By the time parts are available for actual purchase, you can probably at least double those savings. Put $20 away each week and by the time something is actual available, you should be up in the $1K + range. As we said over in the Wanted section, realistically, nothing is available right now, especially new. Keep your eye on the FS section and the EE over at arfcom (which is insanity right now btw) and hope to find something that meets your budget. Otherwise, place your back orders of the components you want, and by the time they're ready to ship you can easily have saved the additional funds.

As for actual components. Anvil Arms has among the cheapest lowers. Last i saw, they were still taking orders for stripped lowers for $95 bucks or so (factor in the ~20 for your transfer fee). Double Star, CMMG, DPMS, ect ect all make nice affordable lowers. CMMG has cheap parts kits, around ~55. You'll need a buffer tube and stock, that you should be able to find over on arfcom for a reasonable price. Uppers vary quite substantially. Do you want M4gery, Midlength, Rifle length? Are you looking for the absolute cheapest upper + BCG? Honestly, the sky is the limit on uppers, there are so many flavors, you need to narrow down what you're looking for there. Figure an upper is going to run you ~400-500ish for a decent one.

Since we don't know what a new ban will look like i would focus all my attention on getting a lower receiver. As you know, that is what is considered the actual firearm, so assuming there is a grandfather clause, that's what you're going to need to make it "pre ban". Again, that is only speculation on my part since we don't know what a new ban would look like, if there even is one.

Damn shame you had your head in the sand on this one, Aloharover (member here) is a dealer in the springs and he ran a pre election sale on complete rifles for $715 out the door. Now i just wish i bought more of them.

Good luck, and keep your eye open for deals.