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

[DustyGmt]

I forgot, BCM actually offers a stripped down complete upper in a multitude of barrel lengths and types starting at around $415 last I checked. Perfect if you want the modularity to cherry pick the parts and pieces you want such as CH, BCG and handguard and dont want to pay for unused parts. They are a step up in quality and what I think most consider a top tier brand.

BCM makes fine stuff, I dont think Colt has much if anything on them. If you're familiar with the filthy 14 article a guy has ran his standard non hammer forged BCM upper 40,000+ rounds with hardly a lick of maintenance and it just runs. Worth considering.

 

[CapnMac]

This is a hugely complicated question.
"We" can't seem to agree on what "better" is--other than to champion certain bits over other bits.
The number of options is as vast as the number of owners 9and their varying preferences).

We can't even use price as a metric--there's no way to answer "Is a $4000 AR better than a $400 AR?" Not any better than we can answer "Is a $4000 AR better than two $600, one $800, and two $400 ARs?"
It all goes apples to artichokes pretty quickly.

Have you ever traded or sold something, and regretted it later ?

Virtually every time. (ok, not the Universal carbine, but most all of the rest,)

 

[stevebla]

Larue trigger $80 is a great start!

 

[DustyGmt]

Larue trigger $80 is a great start!

Yeah, very nice. I always almost say very nice for the money but it's actually very nice in general. If it was a $200 trigger I wouldnt know any better and would still have one.

 

[Styx]

Larue trigger $80 is a great start!

I purchased two of them so far.

 

[Ignition Override]

bos19:

Would a Geissele trigger make your M&P feel like a different brand?
The swap on Youtube looks really easy.

 

[DerMerchant]

My 2 cents
Why not get an AR in something beside 5.56? I had an A4 style ar and a carbine, and found I had no use for two nearly identical (in function) rifles of the same caliber. An ar in, say, 9mm or 7.62x39 would add increased novelty to the rifle, and allow you to use more ammo if 5.56 would become any more scarce.
Or just get something cool like an AK

 

[Ignition Override]

DerMerchant:
If I repeated your last comment, somebody would notice, and choose to feel indignant. Many people can't see the appeal (or ergos) of their character, even as a Secondary attraction.

JGsales has had 7.62x39: 1,000 rds. @ $300 (before tax etc) for weeks.
Or purchase boxes of 20 rds....tell them how many small boxes you want.

Any affordable gun in this chambering makes some sense for people who are Very low on ammo, does it not?

 

[Styx]

My 2 cents
Why not get an AR in something beside 5.56? I had an A4 style ar and a carbine, and found I had no use for two nearly identical (in function) rifles of the same caliber. An ar in, say, 9mm or 7.62x39 would add increased novelty to the rifle, and allow you to use more ammo if 5.56 would become any more scarce.
Or just get something cool like an AK

The problem is the OP doesn't want to shoot his Colt, so he basically only has one AR. If he does keep the M&P, I agree he should get a 300blk, 9mm, x39, or even an AR10.

 

[gotboostvr]

What I would do is buy an armory's wrench and address whatever short comings you perceive on your S&W.

I'd keep all the spare parts, snag some extras and spares here and there on sale or as a add on to get free shipping next time you order from midway, brownells et al.

Then slap all the extras together one night and have a bonus utility carbine, nice purpose built carbine, and a rifle with collector/nostalgia. Got all your bases covered and you'll know the platform better inside and out.

 

[armedwalleye]

If I were in a selling/trading mood on an AR right now, I think I'd wait for another 6 weeks and sell it outright. Panic should be running wide open by then. Throw in a hundred rounds and you could prob score another $100 for it.

 

[Chuck R.]

I'd keep what you've got and build (assemble IF you insist) over time what you want. You can easily put together the upper and use it on your M&P lower till you get the lower put together. This way you'll end up with what you really want.

Unless you reload, I'd stick with .223 and I'd make it a Wylde chamber. A lot of guys end up with a cool AR in a neat caliber, that they can't afford to shoot that much.

Once your new AR15 is completed, sell the M&P, or keep it as a spare.

 

[gotboostvr]

Unless you reload, I'd stick with .223 and I'd make it a Wylde chamber. A lot of guys end up with a cool AR in a neat caliber, that they can't afford to shoot that much.

Even if you reload, I'd go 223 Wylde. It's a great chamber with no downside.

The only reason I'd go with another chambering is if you want to hunt (something you need more than a 223 for) or if you want to reach out to 1k yards. Even then, it wouldn't be a bad idea to only build a upper and keep the 223 one as an extra.

 

[mavracer]

I've never had remorse from getting rid of an AR. My old Colt A2 service match is the only one that has any sentimental value and wont be sold. I have a 16" White Oak barreled carbine with a Larue trigger and a Leupold scope so I'd really have no use for a gun like a S&W sport.

 

[imac98374]

I think you could make an argument for selling the complete M&P. It’s a $550-600 rifle that you could sell for $800-900Ish. Plan on putting together something fancy in a year or so once things settle down.

Maybe buy a stripped lower now as a hedge against new legislation in the mean time?

 

[DerMerchant]

If things don't settle down having 2 ars may not be a bad idea. If there was an even more major shortage of parts building an ar may become cost prohibitive.