build complete!
finished tonight. Still has shitty stock dpms trigger group, gonna get a nice drop in unit soon. Also that's an El cheapo 3-9x30 scope, looking at higher quality 4-14x40 optics right now. And I plan on drilling and tapping the float tube for a sling stud to attach a harris bipod....but it's finally a whole rifle.
Ordered my optic last night. Found a weaver KASPA 4-16x44 on auction on ebay and used a bid sniper app to get it for $112. I think they retail for over $220. It's a budget-ish scope but I'm just shooting groundhogs and muskrats with it so I don't need something super fancy. Will post pics once I find rings and spacers tall enough.