Opinions on the M&P15 Sport wanted

[jon_in_wv]

I have the opportunity to purchase a M&P15 Sport at a really great price. What are your opinions of this AR? I know it lacks a dust cover and a forward assist but to be honest that doesn't bug me. I've used ARs for many years and I've never seen the need for either really. The rifle would be primarily just a range rife, maybe a three gun shooter if I got into such a thing later. I would also like to get a 20 varmint upper for it for some longer range shooting too. Is there any reason you would steer away from this one?

I had bought a stripped lower for an AR build but I can get this rifle cheaper than any rifle kit I've seen and this one comes with the fold down rear sight.

 

[snakeman]

If it only had a dust cover. I have no use for an ar with no dust cover. If you plan to ever rely on it in a dusty place, avoid this gun. Just leaving a dust cover open on an ar where I live will cause jams like crazy. Sometimes the bolt won't even close. I don't own the sport myself but I do know that I have had ar's fail because I drove a couple of miles on the 4 wheeler with the dust cover open.

 

[DM~]

I really like mine, and i don't miss the foreward assist or the dust cover one bit.

So far it's been 100% reliable and although i haven't put it on the bernch or scoped it yet, it looks like it will be fairly accurate.

IMO they are a GREAT buy in an AR.

DM

 

[2ndtimer]

Mine has been great. Super reliable, and surprisingly accurate given the 16" barrel and heavy trigger pull. I paid $599 for mine, and think it would still be a bargain at $699. Shoots consistent 1 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards off the bench with the Nikon Prostaff 2-7X scope mounted. Those inch and a quarter groups are fired with decent bullets in handloads, 52 gr Nosler HP and Hornaday 55 gr SP. The cheap Federal AE223 grouped more like 2 to 3 inches for 5 shots at 100 yards in my rifle.

 

[batmann]

I just bought one as well. The lack of a FA does not bother me in the slightest, the dust cover I would like, but I can live without it. If you are shooting in any enviornmemt, it will be open anyway.
It is a great rifle at, given the current prices, a good price. I intend to shoot the snot out of mine and enjoy what it is, not what it doesn't have.
If I lived in a dusty area like snakeman, I think a piece of electrical tape would work if that becomes a problem.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I don't care about the dust cover either. If its 100% reliability or home/self defense my AK is getting the nod on that one. This rifle would be mainly for the range. The 20 inch upper I put on later would be the one for serious work.

 

[dprice3844444]

you can always change the aluminum upper part

 

[HavelockLEO]

I have one and I love it, even without the FA and dust cover.




Only thing I dont like is the trigger

 

[helotaxi]

I think the lack of FA and dustcover are its strongest points. If you get it and decide to swap out the upper, shoot me a PM. I'd be interested in the stock upper.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Whats wrong with the trigger?

Even if its a little heavy by most people's standards I'm one of those freaks that just isn't that worried about the trigger. I prefer a heavier trigger than most on most of my guns. I don't even like a "crisp" trigger. I prefer one with a little creep that has a slight "roll off" break. I don't know why, I just do.

 

[RainDodger]

Personally, I'm not in combat, I don't take my Sport into the desert sands and I also have no need of the forward assist. I have NEVER needed the forward assist on my ARs that have them.

I bought a Sport for the same reason you're considering it - a great price. It has never failed to function correctly, and I think Smith may have something with the melonite finish and the 5R rifling. Mine is quite accurate I'm happy to say. Yep, no dust cover. No forward assist. It also doesn't have the regular pivoting trigger guard... but I don't care about any of that. The rifle simply functions, and it functions well.

Edit: regarding the trigger.... mine had a long travel, but was fairly smooth and not too heavy. Better than many ARs. Nevertheless I sent my trigger group to Bill Springfield in Colorado and he did a very nice job on it. That's a matter personal perspective though.

 

[Whacked]

how important is the dust cover anyways?
none of my other guns have one.
during transport, they are in cases or wrapped in a old blanket.
never had a issue with them, and this valley gets pretty dusty at times.
seems like a tacticool gotta-have 'cause the military has them than any real practical use.

 

[HavelockLEO]

Whats wrong with the trigger?

Its got a LONG gritty first stage and a heavy second stage. I'm going to be changing it out with a Gieselle SSA very soon

 

[jon_in_wv]

BTW guys, I live in the rainy state of WV. I haven't seen dust in the 9 years I've lived here.

ts got a LONG gritty first stage and a heavy second stage. I'm going to be changing it out with a Gieselle SSA very soon

I thought it had a single stage trigger?

 

[HavelockLEO]

it is single, its one LONG HEAVY single stage trigger

 

[Whacked]

Hmmm,.. in my area I can find the S&W Sport and Delton Sport for the same price, what do you think would be better?
only diff I see is the rifling (1:8 vs 1:9) and the Delton doesn't appear to have a rear sight. not that big a issue unless you want the irons.

 

[Whacked]

it is single, its one LONG HEAVY single stage trigger

like the Mosin Nagant? iv'e gotten a bit used to that

 

[chris in va]

No issues with mine after 2800 of my reloads.

I changed out the hand guard with a shielded version, really helps with barrel heat. Installed a web sling and curved butt pad.

Honestly, I feel this gun is what a civilian AR should be. All the 'mil spec' extras are fluff that he average range shooter will never use.

BTW, I don't see an issue with the trigger. Zero creep, crisp letoff. Better than my CZ's actually.

 

[mdauben]

Another happy Sport owner. I bought mine last year and have not had any real problems since. I never missed either the FA or the dust cover.

 

[HavelockLEO]

My only issue is the trigger, otherwise I'd get another one if I had the coin, but the trigger is fixable, and I've been wanting to try out the SSA. All I needed was an excuse to get one lol

 

[hardluk1]

I bought my M&Psport for 595 a couple months back. great rifle. FA is not needed and if it is pushing it forward will allmost never help. Its a mag problem more times than not. If your gona play in a sand pit than give it a good shack and keep shooting.

Mine will shoot off a bench AR223 55gr ammo between an 1" and 1 1/4" Wolf gold 75gr hpbt will go 3/4". Even m855 will shoot 2 1/2" all at 100 yards. Trigger is a single stag but no heavier than many others and better than many. Mine breaks at 5lb 3oz after 600 rounds. I does suck but I am use to 2lb or less triggers. But no ar has what many of use would call where while. I have added a used rra freefloat mid length handguard and It has a RRA scope mount and 2.5-10 scope.- I can find a single reason to spend more money on a rifle that only cost more. Atleast S&W builds all there metal work in house. No subcontractor parts like most all others use. photo-

 

[smithman 10]

Sport

I filled out the paperwork on one the other day - waiting for it to clear the dang clogged up state system!

Never owned an AR gun - fired M-16's in the service some 40+ years ago, but finally at this price decided to take the plunge. Everyone else seems to have one, the ammo is pretty cheap and it's a heckuva lot lighter than the Garand I was shooting yesterday.

I'm looking forward to a lot of fun shooting it - most of the reports I've heard on the gun are positive.

When I get mine and shoot it a bit I'll post a report.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I'll be getting the M&P for 530-540 out the door.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I have a DPMS stripped lower. Would I be better off using a rifle kit to assemble an AR? What kit would you use?

 

[ugaarguy]

Would I be better off using a rifle kit to assemble an AR?

If you can get the Sport for $540 OTD or better I'd stick with the Sport. PSA's kits are going to run you $500+. Del-Ton's kits are $475+, but you have to pay another $45 to get them with a hard chromed bbl.

I'd get the Sport, slap a set of $25 M4 heat shielded hand guards on it (or MagPul MOE hand guards), and shoot the crap out of it. If you decide you want another AR after a few thousand rounds down the Sport you'll know what you like about a basic 16" carbine, and what you areas you'd rather change. At that point I'd build the DPMS stripped lower into exactly what you want based on what you find you like.

I've owned the $1000+ rifles like Colt, LMT, and Noveske. I've also owned ARs from DPMS and Olympic. I currently have a Daniel Defense M4V1, and S&W M&P15 Sport. I wish I'd never traded the Colt SP1 I had. The Noveske pistol was a fun project, but one I didn't have time to perfect so it went to a friend. The basic LMT carbine was also a great rifle - it was a properly built no frills, nothing to get emotional about M4 style though. The corners cut in materials & build quality on both the DPMS AR-15 pattern and the Oly were obvious. Caveat, I have a DPMS LR-308, and these SR25 pattern rifles seem to be built by an entirely different & better company.

The DDM4V1 with its cold hammer forged barrel & omega 12 FSP rail system is something special. The M&P15 Sport with its T/C made 1:8 twist 5R rifled medium contour barrel, and user upgraded hand guards (Troy MRF CX free float in my case) is a beast. It's not a DDM4, but at a little over half the price, including upgrades, of the DD it's amazing how close the Sport is in terms of feature, performance, and build quality. I think it's an exceptional value in the AR world.