I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down my AR purchase decision to either the M&P Sport or OR. Can't beat the pricepoint of the Sport and the lack of dust cover and assist doesn't really bother me. For this question, I don't want to focus on the obvious differences. This would be almost exclusively for range shooting.

S&W's site doesn't go into a whole lot of detail on the other differences in the two. Are we talking about the same BCG, trigger group and other internals or are they different too?

I do like the fact that the Sport comes with a rear folding sight. I don't like the front sight though as I will be using a red dot optic and co-witness isn't key for me.

Any help on comparisons between the two would be appreciated. Thanks.

Can't go wrong with either.
m still waiting for a response from LMT which bolt is used by Smith.
I believe the sport has a better barrel.
Smith triggers are standard.

.....change the gas block on the sport and add an optic and flip front sight and there's your weapon at a great value.

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Light, Accurate,Versatile M&P

Honestly, there does not appear to be much difference between the two. You are aware of the dust cover, forward assist, and the lack of sights on the OR. The main difference is the barrel.

The Sport comes with a melonite treated 1:8 twist, 5r rifling barrel. The OR comes with a chrome lined 1:9 twist, standard rifling. Both barrels are the same grade of steel.

Sport trigger guard is forged as part of the lower and enlarged, where the OR has the standard trigger guard with the replaceable guard plate. The Sport handguards also do not have a heat shield, but most change these anyway.

When I was looking, I could get the OR at about the same price as the Sport at the gun show. I chose the Sport because of the rifling in the barrel. I felt like the Sport probably has the better barrel between the two for my intended use, but some may disagree.

I think you answered your own question as to which you may actually prefer. You don't want to co-witness and you don't like the fixed front sight. While you can replaced that front sight with a railed gas block like the OR has, does that put you at or near the price of the OR?

Do you like/dislike the M4 form barrel of the OR? I personally like it, some like the smooth barrel of the sport better. As for the chrome lined vs melonite, I doubt anyone here would notice a difference between the two as far as accuracy goes.

I have a barrel that isn't chrome lined, nor is it melonite, and it shoots great. Most hunting rifles don't have either as well.

The 1:8 vs 1:9 rifling would suggest that you'd be able to shoot heavier loads with the 1:8 rifling than the 1:9, but since you are target shooting, perhaps that is moot and would most likely be shooting the cheaper 55 grain ammo anyway. 55 grain and 62 grain seem to be the most common, and 1:9 will handle either fine.

Either rifle would serve you well.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

Thanks all. Just called a fairly local store and they thankfully have both in stock. Heading there now, will contemplate some more and make a decision. I plan to come home with a new big brother for my 15-22.

good times in your near future!

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I still have to disagree after all the research I have done, chrome lined barrel is not at all the same as a Melonite treated barrel. If the information I have posted about the engineering and down to the molecular level between the sport and chrome hasnt shown the difference then why are companies such as Adams Arms and the like going to melonite treated barrels exclusively. I have evidence that shows no matter what the barrel is made of the nitro-carbonizing treatment out performs chrome in every instance and that material like the 4140 steel that they use for the barrel allows for the treatment to form a deeper layer of Melonite than the higher grade of steels which makes for a barrel that has way more wear and corrosion resistance than the other options plus the 1-8 rifling allows for accuracy out of faster bullets than the 1-9. If you want the engineering report on that I can paste and copy that also. Just putting in my two cents. But I can substantiate all of these claims. To me this just means the barrel on my sport will outlast me. IMHO

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Grover Oathkeeper

The reason most hunting rifles dont have it could be due to the fact that it is a pretty new process and there arent a lot of throw away rifles. I have been looking into it and a lot of barrel manufacturers are going to it. There has to be a reason why.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Glad my New Rifle on order has the 4150 CMV 1-8 5R Refiling lined with Melonite.

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M&P15,9MM,M66,22-A,Glock 30SF

They don't have either, chrome lined or melonite. I can see why they don't bother with chrome lined, it costs more. Melonite in the future hunting rifles might be the thing.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

All of this, coming from someone who has admitted to watching days of our lives....

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

there is a misconception. the barrel is not lined with melonite it is a treatment that covers the inside and the outside layer of the barrel. they actually make the barrel and then put it through a process where they change the outerlayer of the metal both inside and outside of the barrel. depending on what the original material was depends on how deep the layer is. It is not like chrome lined where they make it over bore and then chrome plate the inside and then ream it to the proper dimensions. After they treat it with melonite it is still dimensionally the same as before it went in for treatment it is just a lot harder and slicker, to the point where you cannot compare chrome and the melonite treatment.

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Grover Oathkeeper

and the new battle rifle they are designing for the US Military wont be chrome lined but Melonite treated.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Yeah Rod...I figured you would laugh at my 3 ex and 1 present wife...not my first father and mother-in-laws choice of after lunch entertainment. LOL

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Grover Oathkeeper

I liked the sport and it's fairly simple to change the front sight. I didn't like the barrel on the OR I don't need it notched for a grenade launcher. I don't care for the FA as I'm a believer in the tap an rack school of thought I would like a DC but for what I'm using it for its not needed. Take the money you save on the sport and but accessories and ammo. Just my 2 cents.

Well I would post a pic but it looks just like the one on S&W site since I just got it home and unboxed it!

My decision was pretty much to go with the OR and it was sealed when I got there and the Sport was already sold. ARs are going quick wherever I look. Glad they still had this one. I was almost sold on a Rock River that they had but decided to stick with what I had decided on. I took the difference the Rock River would have cost and got a case of 5.56.

I'm glad I did and looking forward to hitting the range this weekend. Magpul MBUS front and rear will be on tonight and I'll do the initial cleaning. I'll likely be ordering the PA MicroDot next week. VERY HAPPY.

Congrats on your new rifle. Be careful with the Magpul front sight on the gas block. There have been reports of those sights melting due to the heat from the gas block.

Yeah, don't use an MBUS front on the gas block. Heat from rapid fire has been known to melt them and the instruction sheet specifies using it on handguards only for that reason.

I have thousands of Lake City rounds through my OR and zero malfunctions or complaints. The 1/9 bbl. will be fine out to 150 yds. plus with heavier rounds IF that floats your boat. The heavier stuff gets expensive for practice anyway and is only used for match competition mainly. For defensive purposes outside of combat zones, not much call for it over that 150-200 yd. range where you MIGHT lose some stability.

The fact you simply add iron folders and an optic of your choice saves the gas block expense and hassle too.

I recommend your first upgrade after sighting adds be a really good trigger for whatever style of shooting you will do. I love my Two stage, ssa-e but there are great 3gun, match and combat enhanced choices too.

Enjoy it.

Wow. Thanks for the heads up on the melting MBUS. I'll fire slowly as I'm conditioned to the price of the .22 and still in a bit of sticker shock for the case of 5.56 ammo that I came home with.

Plans are to add a quad rail to match my 15-22 so I'll move the front MBUS back when I get it done. I'm sure there are threads on how to accomplish a quad rail swap so I'll do some searching.

Lots of stock HG replacements available and simple to change without tools. Also a couple of free float ones available that are easy to install without major altering needed but expect them to run between one and two hundred bucks.

The M&P 15X uses the Troy Quad Rail, but has the Military & Police embossed on it. The Troy is a nice rail, should be able to find around 130.00. There are lots that are less expensive and just as effective though.

A mag dump might bother the front sight, I'm sure two would. Avoiding mag dumps and you'll be fine.

If you're plinking, you could save a little money and buy some steel cased ammo, Walmart has the Tulammo in my area for 4.97 for 20 rnds. Just clean the chamber after you use steel cased ammo, if you shoot a bunch, before switching to brass.

I'm surprised that Rock River was that much more, at my local gun shows, the Rock Rivers are usually a little less than the M&P models.

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

BillyJack, either rifle will serve you well...but remember!! Shoot the hell out of whatever you buy.

Midwest Industries makes a nice drop in quad rail for 125

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/...category_id=64

I like that a lot! Light weight is definitely a consideration as the Rock River I picked up was unbelievably heavy. Price seems about right but I'd love to find something for less.

I don't think that quad is FF and for that price you can get a Troy MRF-C which is and a bit more will get a Daniels Defense FF that requires no alteration to your weapon.

The Troy requires cutting the D ring off but that is very easy to do since it is very thin, soft aluminum.

Here is a picture of my OR with the Troy MRF-C. Note the gas block position and realize the gas block is the proper place for a folding front BUS. Mounting it behind the gas block, on a quad rail will shorten your site radius.

The MRF-c is a free float quadrail and the BUIS are Troys. There is actually daylight between the scope and rear folding Troy that is not apparent in this picture angle.

Point is, you are better off buying a front BUS in metal than trying to adapt a Magpul, polymer site to a carbine length quad rail because of the shortening of the sight radius.

Hope that makes it a bit clearer for you and shows your options.

Also note this quad rail has eliminated the D ring and looks like an OEM install without the D ring showing as on drop in types.

Wow that is one really sweet looking setup, looks like you are ready to go PDog hunting!!!

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Grover Oathkeeper

Thanks, the biggest improvement not visible is the Geissele SSA-E, two stage trigger. Fantastic feel and confidence it gives you. The Badger Ordinance charging handle latch,not visible in this pic., makes it much easier to charge the rifle without looking given the scope position.

Now it has a Magpul CTR stock too and a single point sling attachment at the rear of the receiver.

You can make a two grand rifle from a "bargain" M&P15 pretty easily over a couple of years of turning it into male jewelry.

I am building a from scratch AR with all the take off parts, scopes and mounts I have accumulated. This one will be mid length with a longer bbl. and FF, long rail. Why? Because I enjoy it and like playing around with the configuration. I do not, however , feel the need to hang lasers, lights , dual sight systems etc. all over it.

What ever you do. Enjoy your AR !

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Light, Accurate,Versatile M&P

Yeah I am saving all of my growth experience parts for my build. and like you I dont like to have things hanging off of it, it makes it hard for me to manipulate the rifle. What magazine is that in the picture. My magpul has a slight curvature to it.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Its a twenty round P mag that fits the case better and I use when shooting from a bench. Easier to balance the rifle on a rest with it.

Funny, I spend a ton of money on ammo. and stuff for my rifles but less than I used to spend on my photo. hobby before digital became universal. A pricey AR is nothing compared to a couple of Nikon bodies and a dozen or so lenses, filters and other accessories.

I think lots of people don't realize that our guns are more than tools to many of us. They satisfy our need to be "mechanical" without rediculous expense and on a scale that can be done at home in a garage or small shop space.

My pistols (mostly) are tools to me but my rifles are as much toys as tools. Lethal, yes but I enjoy them more, both shooting and tinkering.

Wifey says they are cheaper than a Girlfriend OR a divorce!

Its funny I just answered this reply with another in a different thread at the same time you were typing this.

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Grover Oathkeeper

What I wouldn't give to have a do-over at the tailing in of film photography! Like an idiot, I knew digital was coming and had to have a couple of REALLY nice bodies for my SLR lenses. They are nice, but worth about as much as wheel chocks right now. Maybe someday, long after i am dead and gone, they will be valuable museum pieces in pristine condition!

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Rod
M&P 22A, 40c, 15A, 15-22

I know that feeling!