As someone whou2019s built an AR-15 from scratch, I would do it again in a heartbeat and will give the following reasons why itu2019s better to build one than buy one.This Is My Rifle, There Are Many Like It But This One Is MineI built my rifle from the ground up. I bought an 80% lower from Ares Armor (now Firearms Unknown), had it milled out at whatu2019s known as a build party, bought the trigger mechanisms and the whatnot along with the upper receiver from Radical Firearms, the buttstock from Magpul, and the muzzle brake from again Ares Armor. While the sights came later, the basics cost me less than $800.The rifle was built the way I wouldu2019ve wanted it to be and I did it on my own accord with the help of some experts guiding me throughout the process.Now if I were to buy a rifle say from California, itu2019s an absolute nightmare and would cost me much more than I need to spend. I would have to head to the store, then buy a basic rifle or the best one around. A basic rifle would cost anywhere from $500 to $800 plus tax so that would equate to $560 to $900. The best rifle and Iu2019m talking something like Daniel Defense, would be anywhere from $1,000 and up plus tax.Iu2019d have to fill out paperwork, prove that Iu2019m a resident of the state, then within California, go through a ten-day waiting period thanks to the draconian laws there, and pass some sort of test that would examine my common sense. If the state had a reason not to give me the rifle, then I couldnu2019t take the AR-15 home.If all went well, then I would be allowed to buy the rifle then take it home, hoping the local SWAT team doesnu2019t show up at my door. But letu2019s just say that I wasnu2019t happy would the hypothetical rifle I had bought, and we shall use the best rifle, the Daniel Defense one as an example.I just spent maybe $1900 on this rifle but wanted to replace the muzzle brake, that can cost me anywhere from $60 to $200 dollars depending on the one I buy. Weu2019ll go with $60.Before I forget, if I donu2019t want to get arrested in California, I have to make it California compliant.Crap.Because I donu2019t want to break the action every single freaking time, Iu2019ll buy the Juggernaut Tactical Take Down pin, that will cost me $72. Later, Iu2019ll get a Bear Flag Defense Featurelock in the future when it becomes trademarked. That will probably cost me $100 but I invest in it right now anyway. Next Iu2019ll have to replace the stock with a fixed one. Itu2019s no big deal because I could just weld it so that the collapsible stock becomes fixed. Otherwise, Iu2019d shell out another $30 for the cheapest one on Armslist.The standard trigger isnu2019t making me any happier and I decide to buy a CMC flat trigger, which will cost me $170. The grip sucks to hold so Iu2019ll buy a new one which costs me $30.Altogether, buying the rifle and customizing would cost $2,362 and a bullseye on my back for law enforcement. This is due to the fact that they have the rifleu2019s serial number in their database, and if they had reason to, can take my rifle away.With that money, I couldu2019ve made a couple more rifles, or spent it on bullets, magazines, and a plate carrier to boot.Customizing a rifle from the ground up just requires you to find an 80%, a build party if you donu2019t want to buy a jig, and finding parts on the Internet. Itu2019s completely legal, you donu2019t have to go through a draconian background check, and furthermore, youu2019d customize the rifle to how you want to be.That being said, I donu2019t have anything against buying firearms. You have the right to do so.