I know this is S&W Forum but is the M&P 15 a good bang for the buck? I want to buy an - AR - I have done some internet research and just don't trust the WWW. I have not been a member of this Forum for long but you guys/girls have helped me with several questions. -- So, what would you suggest? I don't want to spend a lot - maybe not more that $1,000 - 1,200.
thanks,

Get a Colt

Second that!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Actually, a thread very similar to this popped up on my Russian gun forum. The budget set was $700.

If I was going to buy an AR-15, I'd just go with an Armalite. Lifetime warranty and in the middle of your price range.

M15A4 CARBINE CHR. BLACK.

For $1000 to 1200 you can get a very good one. S&W offers several variants. Except for the really tricked out ones with lots of do dads, they are all just parts guns with Mil Spec Parts

Of course the big thing now is piston driven but for the average Joe shooter the regular gas run ones seemed to work just fine.

Back when I bought my off brand I compared it side by side to the SW (they did not have as many versions) It was exactly the same with the same parts, proof marks, stamps whatever. It was over $100 less.

Now it's like custom building a car or a Ruger 10/22

Colt has the name and resale value.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I believe you can now buy a Colt at Wal-Mart. Stay away from a piston model, heavier and the parts do not interchange as the "regular models" do. BCM (Bravo Company) is what I have. From what I read it is on a par with Colt as are LMT, Spikes Tactical, and Danial Defense.

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Luke 22:36

which colt - AR 15 or M4 carbine?

I believe it is the 6920.

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Luke 22:36

Rock River Arms. Check thier two stage trigger. An upgrade you won't have to pay for later.

Check on Windham Weaponry too.

I wanted an AR 15 but was unable to decide which one. As you said, the WWW is a real snake pit of opinions, pro and con on just about every brand. I had never heard of Windham Weaponry but went to their web site and got enthusiastic about their company and their products!
AND I picked mine up at Wally World for about $200 below MSRP. The trigger can use some work though. Lifetime transferable warranty also.

Colt 6920.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?...jFwPrgTA&gid=5


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBj0tesg3SY

Whatever your choice, don't take a 6 1/2 rifle and add 12 lbs of stuff on it. jmho

I bought the Colt LE6720 about a month ago and love it. It was the same price as the M&P15 model my LGS had. To paraphrase what someone said in another thread, if it's not a Colt, it's a clone. So if it's a choice between a Colt and anything else, get the Colt.

CW

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μολὼν λαβέ

I've had my share of ARs, all have worked just fine as long as they were milspec guns. I'm not a fan of the Olympic Arms guns just because they don't seem as well finished. I've played with Rock River and they seem good. If a Colt is as inexpensive as an M&P, I'd look at it. I would want the forward assist, chromed barrel, and flash hider. Everything else can be changed or added as you wish. I'd want to make sure it was a milspec lower, Colt used to have different size pins....

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Even older, even crankier....

If I was going to spend $650, then a M&P15 Sport would sound good. But if I was going to spend $1,000 and it was a 6920 vs. M&P15T, I go Colt on resale value alone.

That 6720 that Straightshooter2 bought is a good choice as the pencil barrel makes it light and handy. I've seen those coming in right around $1,000 too.

What do I have, you ask? 3 S&W M&P15-22, a Colt LE6920, a NIB Colt SP6920 and a Colt 6940. I'm smitten enough with the 6940 that I'll most likely sell both 6920.

If I was buying an off the shelf AR with that budget I'd either go to Walmart (or LGS if you have one nearby) and pick up a Colt 6920 for $1050 (that's what they run at my local WM).
Although I do really like the melonited S&W guns ... Colt is the real deal.
If I couldn't find a Colt locally I'd happily pick up an S&W. Probably not the sport as I like the dust cover. Never had need for a forward assist so I'm on the fence, there.
Cheapest option though, may be a BCM. If you can find one in stock anywhere. Last time I looked online it was $970 for a complete rifle.
The guys who started the company are former .mil and make the guns to the same specs as Colt.

That being said I am currently using a PSA (bought via various sales over a couple month period it cost me under $600). I don't plan on getting rid of it but if you're the kind of person who does a lot of buying, selling and upgrading the brand with a Pony on the side will hold value best.

Tapatalk ate my spelling and grammar.

Colt has different size pins in thier commerial guns than the milspec guns everyone else makes.

I would not buy a Colt. They are over priced and not as well finished as many other options out there. Thier pin size is a big inconvience.

The M&P is a great gun for the money. So are many others. Like has been said Olympic is a not so good put together gun.

Everything is pretty much made by just a couple of vendors and then many stamp thier name on them. DPMS is probably the best gun for the money.

John

I found an MP15 that was almost new condition at a lgs for $800
Took it to the range and no regrets at all.

I am very happy with my complete Spikes Tactical mid-length. Got it from Aim Surplus for $769 delivered to my door. Eats brass and all steel ammo with no problem.

AFAIK Colt no longer uses the big FCG pins (at least not on 6920 and 6720). And I'm not sure where them being over priced comes from as most places I've seen they are cheaper than or within $100 of a crapmaster or dpms.
Plus they are the only ones on the market produced to the demands of the military. They may not look as pretty as other brands but they are built to last.


Tapatalk ate my spelling and grammar.

Sorry I upset a Colt fan.

John

Windham Weaponry was started by the man who started Bushmaster. He sold that to Cerebus Investments who bought a number of other AR manufacturers. They closed the Maine plant as well as all the others and consolidated manufacturing at one facility.

The way I heard the story is that he was upset that all of his former employees were laid off so he started up Windham Weaponry.

I don't know if it's OK to directly link to the site, but you can find it easily enough.

I've chosen another route for my second AR. My first is a Bushmaster and I have a second Bushmaster upper. I've decided to get another lower and build my own. I'm getting my lower from Yorkarms, also from Maine. Good people there as well. A bit more expensive than some other stripped lowers, but I know the guy who makes them and he does quality work.

What about the Stag Line. They make one for the left hand people.

I don't own a Colt other than a Python. I just don't like seeing misinformation spread.
I will agree that a lot of their handguns are over priced these days. But not their ARs. The fact remains that up until Remington recently got a contract with the DD that only Colt ARs are military approved. Some folks don't care and buy anything, some folks care but find cheaper ways of getting the same components (BCM, some PSA and Spike's stuff) and some folks just get the one that held the exclusive military contract for a long time. I'll be interested in seeing the price on Remington ARs when they put out commercial rifles that meet TDP. But I'm also not a big fan of Cerberus. Which makes me sad because I am a Marlin fan boy but I refuse to buy anything they've made since the buyout.

And as I have no dog in this fight and you're set on trolling I'm out of this discussion.

Tapatalk ate my spelling and grammar.

You printed all bogus info.

Don't try to turn it around on the guy that called you on it.

Get your facts straight.

For general shooting, buy a Colt. Why... Wal-Mart even has them at about $1,000 for the little M-4 type. I think it even had the evil knife under the barrel thingy!

For more precise shooting... maybe competition, Rock River Arms offers a National Match model that would be very useful for anyone other than a very serious competitor.

For $1,000 you could also have a nice AR-15 built up from a receiver, etc.

For the record, for many years I owned and shot a Colt Hbar competition model. The very first trip I ever made to the range with it, shooting the very first 20 rounds through it w/ no sighters, no excuses, no nothing... it punches out a 195/200 fired prone slow fire at 100 yds. I was profoundly impressed with it. The trigger was a little gritty. But in God only knows how many rounds, that rifle never ever failed to function 100% in feeding, firing, ejecting and never wandered its zero on the target regardless of the weather, etc.

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<><

This is a summary of things already said. Colt is "military grade" and is what the US military buys. It probably has the best resale value (if that is of any importance). IMO, BCM, Danial Defense LMT and Spikes are "just as good", but not everyone knows this, so a Colt is the best for resale. Current Colt carbines have interchangeable parts with other AR-15s (No large pins). I would stay away from a parts rifle. These have lower resale value. If you want to, later you can buy an upper with a longer/heavier barrel. You should be able to buy a basic Colt for your budget. I would increase the budget a bit for ammo though. I bought 2000 rounds of 62gr AP ammunition form Primary arms. If you're buying the gun for a SHTF scenario, it isn't worth much without ammunition.

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Luke 22:36

OK, I will say some of you guys have mis-information. Colt does not have an exclusive contract with the DOD. Colt does not have the best QC. It is just what you want to believe. No problem there. Believe what you want.

I stand by what I said, There are better made AR's than Colt.

John

No John, THIS BELOW is what you "said"
Stop lying to yourself.
THIS is what you said. A little different form what you are NOW saying.
Here:

Colt has different size pins in thier commerial guns than the milspec guns everyone else makes.

I would not buy a Colt. They are over priced and not as well finished as many other options out there. Thier pin size is a big inconvience.

The M&P is a great gun for the money. So are many others. Like has been said Olympic is a not so good put together gun.

Everything is pretty much made by just a couple of vendors and then many stamp thier name on them. DPMS is probably the best gun for the money.

John

And one more time for Johnny....

Now you gonna dance around some more?

Nothing to dance around. Colt does use different pin sizes in thier commercial version. The mil-spec version and ALL others use the same mil-spec pins.

It is a fact that Colt no longer makes thier own uppers and lowers. They contract that out. There are two manufacturers of upper and lowers. Everyone buys from them. It is the Milling work is where the difference is at.
Is that what you are talking about? Facts are facts.

Now if some of you Colt fans are satisfied--the OP wanted to know what we thought and we all told him our opinions. It was not part of the OP to attack another person because I do not drink the Colt koolaid.

I would buy a M&P. Good workmanship. Good warrenty. DPMS is the best gun for the money.

John

Brucev: I have a ColT AR 15A2 HBAR and one oftheir M4 carbines. I was considering selling the HBAR, but your post makes me think twice about it.

I recently picked up a Colt match hbar like new with box. Reading all this really makes me want to go break it in, as I haven't gotten around to it yet. From everything I've heard, I don't think there will be any regrets.

Obviously opinions vary. Most of the AR15's made are of good quality. Of course some AR15 snobs will disagree. For $1000 you can get a very well made AR. So don't agonize over your decision. Decide on what you need and don't need and go for it. Get the most for your money.

If your just going to plink, you DON'T need a quad rail, Eotech, lights and lasers, and a bunch more junk. If you want a fore grip, you can put a picatinny rail on a standard hand guard for very little money.

Don't get caught up the AR snobbery game. And this is why I recommend Rock River. Every you need to start plinking immediately and nothing there to pay extra for.


Don't underestimate the two stage trigger which comes standard on Rock River Ar's.

Looking at Fulton's lower parts list, they list pretty much everything with separate part numbers for small pin and large pin.

How is ordering the correct size part a "big inconvience" (SP)?

If I go into Home Depot and ask for a box of bolts, or if I go into McDonalds' and ask for french fries, they invariably ask what size I want. Should I walk out in a huff because it is an inconvenience to answer?

+1
I have the 6720R. A very fine rifle and the balance and light weight is 2nd to none. I had my doubts about the lighter pencil barrel, but the tests I have put this rifle through for my own satisfaction, have proven this a very fine rifle for me. I have eye balled Colt's M4A1 and today would be the only rifle that I would trade/sell for. I really enjoy my 6720R.

You Colt fans are intitled to your opinions and I am intitled to mine.

ALL ar15 lowers use the same pin size EXCEPT the commercial Colt. Really? Colt tries to minipulate the market and you guys stand up for them? Really????? LOL LOL

Now a few of you have mentioned a couple of model numbers that you say are now mil spec. Looks like Colt got tired of thier own game! Good for them.

In the gun culture in the U.S if anyone says anything bad about Colt or Winchester----heaven help them--- they have stabbed the scared cow! LOL You guys are really too much. There is life outside of Colt and Winchester. Really there is! LOL

John

Gentlemen..

In this particular thread.. Live links to OTHER forums are prohibited..as per the rules..

HOWEVER if your link to a MANUFACTURER has been deleted please feel free to replace it with same..

Thanks

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I know I said I'd stay away but your rants amuse me so I keep reading them. Anyhoo, I think us "Colt Fans" know there is life outside of Colt. We are, after all, on a Smith and Wesson forum.

I haven't shot a RRA so I won't bad mouth them much but two of my friends have used the 2 stage Ntl match trigger and it busted in under 1k rounds on both of them. This is not hear say. They asked me to check it out because they know I fiddle fark with 10/22 triggers and those FCGs they showed me were *****. A bit of Googling will support this with other accounts.

It's not in my budget for the year but Giselle triggers are what they both replaced their RRA triggers with and they've had no issues. Last time we went out together one fellow has 4k rounds on that FCG and the other guy just over 1.5k.


Tapatalk ate my spelling and grammar.

My friend listen to me. If you buy the S&W Sport, you will have enough money left over to accessorize your rifle the way you like it and have enough to buy ammo. Don't buy a high priced rifle thinking it will be 100 better than the sport and have to spend even more for the extras. The Sport is a good quality rifle that is accurate and reliable. I own a high end Colt AR which I have about $3500 invested and I still consider the Sport my favorite for what I have in it. This is just my opinion. Do your research and buy what makes you happy.

If you want an accurate rifle to 300 yards, get the S&W 1:8 5R barrel if you want to buy a name buy a colt. I have noticed that other than a couple of posts there have been no posts by regular members of this forum. We know our rifles are built as good if not better than the other brands. We also know that a person can buy a S&W and have enough money left for 1k rounds of ammo. We have been down this road so many times and arent going to waste our typing time trying to give people that already have their minds made up on what they are going to purchase. S&W has the lifetime warranty, has been around longer than any of the companies other than Colt posted here and are made in house. they are not restricted to a 50 year old set of specifications and metallurgy ideas that have long been passed by.

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Grover Oathkeeper

+1 on the Sport. Unless you're a LEO or active duty military(or guard/reserve) you are highly unlikely going to see any combat or heavy action anytime soon. And if you were the government would be issuing a weapon based on your ability.
That said, the Sport is the best bang for the buck at around $700. Go to Freedommunition.com and get 1000 rnds of .223 for $305(then take 5%-off thru 7SEP12).
So for around $1K, you're at the range, pulling trigger and punching paper/pinging steel(or eliminating varmints).

My M&P 15 Sport has been great to me. The fit and finish are excellent and the rifle has shot everything I've loaded in the chamber. Lifetime warranty and money left over for ammo/accessories is a big plus. I have no doubt that it will serve me well for years to come.

Good lord the knee-jerk "Get a Colt" advocates have invaded. Next thing you know someone will pull out "The Chart" and "The Chart part II".

This place sure is changing.

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-John

If you notice some of the people that are posting have high post counts, that is because they post over in the pistol sections. If you want an honest opinion ask the people who have the guns, not the people who dont. If you want I can send you up the road and you can buy a police trade in Colt with the H-Bar and quadrail, changed out pistol grip and the whole thing in really nice condition for $600, if you want a Bushmaster it will cost you $675 out of the first 39 posts only 3 of those people are regular contributors to this forum and when one's first post says "my lower cost more than a sport" I dont give him any credit either. Its not about substance. I will pit my Sport against any of your Stags or Colts or Wyndhams anyday and when your groups are as tight as mine or you are shooting Prairie Dogs at over 250yards regularly and making one shot kills come talk to me. But you wont because your rifles wont. I shoot with a lot of people and I am the one with the S&W that they are trying to keep up with. M4gery.net and Aint15.com are the places the colt fanboys should be hanging out. Not here we dont drink the colt koolaid. Some of our members have Colts and I do not disparage them for that but they also dont come to our forum and talk about how a Colt is the end all of AR's. Or brag about how much money they spent on their rifle. We dont care, we talk about what else we were able to afford because we didnt overpay for ours.

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Grover Oathkeeper

And you want to be taken seriously?

I take it that this thread was moved here from another forum...no was in heck that it could have originated here with that many posts being made before a Sport owner chimed in.

Oh, and count me in as another happy M&P 15 Sport shooter.

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- Bill

Yes. Yes it is.

Every indication is that the M&P is a very good rifle.

All i have to say is I have never had a problem with my sport and heres a link to info on accuracy between the colt and the sport http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-w...test-data.html this says it all.