M&P Sport and sustained combat

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Saddlebag Preacher

Saddlebag Preacher

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OK, I'm not a conspiracy theory specialist, but I have a question. I've read all the posts here about the M&P Sport, the price and the value for the money. IF, and I say IF, something ever happens, I have some good hunting rifles (The original assault rifles called lever actions and a Mauser 98) and shotguns along with some good handguns.

I haven't really seen cheap surplus 5.56 ammo listed like I used to. But, IF I bought one and HAD to use it as a battle rifle and not a range gun, would it hold up?

No, I'm not talking desert storm sand and such, but can it hold it's own if a bunch of farmers felt they needed to protect themselves against an armed mob and sustained gunfight in rain, humidity heat and cold?

I can't afford $1000.00 or more for a combat rifle, but I can afford the S&W.

Just tossing it out there.
 
The S&W Sport is in many ways a better rifle than most of the rifles that used to be considered top notch 10 years ago. My big concern would be the lack of dust cover on the Sport - although I think you can now buy a cheap disposable plastic one for it. Having said that, I'd take the Sport over a lever gun or Mauser 98; but then I have a lot of time with ARs and trigger time/confidence is probably much more important than type of firearm for what you describe.
 
Saddlebag Preacher said:
OK, I'm not a conspiracy theory specialist, but I have a question. I've read all the posts here about the M&P Sport, the price and the value for the money. IF, and I say IF, something ever happens, I have some good hunting rifles (The original assault rifles called lever actions and a Mauser 98) and shotguns along with some good handguns.

I haven't really seen cheap surplus 5.56 ammo listed like I used to. But, IF I bought one and HAD to use it as a battle rifle and not a range gun, would it hold up?

No, I'm not talking desert storm sand and such, but can it hold it's own if a bunch of farmers felt they needed to protect themselves against an armed mob and sustained gunfight in rain, humidity heat and cold?

I can't afford $1000.00 or more for a combat rifle, but I can afford the S&W.

Just tossing it out there.
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Yes, it'd hold up. I'm one such farmer, and I find it wholly apt.
 
Is there something wrong with being "conspiracy theory specialist" that you felt you had to mention it? Just didn't want to get identified with all those tin hat wearin' nut jobs...did ya ;)
 
In my opinion, my Sport is every bit as good quality as my Colt... in fact I like the melonite-treated barrel more than the Colt's chrome bore.

I believe the Sport would hold up just as well or better than most others.
 
I something really bad happens it will last long enough. If things get to the point that you really need a better gun, there will be better ones laying on the ground to pick up.
 
A Ruger Mini-14 will hold up
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This. Much better rifle for adverse conditions. Built lose enough to allow some grime in the workings and still retain at least 2moa accuracy (new ones). Its a M1 carbine in .223. Also, Mini's love the sand/dirt. Thats why its the #1 ranch rifle ever made (hence its name). Those farmers and ranch hands dont pay too much attention to the cleanliness of their rifles. Its a tool.
 
Jackal said:
This. Much better rifle for adverse conditions. Built lose enough to allow some grime in the workings and still retain at least 2moa accuracy (new ones). Its a M1 carbine in .223. Also, Mini's love the sand/dirt. Thats why its the #1 ranch rifle ever made (hence its name). Those farmers and ranch hands dont pay too much attention to the cleanliness of their rifles. Its a tool.
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Then, by this line of thinking, wouldn't an AKM be superior still? Still battle accurate, ridiculously reliable, and cheap to feed. Either the AR or AK has the Mini beat, especially for the price they command.

For what a Mini costs, I can get a good AR or a great AK variant. I pay plenty attention to, not only cleanliness, but value per dollar. In this regard, the Mini sucks.
 
Oh by the Lords of Hades... Not again.

I dunno, but if "extended combat" arises, you better hope you have a bunch of friends, as one guy by himself presents a comparatively easy target, and life expectancy is measured not in hours, even minutes, not even the number of magazines you empty, but the number of rounds in one magazine left when your rifle goes silent.
 
The only way to know if your AR will hold up is to go shoot it. Go take a three day carbine course and see if it survives

But ammo costs money, doesn't it?
 
A Ruger Mini-14 will hold up
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This. Much better rifle for adverse conditions.
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Actually, it isn't. It may seem very robust, but people who have really put them through their paces found that the AR was, in fact, a more durable and reliable firearm.

I like my mini, but if I had to choose between it and one of my ARs, I wouldn't even have to think about it.
 
My biggest concern with an AR and "sustained combat" is not how long the situation lasts, or even the elements, but ROUNDS FIRED. A combat loadout of 300 rounds sounds like a lot, but it's only 4 mags on your belt and 6 in your armor carrier
It's also enough carbon fouling to cause serious fouling issues in a lot of guns.

If you and your farmer buddies are getting into 2-300 rounds / shooter firefights, something is badly wrong already.
 
It's also enough carbon fouling to cause serious fouling issues in a lot of guns.
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Maybe; but an AR isn't one of those rifles. You can find multiple examples of an AR going 10,000 rounds plus with no cleaning. Carbon fouling isn't going to be an issue with the Sport. You'd run out of ammo long before you choked it out with carbon fouling. External debris in the BCG/gas expansion area may be a problem though if there is enough of it. That is why I would want some kind of dust cover.
 
If the dustcover and forward assist are a big deal to you (If forced to pick one I'd opt for the dustcover) you could always pick up a $90 upper at your leisure and rebuild your upper on it. From the reviews I've seen, the S&W Sport seems to be a great value and if I were in the market for another I'd seriously consider it.

Even better is the recommendation to take a carbine class with it and see how it fares for you. You might decide to keep it as-is because it runs fine. If not, you'll know the bugs of your particular rifle.
 
Texan Scott said:
My biggest concern with an AR and "sustained combat" is not how long the situation lasts, or even the elements, but ROUNDS FIRED. A combat loadout of 300 rounds sounds like a lot, but it's only 4 mags on your belt and 6 in your armor carrier
It's also enough carbon fouling to cause serious fouling issues in a lot of guns.

If you and your farmer buddies are getting into 2-300 rounds / shooter firefights, something is badly wrong already.
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Carbon fouling is actually pretty much a non-issue. ARs run dirty with the best of them, they just don't like to run dry.

Besides, 2-300 is almost nothing. Most ARs will run at least 10 times that before running into incomplete feeds which, on most ARs (though incidentally, not on the M&P Sport that OP is asking about), can be addressed with the forward assist. Anything else is probably either magazine related or can be solved by spraying down the BCG with some lubrication.


So, Saddlebag Preacher, if you're that worried just make sure you have a can of your favorite CLP with you when the shooting starts.
 
My point is, he's really got no chance of ruining a real modern rifle defending a farm.

Of course, I know nothing about civilian ARs... met a few armory maintained M-16s that choked on less, though.
 
Personally, I'd go with a pair of decent AKs over an AR (simmer down AR fans, I like them too), in my experience AKs dont care if they're dry, or wet, or dirty, decent ammo is cheaper, and you could arm you AND a buddy for the price of a good AR. Just my .02 cents on your zombie apocalypse scenario.
 
HDCamel said:
Besides, 2-300 is almost nothing. Most ARs will run at least 10 times that before running into incomplete feeds which, on most ARs (though incidentally, not on the M&P Sport that OP is asking about), can be addressed with the forward assist.
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False.

The Sport has scalloped cuts in the bolt carrier that allow full closure of the bolt with the shooters thumb.
 
I run a complete season of 3 gun matches without cleaning my AR, just add oil and clean the optics.

If i get into bad weather at a match I will clean the rifle.

These ARs are far more durable than 300 or 3000 rounds without cleaning.
 
Guns and Ammo put out a magazine a few months ago dedicated to the AR. It was a solid red book with the HK 416 or MR556 on the cover(cannot recall with looking). It had an interresting write up on the M&P Sport. They used it in desert conditions, without cleaning it for a few thousand rounds. It never hick-uped or mis-fed or anything. The writer of the article was weary of the rifle until he put it through his torture tests.

Now this is just one of many torture tests that people have done to this rifle. S&W got it right with the Sport. I personally do not own one, but I would not be afraid to pick one up and let my life depend on it. Too many I know, have bought them, and love them.
 
"Oh by the Lords of Hades... Not again."

Did I miss the first go round?

I've been mulling over buying an AR platform or not and all the "stuff" hitting the fan discussions on here so that was the basis for my question. I can be self sustaining.

When we were out of power for 2 - 3 weeks from the ice storm 2 years ago, we out in the country helped each other, not go "NUTS" and depending on the gov't. But after hurricane Sandy, I understand we are seeing a miniture insight about those who can't or won't help themselves. Armed gangs are roaming the streets at night in places (according to the news).

So this was a serious question to a firearm purchase. If the grid went down for whatever reason and gas is unavaiable, I need to protect what I have until order is restored. There is fuel, feed and diesil on my place, as well as water and game. So I'm not thinking "end of the world", but eventually someone would star looking outside the city.

I reallyb thank you folks who have given me good advice.
 
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