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Originally Posted by dahermit
Being retired and not having much to do (except cast bullets for the Summer shooting season), in the Winter time here in Michigan, I am toying with the idea of assembling a AR15 .223 Carbine.
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Originally Posted by dahermit
I was thinking more along the lines of assembling a complete upper and a complete lower and adding a carbine butt stock and carry handle (with rear sight).
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Emphasis added.
I have built inexpensive ARs, and I've yet to encounter a problem that made the item unreliable. I've used parts from Palmetto State, and have found Anderson upper and lower receivers great to work with. I have below average mechanical aptitude and have found none of the assembly process overwhelming, except for one step. I have never attempted to drill and pin a front sight and barrel. It looks to require precision and the right tools, and appears to result in ruined parts of done wrong, so I haven't even tried. I have fixed sight rifles, but I bought complete uppers for those.
To be happy with whatever you put together, you want an idea of what you want in general terms before you shop for it. I agree with FrankenMauser and other that the barrel and trigger are the wrong parts for making the lowest price the priority. I have a 20 inch 1;12 pencil barrel from Green Mountain that was $170 and a Rock River two stage trigger (Neither the best nor the cheapest) that sit in an Anderson upper receiver with an Ebay carbon fiber free float tube and a New Frontier polymer lower (cheap stuff). It's a great rifle. I've a Dez Arms barrel and Armalite National Match trigger sitting in a rifle otherwise composed of cheap parts.
When I wanted an upper with fixed sights, I ordered it built from Palmetto State. I don't think I could have built it for less. Build your own lower though. It's easy enough, and you'll have the confidence of knowing exactly how it all works.