Last year I bought a complete PSA ar, but I’d like to build my own. I am fairly new to guns overall. What would be a good starting kit to work on? Thanks.
I would say any rifle kit that is offered here in the PSA rifle kits. Also, buy a good set of tools and watch videos. My first build was a 16" rifle kit with the enhanced polished trigger fire control group. I have built several and a few customs since then. Good one to cut your teeth on though.
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I have done one of each. look at videos, or download/buy a book (I’m old) and go slow and pay attention to what you are doing.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/palmetto-state-armory-magpul-moe-lower-build-kit-black-598.html
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Buy a lower here or at a shop and purchase a rifle kit from PSA. I waited until they had some sales. If you subscribe to their email list you will see some awesome rifle kit deals.
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I just recently bought a skeleton lower AR-15 with a 16" w/ 15" Mlok kit… had to buy a few tools mag block and a vice grip and it was super easy. I personally think building your own makes cleaning and disassembling much easier. just make sure you use the right tools
I agree with you! Once you build one you have a much better knowledge of all the inner workings and how it all assembles together.
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punchers are a must!
As I put in another thread, this will make your life much easier Amazon.com: Real Avid Pivot Pin Tool (AVAR15PPT), Red: Sports & Outdoors
Are the enhanced polished triggers a good upgrade or is it better to just spring for a drop-in?
I think that glass or ammo is a better use of scarce resources, especially starting out. Even the really good guys will admit that they can shoot just as well with a mil-spec trigger, but the fancy ones are just “nicer”.
I made my own with a small piece of plastic tube the same diameter as the pivot pin and drilled a hole through it the same size as the detent. Works great and was free!
Nice!!
If you have a dremel and some polishing compound you can greatly improve the MILSPEC trigger for free. I’ve done 2 like that, and they were noticeably smoother. There’s lots of videos on this, and it’s not rocket science. What’s the worst that can happen, you ruin a $30 trigger and then spring for the drop in anyway? 
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I can second this, I was fairly new to guns last year and bought a 16" rifle kit and a stripped lower. It ended up being a nice gateway into things👍
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I have the enhanced and the regular black psa trigger and the enhanced is noticeably smoother. I haven’t used any drop ins.
I’m about to do my first build of the PSA M4 Classic. Can you tell me which tools I will need and what you used as a reference, video, books, etc. Thanks
I did my first few without any special tools, but having learned along the way: a roll pin starter set and roll pin punches are now must-haves. A bench block is very handy. I cut a spare trigger pin down to capture the disconnector and spring in the trigger which saves some frustration. Lube, masking tape, and an inexpensive armorer’s wrench for the buffer tube locking nut are also nice to have. All-in, it’s probably less than the price of a stripped lower and might save marring or ruining your lower. Larry Potterfield (Midway USA) was my go-to for the first few builds, but it looks like the comprehensive video is gone now, broken into smaller pieces. I’m sure someone else will chime in with a good suggestion and to correct or add to my experience. Welcome.
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You need:
Vice
Bench block
Roll pin punches
Gunsmith brass hammer
Tape
Armorer’s wrench
Find a good youtube video, plenty of them out there.
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on the PSA website in the blog there are a lot of videos.
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It sounds like its time to move up to aks 
jk, thats the best part of it, the more you have to assemble - the cheaper it is, challenge yourself on the next build and always do your research ahead of the extended shipping times for parts availability 
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