First-Time AR Build Questions

[rg115]

Been thinking about building my first AR-15 for a bit now. Finally dove into parts and there are some decent deals out there, but honestly, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with what's worth buying.

I want to keep it simple for my first build. Planning on sticking with 5.56 since it seems to be the standard, but I'm open to suggestions if there's a better choice for a newbie like me.

Are there brands you guys would steer clear of? And what about those hidden costs that sneak up on you? I've heard about people making mistakes early on, so any tips would help.

Part of me wonders if it'd be smarter to just buy a pre-built one. But I really want that experience of building one myself. Anyone have stories or lessons learned from their first builds? Appreciate any tips you can throw my way.

 

[Shotgunangler]

For your first build I would keep it simple by buying a pre-assembled complete upper with the bolt carrier group (BCG) and a lower parts kit. That way you don't have to worry about head space and so forth. Palmetto State Armory sells respectable complete uppers and lower build kits. Unless you plan on getting into heavy competitive shooting and are primarily going to use it as a range toy there is no reason to spend over a grand on one. A decent, reliable AR can be built for well under $600. The nice thing about the AR platform is they are the Legos of the gun world. You can configure them how ever you want to fit your needs. I started out building an inexpensive no frills one with Magpul flip up sites and 3 magazines for around $450 a couple of years ago. I've since upgraded the trigger group and added a scope and sling to it. If you start pretty basic you can swap out and upgrade stuff as you get a better feel for the direction you want the build to go in, and finances permit.