M&P Sport as a starting point

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Paperhuntr

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Hi all!

First time poster, total rifle "n00b", so please don't judge any stupid questions too harshly. :-)

Time's come to get a rifle. Much as I hear people touting AK's, I just. Don't. Like em. AR's "feel" right to me, so that's what I'm going with. As the name implies, I'll be predominately hunting paper, with cans and such thrown in for fun. At this time, I've never even fired a "real" rifle, other than a .22lr glorified bb gun. To say that my expertise is limited would be an understatement.

All that out of the way, I'm looking at a s&w m&p sport carbine. Found it for 575, which seems like a decent entry point. Thing is, I see that some if the traditional AR features are absent, such as forward assist (whatever that does) and ejection port dust cover (that one, I get).

I'm thinking about buying it for a "getting started" shooter, then upgrading over time (starting with the upper to get the aforementioned absent features into the gun). However, I have a few questions:

- is this a good idea?
- is this a good price?
- how vital are the forward assist and dust cover for a plinker?
- considering Armalite for the upgrades. Thoughts?
- how difficult will replacing the components be LIKELY to be? Drop-in, or filing/shaping required?

Finally, by the time I'm done (probably over a matter of many months, if not longer) I'm planning to have rebuilt the M&P "soup to nuts", so I'll end up with 2 rifles. The m&p will be back in it's original configuration, and I'll have a ground-up armalite as well. Will I get the same performance out of a rifle built from parts as I would from one that I bought as a whole weapon?

Thanks to everyone who can help me make this decision!
 
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Bought a Sport a few weeks ago and I'm very pleased. In answer to your questions:

Is this a good idea? - If you're looking for an inexpensive starter rifle, I think this may be the best value on the market. I've seen complete lowers in local gun shops that weren't much less than what I paid for the Sport.

Is this a good price? - I paid $599 plus tax. The local gun store where I bought it has since raised the price to $699.

How vital are the forward assist and dust cover for a plinker? - I wouldn't use the forward assist on the range. If the bolt doesn't go into battery, forcing it with a forward assist may just make the problem worse. If you were in combat and didn't have time to clear the problem, a forward assist might enable you to get another shot off. I have 250 rounds through mine and it has gone into battery every time, so if you maintain the gun, you shouldn't need a forward assist. The dust cover, IMO, isn't necessary at all.

Replacing the components - as far as I can tell, the gun is standard AR spec, so you should be able to replace parts to the same extent that you could on any other AR.
 
Will I get the same performance out of a rifle built from parts as I would from one that I bought as a whole weapon?
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Have a gunsmith set the barrel in on your parts gun for correct headspace, and the answer would be yes, you could get good performance from a build gun.

Jim
 
Welcome to TFL, Paperhuntr! I recently started a search for a low end AR that would be reliable and fun. I decided on the M&P 15 Sport too. I was told several different things in my thread about it not having a dust cover or forward assist, but I decided that it didn't really matter as I was going to be getting a quality firearm that will do the job that I want it to do. Congrats on your decision and I think it will be a good one. (Because it was my decision too :D)
 
I would get a Stag Arms for about $150 more, basically has the extra bells and whistles that are lacking on the Sport line, and still a life time warranty.

Plus it comes with Mil-spec buffer tube, along with a few other key points as a staked gas key.
 
After exhaustive research and questions I finally picked up my Sport today. Reloaded 100 rounds of 223 yesterday, need to try it out tomorrow.

I know nothing about AR's in general though so can't comment about the finer points with the rifle.

along with a few other key points as a staked gas key.
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Staked gas key on my new Sport.

 
Nice, I did not think they were staked, they are good looking guns, at an affordable rate, nothing wrong with that at all.:)

Hope to hear a good report after you break it in at the range.:cool:
 
No problem. One thing I noticed is S&W seems to have changed the Melonite treatment a bit on the barrel. The one I looked at back in February was glossy and a bit purple, like bluing. This one is jet black and looks exactly like their M&P pistols (same finish).

Or I could have been hallucinating. :cool:
 
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