Set out with the intention of doing a <$1,000 18" build (not including optics or mount which I already had) but I went above my original budget, but not by too much.
Nearly everything purchased off the EE, only brand new items are the rail & the A2 birdcage, thanks CTCS!
RRA lower w/2-stage match trigger
Spikes Upper
18" NEA barrel
Midwest Industries 12" SS Keymod rail
The rail is very slender, and has small grooves all sides that serve as decent index points for a repeatable grip, but I'm still going to try a vertical grip.
I forgot how terribly uncomfortable the A2 grip and trigger guard is, going to upgrade right away...
This was my first time (partially) assembling an AR, the lower & upper came to me assembled. Next build I'm going to try from scratch....because there's always the next one!