Hi i have been wandering around the forum for a while and was wondering what would make an easy first build.

AR15/M4 on a FFL transferred lower is a simple assembly, good place to start. If you have a mill, an 80% tactical machining lower is very doable for a first build if you borrow/buy a drilling jig and/or have a DRO.

A Galil or milled AK is a little more complicated assembly but doable by reading some online threads.

A 1911 colt is a complicated assembly, usually requiring a good bit of hand fitting of parts. This assuming you buy a 100% completed receiver and a parts kit. Milling a receiver casting is a pretty big job.

An AK is a more complicated manufacture, starting with a flat or a bent receiver, requiring you demill the old bits of receiver off of parts, press a barrel in, rivet in trunnions, etc. Still doable will very modest tools, even if you bend your own flat. Even if you mess up a few flats, you won't be out any money compared to buying a bent receiver.   You would need to spotweld the rails in and do a little heat treating, but the tools needed are modest.

HK's are doable if you have welding skills and take the time to understand how everything works together.

The tube type SMG's are significant projects that often require a little bit of everything. If you have modest machine shop skills / equipment, you can buy semi-bolts etc for some of them and get by with a drill press for some. Even a drill with a templated tube.

Just need to match your skills and equipment up.   Even a scratch build can be done with a hand drill, file, time, and patience.   Tools are just a substitute for patience and time.

The most important thing is to understand the laws that pertain to what you a doing and have fun.   I have some incomplete builds, even some that might be considered "failures" that I enjoyed doing and and learned a lot doing. Dive in. Ask questions.   Doc

I have built an AR did not mill the lower my self. So i guess the next step is a HK or galil hmm choice thinks GunDoc.

The easiest build is the AR15 (in a number of calibers) The AR is the most modular of the modern weapons.

The AK? Frankly you can buy one cheaper than build one, because you need some pricey tools and jigs to build from a flat.  it's fun, and you can custom build to what suits you, but not all the cheap compared to a new one.

Rifles are easier to do then many SMG's due to the Bolt weight not being heavy enough for a closed bolt.. BUT, they are not too hard because there is a much smaller receiver.

building something of your own design? going this route allows you to design something as simple or as hard as you wish.

While fairely expensive these days for what you get, the old Black Powder kits are a GREAT way to start.  you can assemble a single shot or a revolver and end up with something you can REALLY use later. I built my first one at 16 years old, and built it without any help, and I still have it today, and have fired it a few hundred times.

There are a number of kits out there to build and it's a great deal of fun and you LEARN a great deal, which is the point.  it's a good stepping point to a much harder build, and it's the way I tend to recommend.

If you want my advice, I'll point you towards a fun first project:

The LEINAD DERRINGER kit
You can purchase one of these kits from: http://www.practicaltacticalky.com/oldSite/Leinad.html

It's a single shot .410/45 Colt break open pistol.

The kit includes everything but the sideplates and breech face, so you need to make those (not hard), and if you email or call them, they may be able to point you to where you can buy there as well.

Note:  You do need a Mig welder (well, any welder), but for gun work I recommend the Mig with gas (unless you know how to Tig Weld)

There you go...  The LEINAD DERRINGER kit is my recommended first kit for low cost building.

If you want a rifle, they do make a shotgun style kit, or if you have $600 to $800 you can build a nice AR15.