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The Annoyed Man wrote: $80 includes the lower parts kit? DPMS parts kits generally run about $69.95. What about sights? 3 or 4 magazines, even cheap ones, are going to set you back another $50+.

I was thinking too that lowers are going to be scarce right now. Maybe I'm wrong.

That $470 isn't for an upper, its an entire rifle, minus the stripped lower.

http://www.del-ton.com/Rifle_Kit_p/rkt101.htm

Now, there are several things in that kit that most people don't find desirable, primarily the non chrome lined Heavy barrel and 1:9 twist rate. But minus a rear sight, that $470 plus a stripped lower will get you an entire rifle. I haven't checked stripped lower prices in a while, got mine for $50 last year during a Palmetto State labor day sale. Generally I've seen them for ~$80 though. So add another $40 or so for a detachable carry handle, $20 for FFL fee for the lower and you're looking at right over $600 for a complete AR. Throw in the magazines as you mentioned plus enough ammo to fill them and you're looking at closer to $700.

But the point was: Yes, you can build a ~$600ish AR.

The Annoyed Man wrote: Yes, you can get those kind of prices, and building your own certainly saves money. Mine are all home-built. But there are no $600 ARs for sale anymore, and that was my point.

There aren't "top tier" ARs at that price point, but 20" and 16" rifle kits are running around $470 right now from Del-ton. Add an ~$80 lower and you have an AR. It will be a pretty bare bones one, but it will run.

Is it as nice as some of the other more expensive options out there? Heck no. But I haven't read a lot of negative stuff about their builds either, so it is a viable option for a "budget build".