S&W M&P15 - Reliabillity? Mod-ability?

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g_one

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Hey guys. I'm a long-time gun owner, but I haven't taken the step into rifles yet. I'm looking for something in the AR family (doesn't specifically have to be an AR-15 but something in the realm) and after some research, handling (but not shooting yet) I had a few questions about the SW M&P15. I'm moving from an apartment to a home out in the rural areas soon, so it's going to be primarily for home defense, camping trips, and the occasional trip to the range.

For those with experience with this rifle, how does it hold up in terms of longevity? Assuming I would take good care of it, and not put too many shots downrange, can I expect it to last me a long time?

Also, what about mods? I don't know how it specifically compares to a true AR clone but if I want to get, say, a modified stock or rail for it, would I be limited to only things that fit the M&P or any general AR accessory?

Thanks in advance!
 
It is fairly new but I have had no problems with mine. Any standard AR parts will fit, modify away. I have the Sport version and other than optics and forward grip (just added a small rail rather than change the handguards) I don't plan on changing anything else.
 
I've had my Sport for six months. It's a great, light weight carbine that is well built without all the unnecessary junk hanging off it. Used it to take a few deer and a coyote last winter, when it was only a week old. They're great guns.
 
I've had a S&W M4gery for 4 years. It has 2000+ rounds thru it. It is still a 1.25 MOA shooter with match ammo and a 1.5-2 MOA shooter with XM193. If i had magnified optics, i could easily shoot sub MOA with it. I recently used it in a 1 day carbine class. 500 rounds without a single issue. I didn't clean it until i got home.

Most ARs are very similar in quality, so i buy the best "value" at the time. I would jump on a S&W M&P15 if the price is good without any regrets.

I have changed and updated this S&W several times. It's had 3 styles of forends, 2 styles of stocks, 2 styles of gas blocks, etc, etc,. I've had no issues with accessories or upgrades fitting.
 
I bought a M&P Sport last August and have shot about 1700 rds with no failures of any type. The barrels 5R rifling makes it very accurate as well. With the S&W lifetime warranty and the price they sell for it's one of the best deals on the AR market today. I really really like mine!:D
 
I have a couple thousand rounds through mine. Not one hickup yet. It is a fine tool, to do many jobs. They are as customizable as any other AR platform rifle. Not sure about other models, but mine has a mil-spec stock, forearm and so on. I could not be more happy. The sky is the limit as far as that goes. Mine is a little older, and has a chrome lined barrel. It was made when S&W first started tooling them in house. I can imagine they have only gotten better.

My opinion is they are a VERY fine choice for an AR style rifle. Colt is one of the closest to being full Mil-Spec. While from what I gather it depends on the model of the M&P. The Sport has a few options that were designed especially to save money for the consumers. They are very reliable and very durable rifles. I shoot my M&P 15 alot more than my DD V4, and all parts I have found are interchangable.
 
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Its just an AR better than some . Still everything AR will work on it to. I have a sport, darn good rifle with out any upgrades but did add a RRA scope mount and used RRA free float tube and small gas block. Accurate and reliable.
 
I have the sport and have had 0 problems. As far as holding up, I read a in depth review on it where they ran 100,000 rounds through 2 of them without any issues. It was an impressive write up that sold me on the gun.
 
Also, what about mods? I don't know how it specifically compares to a true AR clone but if I want to get, say, a modified stock or rail for it, would I be limited to only things that fit the M&P or any general AR accessory?
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It is as much a true AR clone as is any other true AR clone. I picked one up a couple of years ago.....been through two training classes (4 days each) and an unknown number of trips to the range preparing for the classes. If you find one at a competitive price, buy it. AR-15 pieces and parts fit in and on it without any issues.
 
I have a M&P15 optics ready carbine, and I love it. You can't go wrong with an m&p.
 
I have the M&P15T. It is a good rifle, but a bit finicky with ammo. I bought a case of wolf polymer coated ammo a while back and every time I have shot it through the M&P it has failed to extract, and I have had to beat out the empty case. Usually it jams in the first shot. It runs brass cased flawlessly. So now I just don't shoot steel cased through the M&P and I feed that to my cheaper Olympic, which runs it with no issues.
 
VegasAR15, you need to let S&W see if they can't fix it. I dont run the steel ammo in mine. I have a buddy that run nothing but S&W's for his training classes. He supplies the ammo and uses the steel case wolf. He had two (out of 25 primary and 2 back up) that was picky about it and sent them back. They fixed them. I have seen that happen with the wolf ammo...

That being said, they do have good customer service..
 
VegasAR15, you need to let S&W see if they can't fix it. I dont run the steel ammo in mine. I have a buddy that run nothing but S&W's for his training classes. He supplies the ammo and uses the steel case wolf. He had two (out of 25 primary and 2 back up) that was picky about it and sent them back. They fixed them. I have seen that happen with the wolf ammo...

That being said, they do have good customer service..
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into that. Its not so much of an issue, since I know it can run brass cased no problem, but it would be nice to know that it would run anything I feed it.
 
Wolf poly coated ammo will do that in any AR. It is not a gun problem. It is a cheap ammo problem.
 
Wolf poly coated ammo will do that in any AR. It is not a gun problem. It is a cheap ammo problem.
Click to expand...

It was all I could find at a reasonable price in 2008. My Olympic has had zero problems with Wolf ammo. Hundreds of rounds through the Olympic with no problems, first round jams almost every time with my M&P. Odds are, my particular M&P doesn't like Wolf.
 
Alot of LEO's and private security forces are using the M&P15. They really are good rifles. I have seen these first hand go through lots of abuse and never skip a beat. You will enjoy it.
 
I have a S&W M&P 15 (MOE) as well and mine has been 100%. I shoot a lot of cheap steel case Russian stuff, Brown Bear 55gr and Silver Bear 62gr, as well as the 62gr 'Green' tip brass cased ammo.
One thing I might add is to shoot the brass cased ammo first then shoot the cheap steel cased ammo. The steel does not expand as does brass and can/will leave a carbon residue in the chamber making brass had to extract.
 
Yeah hardluk1 is right. They have changed a little though. At first they were mainly made by Stag Arms parts. Then they were switched over to in house. Now S&W are doing some cool newer stuff, like with melonite and so on. I think they are coming into full stride now. They have been out long enough to see how the reliability is on such.
 
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