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sakodude
Senior MemberPosts: 4,761 Senior Member
entry level AR's
Started this on the temp forum but it was gone before I had a chance to check it. Anyway, my brother and I have been feeling the tug of the dark side and have decided that an AR must be aquired. I have been looking at the S&W MP-15 sport. Around here it retails for around $650.00 or so. It seems to have all the needed bits and pieces with the exception of the dust cover and forward assist. Any opinions or other suggestions at this price point?
Just to be clear,I want to purchase a rifle not build one so no parts or kit suggestions please.
Educate me please.
Thanks,
Sako
Just to be clear,I want to purchase a rifle not build one so no parts or kit suggestions please.
Educate me please.
Thanks,
Sako
Replies
http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/st15-midlength-le-carbine-p-443.html
Denny
more pushing 1k.
- George Orwell
Having owned a S&W M&P 15T, this is not a correct statement even though mine didn't work with PMags until after it was sent back to the shop. I had no problem putting after-market parts on it and S&W CS swore up and down that their ARs are mil-spec. I can't imagine a reputable company would kill their chance at the biggest rifle market by not making them mil-spec.
As for the Sport version, it's very much like the DPMS Sportical. I don't see the practicality of the bolt assist and the dust cover, especially for civilian/fun use. I don't have practical field use of ARs so I can't say how important these parts are. I just find myself having never, ever used these parts. What more is that you get the full backing of S&W customer service, which I've always found to be very good.
Al
Most of your "guts" will be able to be swapped out with any generic AR parts with minimal to no fitting needed.
Denny
You are correct that they had some issues with their first few batches. My M&P 15T was one of them and the PMag fitting issue leading to a lot of claims that the gun is not mil-spec, but no one has been able to confirm that there were something else that's out of specs. I just think they screwed up on something, which they have long fixed.
Al
Eric, so from what I see for the extra $200 you are getting the dust cover, forward assist, carry handle/sight arangement and hard chromed chamber and bore with a 1 in 7 twist, Is this correct? I truely am AR illiterate so if you would be so kind explain to me the advantage of having these extras.
Thanks,
Sako
I am not the most AR literate person myself. Obviously the dust cover is practical if the weapon is going to be a truck gun. Both the dust cover and Forward Assist go back to issues of the original M16s during the early stages of the Viet Nam War. They early models were very unreliable and sensitive to dirt and crud. The chromed chamber aids feeding and extraction while the lined bore is more durable. To me, without the FA and dust cover..the gun appears to unfinished.
I personally like the sights of the Spikes better than the ones furnished on the Smith. Don't get me wrong. I am glad SW is marketing this weapon. It will get more people involved in gun ownership and will be a viable home defense weapon both in its basic off the shelf form or as a platform to build on. I saw Cabelas in Billings had them for $599. That is a great price, even lower than the less a Mini 14.
Thanks.
Sako
I'm personally not a big fan of carry handles. I have never, nor will I ever use a carry handle for what it was designed for. I am also not too overly excited about chrome lined parts.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
You got that right
The 1:7 twist is too fast in my estimation and does nothing for civilian ammo. That fast a twist was required to stabilize the M856 tracer round. It's not fast enough to stabilize the 90gr SMK. A 1:9 twist is all that is really needed unless you want to shoot the long, single feed cartridges with 75gr A-Max or 80grainers from any bullet maker.
The Ejection Port Cover is useful if you travel with the bolt locked back. As you know, it's fairly easy to get the bolt to close without using the bolt release, just bump the rifle on the ground butt first and the bolt will close. So the port cover is not really needed either, but it is not as uselss as the forward assist.
The chrome-lining of bore and chamber is useful if you are a third-world peasant who does not know how to maintain a rifle, you like to bump-fire or your AR is full auto and you like to go through mags at a high rate of speed. My ARs do not have chrome lining and they always function, and shoot very straight.
As you can see, a case can be made for and against every aspect. What you need to do is decide what works for you. The S&W MP-15 is a fine rifle.
There is the answer.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov