AR: S&W M&P15, Spike's Tactical, Build it Myself?

S

sigcurious

New member
My intended purpose: General plinking and fun in the desert.
Budget: Roughly $800

The M&P15: As my familiarity grows with ARs from usage, would I be able to swap out whatever parts I wanted to tailor it to me?

Also the one feature that I have been able to determine I would like, is the mid-length gas system in a 16" barrel, I know the barrel is 16" but what about the gas system?

Spike's: They have entry level rifles at just a couple hundred more than the m&p, since I have only rudimentary AR knowledge, are there any features on these that are worth having right off the bat?

Build it Myself: If I stretched the build out over a few months I could double my budget. However since I don't know much about ARs much less my preferences beyond cosmetic, should I even consider this for my first AR?

Additionally, the question about spike's tactical could apply to any other brand that fits those parameters, so I am open to other suggestions. I chose them because I know a few shops around here stock/order them and getting one in a CA legal version would be easy.
 
Build it Myself: If I stretched the build out over a few months I could double my budget. However since I don't know much about ARs much less my preferences beyond cosmetic, should I even consider this for my first AR?


Then why not do nothing and just save money over those months then buy what you want. Not saying building one is a bad thing but if the only reason youd build one is that it will take time and you can then put more money to it, then i think youd be better off spending that time researching the weapon and find out what youd really like.
 
I'm not familiar with cali laws, i know of the 10 round mag or bullet button clause. Not sure how that plays into building your own rifle.

I would build your lower yourself, it's easy. All you need is a cheap brass and plastic punch set you can get on amazon for $20. And some masking tape.

1A. Find a local gunsmith that's also an FFL. They usually charge the least amount for transfers. Mine charges $15. Order yourself a stripped lower. You can buy a spikes blem stipped lower on aimsurplus.com for $100, or a cheaper lower from palmetto state armory. Call your FFL whom you've already told your having your lower shipped to, they may need to send a copy of their FFL to aim surplus unless they're already on file. Aim ships the lower to them, then you go pick it up and fill out the paperwork.
1B. If you don't feel like going through the hassle of step 1A, just go to a local gun show, they usually sell stripped lowers there for about $100.
2. Purchase a lower build kit from palmettostatearmory.com. $100 for a regular kit or $130 for the magpul kit. Magpul kit has a better trigger guard, better grip, and butt stock.
3. Watch the youtube video of how to build a lower and follow the video as you put it together. AR15.com has a nice write up as well. My first time took me 30 minutes, it was really really easy.

All said an done, it could cost you less than $200 for a complete lower. Then That opens your budget up to spend more money on an upper. Plametto makes a decent quality upper, bravo company make a very good upper. Spike's is probably in between those.
 
I have lots of time, this is a purchase for sometime in the summer. But I guess I feel like I'm in a chicken and the egg situation. I don't really know what features I'd like, but I feel like I won't really know until I've actually shot an AR for a bit.

So in regards to building it myself, I could put more money in and get higher quality parts, but I'm not sure if I would even need or notice the quality difference of those parts without experience on the platform.
 
Just build your lower first and have that ready to go. Then make your upper purchase this summer. Even if you buy a full rifle in the summer, the lower will never be a waste of money. Many people get black rifle disease and end up buying another upper that suits a different purpose, like lighter weight, shorter and longer barrel, different caliber etc....

Once you build the lower, you already did all the paper work. You can buy the upper online and have it shipped directly to your house.
 
Get a colt 6920, Daniel defense m4xv ( if you want a quadrail m4xvez), or a basic bcm. All three are top tier and be found for around 950. If you just want something cheap for the range an m&p sport is perfect with chromlined and staked gas key and melonited barrel for around 640. Spikes is good to if you can get a good price on it. A lot I see are as much as the colts and such and for me they haven't been out long enough to fully compete reputation wise.
 
a Colt 6920 unfortunately is specifically prohibited for me living in CA. Which is weird since there are new model 6920s that are CA compliant and sold in stores, even though the Colt 6920, falls under two sections of the AW ban, one where all Colt AR-15s are banned and specifically by name as the 6920. Either way, I'd rather play it safe given the way laws are enforced here, and not have a lower that could in anyway be interpreted as being on the AW ban list.
 
The Colt is specifically banned by name in California? :(
You don't need a new gun, you need a new state to live in. Try AZ or TX.
 
Yeah, the CA laws are all sorts of weird.They sell the colt locally.
But here's a list of stuff that's prohibited(notice the colt 6920 is on it twice by virtue of being a colt AR):

Armalite: AR-180
Beretta: AR-70
Bushmaster Assault Rifle
Calico: M-900
Colt: AR-15 (all)
Daewoo: AR 100, AR110 C
Daewoo: K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2
Fabrique Nationale: 308 Match, Sporter
Fabrique Nationale: FAL, LAR, FNC
HK: 91, 93, 94, PSG-1
IMI: Galil, Uzi
J&R ENG: M-68
MAADI CO: AK47, ARM
Made in China: 56, 56S, 84S, 86S, AKS
Made in China: AK, AK47, AK47S, AKM
Made in Spain: CETME Sporter
MAS: 223
Norinco: 56, 56 S, 84S, 86S
Poly technologies: AK47, AKS
RPB Industries, Inc.: sM10, sM11
SIG: AMT, PE-57, SG 550, SG 551
SKS w/ detachable magazine
Springfield Armory: BM59, SAR-48
Sterling: MK-6
Steyr: AUG
SWD Incorporated: M11
Valmet: M62S, M71S, M78S
Weaver Arms: Nighthawk

and

American Spirit: USA Model
Armalite: AR 10 (all), M15 (all)
Armalite: Golden Eagle
Bushmaster: XM15 (all)
Colt: Law Enforcement (6920)
Colt: Match Target (all)
Colt: Sporter (all)
Dalphon: B. F. D.
DPMS: Panther (all)
Eagle Arms: EA-15 A2 H-BAR, EA-15 E1
Eagle Arms: M15 (all)
Frankford Arsenal: AR-15 (all)
Hesse Arms: HAR 15A2 (all)
Knights: RAS (all), SR-15 (all)
Knights: SR-25 (all)
Les Baer: Ultimate AR (all)
Olympic Arms: AR-15, Car-97, PCR (all)
Ordnance, Inc.: AR-15
Palmetto: SGA (all)
Professional Ordnance, Inc.: Carbon 15 Rifle
PWA: All Models
Rock River Arms, Inc.: Car A2
Rock River Arms, Inc.: Car A4 Flattop
Rock River Arms, Inc.: LE Tactical Carbine
Rock River Arms, Inc.: NM A2 - DCM Legal
Rock River Arms, Inc.: Standard A-2
Rock River Arms, Inc.: Standard A-4 Flattop
Wilson Combat: AR-1

There's even a 3rd list that's specific to AK types.
 
Wow, that is a bummer! I don't understand how we are all "United States of America" and have some of the goofy stuff going on in CA and some of the east coast states.
WI was bad enough, but at least now we have carry laws and Castle Doctrine...

I feel for ya! I couldn't live there (Kalifornia). No way.

ANyway, to avoid this becoming OT, I can say I found building my own to be highly satisfying. Don't know if I would want to navigate your laws though. If I were in CA, I'd likely just go buy whatever I could get legally in a local gun store.
 
Yeah, the CA laws are all sorts of weird.
Click to expand...

I would call that an understatement.

FWIW, I was in the same boat as you and bought the M&P15. Like you, I was too new to know what I wanted out of an AR, so I started with a basic model to familiarize myself to the platform and going forward I will be able to make more knowledgeable decisions. That being said, I am perfectly content with the M&P and have another one on order for my wife! If I get the bug to modify, I can use the M&P lower and change uppers.
 
I'm almost done with my first upper build. It's been a lot more fun and rewarding than just buying one pre assembled. You get to set it up exactly the way you want it, and I managed to find a lot of good deals that has saved me a lot of money.
 
no matter what you do, you'll end up doing more to it

so I say go with a Spikes ST-15 mid length...$860 for a top-notch complete AR and you're ready to rock...then add on when you're ready

edit: if you enjoy building and have the time/patience to not be able to fire it right away, then build it yourself...it would definitely give you a lot of knowledge and could be a lot of fun
 
Last edited:
Good to know I can change out parts on the M&P.

I'm pretty torn on what to do now, from looking at information the m&p and the spikes both look like they would be good starting points. And if I wanted a few things different than whats available on those I could build/assemble one for around the same price.

I've started leaning towards building/assembling one, it's going to be a few months before I can get out to a rifle range anyway. Although if Turner's does another sale on the m&p I may not be able to resist. Darn this addiction! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top