Ok, so I want to get into the AR game for the piggies (only ever used bolt action rifles). Now I can go pick one up at academy no problem, just gotta go through the red tape. To anyone who has ever built their own what are the benefits of it. I see all of these threads about uppers and lowers do you only need an upper and lower put them together and you got yourself a gun? Sorry I'm really new this, but also very interested... if any one has any links and such i love to read about this stuff online! Thanks!

MidwayUSA has a decent How To on building an AR-15. I know my way around an AR, but I'd never tackle a build by myself.

http://www.midwayusa.com/general.mvc/index/how-to-build-ar-15-rifle

Common Chad you would breeze through it.

You will also have to buy some assembly tools/wrenches to get it done so if you are planning to just build one then just buy one complete or buy a complete upper and a complete lower. Probably your best bet.

Umm or you could just buy one. Figure out what you want, then look what is available.

What do you mean by red tape? Wife?

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/36_1989/Tactical+Rifles/

Plenty of options here.

I have built a bunch of AR's right now the market is absolutely flooded with AR's. You could find a full rifle for way cheaper than what you could buy the parts to build one. Best thing about building is you buy exactly what you want and build it with all the parts you want the first time. If you buy a gun off the shelf normally you'll change to a free float rail, change your pistol grip, change your trigger, butt stock and the list grows on and on. You'll end up with a gun that you really like with a lot of spare parts from the previous one. In essence you spent more money on buying the stock gun and then buying all the parts to replace the stock parts, then you would have if you'd just built it yourself in the first place. However that doesn't really hold true right now when you can get a rifle for around $500-$600 out the door.

Building them is the only way to go. Everything you need to know is on youtube. You can buy the stock you want, trigger, grips, rails, BGC, charging handle, etc. If you stay with 556 or 300BLK, then everything is MILSPEC and should fit. The 308 world is a bit different.

Is it only for hogs?

If you want to give yourself the option of shooting long range you are looking at twice the amount kroyal mentioned or more if you want a quality trigger which I highly recommend.

$120 for a quality Velocity trigger, no need to spend twice that

Explain "red tape" and what you would avoid by building your own??

They are cheap to buy right now, the only advantage of building is you get to pick specific parts you prefer. But, if you've never had one, you probably dont have preferred parts yet.

Here is a PSA build kit. Buy one of their stripped lowers and you have a full PSA gun for around $550ish.

LINK

they're so cheap, just buy one

If primarily going for hogs, I would suggest going with 6.8 SPC...much better round for hunting larger animals. The only different parts compared to a 223/556 AR will be the bolt and magazines.

Red tape? Do you mean background check and transfer? You still have to do it with a home built one if you buy the lower from a dealer. Any responsible person would also make you do that.

I meant for a long range option with a quality trigger twice that, not just for adding a quality trigger.

Throw that term mil spec out the window when it comes to ARs. The only time you need to worry about whether or not you are buying mil spec is when you choose your buffer tube and stock. There are mil spec and commercial size buffer tubes, and you need to make sure you buy a stock that fits the size tube you choose. Other than that, ignore anyone trying to give you advice about ARs who tells you that you need a "mil spec" gun. If you buy a true mil spec AR you are getting a run-of-the-mill, plain-Jane gun. The truth is, the best ARs are far from mil spec.