Does Smith & Wesson make a good AR15?

Haven't seen this mentioned, but Windham is the old Bushmaster crew, FWIW, good or bad.

Pat Rogers came out a couple of years back and acknowledged that S&W was up to speed. Pat had thoroughly bashed them (in print) when S&W first started building ARs.

I'd get the S&W.

You can get a 6920 for $995.00 now.

Case closed. Or it should be.

Water-Man said:

You can get a 6920 for $995.00 now.

Case closed. Or it should be.

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Not after possible taxes, FFL fees, maybe shipping. That adds up quickly.

The extra cost of the Colt gets me nothing I can't have with a Smith. If I need a better BCG, I can get a spare BCM later down the road. For their price, Colts customer service is oddly atrocious considering how many folks rely on their stuff. This is my experience, not opinion.

Case should not be closed, yet.

S&W barrels are 5R which may account to some of the accuracy claims found in this thread. I have had several AR's over the years with my latest being the S&W. It has not let me down in any area. Zero FTF or FTE with over 3000 rds. The only issue I have ever had with it is the fact that it doesn't like p-mags if overloaded, however most AR's don't. Some of the earlier (and maybe even current) P-mags would allow for 31 or more rounds to be loaded into them which would cause the magazine to not engage fully and fall out. The same problem occurred in my Bushmaster and an Olympic as well. I just stopped using P-mags since I can't count. LOL. Problem solved! Go for it. You won't be disappointed. On a side note, I have an Essential arms lower that I recently finished and the S&W upper fits it very well and works great. I did use an accu-wedge but it wasn't totally necessary, I'm just picky and there was a very small amount of side play.

GWARGHOUL said:

Where, and whats the extra $100 or so even at that price get me other than the name?
I could get ammo with that extra money

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Compared to what?

If you think the name is the only difference, just go to your local gun store or show and buy whichever AR/M4 pattern rifle is the cheapest. Don't waste your money on the Smith and Wesson rollmark.

Go buy your sport.

S&W makes a value-packed AR with a nice warranty to back it up.

-slowly backs away from couch commando subject-

I think the OP talked about getting an MP15 OR Smith not the sport model. There is a difference.

I've had an OR for a couple years, shot it a lot this past summer and fall and have never had any failure of any kind or issue with it.

I paid $700-800 for it a couple years ago and have felt since then that is was one of the best bangs for the buck I ever got. If you can get one for that price now I would say go for it without hesitation.

BTW, I have 7 ARs including 2 Colts, the MP15 OR is as good as any of them.

Yes, S&W makes a good AR.

I have an M&P15 MOE and also have a PSA PA-15. The MOE is a fine rifle though I seem to be a bit more accurate with the $700 PSA. To be fair, I'm not using the same optic on both so that may be the reason. I have not had any failures of any sort with either rifle.

Regardless, you're going to read a lot of different opinions, but I don't think you can go wrong with a S&W AR. Just decide what features are important to you and get the rifle that fits your budget. I know that may not be very specific but IMO the average schmoe won't see much difference for recreational use.

FWIW, I ran the base firing range for 20 years and was also the base weapon inspector (old school SAMTU).

I have a Sport on order...

My brother just bought a Smith AR-15 (forget the model no. right now but it was billed as being ready for optics and a mite more costly than the Sport model) and he's been very impressed with the quality of the fit/finish workmanship. Now to see how it shoots...

SwampWolf said:

My brother just bought a Smith AR-15 (forget the model no. right now but it was billed as being ready for optics and a mite more costly than the Sport model) and he's been very impressed with the quality of the fit/finish workmanship. Now to see how it shoots...

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Check back after a case of ammo.

SwampWolf, if it is anything like mine, he will love it. I have grown to love he M&P15's. I think S&W have the fit, finish and reliability down pat now. I only hope that since they dropped all that money for their own forging equipment, that they expand and make other variations in the future. S&W has proven to me they have earned their spot in the "black rifle" game.

I have a sport and ran p-mags loaded to 31 without any issues. The only issues I had while using my sport were caused by how i had the brass catcher set up. The gun wasn't throwing the brass hard enough to enter the net. Otherwise a few hundred rounds through the sport and loving it!

rookorami said:

I have a sport and ran p-mags loaded to 31 without any issues. The only issues I had while using my sport were caused by how i had the brass catcher set up. The gun wasn't throwing the brass hard enough to enter the net. Otherwise a few hundred rounds through the sport and loving it!

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Anything should run pmags with 31 rounds just fine so long as you load the mag with the bolt open.

Not sure why you would do that, though.

I did it with the bolt closed, just a little bump on the mag and it was good to go. Only did this because I lost count while loading the mag a time or two. I tend not to load them to full capacity now.

rookorami said:

I did it with the bolt closed, just a little bump on the mag and it was good to go. Only did this because I lost count while loading the mag a time or two. I tend not to load them to full capacity now.

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Full capacity is 30 rounds, FYI

My M&P15OR with free float tube and 3-9 scope will do under 1/2" at 100yrds with Federal Sierra BTHP.

Trigger is good as well.

Full capacity is 30 rounds, FYI

I don't load to 30 either. The technical full capacity is 30 but the way I was thinking when I wrote it was if I can fit 31 then its not full at thirty because you can still get one more in. However, I do see what you mean sorry for the error in my wording.

Check back after a case of ammo.

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Will do-and I expect (hope) the report will be a positive one.

SwampWolf said:

Will do-and I expect (hope) the report will be a positive one.

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It should be. For those of us that have run thousands of rounds through it in a years time, they will hold their own against the greats no problem.

The one I've kept is in the neighborhood of 4,000. That's brass and steel. Literally no issues, as I run ARs wet. You will be pleased.

Now y'all have me interested in an M&P 15 ... thanks ... my wife sends her thanks as well ... not!

The M&P are fine rifles to own. I do like mine as good as my DD. The S&W really shine (IMHO) in the fit and finish department. Either way, the M&P line will be here for a while.