Building from a semi finished receiver
For the prospective home builder who does not own a machine
shop, a number of partially finished reciever/frame units are sold. These
tend to be castings that are not machined to exact dimensions, and have not
been tapped, drilled, or finished. They can be purchased in many different
stages of completion, from 40% to 80% finished. These unfinished castings
cost between half and a third of what the finished product would cost. For
an AR-15 lower, you are talking (in 2002 dollars) 60 to 90 dollars for your
basic alloy receiver of standard quality. Similar units, completely finished
from Olympic, or DPMS will cost 120 to 200 dollars, in standard trim. Units
built of bronze, stainless steel, sintered metal, or titanium are available
at considerably more cost.