Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles First time build opinions

I picked up a couple Anderson stripped lowers at the local gun shop and am thinking about how to go about building these.
Would a Palmetto kit be good to start with or should I pick up a part here and there?
I have seen mixed reviews about Palmetto parts, any other brands to look for?
My budget is about $350 for a kit or $100 a month for parts (wife & kids).

It's generally cheaper to buy a kit than to piecemeal the parts. Just think of shipping charges alone.
With kits, you don't have to worry if your gasblock is compatible with your rail system.

I like Palmetto, the things I have got from them have been very good. The only difference is that they don't inspect their parts as well as, say, Daniel Defense and they sell different grades of parts (Premium, Freedom, and PTAC) as opposed to higher-end sellers who only sell premium parts and blems of those premium parts.

If I don't do PSA, I like BCM. Or, for about the same thing as PSA, Spike's.

A friend recommended buying an upper and assembling the lower for the reasons mentioned above. His advice was “build it from scratch if you like doing that kind of thing but you won’t save money”. I put the lower together and enjoyed that but ended up buying a WOA upper. I’m saving pennies for another AR. For a fleeting moment I considered assembling the parts but quickly determined that buying a complete upper is the way for this one too.

I've used lots of parts from PSA over the years without any problems. I would go with one of their upgraded kits with a free float tube and Magpul furniture.

My gun's a PSA build and I have no complaints. Getting ready to start on the next one- a pistol with a SIG brace.

After Christmas I started looking around for kits and parts to do my 1st assembly. Cabelas was closing out an Anderson starter kit for $150. It had an upper, lower, barrel, gas tube, and block - advertised as customize your own AR.
After that I bought:
Magpul furniture set $65
NiBr BCG $90
LPK $34
UPK $24
Carbine Buffer Kit $25
Charging Handle $20
FH/Compensator $16
Total $274 + Original $150 = $424

Added
Mags 6 x $12 $72
Vortex Spitfire $150
Fenix Light and mount $90
Sling and QD mounts $50

Most Kits are $350 and you supply the lower which is ~$50 depending.

I see what your saying with just buying parts with shipping added is going to be a lot more than the kit.
Think I'll just get a complete rifle kit then and get started on the build also have to get tools, sight, mags and ammo as well.
Sounds like a good way to start and learn about the platform.
Thank you for the help and have a great weekend!

The PSA Freedom kit is hard to beat at $299 with free shipping.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...ifle-kit-olive-drab-green-516446411.html

That's a good deal from PSA.

I also bought a tools combo from Schuyler Arms for ~$30.
It had the magazine block and upper clam shell for a vice and a armors wrench.

The furniture kit was in Sand color which is almost white and I was going to either paint or dye it but it just looks cool black & white.
I spent extra $$$s on the BCG and Compensator, probably could have saved about $25 here?

It all depends on how you want to customize it.
I really liked putting the parts together and have started another.
Its like any hobby, how much do you want to spend on it?

Looks like that comes with their premium BCG as well.

I've had good luck with the PSA Freedom stainless kits. Best PSA barrel I have is one of their CHF, double chrome lined FN barrels. That thing really shoots.

If i was spending my money today on a PSA build kit, it would consider these:

1. Old school stainless kit:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-stainless-mid-length-1-7-freedom-rifle-kit.html

2. Stainless kit with Magpul furniture and an M-loc rail:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...stealth-moe-freedom-m-lok-rifle-kit.html


2. Old school with the FN CHF chrome lined barrel:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-carbine-length-chf-m4-5-56-1-7-rifle-kit.html


3. FN CHF barrel, Magpul furniture, M-loc rail

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...-m-lok-moe-ept-rifle-kit-5165448203.html

If I had extra money in the budget I'd add a Geissele trigger.

Of course budgets and preference will vary, and the above selection reflect mine.

I would get a pre-assembled complete upper. PSA often has a variety on "sale" with free shipping. I would buy a separate magpul lower kit that suits your preference, and then add a premium trigger. Really a cry once, custom kit to your liking. Maybe you can find a whole kit with your wish list, but mix / matching upper and lower would be probably give you everything you want. Memorial weekend has good sales.

So many to choose from makes it hard to decide, how long does it take for them to restock kits.
I like this one but it's out of stock.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...-kit-with-rear-mbus-gray-5165448214.html