Update on parts / cost as I have made a few additions since last update:
Final Parts/ cost list:
Anderson Mfg lower: $34.99
Magpul MOE K2 grip: $20.95
Magpul enhanced trigger guard: $8.95
Strike Industries Enhanced Lower Parts Kit- $69.95
Bear Creek Arsenal 10.5" 5.56 1/7 complete upper: $175
Strike industries Pistol Brace: $44.95
CMMG Pistol Buffer Tube: $39.99
End plate, basic: Free
Magpul hand stop kit: $20
Sling: $15
BUIS: $25
Carbine Buffer spring: Already had ($5)
Carbine buffer( blue rubber buffer): already had($15)
Rail mount sling mount: Already had ($5)
Cost (including parts I already had): ~$478
Holosun 403b: already had ($140):
Total cost as equipped: ~$618
All in all im pretty happy with the cost. I stayed pretty low on the budget but actually got a few upgrades compared to buying a pre built pistol, the cheapest of which I can find today is ~$400, but didnt include a brace or BUIS. In addition to the small enhancements, I also was able to customize it exactly how i wanted it to be built. for instance the magpul moe k2 grip, most pre built lowers are going to come with a2 grips which I would have changed anyways.
the lower parts kit i could have saved a few bucks on, but i think the Strike industries enhanced lower parts kit is a great bang for buck upgrade. this includes all the parts( minus grip) that you actually touch/ manipulate when using the firearm. so i figured that was a good place to spend a little extra. also the trigger is muuuch better than a typical milspec you'll get with a cheap pre built lower. not super light, but its got very little take up and a crisp break and short reset. love it. the sear surfaces are polished and i think the springs are slightly lighter than true a true milspec trigger. the safety is another big plus here. I have never given much thought to the saftey, milspec works just fine and always has. however i have now seen the light. the SI LPK lets you configure the safety in several ways, from singe 90* to ambi 60 degree, which is how im using it. the ambi levers allow you to use either thumb or trigger finger, that along with the 60* throw lets me easily put the safety back on after shooting. the stndrd 90 thumb is fine for quickly taking safety off, but not so much for putting it back on. the enlarged bolt catch is also nice.
The Optic: I could have used a cheaper RDS to keep the cost down, however i felt this was as low as i wanted to go on quality with that. I was skeptical of going to an RDS in the first place as my past experiences have been mixed. I have never owned a RDS until now, however i have shot a lot of guns with them and have seen many cheaper ones be nothing but problematic. I wasnt going to shell out the $$$ for aimpoint or something like that, so Holosun hs403b and sig romeo 5 were the two i considered. I went with the HS for 2 main reasons, the auto on/ off feature, and the 1/3 co-witness mount. So far i'm happy with it. as long as it lasts a while it will be worth the money. the features are great and the dot, while not as crisp as an aimpoint, is crisp enough.
While i haven't yet made the purchase I think im going to go with either some cheap buis from amazon, ozark armament micro buis, or some magpul mbus's.. still haven't decided on that part, waiting to see what deals i find for black friday. yes im going super cheap on the buis, but hey, i dont plan to use them much! plus, ya know, im not in combat so I wont die if they fail.
And with that the build is pretty much done, as in nothing else needs to be done, its a fully functional pistol and is set up how i want it for now. Its pretty "high speed; low drag" so to say, nothing on it that inst mission critical.. I might toy around with a small light mounted out front, but idk, I have never been a fan of Weapon mounted lights, just a me thing, i get the practical/ tactical applications ive just never wanted one on my guns... too much bulk.
anywho, thats all for now folks!
New pics incoming!
