1st AR--S&W M&P Sport

[itchy1]

I finally decided to join the party late and bought a new S&W Sport. It will be here sometime next week. I decided to start with something very basic as I figure I could always buy a little nicer rifle down the road if I take a shine to the platform. It will only be the third CF rifle I have ever owned. I had a bolt action 30.06 a while back and still have a Yugo SKS. I've read mostly good reviews about the gun. It seems that as long as a person understands what they are getting at the price point, they tend to be satisfied with them. The one area I have a question about is regarding the transition from the original 1:8 5R barrel to the 1:9 current offering. Does anyone have a Sport with the newer 1:9 barrel and does it really make that much of a difference? I was a little dissapointed to find out that S&W had made this change, however, I can understand the need to keep costs down for an entry level rifle. Considering that I'll have a little over ~600.00 into it, I don't think I can be too disillusioned by it. Now does anybody know of any good deals on ammo?

 

[mdThanatos]

I didn't know about the change in twist but it won't make that huge of a difference if you stick with 55gr or 62gr stuff. They seem to be good rifles from what I have read. A quick search online shows 1000 round lots for 510, PMC 62 gr factory stuff, .51 cents a round which isn't great but that seems to be the average I am seeing on my search. Wolf as low as .35 cents a round as well but that is steel and some people don't care to shoot that in an AR.

 

[arizona98tj]

Given that far more M&P15 rifles are configured with a 1:9 chrome lined barrel vs. the 1:8 melonite 5R barrel, I don't think you are taking much of a chance in getting the Sport with the 1:9 barrel.

I've been shooting my M&P15 OR with its 1:9 barrel for years....that barrel does what it is suppose to do and I've no complaints.