Building My First AR-15: Need Some Guidance

[rg115]

Been thinking about putting together my first AR-15 for a while now. I finally started diving into the parts and honestly, it's a bit overwhelming. There are so many options and deals if you know where to look, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's necessary and what's just hype.

I'm aiming for a basic rifle build to start. I'm leaning towards 5.56 because it seems pretty standard, but if anyone has other suggestions for a newbie, I'm all ears.

I'd love to hear about any brands you guys think are a hard pass. Also, what are some common mistakes you made (or saw others make) when building your first rifle? I've been reading about hidden costs too — what's the stuff that sneaks up on you?

Part of me thinks I could just buy a pre-built one to skip the hassle, but I really want to experience the build process if I can.

Looking forward to any tips or crazy stories you've got about starting off in this hobby.

 

[Foxey56]

Depends on how deep you want to go. An 80% lower receiver blank and a purchased receiver kit with the pins, trigger, springs is one way. You'll need a drill press and some tooling, tooling cost is a factor if you buy for only one build. A complete upper from say Palmetto Arms can be both cost effective and satisfying. Selecting individual parts for upper and lower can drive the cost and build time way up. You learn a lot from the experience.The minimum assembly tool kit isn't much but a good drill press that can double to press in the pins saves nerves and possible damage from hammering.
Buying a lower receiver, a trigger kit and a completed upper is a step away from just buying a rifle. Assembly from such and heading to the range is an afternoon effort.