Great thread Architect! I've only fired a borrowed AR a couple times. I've been thinking of getting one for myself but there are just so many variations! I like the DIY idea, but have never done a build of any firearm. I don't have any special smithing tools, but a decent set of general tools. In your tier one BCM build example, is it really that simple of buying the components and slapping them together? I would love to give it a try. Might have to sell a few knives though to justify it. - JD


>>> Since the cost of building a "tier one" AR15 is less than $1000 I cannot think of a single VALID reason to buy anything else. For example, the cost of "building" a BCM MidLength or BCM "M4" is only $958. NOTE: When I say "build" I do not mean you have to actually "build" anything - you just have to push the two take-down pins!