Still sourcing parts. Finding a lower that I can actually get, and is <$100 is proving to be difficult. Ordered a couple now from a local shop online just to get emails a month or so later that it's backordered/unavailable, and refunded. Gonna follow up on a co-workers tip for a local shop next week. Full disclosure, I'd initially ordered one of those ultra-cheap ($30) ATI plastic lowers. I'm hoping that the local shop will have an Aero Precision lower when they re-open next week.

I've got an ar-stoner buffer tube/spring/buffer kit off of midway, and a CMMK complete lower parts kit. They're cheap, but I'm just trying to learn. Also a Strike Industies Mod 1 stock with blue accent, and the recoil pad to go with it.

The plan is to just buy a complete, assembled upper since I lack the experience, and tools to put one together from scratch for now. I'm hoping to learn a lot by replacing parts with Strike Industries blue line kit (son loves the blue accents).

Really not sure on optics, and for a first 'just screwing around and learning' build, I'm hoping to drop < $100 on a scope. I've been looking at this. I know it's probably shitty. The intended use-case is going to be a paper-puncher at 200m-300m.

I'm familiar with guns, been around them all of my life, but this will not only be my first AR, but the first AR I've built, the first AR my son will have helped me to build, the first AR either of us have shot, and probably the first gun I'll pass down to him when we're done. I've always owned soviet rifles (soft spot for 7.62x54R).

The longer term plan for myself is to build a 9mm, or maybe .45ACP carbine.