I'm doing this from a phone, so bear with me. I'm excited to help you, please don't take my short answers the wrong way, just trying to save my fingers :)
- So it would be okay to buy a 16" barrel and run the mid length gas line?
Yes, the amount of gas being sent back on a mid length from a 16" as a carbine length gas system on a 14.5". That's why its recommended to get a middy on a 16"... Look up dwell time and gas system and you should find some good stuff there.
- I will definitely look for a better barrel! I am in no rush to get my gun assembled; was actually going to wait until Black Friday but I found the completed receiver for $75 today so I bought my first piece :D Slow and steady wins the race; I'm now looking at a $720 price point but I figure if I wait it out I will be able to buy most if not all my parts for less than they currently are! However, if my main uses for the gun are mostly plinking and a bit of home defense (just in case), what should I look for in a barrel? Chrome-lined better? For the record I obsessively clean my guns after every use so maintenance isn't an issue!
AR for home defense isnt the best choice...that round will zip through your house and your neighbors and maybe the one after that too. I'd reconsider and think about a shotgun maybe.
Chrome lined is one of those things that we can fight for days over. Short answer, get it with chrome lining because its milspec, but we don't shoot nearly enough for it yo matter. It !makes it easier to clean, but its supposedly less accurate. If you shoot with a red dot, you'll never know the difference so get chrome lined because that will most likely be on sale.
- I thought adjustable stocks weren't CA legal? Also I just feel like adjustable stock=more moving parts=more things that can break. I guess I just wanted a solid workhorse that isn't going to break on me :P And fixed stock is also cheaper?
You can have an adjustable stock, that bullet button makes it all legal (in addition to overall length, barrel length, lack if a folding stock I think, and other stuff). The buffer tube was made for an adjustable stock, it is actually machined in (get a milspec buffer tube rather than commercial....just cuz). It might be a little rattly, but some stocks have things for that (like the Magpul CTR).
What is LOP? Length of pull. With an adjustable stock, you can set the length of your stock to fit your comfort level. My wife has shirt arms, and my arms are short to all my friends. We all put our stocks in different positions
Trigger: I really want the alg defense combat trigger due to its decent reviews for price point, but trying to keep initial costs down I figure I will make do with the trigger for now! The Stag trigger seemed to have the best reviews for the price? No matter what, you're going to end up with a single stage mil spec trigger that's pretty heavy pull. The ALG makes it smoother by polishing and permanently lubing the contact points, which help a lot. I have an ALG and like it. Stag is a great brand but I don't know how their triggers are.
Rail: I was wondering if the rail I wanted was too short? I should probably mention that I want to cowitness with a red dot and iron sights! But I'm not sure if my question is too basic so everyone already knows, but... Can I mount a red dot to my upper receiver? And I'm pretty confused about where the sights go, etc. I don't even know what a rail is for. Everyone just seems to advise getting one. But if I can mount a red dot and rear sights to my receiver, I could just get a grip instead of a rail. You have a flat top upper, so yes you can mount a red dot. The handguard is for your hands because the gas tube will burn you, but you don't need rails if you won't use them.
Rail cont;d: Is the only real purpose of a rail to make your AR tacticool? I.e. flashlights, scopes, etc. etc. I am positive I will never mount a scope on my AR. I've got my 30-06 for hunting game, and it'll be used only for plinking and home defense. Then do you think a rail isn't really worth it?
Its to do a few things, but tacticool is one of them. I have a long rail because it increases my site radius for my iron sights, but it also let's me mount all sorts of stuff, like a bipod or a sling mount or a flashlight. Don't say you won't ever mount a scope because you probably will :) ARs are fun to shoot and much less recoil than uour 30-06, and since we're in CA, we are limited to 200 yards at the most usually, and my eyes get a little tired shooting that far out with irons for too long.
I was planning on getting a low pro gas block, but it seems like if I get the standard A2 with the fixed sight could I then mount a red dot on my receiver and cowitness?
I don't know why but I just dislike railed gas blocks, like the one you chose. You can theoretically mount a fixed sight to it to cowitness your RDS, but why not just buy a low pro gas block, then a longer rail that covers it on sale and get a fixed or flip up front sight as far forward on the rail as possible? You don't limit yourself like with an A2 (I've chopped one off before too), extend your sight radius and future proof your rifle when you realize how far you can accurately reach out on pretty low costing ammo.
This is the place for deals and its from mainly Californians.... Check it out from time to time, and if you have questions, there's always more than enough of us that will help you out there: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=237
Hope that helps, and remember pics when you're all done.