I have heard great things about the M&P15 and saw/handled a full auto version recently with a 1/7 barrel and a H Buffer. I also shot one of our Dept ones, a T model. How does it stack up to the Colt. The S&W rep told me it can be ordered with a 1/7 barrel.

Start with "The Chart" found at this link

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...jFwPrgTA#gid=1

Then you may want to read "So you want to buy an AR-15, huh?" at this link

Links to other forums not allowed. Phil

and, finally, for a discussion of the merits of twist rate, try

Links to other forums not allowed. Phil

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S&W M&P-15 OR

1 + with Glock 19926 the "Chart" tells it all.

As much as I love my M&P15A, I would rather spend the extra for the Colt. 1:7 twist barrel lets you shoot the heavier loads but still is fine for the 55 grain; HPI/MPI, lifetime warranty, better steel... when I bought my M&P the Colt was almost twice the price but not anymore... All that said, the M&P isn't a slouch either.

+1 also for the chart. Pricing seems to be coming back in line again and it seems to boil down to what you like mostly.

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Sammy

Great read-I'm glad I saw this. I'm planning on adding an AR as a backup to my main SHTF gun. My brother has been pleased with his M&P 15, but I think I'll step up to the 6920 if I go this route.

I love my M&P15 MOE. No complaints.

The twist rate shouldn't keep you from shooting heavier loads. It could affect long range accuracy, but for a carbine that's not an issue.

I do not understand why companies continue to only offer 1/9, just makes no sense to me. Kinda like mil spec or commerical receiver entensions.

Some "experts" ding the M&P15 for the few blocks unchecked in THE CHART. I think THE CHART is good to understand what are the differences among mfgs, but also I think entirely too much is made about some of it, such as I am fine with the 1:9 twist barrel as I only shoot 55 grain (it's cheapest, and I don't reload), use fairly short bullets, and don't shoot long range (300 yds or less, usually only 100 yds) and I own a carbine. I think I would be more likely to insist on 1:7 in a rifle. Some will try to make you think anyone who buys a 1:9 twist barrel is, .. "not well informed". Whatever:-) Everyone gets their opinion.
Now I consider it a fact that there should not even be something called "commercial buffer tube". Please refuse to buy those.

To me THE CHART is NOT the end all be all of AR info that some say it is. But, it is a excellent source when used as one of many. A fantastic starting place.

To me, S&W has all the important things:
- staked gas key & Shot Peened bolt
- chromed chamber and bore.
- M4 feed ramps
- 5.56 chamber = very important, unless you are a .223 only guy who wants the ultimate accuracy, and don't want to fire 5.56.
- They don't have lifetime warranty checked for Smith. I've never has less than exception support for Smith, no matter how old the gun is; so I "double check" this in my little mind. Not only do they have customer support, but it actually works.
-The M16 bolt carrier - they have fully shrouded firing pins. My MP15 looks fully shrouded... maybe I'm not understanding this???? The "heavier bolt to slow cycle time", might be desirable, not sure. It's easy to upgrade the bolt if this bother you.

So is the M&P the end all be all of ARs? Probably not (but some of those are much more expensive). Is it a excellent gun for the money (especially if you get it on sale, remember $100 rebate on all M&P15 till the end of the year) YES. At least I think so.

I really like my S&W M&P15OR. On the other hand when I think of M16's/AR15 I think of Colt. If I had the money, I'd woulds have had to buy a Colt. Will get one someday to put beside the S&W.

I have to agree with CBR240. I looked at that chart a lot while making my decision on which AR to buy. To be quite honest all of the boxes not checked under the Smith and Wesson colum were not extremely important for a civilian rifle. People make a lot of fuss about the twist rate, the barrel material, and the BCG. Well the BCG is an easy part to swap out. It will take less than five minutes to do. The barrel is more complicated, to change, but IMO doesn't need to be done. The barrel as is will fire the most common types of ammo on the market, and since this is a civilian model with no full-auto or burst capabilities barrel life should be just fine. To me the best part of the M&P 15 is the attractive price coupled with the features it does offer.

I bought my first rifle, the M&P 15, on Saturday, 9/11, at the Salem, Virginia gun show. Out the door price (including taxes and the NCIC check) for $750 (after rebate). I could not be more pleased. The chart helped me assure myself, that as a total noob when it comes to rifles, that I was getting a good rifle at a fair price. I agree with the previous poster who noted that despite the lack of a lifetime warranty, S&W stands behind its products no matter what the age. Last year I sent in a Model 52-2 because of extraction failures. The problem was clearly a worn or broken extractor. The pistol, one of the last 52-2s made, was 20 years old or more at that point and had been shot a lot in Bullseye competition. No problem, S&W replaced the extractor, installed a new recoil spring, and returned the pistol to me cleaned and lubricated, and paid the shipping both ways. I trust these guys! What is more, the technician who actually did the work on the pistol called me in response to a note I had included with the pistol. That, my friends, is exceptional customer service and played no small part in my deciding to go with this M&P rather than the Pony 6920.

I bought the OR model carbine, so I need to add flip-up front and rear sights, and some kind of optic. Any suggestions as to brands, and as to red dot versus traditional riflescope? I'm most concerned about accuracy out to 200 yards or so.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I have a Troy rear flip-up on my M&P, and they make a front as well. Avoid the plastic front sights, as the gas block gets VERY hot, and I don't know if the plastic sights will remain vianble when heated to any extreme.

I have a Primary Arms Microdot ($99) on my M&P, and I like it - a lot. I really see no need to spend $500+ on a red dot sight for use on a rifle that doesn't see extreme duty conditions. Primary Arms carries a lot of red dots that will work reliably on a 5.56 carbine. Check 'em out.

For just 200 yards, I don't think I'd spend money on a scope with a large objective (larger than 32mm) or with variable power.

I have a personal 6920, and a work-issued gun that is a Rock River upper on a Bushmaster lower. I don't know why. They both work just fine.
I bought a Colt rather than a S&W because i don't ever buy the first production issue of any firearm. I prefer to wait a few years until I am sure the bugs are worked out. Think Sig's premature issue of their carbine. I wouldnt have any qualms about a S&W now, but I'd still wait a couple more years on the Sig.

The choice of an optic, like most everything about AR carbines, depends on what you plan to do with the carbine and how much you want to spend.

As a starting point I suggest this review of optics

Fighting Carbine Optics - A Short Guide to Picking The Right Optic - AR15.COM

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S&W M&P-15 OR