Does Smith & Wesson make a good AR15?

My first AR was made by a reputable maker, it probably would have served me well had I kept it. After I read and read and researched, I came to the conclusion (right or wrong) That I would not have confidence in the rifle. You have to have confidence in your gun that it will work when you need it the most. So I bought the AR that many seemed to swear by and seemed from what I could tell to be mil-spec. (no I don't really trust the government ) So, bottom line is before you buy, make sure it is a gun you can put your trust in to work when you need it. Of course you have to ring it out thru several hundred rounds to really gain confidence in it, so whichever gun you buy put a few hundred rounds thru it. Welcome to the Black Rifle disease Club

For the amount of rounds that you are going to put through the gun, that $200 difference between the S&W and the Colt is going to be negligible.

I would buy the Colt without hesitation (and be very pleased with that decision).

Me personally would choose them in this order:

S&W M&P 15
Colt
Windham

The reason I put the S&W over the Colt is due to the in house manufacturing and forging that S&W does. They are second to none on fit and finish. I personally like them doing the work themselves.

The Colt is just as tough and would be most peoples choice. I have nothing against them. For what I use my AR for, the Colt isn't worth paying the extra. I never shoot above a 62gr. in my rifle. I actually think it benefits a lot of people who want to shoot a heavier projectile, to buy the Colt. If you use 62gr. or lighter ammo, it is likely you would never tell the difference in any of the three. I cannot tell a difference in my DD,S&W or my CMMG, for what I do with them. My next AR will be an HK MR556. I am wanting to veer into the short piston AR. The main thing is buy the one that has the features you want, not what the people on the web want. Make sure you know what it is you need out of one before you buy it (quad rail, barrel twist, the sight style you like..etc)

I have a couple of friends who bought the M&P sports, and they love them. They left off the dust cover and forward assist, but I never use them anyway.

Well Gwarghoul, S&W does offer a chrome-lined barrel, I own one(and would be happy to provide photos if you want to show your LGS). That being said, some companies are moving toward other options than chrome-lined. HK produces their MR556 with a barrel that is not chrome-lined. They clame the reason is the chrome-lining will magnify any imperfections in the barrel, hence reducing accuracy. Their military version (the HK 416) has a chrome-lined barrel. So it's a toss up. If the LGS would lie about S&W like that, I would not trust them on much. Trust me S&W offer both chrome and melonite.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_765651_-1_757785_757784_757784_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

Or
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_764994_-1_757785_757784_757784_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

Chrome lined barrel. Mine is about 3 years old. Mine is the 811000 SKU. But there are a few models on S&W's site that have chrome-lined barrels.

Since nobody has asked?????

What is the intended purpose of this rifle? Plinking, target, self defense, hunting, burning as much ammo as you can afford?

It WILL make a difference. Chrome lined is good if you want to put 10,000 plus rounds down the tube in just one or two years. But unless you reload you are talking about $3000 in ammo costs in those two years. Chrome lined will more than likely cost you some in the accuracy area as well, not all but most are at best 1MOA.

S&W has one of the best reputations in the industry for customer service. The M&P line will take any milspec aftermarket parts. So will the Colt and the Windham. Some early Colts had larger than standard pins for the trigger and hammer. Not true now I don't think.

When Smith bought Thompson Center they used the barrel technology from Thompson to make their own barrels more accurate. The most accurate is actually the Sport with the 5R rifling. Progressive rate twist (though it says 1:8). It will stabilize any weight bullet as well if not better than any AR out there.

If you are going hunting you may want something that is lighter so you can carry it more easily all day and with a faster twist rate for heavier bullets.

Hope this muddied the waters sufficiently.

I recently picked up a sport and love it. Just had it out last week at the range and didn't have any problems what so ever. Not to mention I think I got my wife into shooting a bit more....

Go Smith. Windham is decent from what I hear, but I don't think I've ever read a bad Smith AR story. I love mine, MOA out of the box with the melonite. Go Smith.

gwarghoul Don't go into a gun shop and think you will find firearms expert. Most are just average working stiffs that have the same likes and dislikes as any one. It is up to you to know going in. Go to S&W's rifle forum and see what you find out. Most guys are ex military and or leos.

GWARGHOUL said:

So, I went into my LGS...

They confused me. I think I'm going to make up my mind, stick with it and have it transferred in.

They were telling me that EVERYONE was getting away from the chrome-lined barrel, the Colt was $1200.. and that Smith&Wesson doesn't include a Chrome lined barrel, despite what their website says and that they are "wise and big enough to lie".. etc..

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They have models that have CL. The Sport does not. Melonite, after much research, is what I'd prefer on ALL my rifle barrels if I could have it.

Colt is going to have good resale value if necessary. But, from my personal experience, their CS sucks. You may never need them, hopefully.

If you're after "mil spec", get a BCM, Colt, DD.
If you want value per dollar, get a Sport.
If you want a lil of both, PSA.

GWARGHOUL said:

Yeah, I realize that. I was just noting how the LGS claims that Smith and Wesson are lieing about it. They even said they don't ship what the website specs say etc. They are big enough and smart enough to lie.. blah blah.

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Maybe try a new shop. S&W is big, but lie they don't, and the shop in question seems to be under educated.

GWARGHOUL said:

This is the same shop that almost had me for $850 on a DPMS a while back. They were cool enough to refund my money when I realized it wasn't what I needed/wanted.

Try to give the local guy my business, but seems like everytime I go in there they are substantially higher than everyone else, and full of it.

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PM me shop in question. I may be able to recommend several highly rated shops here in the Metro STL area, as well as surrounding areas.

Show Me boys gotta look out for each other!

In my opinion, the answer to the OP's question is YES.

I have an excellent S&W M&P-15A. Mil-spec buffer tube, F-marked FSB, chrome-lined barrel. Accurate, has never, ever malfunctioned in three years and a butt-ton of .223, 5.56, 55 and 62 grain FMJs and penetrators through it.

I also have a couple Colt's LE-6920 M-4s, both supremely accurate and reliable; however the M&P-15 is better fit, tighter, less slop than the Colts.

I like 'em all. But if I really, truly couldn't pony up the extra 3 or 4 hundred bucks (you just can't seem to get a 6920 for under 1200 OTD right now), I'd have no problem with an M&P-15 (you can find some smokin' deals on the Smiths right now) -- S&W has proven to me they can put together a decent AR.
M&P 15A

Colt's

I have been very happy with my m&p 15 MOE. I'm no expert, and more of an AK guy, but I have been impressed by my S&W.

I would go with the Smith and Wesson AR with no hesitation. They make excellent firearms overall, and have great rep for CS. If you are set on the S&W, find one local at a reasonable price.

If you have the extra couple of hundred bucks available, I would also highly recommend the Colt 6920 for around $1100. Quality and value is top-notch; of course you are paying for the name but rest assured it IS Mil-Spec and will have a very good resale value if you choose to unload it down the road.

A 3rd (very close) option is a BCM Mid-length.

GWARGHOUL said:

So uh.. which has the better barrel.. the Windham or the Smith and Wesson?

They both seem like good guns, but the Windham has a lifetime warranty..

The Smith.. 1 year full and lifetime repair, pretty much the same..


So.. now we're down to the barrel..

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The Smith has 5R rifling- that is, an odd number of lands and grooves, making for a better bullet fit in the bore.

It has the Melonite Coating, which seems to be a better product than chrome (as someone noted above, the jury won't really be in on it for years)

WW uses a 'Wylde' type chamber- a hybrid, tighter than 5.56 NATO, looser than .223 Rem. S&W seems to use a 5.56 NATO chamber. I'd prefer the hybrid, but the M&P Sport I fired was impressively accurate, so I'd be OK with the Sport.

The WW uses an M4 profile barrel- and the notch for mounting the M203 just bugs me.

Overall, when it comes down to barrel (and it really is the heart of rifle) I'd go with the S&W.