So, I came upon a stripped lower for $65.
And I got to thinking.  How cheaply could I build an AR15 ?
Well, I'm on my way.  Ive searched high and low for "cheap" but decent parts and my build has begun.

You always hear about the bitchin custom builds, but what about the shoestring build?
I was just wondering what others might have experienced if they try this.
As soon as I am finished with my economy-shoestring build in a week or so I'll let you all know how it came out.
How cheaply can you do it?
Jimmy

Check palmetto state armory like every day they put on some great sales.

Cheapest I've done is about $600,  but that was mostly new, some used quality parts.  YHM quad-rail handguard for $60 on the EE, for example.

The one HUGE advantage of this plan is you don't have to have $600-$700 all at once-you can buy a couple of parts at a time and put it together later.

Does it have to fire more than once?

How cheaply can I build it for? Or how cheaply can the average guy build one for?

With a full CNC equipped shop (mills and lathes), I can build much cheaper than most.



Average guy piecing one together, $600 or so. Cut a few bucks if you get used parts.

Surplus arms had that stripped upper build kit for about $175 - needed bolt, gas block...handguards...

AR-15 Upper Receiver Builder's Kit: Stripped Upper, Forward Assist, Dust Cover, Charging Handle, M4 Barrel, Barrel Nut, & Gas Tube

Piecing it together over a period of weeks makes sense. Looking for the weekly special is another great idea.  
I will use used parts if I can find them.  But I think purchasing inexpensive, and " specials" parts is the goal.
I hope this can be done for just over $500.
Well see.
Jimmy

Wait till the Black Friday Sales this year, Last year Del ton had a rifle kits with all parts for just under $400 and PSA had their lowers on sale at the same time even with shipping and FFL costs you could build one for under $500

561.33 and everything is currently in stock.  That was fun!

Sorry for the ugly formatting.

Barrel
http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/16-heavy-m4-barrel.aspx?a=938889 $89.99
Stripped Upper
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/upper-parts/upper-receivers/stripped-blemished-ar-15-upper-receiver.html $59.95
Lower
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ati-omni-stripped-lower-receiver.html $39.99
BCG
http://www.core15.com/products/parts/upper-parts/bcgs-a-charging-handles.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_color_plus.tpl&product_id=116&category_id=23 $119.00
Stock
http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/6-position-ar-15-carbine-stock.aspx?a=1003578 $26.99
LPK
http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/dpms-lower-receiver-small-parts-kit.aspx?a=1030541 $35.99
FF Hand guard
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5552/Product/AR-15-VENTED-FREE-FLOAT-TUBE $85.99
Charging Handle
http://www.core15.com/products/parts/upper-parts/bcgs-a-charging-handles.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_color_plus.tpl&product_id=85&category_id=23 $19.99
Gas Block
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=29340/Product/AR-15-M16-PICATINNY-RAIL-GAS-BLOCK $29.99
Gas tube
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/3163535924/del-ton-gas-tube-ar-15-lr-308?cm_vc=subv11413288594 $11.99
Flash Hider
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/343064/dpms-flash-hider-a2-1-2-28-thread-ar-15-matte $5.99
Magazine $15.00
Forward assist
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/787744/dpms-forward-assist-assembly-round-ar-15-lr-308-matte $11.99
Crush Washer
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/333363/dpms-crush-washer-ar-15?cm_vc=OBv1787744 $2.99
Ejection Port Cover
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/888007/dpms-ejection-port-cover-assembly-ar-15-matte $5.49

i saw on here a few weeks ago someone built one for $510 without rear sight

This seems spot on

That include shipping?

now add shipping from the 6 companies that will probably be another $100

My very first AR was a total of about $550.  LRB lower, PSA classic lower build, DTI upper purchased at a show.

$525 EASY. NFA lower assembly with Del-ton upper assembly. Use coupon codes where available.

I'm in a helpful mood tonight.  

I am in the process of building one now.  I discovered that it really depends on the purpose of the rifle.  If I was customizing for myself it would be around $700.
I bought stripped lower $85 and lower parts kit $70 Local
Stock assembly $40 Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YL08UO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=AN5PI36H70Q63
I normally surf the gun shows for the other parts.

I just bought a commercial Magpul CTR stock today and was wondering if this is a commercial tube?  http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/6-position-ar-15-carbine-stock.aspx?a=1003578   Since it is cheaper than the kit on amazon.

Wow,  Now that was helpful.
Huge Thank you,
I'm on it.
Jimmy

PSA had the polymer lowers for 39.99 and an entire built polymer lower for like 103.99 if thats something you are into

I know the OP said cheapest "Build", but I thought I would add this here just for comparison
Doublestar DS-4 Carbine is $670 - Chromemoly  Barrel, F-Marked Front Sight, M4 Feed Ramps, Properly Staked Gas Key & Castle Nut




http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_753/products_id/411537957/Doublestar+Star+15+M4+16%22+6+Pos.+Stock+5.56
Smith & Wesson M&P 15 is $670 - Chromemoly  Barrel, F-Marked Front Sight, M4 Feed Ramps, Properly Staked Gas Key & Castle Nut




http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_763_977/products_id/71969/Smith+%26+Wesson+M%26P+Semi-Automatic+223+Remington5.56+NATO+30





DPMP Sportical is $594 - Chromemoly  Barrel, not 100% sure on anything else...





http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_793/products_id/61626/DPMS+Panther+Sportical+.223+6+Pos.+Stock
 

Using Stag uppers.... 1H  for $ 747 with an ALG FCG and a 4H for $723 had a WW FCG.. All new parts and LAR lowers

I would say that the $600 mark is pretty much the bottom price after you factor in shipping and handling and/or tax and transfer fees. I am also assuming that you are not using a poly lower or "suspect/sub-standard" parts.

I know there are some sales that you can hit and save some bucks but I think that $600 is a real number. I have seen some guys try for $500 but haven't seen them successful yet. Not saying it can't be done but I haven't seen it yet.

My 2cents.

first of the year I put three together for friends with Palmetto Lowers

with bushy lower build kits and Bushy M4 upper w/ Carry handle (with dealer prices from JerrysSportCenter)

each ran right at $570 ready to shoot w/o mags

Stag has a complete kit less lower for $559 shipped
Thats $624 for a stag rifle. Pretty cheap
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_121/1033910_STAG_M_4_Rifle_Kit_Less_Stripped_Lower__559_ship_included_Now_Thru_Election_Day.html

I know this doesn't really count, but I built a bare bones rifle for around 200 dollars by using the Equipment Exchange. I just traded extra gear I had sitting around. I say it doesn't count because I paid for that stuff at one time or another. But still, if you have extra parts after doing three or four builds (and you will start accumulating extra parts) you might as well build another one.

THIS

Their deals on parts are ridiculous. Just wait for them to have a sale on whatever you need. Sooner or later it's bound to happen.

Right now I've got around 150 tied up in a full lower receiver and a few misc upper parts. I just need a barrel, BCG, a few mags (since its a 7.62x39) and a few small misc things. If I buy the barrel ad BCG groupd new ill be almost right at the 600 dollar mark.

You also have to wait for them to actually ship their parts.

Great prices and great parts (hence why I have made multiple orders) but, don't order anything you might need in a hurry from them....  They need the full 5 business days to get even LPKs out right now due to demand.  But, if you found a Sub $100 lower and threw on a PSA lower build kit, you are well under $200 for the lower.   Good deal.

I just had someone ask the same question. I spent 2 days searching and found sota arms has a 556 upper complete with bcg and ch for $379.99 shipped. You can get a complete NFA polymer lower from joebobs for $104.45 shipped (with the slickguns discount code) plus whatever your ffl charges. Add sights and mags of your choice and be well under $600.

Well, now that people feel that they need to sell lowers for 2-3 time more than what they normally cost ($200 for a $79 spikes lower = ass-raping!), it's a lot harder to build with all new parts and stay under $650-$700

All but one of my AR's were built for less than $500 and it was less than $550.
None of the are fancy built, but will function very good.

I usually only buy parts when they are a bargin. Sometimes the guys here will put up something for sale and it doesn't sell and I will inquire about the part and see if we can work a deal. Most of the time we can work out something.
I shop in the EE for new take off parts and I have gotten some very good deals that way.
Most of the parts are new or near new condition.  It is a win for both of us.

I have to admit I have gotten a few not as advertized parts over the years and have a parts bin for them. (I build truck guns with these parts)

I learned that if you get in a hurry buying parts it will usually cost more. When the panic buying starts, then I usually do not buy much. I wait until the panic is over and the vendors start getting in the back orders. They will sell off the extra parts at a discount. That is another time when to buy.

I am on the e-mail list for most of the vendors that support this site.  Sometime I get stuff from them daily and other's maybe once a month.
When they have unadvertized specials I buy what I can for later builds.

I have 4 grandsons to help me build. The oldest is getting pretty good at it and the second oldest has just started building with me.
When they turn 18 I will give the rifle they have built to them.

Old Man rambeling on again...........
Ron

Totally depends on the parts used & where you buy them from.

600 is the cheapest I have built one for

Tater Tot 24  there are some great deals you listed.. For guys on a tight budget and wantin to prepare this  is a great list of low cost ARs.
Thanks for your post.  Jimmy

I have 550 dollars in my psa Middy. Double star lower. they shipped the premium lower package that included that fcg and i only ordered a stockset,
i just finished today a polymer build that i have about 560 in. no mag or back sight. using the ATI omni polymer lower 117 bucks for a complete lower with a metal FCG and stock factory assembled from buds gunshop. havent fired it yet but it seems GTG.

117 shipped for the lower
294 shipped for barreled upper from psa
146 shipped for bcg and ch from delton
557 total

Thanks. Yeah, I thought that those deals were not really too bad, especially when you consider that the Doublestar and S&W are actually pretty good rifles...



 

I did a 5.56 for less than $520 ONCE.
One thing that will save a bunch. Use a DPMS Lo Pro upper. I got mine on sale for $50 or so
Then I got a used mint free float tube. that was $30. A low profile steel gas block and a new gas tube. $25 on the EE. A $110 middy LW barrel new on sale.
The carrier and bolt were the expensive parts on the upper. $110 as well as a EE $15 CH shipped. This upper uses a cheap red dot, a $54 Tru Glo large body.
You eleminate many parts this way...
All the port door and FA stuff
The iron sights
The front sling mount.
Handgaurd and caps, nut Etc.
Get a plastic lower complete local. $110 or so.
Put a single point sling buffer tube plate on it for your sling. $10.

It shot good. BUT I upgraded everything after a while. And sold the old parts.

I was originally reluctant to post up this combo, but after reading the reviews and watching the torture test videos it may be an option...
LW-15 Complete Polymer Lower $109 - Watch the videos and realize they have fixed some of the earlier problems before bashing them






http://newfrontierarmory.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=245_285&products_id=34089
Del-Ton 16" Post-Ban Upper $400 - It comes with the BCG & Charging Handle






http://www.del-ton.com/AR_15_Barrel_Assembly_p/dt1015.htm
So that is $509 without a magazine... BOOM