I currently own a Bushie varmint special (and am quite pleased), but I'm thinking of taking the next step and building my own this time.  I hear it's just about as cheap (or cheaper) to just buy a complete upper.  Is that right?  Let's assume I do.  Now I need a stripped lower and a lower parts kit, as well as a stock and grip.  Is that it?  

The last part of my question is about tools.  Assuming I buy a complete upper, will I need any special tools to put the lower together?

Thanks in advance...
Nick

you know you got a good lower.
why not just buy about 3 more uppers in different configurations?

i would get a shorty A2 upper with a ultra light barrel.

you could do like 308wood suggests, heck I did it too, but be warned....

if you have an upper sitting in the safe w/o a lower, it gets lonely... you'll be looking to get it a companion lower to keep harmony in your safe [:)]


If you want to build your own, I recommend you get a copy/download the manual for the AR's..

[url=http://www.ar15.com/content/books/TM9-1005-319-23.pdf]TM 9-1005-319-23[/url]

The J&T kits come with everything but the stripped lower and the upper is already assembled.  Getting the complete kit instead of just the upper only adds about $70 to the total.

If you just get an upper, you'll need to get a lower parts kit (which may or may not come with the pistol grip), the buttstock assembly (the buffer tube, buffer, spring, sling loop, etc. may be sold seperately)

As for lower receiver tools--  
I've found a lower receiver vise block to be useful.  If you're using a collapsible styly stock, you'd probably do well to invest the $6 in a Tele-Stock Wrench.  A crescent wrench will work just fine for a regular butstock.  Other than that, about the only special tool you'd need are 3/32 and 1/8 inch roll pin punches.

[url]ar15.com/content/docs/assembly/lower/[/url]

Is a vice block just something that immitates a magazine that you can squeeze in a vice?

Right, solid block of plastic milled to fit the magazine well, and mag release.

you can substitute a whittled piece of 2x4

Hmmm... Machined block of plastic or whittled piece of 2x4.  I was thinking more along the line of 2x4.  Thanks

a cheapie gunshow mag filled with lead works well too.