Even though parts prices are still up, you can indeed build your own and use better parts than most mainstream manufacturers for less dough. My current build has the best of everything - from barrel, to receiver, to bolt carrier, to sights and it was around $800.00 total - one part at a time. My future build will be much the same way - everything will be top shelf and the preliminary total is about the same, (though I may be going a bit higher with a LaRue upper receiver)....My M4gery will out shoot anything in its class made by Bushmaster, Stag, etc....It's deadly out to 200-yards at least with open sights. I'm no match shooter, but I was banging on a 6" iron circle at 200-yards, a larger, (8" I think) at 100 and was popping half buried jars of tannerite with it at 100 in New Hampshire. The gun is tight like prom night..I took the Trijicon Tripower off of it, because I simply don't need it. I have not tested it out farther, but from 0-200 yards, it's lethal and was not built by Bushmaster....I have not done an LPK by myself yet, but I'm kidnapping KMM696 to guide me through...The rest is easy assembly...