Stag or S&W AR?

What type of "difficulty"? What is your budget?

Between Stag and S&W, I'd base my selection on pricing and availability. Both are relatively well made AR's, and in their base configuration, neither offers any significant advantage over the other.

My $.02

I would aim higher myself but between the two you listed I'd go with the S&W Sport and save the $175. The Stag isn't that much better plus it is in the PSA price range.

Which model of each? The least expensive?

What two models are you asking about?

What intended use(s)?

Archangel14 said:

Thank you AR180shooter. That was my thought. I can actually get the basic S&W for about $150-$175 less than the Stag. But is seems that the Stag has a few more NECESSARY parts, like a receiver dust cover. Do I need such things, or will the S&W fit my purposes?

To Surf: by "difficult" situations, I mean a situation whereby I need to defend my family. I do not want to start talking about "doomsday" scenarios here, as that is not the purpose of this forum, and I've caught some heat for posting about such scenarios in the past. The problem I find is that on other sites where such topics are discussed, I can't seem to find simple, straight forward answers to my simple questions. The discussion always seems to degenerate into something about "zombies" or the 2nd Amendment. I won't be hunting with the AR I plan to obtain. Nor will it be my primary home defense firearm. I will go to it only if things get very silly in my area, a la riots, lack of police assistance, Katrina scenarios. Thanks for your input.

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If you are going to run it in the mud, take a deuce in it, shoot it, and repeat, then you may want another rifle.

The S&W Sport was tested in Arizona, over a three day course, and purposely abused and mistreated to offer up a failure for the Smith reps (mostly to show necessity for the DC and FA). No go: no failures, period. Purposely dumping sand into the receiver, shooting prone with dust cycling with the bolt couldn't stop the Sport. The FA and DC are contingencies, things that could remedie a problem should it arise. I DO NOT find them necessary, and would trust my life and those of my loved ones to a S&W product, mainly the Sport, should it arise. They cut costs, so what? They trimmed unused fat, and I agree with that. If you need those things for any reason, then don't buy a Sport, but Smith has MANY other AR models that DO have DC and FA. I'd take them to war.

meanmrmustard said:

They cut costs, so what? They trimmed unused fat, and I agree with that. If you need those things for any reason, then don't buy a Sport, but Smith has MANY other AR models that DO have DC and FA. I'd take them to war.

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Compared to a top tier AR, Smith cuts more corners (err, cuts more costs) than simply doing away with the dust cover and forward assist. I mean, let's be honest here...those two missing things are absolutely not the only, or really even the biggest, difference vs a Colt/DD/BCM/Noveske/etc

I bought a M&P about 4 months ago...fired 3000 rounds so far with no failures in some pretty sandy and muddy conditions killed a few ferel hogs in the process and makes a nice enough group at a 100 yards. . Made a few mods to it and still under 1000 bucks. I. Happy. I have a BM and a Colt, they feel different but they are all effective the same.

Stag.

They are close, but I'd give a slight nod to the Stag. Both are in the same price and quality range. It depends on which feaures are more important to you and which you can get the best price on locally.

Warp said:

Compared to a top tier AR, Smith cuts more corners (err, cuts more costs) than simply doing away with the dust cover and forward assist. I mean, let's be honest here...those two missing things are absolutely not the only, or really even the biggest, difference vs a Colt/DD/BCM/Noveske/etc

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Well, true. First on that list being their nitro carburizing over chrome lining the bore. I prefer it, but that's me. You and I have had that discussion, so we'll just note it.

If you NEED MPT, then no, the Sport isn't the rifle. Sadly, never worried about it. But, if I did, other Smith rifles at MPT'd, so there's another base covered for mil spec folks.

Other than that, I don't know off the top off my head what else differs. Barrel steel, but once again, never cared really. I don't see it failing, and I'd dare say I would run it right along side the supposed "top tier" (I.e.: more expensive for really no reason) rifles. I would not feel undergunned. If I did, that's what the M&P 15T is for. Still uses the same barrel steel as the Sport, but once again, I don't see it as inferior to the point of buying another AR.

Warp, you know me! Where an AR could fail, I'd grab my nearest AK. But so far, the Sport runs like a rifle several hundred more dollars in price. You can have them top tiers, I'd like to own one of the LaRues one day, but I'm not spending $1600 on one rifle when I could buy two that are just as good with money left over. I'm no mall ninja!

Edit: Not everyone who has expensive guns are mall ninjas, so no offense.

Warp, the Sport isnt ment to be a top tier AR, it is ment to be a budget reliable platform. I have the standard model M&P 15. It has all of the features of my DD V4 except the twist is different. I will be honest for someone to shoot and have fun with, the S&W is a better choice, in cost a few hundred less than the DD. If I were going to war with one, I would go with LMT or LaRue. The fact is that the sport model is more than most people ever need.

To the OP, the Stag and S&W are both very fine rifles. Either one will most lokely do what you need. If you want a dust cover and forward assist then look at the Stag and the other S&W models.

I find that Stag is better quality than S&W M&P by a hair.
Also, Stag has a lifetime warranty. M&P have a 1 year warranty.

S& W products have a one year warranty, but I've sent in products of theirs for non warranty work being a second owner to the firearm. No cost, no shipping, no questions asked. Is Stag gonna do that? That's not a bane on their product, it's a testament to Smiths customer service, which I've found is second to none.

How much of a price difference is there between the Stag and the Sport? If the Sport will do it for you, go with that. Personally, I could probably do without the forward assist, but I really like having the dust cover.

The little test that Smith did with the Sport by dumping sand into the action has been mentioned MANY times, as though the Smith is the only rifle that will do that. Whether any rifle will run with sand in the action, isn't the question. The question is why would you want to. I think that a little doo hicky that keeps wear causing debris out of the action is a good thing.

If you aren't going to be dragging your rifle through the mud and sand and you are looking for a high bang for the buck AR, the Smith Sport may be for you.

If you decide that the Smith isn't for you, and the Stag is anywhere in the neighborhood of around $850 or so, I'd be looking at either a Bravo Company or Spike's Tactical.

I have a stag model 1 and I like it a lot! Great for a range toy and self defense if needed. I do think u would ne happy with either 1 but Im glad I went with the stag for $100 more.

I have about 500 rounds through my Stag Model 4 (20" bbl model with the fixed stock) and not one single malfunction of any kind at any point...not the first, second, third, or 500th round. Having closely inspected all the internal parts, all the guts are in fine shape too. Stag makes a very good AR.

They also sell some nice spare parts kits and I got a spare bolt, a bunch of spare extractors, firing pins, cotter pins, springs of all sorts etc. I'll probably spring (no pun intended) for a second bolt carrier as well.

They do stake their gas key. Whether or not it is "properly" staked I suppose remains to be seen. After 500 rounds it's tight as a drum.

My upper and lower fit perfectly, no wiggle or wobble. Nor is there any wiggle or wobble in my forend.

Can't speak frankly to any other brand. I am very happy with my Stag. Two buddies has Stags and feel the same way...one of them uses his for 3-gun.

The earlier S&W's were actually made by Stag. S&W then bought new machines and started doing the work in house. As far as S&W's customer service, I cannot say anything bad about them. The have always gone above and beyond. Stag makes great rifles and should be held on par with the majority on the market.

I would pick the S&W. A few years ago Stag seemed to be a up and comer, but people seem to have soured on them. I have no idea why. My guess is the are less than mil-spec by too much. I would go with Palmetto State Armory as mentioned. They are the best bang for your buck as far as quality, fit, and finish. They will have a longer wait time though, success isn't all good for us consumers. After doing my homework they had the best price for what I wanted. I know that you can get a Colt for $1100 or $1000 or $1200 or any other number. I can't remember my last price lookup but I think it was less than $775 for a full mil-spec PSA (upper and lower separately) or less than $800. Get what you want but remember to have fun. With what you save you could get some ammo to practice with your new toy!

TonyAngel said:

How much of a price difference is there between the Stag and the Sport? If the Sport will do it for you, go with that. Personally, I could probably do without the forward assist, but I really like having the dust cover.

The little test that Smith did with the Sport by dumping sand into the action has been mentioned MANY times, as though the Smith is the only rifle that will do that. Whether any rifle will run with sand in the action, isn't the question. The question is why would you want to. I think that a little doo hicky that keeps wear causing debris out of the action is a good thing.

If you aren't going to be dragging your rifle through the mud and sand and you are looking for a high bang for the buck AR, the Smith Sport may be for you.

If you decide that the Smith isn't for you, and the Stag is anywhere in the neighborhood of around $850 or so, I'd be looking at either a Bravo Company or Spike's Tactical.

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It's a rifle that did it without forward assist or a dust cover. No one purposely puts crap in the action unless they want to hurt the gun, or in the case of the "little" test, to see if it would fail by not having an uneccesary flap on the side of the receiver. It didn't, go figure. After your first shot, the thing is open anyway, and the dust cover is not able to keep 100% of dust/sand out if it really wanted in there. So, other than being a sorta/kinda preventative, it's useless to ME. Never understood why they had one on the Praire Panther, but oh we'll.

I haven't heard anything bad about Stag. Really, just haven't heard much. Like, not too many people I know, including myself, have owned one.

Leaning against the desk as I type is a Stag upper on a S&W lower. (It was the only 6.8 SPC upper the dealer had in stock).

RE: Stag customer support
Stag had me as a customer for life when they replaced a lower that I broke during assembly and paid shipping both ways.

I only own a Stag, but my 2L has been fantastic. No one failure in the last 9 months or so. I got the left handed version because I wanted just one rifle that didn't fling brass toward my line of sight yet would be a competent rifle that could do most everything I would need it to do from camping defense to home defense to affordable plinking.

I plan on getting a plain Jane standard upper for a just-in-case situation where a niche left handed rifle may be a liability to get parts for. However, at rate I am going, I doubt I'll ever wear any part of the bolt assembly out. Maybe a spring or something, but nothing that is "left handed".

Love my Stag. They have been making AR's since the beginning of time just about. Their parent company, CMT is/has been a MAJOR supplier of AR components to the majority of Manufacturer's. They make a damn fine rifle...