Should I trade one of my AR-15s for a better one, or just acquire a new one?

[bos19]

So I own a S&W M&P Sport II and am about to acquire a Colt A2 Sporter II. I realized after buying the Colt that it's something I don't want to shoot all the time and beat up, since it has some special meaning to me as one of the older ARs out there and is in great shape. I feel like I'm ready to move on from the M&P Sport II and either build my own AR-15 or upgrade to a different brand of AR, but don't know if I should hang onto the M&P Sport II, or try to trade it for something else. Not trying to dump on the M&P by any means, as it is an excellent AR to get yourself acquainted with the AR-15 platform.Thoughts?

 

[FFGColorado]

So I own a S&W M&P Sport II and am about to acquire a Colt A2 Sporter II. I realized after buying the Colt that it's something I don't want to shoot all the time and beat up, since it has some special meaning to me as one of the oldest ARs out there and is in great shape. I feel like I'm ready to move on from the M&P Sport II and either build my own AR-15 or buy a top-tier AR, but don't know if I should hang onto the M&P Sport II, or try to trade it for something else. Thoughts?

What question are you trying to answer by selling/trading the S&W for a 'top tier' AR? Is the S&W unreliable? Inaccurate? Or just want to 'upgrade"?? If that, sure, trade it. Or sell it....big bux for that right now.

 

[edwardware]

In my opinion, in the range you're looking at, any AR is approximately equal to every other AR, when compared to no AR. I would add one, instead of swapping about betwixt functionally equivalent rifles.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Having just completed a build, now aint a great time to attempt one- shipping delays, out of stock parts, high prices....and only going to get worse if the Post Office shuts down.

So, if you can afford it, buy the Colt and keep the S&W, at least for now, IMO.

 

[David Hoback]

As long as your Upper/Lower are 7075-T6, they would make for a great starting point. Build your own using some parts you already have. Concentrate on high quality parts...barrel, BCG, gas block, etc. Even down to the pins & springs. When I build an AR, I put my own LPK together piece & piece. Go with a good free float handguard/rail & muzzle attachment. Also your grip & stock of choice.

 

[Styx]

So I own a S&W M&P Sport II and am about to acquire a Colt A2 Sporter II. I realized after buying the Colt that it's something I don't want to shoot all the time and beat up, since it has some special meaning to me as one of the oldest ARs out there and is in great shape. I feel like I'm ready to move on from the M&P Sport II and either build my own AR-15 or buy a top-tier AR, but don't know if I should hang onto the M&P Sport II, or try to trade it for something else. Thoughts?

What exactly is wrong with the M&P Sport other than it's price tag and the fact that it's not a boutique AR? The M&P Sport is do all the same core functions that a Colt or other AR will do. The differences that matters the most with ARs is the barrel and maybe the trigger. The lower, upper, etc are generally about The same. The Colt is chrome lined, but HIGHLY doubt you'll ever shoot out the barrel... While the Colt barrel is chrome lined, it's not even cold hammer forged (CHF)... When it comes to Colt, you're paying more for the name vs functionality and upgraded components. It doesn't have a higher grade barrel or a fancy trigger...

Unless you just think paying for branding and looks equals "Top Tier", just keep the M&P. Like @edwardware said, every AR in the price range I believe you're looking at is about the same with different personal preference related cosmetics and ergonomics. ARs that ship with CHF chrome lined barrels and boutique triggers are going to cost $$$. You can also just upgrade your M&P by buying an aftermarket drop in trigger and switching out the barrel. That would be money better spent IMHO.

 

[Texas10mm]

So you want to obtain an AR that you're not going to shoot and trade away the one you do shoot?

 

[JJFitch]

Take your time and build the AR of your dreams. Shoot the Colt as is and love it!

For the Sport II, I'd set it up for home defense with a Roneo 5 so it's 'on' immediately when deployed! If you have a significant other make it hers!

It might come in handy, if you can believe the "media"!

Smiles,

 

[bikerdoc]

Always in addition to, rather than instead of.

 

[DustyGmt]

Keep the M&P. I upgraded the trigger in mine with a Geissele 2S and still run the same BCG and it loves any and all ammo I feed it. The M&P was my first AR that I ever decided to keep and even though I have other AR's, one that's over twice the cost of an M&P, I still really like my M&P. Chances are you got a good deal on it, keep it. One day people will talk about the sub $500 M&P days cuz it ain't gonna last forever.....

 

[bos19]

Ok, thanks for the advice everyone. I'll hang onto the M&P for now and not make any big additions without doing some serious research.

 

[doubleh]

I believe you have made the right choice. Now is not the right time to be AR shopping, either for a complete rifle or parts to build you own. If things work out right in November it won’t take too long for the situation to become better.

The S&W is a great gun to upgrade so do a little thinking about that.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Good choice. Consider, really, AR's are all the same, barring some minor non-functional finishing differences and the vast divide between "large-pin" and "small-pin" types. Keep the lower and change what you want. Put a better barrel on the upper if you want. The room is the same, it's the furnishings that are different.

 

[FL-NC]

I would keep the sport and upgrade it. Install a Larue trigger in the lower, and then put together (or buy) a "nicer' upper, with dedicated optic, etc. You can do this over time, as $ and availability of components present. You would never be lacking your "training" AR, and you would then have a truly modular set-up, where all you would have to do is work with 2 pins to completely change the type of rifle you have. Later on, you could piece together another lower, and eventually have 2 separate guns.

 

[Dibbs]

A lot of solid advice, here. My only thoughts are you seem to appreciate the Colt. Have you ever traded or sold something, and regretted it later ?

 

[Varminterror]

I might be a dissenting opinion here, and since I’ve so much money building and rebuilding literally hundreds of AR’s for customers over the years, maybe I shouldn’t clip my own wings with this kind of advice, but...

“Upgrading” an AR means buying parts twice, and devaluing the original parts effectively to nothing. Especially in a basic AR like the Sport II. The math is simple, add up the cost of your replacement parts, the cost of the rifle you already paid, the parts to build a complete upper, and compare that to the resale street value of your upper, or complete rifle. Turning half of your S&W into parts in your drawer means you spent too much on the rifle you end up using. Reselling individual parts usually brings near-zero value, less than half of what the part cost new. Reselling a complete (Lower end) upper typically does bring higher value than selling the individual parts (may not be the case for higher end components). When you consider total cost of ownership, it’s very common to come up on the losing end when you upgrade vs. simply replacing a budget AR or upper. Or, of course, retain the value on hand and keep the assembled upper.

 

[lionking]

Keep both both are great rifles and future is uncertain, if you need money if times are hard now it is time to sell though.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Get another one.

 

[Styx]

I might be a dissenting opinion here, and since I’ve so much money building and rebuilding literally hundreds of AR’s for customers over the years, maybe I shouldn’t clip my own wings with this kind of advice, but...

“Upgrading” an AR means buying parts twice, and devaluing the original parts effectively to nothing. Especially in a basic AR like the Sport II. The math is simple, add up the cost of your replacement parts, the cost of the rifle you already paid, the parts to build a complete upper, and compare that to the resale street value of your upper, or complete rifle. Turning half of your S&W into parts in your drawer means you spent too much on the rifle you end up using. Reselling individual parts usually brings near-zero value, less than half of what the part cost new. Reselling a complete (Lower end) upper typically does bring higher value than selling the individual parts (may not be the case for higher end components). When you consider total cost of ownership, it’s very common to come up on the losing end when you upgrade vs. simply replacing a budget AR or upper. Or, of course, retain the value on hand and keep the assembled upper.

Yes, you're paying twice whenever you upgrade anything whether it be to night sites, trigger, grips, barrels, forearms, stocks, so on and so forth, but you're gaining a higher grade firearm customized for you personally.

Ar15.com has an extremely popular and booming marketplace, and, especially in this seller's market, any parts he's wanting to sell would sell quick and for a respectable price. I actually buy a lot of new and preowned components from there for my builds, and the prices I paid aren't and have never been "next to nothing" prices. I search their market place for most of my components before I buy retail.

Besides, for most of us, our draw of spare parts eventually turns into an AR, that, or at least we have spare replacement parts should we ever need them. With the way things are going now, we just might... So no, the spare parts devoid of value IMHO.

 

[Tommygunn]

Ok, thanks for the advice everyone. I'll hang onto the M&P for now and not make any big additions without doing some serious research.

I have the S&W as well as a Colt M4orgery. The BIG difference is the Colt has quadrails and thus I put a vertical forward grip on it while the S&W has its original forend, new rear grip and new cocking handle (I HATE the mil-spec charging handle and have replaced all my ARs). I think you made the correct choice. As others have said , there is not a vast difference between the two if both function well.
The S&W may not be "top tier" but many people in the AR-15 community like it. People like Colt too, and it is a better gun, but it's also true you pay for the name too.

 

[Skylerbone]

“Upgrading” an AR means buying parts twice, and devaluing the original parts effectively to nothing.

This too has been my experience. I took a $1,000 AR and spent another $500 on parts that could have simply been 1/2 the cost of another AR.

Having just completed a build, now aint a great time to attempt one- shipping delays, out of stock parts, high prices

Lucky you! Also my experience of late as my current build is stalled, waiting on multiple parts. I might note an exception to this rule in the current climate being higher-end parts. Several items I’ve looked at; billet uppers, titanium parts, near match barrels can still be found as can upgrade triggers. Should the need to own another AR overrule one's sensibility then these parts are available and still at near pre-pandemic prices.

I can appreciate owning a starter AR and growing out of it as your preferences mature. Should it not suit you, move it along. Realize however that it may soon be irreplaceable or near worthless but upgrading is a suck hole for your wallet.

 

[Varminterror]

Yes, you're paying twice whenever you upgrade anything whether it be to night sites, trigger, grips, barrels, forearms, stocks, so on and so forth, but you're gaining a higher grade firearm customized for you personally.

It appears you did not read my post: my advice is to build or buy the “higher grade firearm” independently.

Besides, for most of us, our draw of spare parts eventually turns into an AR, that, or at least we have spare replacement parts should we ever need them. With the way things are going now, we just might... So no, the spare parts devoid of value IMHO.

This is a logical fallacy which I hear folks pass around all of the time, but have never found it to be remotely sensical - you don’t want the parts, so you remove said unwanted parts and replace them. Why would you want the same parts, unwanted as they were, simply because you stuck a different serial number under them.

 

[DustyGmt]

I dont nessasarily agree that upgrades are a waste of money. At least not in the case of the most typically upgraded parts goes. For example, a Colt and M&P are going to have triggers, charging handles, stocks and handguards that have no discernible differences. Whether you buy a M&P or a 6920 in either case you're probably going to ditch the mil spec parts, and yes, most of us have a chest full of mil spec parts that will never do anything with and to list for sale is not even worth our time but I think that's just par for the course. It's a loss yeah, but it's pretty typical I would say.

The difference is paying $500 for the bone stock M&P and probably double that and then some for the bone stock Colt. Chucking parts on the Colt is gonna hurt more and your overall cost to get it how you want it is pretty astronomical when you consider what you could get for the same amount of money and go another route....

I guess what I'm saying is when you buy an off the rack AR of any make, it's not like you're given a list of optional upgrades that will reflect a deduction in cost for the parts you dont want. I dont really know how to say what I'm trying to say, its Sunday. I'm braindead. You know what I'm trying to say...

 

[Coal Dragger]

We have an election coming up, probably one that won’t go our way.

My advice would be to keep your current AR, and add another one.

Probably also a good time to order that 10 pack of PMags from Brownell’s you keep seeing pop up in their banner.

 

[Styx]

It appears you did not read my post: my advice is to build or buy the “higher grade firearm” independently.

I read your post, and I knew what you were suggesting. The snip you quoted was in response to what you stated about upgrades.

This is a logical fallacy which I hear folks pass around all of the time, but have never found it to be remotely sensical - you don’t want the parts, so you remove said unwanted parts and replace them. Why would you want the same parts, unwanted as they were, simply because you stuck a different serial number under them.

I find it strange to be explaining this to someone whose been building ARs as well as has been on gun forums for years. Yes, a lot of people who collect, build, upgrade, and have multiple ARs more often than not will upgrade or customize one AR for a particular purpose/role, to achieve a particular look, or just because. Later, they will use some of those excess parts that they have laying around to build another rifle. It happens all the time.

I wanted an AR with all FDE furniture for one example. I took off all the black parts like stock, forearm, grip, Magpul flip up sights, etc. I've also have swapped out the mil spec trigger in another one of my ARs. I have several stripped lowers laying around as well. I ended up using all the parts I took off to build another lower and I added to a PSA complete upper to create another rifle.