Need some opinions/ advice from some of you "gun hands"

67Dart273 said
There's been so much hype on AR platforms I'm thinking of getting my feet wet, probably a 5.56. What advice do you have on where to buy parts, good buys, just as important, where NOT to, and how to approach doing a lower?

And "how bad" are composite lowers? I have a drill press and Jet mill drill, and consider my milling skills pretty much "beginner." But I do have some measuring tools, etc. No digital scales on the mill

Or is the DIY thing about done, and what price difference between building a decent one and buying a decent solid one used? Many of you know I'm in Idaho so laws are fairly flexible, at least for now.

I'm not interested in a bunch of fancy extras, but with my eyesight I'll need some sort of optical sight, either low power scope or refractor, etc. But I can do that later.

I'd stay away from the composite lowers myself, never thought they were a good idea for the long run. I shoot NRA Highpower competion and when I went from a bolt gun to the AR service rifle, I bought a Rock River Arms stripped lower and put it together myself and topped it with a ready to go upper from White Oak Armament. Did the same when I put together a space gun for match rifle class but this time in 6mm PDK which is a 6mm wildcat on the 6.8 case. Find a decent condition used gun or have your shop order in one of the myriad available complete rifles or an upper and a stripped lower and kit. I'm not even going to try to mention all the places you can look, there are a ton of vendors these days. If you are marginally handy, the lower is easy to put together, uppers require more tools and a little more attention. I've begun building uppers and chambering barrels for myself and it is very satisfying and not rocket science. These things are very modular and if you start with a good upper and lower forging, you can upgrade and change as you go. Doing your own work saves a bit of money to put towards ammo or the next rifle. I've also got three 80% lowers to do, but they haven't risen to the top of my "round-to-it" list yet. I think everyone should have a .223/5.56 AR platform rifle, they are a lot of fun and everyone in the family can handle one.