Is this the right AR for me?

S

Sbowling79

New member
It's the Smith and Wesson MP15 5.56 The item number is 811000. I can get this delivered in person from an FFL friend for $900 plus tax so $954.

My uses for the rifle will mainly be weekend trips to the 100yd local range. There are some longer distance ranges with in an hour drive so I may check them out on occasion.

I think this would be a good rifle because of the warranty and just the name that's backing it up.

I may add on some cool looking accessories with time but I think it will suit my needs as is.

I have not fired one of these since 2000 when I got out of the Army. (Always qualified expert with my M4 then)

Is this model going to compare to what I was issued then or am I going to wish I had spent more money on one.

Just looking for some opinions from more experienced owners of these rifles and if there are some other ones I should consider before buying this one. Thanks.
 
What are you going to do on your weekend trips to the range?

Benchrest shooting for groups?

3 Gun competitions?

Training for a Chinese invasion?

Bump firing into a back stop?

Practice for varmit hunting?

Service rifle competition practice?
 
Mostly paper target shooting and some pop cans, tight groups are nice and fun to brag about but not all that important to me. Maybe the occasional bump fire if my paycheck was good that week. I don't have any plans of competitive shooting but I like to think I'm good enough for it. So I wouldn't rule that out in the future. If the Chinese invade I would definitely grab the AR instead of my Mosin. I don't really do any hunting but it might be fun to go kill some stuff. So yeah general purpose stuff.
 
The S&W will be more than adequate then. I have 2 friends who have them and both love them.

While you could find cheaper and you could find better, you are going to be hard pressed to do both at the same time.

I personally only buy Colts, but I am a gun snob.:rolleyes:;):D
 
I take it that this is your first AR? If so start small and work up from there. Any AR can be modified... skys the limit.

S&W M&P'S are great AR'S for the money at every level. If S&W is your choice I would recomend the M&P15 Sport. Shown here:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_786006_-1_757785_757784_757784_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

This is all the AR that you need for weekly 100 to 300 yard range trips.

It can be found at most Gun Shops and Big Box sporting goods stores for under $600. Shown here:

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/71971
 
Looks like the only difference in the sport model is that there is not a carrying handle. All the other specs look the same. I would think with that big of a price difference there would be some other changes. It's only an hour and a half drive to buds. I might just have to go there and put my hands on a few.
 
There are many other differences - no dust cover, no forward assist, no heat shield in handguard, 1 in 8 barrel with melonite finish, molded in trigger guard. There maybe more.

Some will say that a M&P 15 Sport is not "milspec" and therefore spend your money elsewhere.

I say, take a good look at it and see if you like it.

I did and I'm glad that I did. Mine has been accurate and reliable.
 
There's a little more than than. I've done the same research. The barrels are different, no sure of the exact specs but the barrels are different. There isn't a dust guard over the ejector and the frame are made of different material I believe. I believe the M&P Sport is all Polymer. I'm sure others will be in soon to chime in what else there is.
 
The Sport isn't a 'cheap' gun. It's well made. All they did was delete all the crap you don't need for range use, and design other features that are actually an improvement over traditional AR designs.
 
I think the original one I was looking at is worth the extra money over the sport version for my needs.
I'm going to go ahead and place the order. Hopefully get it in by this weekend.
Is there any "must have" accesories or should I just run it and and find out what else I need if anything.
 
or should I just run it and and find out what else I need if anything.
Click to expand...

That is the wisest statement I have seen a new shooter make in a long time.

Take any money you might have been thinking about using on "accessories" and buy 200 or 300 rounds of ammo and some spare mags. Once you have burned through that ammo you will know how you are going to be using it and thereby what "accessories" that will improve your shooting experience.

I saw a guy at a local range last year who had a rifle with a 22x Chicom optic with a bipod AND forward hand grip AND a laser. He was shooting a 8" group at 100 yards and having failures to feed. (It was funny to watch him try to shoot a rifle with a forward hand grip AND a bipod at the same time:D)

He asked me to help him out because he was having so many problems. I asked him how did it shoot before he put all those "accessories" on it and did he try swapping to a different magazine. He said that was the 1st time he shot it and he only had that one magazine.:confused:

I let him use one of my mags and the FTF went away, then I told him to strip all that stuff off of it, stop using the bipod and check it with just iron sights. He looked like I had slapped his Momma. He apparently just bolted all that stuff on to make it look like a Spec Ops Operator rifle and expected to be able to drill the same hole without ever even function checking the rifle.:rolleyes:

"Let the mission drive the gear train"
 
I have owned Colts. I currently own a DPMS. I have also shot a few different Bushmasters and Smith and Wessons. To be honest The Delta HBAR was the most accurate (also the most expensive) all the rest were about the same. I would just go with the one you like best. I would try some different brands of ammo to see whicn one it likes best and buy a couple extra mags for it. Leave the bolt on toys off for a while until you decide which ones you need. Then go from there JMHO
 
If you are looking for a gun that just looks like a military gun then the S&W will be fine, but for a few bucks more you can get a completely mil-spec gun like an LMT, Daniel Defense, BCM or Colt. For a $100 difference I'd personally want the professional gun not the hobby gun. If this is just going to be a low round count range toy then the Smith will be fine, but I just wanted to let you know that you can get combat proven AR for a few more dollars.
 
I've already placed the order for the Smith. It will not be here until Tuesday.
Luckily I live in a state that allows trading guns from person to person so if I decide I need a higher end Colt or Daniel Defense I can sell my smith very easily. The used ones I found were more expensive than what I'm paying so I don't think I'll lose much if any money selling it. Thanks for all the advice, I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.
 
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