Anybody else notice the LARGE increase in threads about buying these Xxx/Yyy brand rifles, because
everything else out there is inferior? Are we back to interweb creep marketing "questions", to try and direct sales again!?
If I'm going to run my $2000 M4 for 9000 rounds w/o cleaning, it IS because I am a "government operator" and I have no care about beating the crap out of said free rifle, and I will be getting another free rifle soon.
OP-if you buy a $650 M&P, run it/shoot it for 5 years at say 2000 rounds per year, you can eventually sell it for say at least $500 and/or just put a new barrel on it.
I bought my LE6920MP as I got a great LE/MIL Discount at the time, and thankfully it has been a great rifle. However, I do not see the need to shove Colts down everybody's throats, when I know the truth as already spoken above: with the exception of the roll marks, these rifles are pretty much the same for us average paper/range shooters.
If money were no object for a 5.56 battle rifle I'd go with an HK or FN. If you are a smaller stature person you would probably LOVE the FN FS2000, but it sounds like you're looking for a more intro budget unit.