theBearJewI don't know much about AR-15s and I keep hearing building one is easy. How hard would it be for me to build one? Also, what are the main differences between the S&W Sport AR15 and the Ruger 556 AR. I know the Ruger has a dust cover and a forward assist where the Sport doesn't. But that's about it.
It's pretty easy to build. Heck you could buy a complete upper and lower from palmetto and have a better AR than the two you list for the same price.
If you build there are extra costs involved. Along with purchasing the necessary parts for the firearm itself you'll need receiver action blocks, an armorers wrench, pin punches, loctite (recommend red), barrel nut grease, and headspace gauges and access to a vice. You can buy a full armorers kit and get all of that except loctite, grease, and gauges. You can have a gunsmith put it together but that's not as much fun. I recommend buying blemished receivers. Both of mine are blemished but you can't even see the blems. I can't find the blem on my upper and my lower its just a small scratch were a punch slipped on a trigger guard pin. The best thing about building is that you can get the exact AR that you want for the cheapest price. I bought a complete lower, meaning the whole trigger, safety, mag release, bolt release, etc. came installed. That's something I recommend getting instead of trying to put that all together yourself. The rest you can do on your own. Just make sure your barrel nut is tightened to spec.
Between the S&W Sport and the Ruger AR 556. I would definitely choose the Ruger. like you said you get a forward assist and dust cover but also the barrel is a 1x8 twist rate so you can stabilize heavier grain rounds better. The Smith is a 1x9 so it's more suited for lighter grains. Mil spec is 1x7. The barrels on the two are the same, 4140 steel non chrome lined, the bolts are the same as well. The only real difference is the furniture, which can be easily switched out for little money.
My recommendation in the end? Build.
