I started out on Black Friday looking at PSA lowers for $49. I missed the sale by a day waiting for pay-day.
That led me to some $59 and $79 lowers but since I wasn't getting the killer deal I decided to buy the roll mark I wanted.
I blew $89+$20 FFL free shipping for a Spikes Punisher.
It had a blemish so AIMsurplus knocked off $15
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/supercobrajet/dde36ecc.jpg
I found a RRA hardware kit locally for $59
I bought JP springs for $9.95 + $10 shipping
A trip to Bass Pro netted me a Tapco mag $17
and a Tapco sling end cap $13
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/supercobrajet/b0dca857.jpg
After shopping like a fool I finally narrowed my search to PSA's 16" 4150 upper with an OD green MOE foregrip upgrade. $414
I also ordered a Magpul enhanced trigger guard $8.95
and a buffer tube kit $39
+$15 shipping
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/supercobrajet/ecd62d04.jpg
This is where things got screwy.
I found that the MOE furniture kit $79 was cheaper than just ordering the MOE pistol grip and stock separately.
I ordered it and now I had 2 OD green MOE foregrips. I emailed PSA and they agreed to swap in a black foregrip for the OD furniture kit
Later I found a buffer kit with stock for the same price as just the buffer that I had bought. Had I shopped better
I would have had a complete set of black furniture for what I spent on all the OD stuff.
I ended up with a LOT of these issues.
The day I got my upper PSA offered a super nice complete MOE rifle kit minus lower for $549. That plus a $49 lower would have saved me about $110
To wrap it all up I scored a Winchester singlepoint sling for $19 at Walmart (go figure)
A carry handle online for $32 + $12 shipping
and finally (for now) an extended charge handle latch $20
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/supercobrajet/1a234b2d.jpg
Pictured here in my new $19 cheap case is my 12 gau Pardner Pump, Taurus 24/7 Pro with its new laser sight I picked up today,
my nearly complete AR just waiting on furniture and my Springer Spaniel's ass.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l148/supercobrajet/91c6d6cc.jpg
so with all the shipping, accessories and the case I dropped $867
If I bought the PSA lower and kit, charge handle latch, case, carry handle, extra mag and sling I would have spent $757 (ish)
Just the lower, MOE rifle kit, shipping and FFL would be $633 (with no sight.)
http://palmettostatearmory.com/1560.php
http://palmettostatearmory.com/2551.php
I was trying like hell to do this for between $550-$650 but upgrades, "finish-it-fever" and add-ons got the better of me.