Is DPMS Still In Business?

[FLshooter]

I can easily agree with both Montana and FLShooter about the addictive and affordable nature of building one's own AR. I can think of no other industry where someone can choose such a wide variety of parts from so many vendors to build a customized product with a relatively modest investment. (Barbie and her accessories cost way more.)

I was recently in the "Cave", with the gun safe standing open. My wife came in to ask me something, and stopped at the gun safe and exclaimed; "When did you buy all these rifles?" I looked at the safe and thought for a moment, replied; "I only bought four rifles". Without going into the rest of the discussion where she insulted my math, I can see where she was confused, since I never actually bought a brand name AR rifle - just the bolt action rifles. The rest, I lovingly assembled and fitted, myself.

I presently have one in the pre-assembly stage, living in one of LRRPF52's build boxes. That one is waiting for the Muse to strike me as to which barrel to install. When I do decide, the other guns in the safe will have to move over a bit to make room for yet one more AR that never came through the front door as a factory assembled rifle.

As a final caveat, affordable does not necessarily imply quality. It pays major dividends to choose your components with intent. Keep an eye on what the final product is going to do to earn its keep. If you're building a blaster, your choices might be simpler, but I still suggest waiting until you have the funds to afford the components worthy of your build. Remember the often repeated adage(s): "Buy cheap, buy twice" and its traveling buddy, "Buy once, cry once".

I have done both. Started out with budget complete upper and budget complete lower. Started out with stripped upper and lower matched set.
The most important component In the upper is the barrel.And the most important components in the lower is the trigger . I either start with a quality barrel and quality trigger or add them as I go. Either way I’m going to end up with a shooter.
I have a BCA upper that I dropped a 24 inch heavy Bartlein 6.5 Grendel barrel w/ .936 gas block into. The lower was a PSA $150 MOE special that I dropped a Giessele NM trigger into. Right now it’s doing sub half inch groups. Probably have around $1300 into the complete rifle.Without the scope of coarse.
My AR reminds me of my old Chevy Chevelle.No matter how good it was running I always felt the need to tinker with it and change stuff out. And that’s the reason why I always want to start a new build,because I get bored I want something different. Not necessarily better either.