Ok i haven't fired any kind of weapon for about 18years now so bare with me. First off my biggest problem is I live in CA  I know i know it sucks but it what it is! My story starts when I go into my local gun shop to browse and actually decided on a rifle (m&p ar 15t) for about $1250 out the door( I know probably way to much) anyways as I'm getting to ready to pay after all the California bla bla the guy brings a form to sign stating that if for some reason my background check does not go through they charge a 90% restocking fee  I was Wtf! Now I'm not sure if this is just normal but it left a bad taste in my mouth so I told him to keep his rifle! So I go home get on the Web to research after reading and reading and getting many headaches this is what I have found out what it takes to own a AR 15 in California

1. Must have bullet button
2. Must only have 10 round mag
3. Must have 16" barrel
4. online dealer it must be sent to licensed ffl

So I've decided to possibly just order an 80%lower and mill it myself and build the rifle But this is where I'm stuck. How do I build the rifle and make sure that I'm legal? I've looked at lowers and complete uppers but most say nothing about being California compliant unless it's a complete riffle.  If I purchase a complete upper do I only need to worry about the barrel length and everything else is OK? How do I make sure I build it with a bullet button? Anyways I'm ready to buy and will buy a complete rifle and just go through a ffl shop if I have to but building one seems more attractive! Can anyone recommend a complete riffle around $1k or maybe a certain brand of complete riffle kits to build? I really like the look and feel of the m&p with the quad rail for attachments. A couple of my coworkers have them with nice scopes and flashlights so I guess I just want to fit. There are so many out there I'm just not sure what to chose especially with California laws. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to just buy a stripped lower, they start around $50 right now... As for CA compliance most of the big online guys will sell compliance parts like bullet buttons. So head over to the CA hometown forum and check that out then hit up brownells or midway and start ordering.

Your LGS Guy is contributing to the insanity that's called Kalifornia. Never step foot in that store again.

Yes passing the background is not the problem... It's just the whole point of the 90% restocking fee if you failed was just stealing another man's money! I won't do business with anybody who thinks it's OK to just take another man's money for nothing... It's just not right! I'm going to check into those you have listed and call a couple of local ffl today Ty for the help!

Restocking fee for an in stock rifle? Fuck that store and the owner. he deserves to go belly up.

If you're in San Diego, check out Parallax Tactical or Big Shot.  The former is where I'd start, especially if you want help with the CA compliance.  Calguns forum is also a great resource.  They have a flow chart, but it seems you have a pretty good grip on the requirements.  Parallax Tactical is one of the few stores that won't charge $100 for DROS-ing a firearm (or lower) that you ordered online.  They charge the same price as they do for any gun they sell in the store (I think DROS costs $40 at their store).

if you can't find what you want already assembled at a local store (no matter where you life), then I'd recommend buying an upper receiver that you like pre-built.  Then buy a lower receiver and assemble that.  You don't need any special tools...just youtube for the most part.  I can't think of any gun store that wouldn't process a DROS for any lower you purchased online.  You just need that store to fax/email over their FFL to the seller.  I've done that with CORE15 and it was easy.

Hope that helps.  Thanks for your service.

Matel.