip up buis and an aimpoint pro.
Flashlight and some sort of forward hand grip to come, just gotta see what fits her
Just gotta be patient and look for sales. FYI a lot of good fathers day sales.
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@Sheepdog556 … getting your wife a mother’s day gun on Father’s day… you are seriously rockin’ the husband thing. 
No she got it on mother’s day. I was just letting @Dawn know that father’s day usually has some pretty good gun parts sales. 4th of July does too
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Well if you just buy one you can shoot it the same day… .
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That is definitely a perk!
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You can buy or you can build, it doesn’t matter, but it really depends what your AR is going to be used for. I have top tier AR for medium distance target, a top tier AR for if the SHTF, and then there is the strictly home defense, inexpensive AR from a reputable manufacturer that is reliably solid. I have a DelTon for home defense, its stock, its a flattop with a reliable red dot and a light. Remember, if used in home defense, you won’t be seeing it because police will take it as evidence, you don’t need to employ something like a Daniel Defense, Colt, Bravo Company, LWRCI, La Rue, LMT, Knights Armament, Noveske, or anything that is top tier because its pricey, those are what I refer to as a combat high reliability AR’s, something you would have in an outpost in the middle of Afghanistan and being attack by crazed fighters. For inexpensive AR’s for home defense, DelTon, RRA, Ruger, will do just fine.
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It really depends on your budget. My AR upper and lower are made by Anderson. I have a Romeo 5 red dot and flip up irons as back up. I have a single point sling.
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Currently I am looking at the S&W M&P15 Sport II. I don’t have the time, patience, or knowledge to build my own. Sure I would love to have a Daniel Defense but for some reason I just can’t find an extra $2000+ laying around. 
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A local gunsmith helped me build mine, I didn’t have the tools needed. I got a complete upper, he put the lower together.
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That’s a good idea Dawn, when you buy a production AR, it give you the opportunity to go onto YouTube and learn about everything, all parts and tiny springs, tips and how to customize your AR to your liking. Then you have a great understanding of what you have and you can buy the tools that you need as you go. It good to buy your tools instead of borrowing because you will always be able to break you gun down for not only tension and torque specs, but so you can change parts out because of either wear and tear or because of customization. God bless, it’s good to be back. 
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@Steve-G - glad to have you back, missed you!!
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I ordered a stripped AR lower, well, actually, it is a Nobeto-15 recently. Curious what all you get for yours Dawn. I am still pondering doing a pistol carbine, or 300 Blackout. I have put together a few lowers, will most likely buy a complete upper.
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@fred_G my household is with you either way. I’m getting a pistol carbine kit for my Glock 21 .45ACP, and my hubby is really liking his AR in 300Blackout.
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Really thinking about 300 Blackout, and eventually a suppressor… Yeah, think I will do that. One day, a 9mm one for giggles.
Those Glock carbine kits seem to be the way to go money wise.
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I have an M&P 15 that shoots very well and has been completely reliable. It’s not in the same league with my Sig 516 but it will absolutely do the job both as a hunting and defensive carbine.
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My Anderson is reliable, I like the way it shoots. Still working on getting more ambi controls.
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I took that route as well, put a .300BO into service and about a month or so ago I went with a 9mm. And both are giggles so go for it.
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The best on would have to be the operational one that is in your hands at the time you need/want it to go bang.
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Dunno how I missed this.
@Dawn I wonder if you are still searching out an AR for your stable?
I have never been a huge fan of AR’s but have come to accept them as viable platforms after carrying them around the world for a couple decades. I am and always have been a proponent of building them to suit your needs and have often stated that AR’s are “Lego’s for big kids”. For me the biggest factor is customization and price point. For $275 - 325 for a kit ( OUTDOORSPORTSUSA.COM ) and $50 - 90 for a lower I’m into a very nice basic carbine. For ~$30 more I can make the kit a pistol. I don’t think I can get a basic carbine for less than $700 anywhere and certainly not a pistol.
As to specific pieces parts, I am not that choosy but I am a big fan of the above linked company’s slim line fore ends in Key Lock or M-Lock varieties should you feel the need to have rails, and lights and cup holders and such.
Lowers: I REALLY like the Aero Precision M4E2. Other than being a top shelf forged lower it has three enhancements I find very useful.
Flared mag well: The magazine gozinta hole is flared out and angled making for faster mag changes.
Integral Trigger Guard: It’s already milled into the lower so it’s one less pin you need to drive in AND it is undercut for your middle finger which gives a better grip.
Screw In Bolt release pin: This is pure genius from somebody as driving the bolt release pin into place is one of the assembly points sure to scratch up your new lower with an errant hammer stroke of bounced pin punch.
Stock’s: Big fan of SOPMOD or B-4 type stocks on an adjustable. They just fit my face sooooo nice.
Cheers,
Craig6
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