I just bought a M&P15 Sport off of GunBroker and I was hoping for some advice. The auction listed the rifle with a 1 in 8 with 5R barrel and I even called the seller to confirm this before buying it. Well my LGS just called me a short while ago and said it does not have that barrel it has the new 1 in 9 barrel in it. I only paid $650 + shipping for the rifle but the whole point of my buying it was because it said it had the 1 in 8 barrel. Should I send it back and get a refund or should I ask the seller for some sort of small refund and keep the rifle? The only other one I have found so far that has "verified" it has the 1 in 8 barred on GB right now is going for $800. Thanks in advance for your advice / help!

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

I wouldn't sweat it, it's still a nice purchase....but I would leave bad feedback.

Depends how bad you wanted the 1/8R. Technically the item was not as described and you were paying for a 1/8. That being said the 1/9 barrel is fine

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

For the price I paid it is really hard not to keep it. If I wanted to replace the barrel with something that did have a 1 in 8 twist what would I be looking as far as cost and what barrels would you guys recommend?

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

I prefer 1:9 in any event. As far as I am concerned, you got lucky!

I had the same thing happen to me. I bought mine from a dealer. He swore it had the 1/8 barrell but when I got it guess what.

I'd call. Maybe he has the 1/8R barrel sitting right there and he can send that one out.

Maybe he'll knock a couple hundred bucks off the deal.

Did you pay by credit card? If so, you have a lot of power yet.

The worst thing that can happen is you don't get the 1/8R barrel, you get no discount and you still keep a great gun at a good price.


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Kirk / Spock 2020

You say you paid 650, got a 1 in 9", supposed to be 1 in 8". The 1 in 8" is more expensive, and you are wanting more money back?

I'm missing something here.

$650 is about half the going rate right now for a "sport rifle".

Chuck

I called and talked to him and they don't have any with the 1 in 8 as they checked after finding out about my problem. He said he was going to call his S&W distributor (who he says was the one that originally told him that this rifle had a 1 in 8) and see if he can get his hands on one that does. I am kind of doubtful as the older ones with the 1 in 8 are hard to come by these days.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

The gun was advertised with a 1 in 8 and I emailed him as well as called him to verify this before buying the rifle. It is not what I got so I think it is worth at least trying.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

S&W website lists the Sport at $839.

Another thing I noticed on their website is no mention of the melonite barrel for the Sport. My Sport has the 1 in 8 with the melonite barrel. Does anyone know if they have discontinued this barrel?

It is still listed as having a melonite barrel:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore...et_v030413.pdf

they just seemed to change it from 1 in 8 to 1 in 9.

I just bought one last week, paid $799, I did not realize until I got home that they changed things to 1 in 9...

You apparently have not seen the accuracy that the 1:8, 5R barrel provides.

It sounds like you are not familiar with the M&P 15 Sport...

I would bet that they will not be able to locate a new 1:8 barreled Sport. You will probably get the option to keep the gun or return for a refund. I wouldn't expect much more than that.

You will have to decide if it is worth it to you or not. The price you got is really good, same as I paid for mine a year ago, and the MSRP has went up since then. Unless I had a line on one with a 1:8 barrel, I would probably keep it and enjoy it.

I am. Try to buy one now, heck the .223 ammo is a dollar a round out here.

To be totally honest I have M&P15 OR rifles, several.

You are right the only recourse would be to return the rifle, and try to get your money back. THEN you can spend more and get the 1 in 8" twist barrel you want.

Or just keep the Sporty, and enjoy it. It seemed to me that he wanted to be compensated for a misunderstanding in the sale. As if he was wronged in some way. He wasnt, so just return the rifle or lets all go get Ice Cream! I'm buying.

Chuck

On guy on the forum here has a store and has Sports in stock for $750.

Two others have posted links of in-stock Sports for $699.

cddanjr, if you're paying $1300 for new Sports you need to think about changing your LGS!


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Kirk / Spock 2020

Chuck, you are right, I missed the part about a "small refund". But like Lost Lake said, if you are paying $1300 for a Sport, you need a new dealer! I realize most things cost a little more in California, but good grief!

Now, about that ice cream...can I get a waffle cone?

Sounds like he is not familiar with GB. High
bidder gets the product at the winning bid, assuming
the reserve bid was met, if any. And the value
of listed product has no bearing on the winning
bid. The winning bidder is obligated to
purchase provided the item was advertised
CORRECTLY. in this case the winning bidder
has the option to decline purchase because
the item was not as advertised. Makes no
difference at all what you or others think of
the deal. What do you not understand about
that?

Yeah since about November out here you couldnt touch ANY 5.56 semi auto for less than a goughing $1500. I myself would not buy a sport when the real deal is still avail. btw I got an M&P Optic Ready for $1125.00! Prices are getting better now that the hoarding is going down slowly.

NOW as for the Ice Cream, I would suggest a place called Golden Spoon, they have Frozen Yogurt in Salted Caramel. Whew!, it is something to behold. Or the old stand by 31 flavors Chocolate Chip.

Chuck

What I do understand is that the OP was soliciting our advice. And what you stated is pretty much common sense.

Now, put down the legal keyboard and join us for Ice Cream.

Chuck

Personally I prefer 1:9 my self as well. I dont think there is enough difference in the way they shoot the average guy could tell.

That being said, that's not the issue in hand. I think the least the seller should do, if not monetary, is maybe throw in a couple of magazines or something. Simply it is not as advertised. Even if he doesn't want to work something out, I'd still keep it at that price. They aint hard to rebarrel so if you want a 1:8 buy a barrel at a later date, but dont doubt the 1:9.

I've learned believing something is common sense can get you in a lot of trouble, especially in education. Now don't get me started on parents.

Your "advice" read more like guilting the OP into keeping the gun. But that may or may not be correct.

I'm in for fresh peach.

If the seller has responded in a timely fashion, I attribute the mistake to an oversight rather than an intentional effort to misrepresent the rifle. And for $650, I'd keep it and be happy for a nice deal.

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I'm with the banned ...

I am leaning towards sending it back and getting a full refund. I specifically bought the gun because it supposedly had the 1 in 8 barrel. Putting a new barrel on this one will put me well above just buying one that comes with one already on it and it takes away from my optics fund / additional accessories. If they will give me a little bit of a refund (i.e. shipping charges) or throw in some free magazines then I might consider keeping it and reselling it or right away.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

Wow, you guys do pay a lot out there!!!

I'm kind of partial to vanilla ice cream with pecans and chocolate sauce on it....


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Kirk / Spock 2020

Well you kind of have the guy by the short and curlies... He made the mistake, so he needs to refund your shipping and pay for the shipping back to him.

Or he could knock off $100.


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Kirk / Spock 2020

Can't say that I blame you if it isn't what you wanted. A deal is only a deal if you are happy with the price and product. Before I bought my Sport, I had the opportunity to by an OR with a couple of mags and a tactical bag for the same price as the Sport and I turned it down. I second guessed myself for two weeks while my search for a Sport continued. Once I had the Sport in my hands, I forgot all about the OR. Right or wrong, logical or not, I specifically wanted the 1:8 barrel.

MMMMMMM Chocolate...

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--Stav--

I looked for weeks to find one that "had" the 1 in 8 barrel at a reasonable price. If I wanted a 1 in 9 I could have gone to a number of LGS in my area and bought one. I am planning on sending it back and getting one that really does have the correct barrel.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

You got a hell of a deal, now you want money back for something that to me is pretty trivial. The 1 in 9 will shoot the same ammo as the 1 in 8 just fine.

My LGS has the M&P15 (several) on the shelf for $900-$1300 depending on options.

Like someone else mentioned, you got lucky.

You got a hell of a deal, now you want money back for something that to me is pretty trivial. The 1 in 9 will shoot the same ammo as the 1 in 8 just fine. Rootbrain: This not a hell of a deal!! If you sold me a P&R 65, I want a P&R 65, not a pinned 65. The seller needs to pick up shipping both ways and refund the purchase price. If the seller did not know, but stated that it was 1:8, HIS PROBLEM, and he therefore has to pay for his mistake. The OP wanted 1:8, looked for, confirmed, purchased 1:8 but was sent 1:9, It does not matter what ammo it will shoot best, what your local prices are, it was not what was advertised. To the OP: Get your refund and find another one. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Thanks.......and just bought one. Confirmed 1 in 8 barrel three times again so we will see in 4-5 days when it arrives.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

I disagree. The OP got a good deal, but it's not lucky. There are M&P15 Sports on GB and GA regularly now for $700-799 all day long.

Are the rifles at your LGS the M&P15 Sports, or another variation of the M&P15? If they are the M&P Sport versions, then your LGS is a bit overpriced.

I know, I've been staring at the M&P rifles for the past few weeks on the gun sites, I know what they are currently going for, especially the Sporters.

I specifically wanted the M&P15 Sport with the 1 in 8 for a few reasons. 1) The better and more accurate barrel. 2) Cost was low enough that I could customize / personalize it with some options right away. 3) It is an M&P.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

I agree on the 1:8 barrel being more accurate. It is not so much the twist as the rifling style. The 5R rifling is the real kicker. Many gun manufacturers are now offering 5R rifling on their top tier rifles, it just so happened that S&W was offering it on their entry level rifle. The special rifling is more expensive to produce. Thompson Center was making the barrels for them (a sister company to S&W) but they are now selling their rifles as fast as they can produce them so I think that has something to do with not continuing with the 5R on the Sport rifle. As someone posted earlier some people would never notice the accuracy difference but a lot of us would also.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Was there an increase in price for the 1 in 8? Are you getting a refund for the first Sport you purchased from the seller?

I don't think he got the deal he wanted.

I don't have a 1/8 5R barrel but I do know it is a completely different barrel where the rifling is 5 lands and the way it compresses the bullet keeps the center of weight longitudinally concentrical within the flux capacitor or something like that....

I'll buy a Sport when they are back to $555. You guys with the 1/8 5R barrel are some lucky fellas.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Yes I am getting a full refund. The one I am sending back cost me $696 after CC Fee and shipping. The new one is going to cost me $829. For the 1 in 8 barrel I will gladly pay the extra $133. I am buying it from a different seller as it is pretty impossible to find the 1 in 8 5R barrels on the Sport anymore.

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M&P15 Sport,9Pro,9c,Shield9,45

Truthfully, I may have noticed and don't remember, or maybe never really cared about it enough. I have my Colt 6920 and DPMS LR308 so not in the market. But I do look at prices to see how things progress. Consider FFL cost and shipping with that $799 price and you're up near the $900 starting range of my LGS so I image that the bottom tier $900 is for a sporter, but I can walk in, hand my DL, fill out papers/online and be out the door in 30 mins or less. No waiting for bids, shipment, ffl etc. etc. That's why I never bother with GB or other auction sites. Anything I want (gun wise) I can get at Cabela's, Sports Authority, Bass Pro Shops. Big 5 and Dicks I don't shop at because of the Kalifornia attitudes. Everything else I can get online.

The $650 he paid was the going rate in mid-2011. Now days, thats a hell of a deal still. But in mid-2011 reviews had the barrel at 1 in 7 twist with 5R rifling.

The 1 in 9 actually gives you more flexibility IMO, for both ammunition, and the types of shooting/distances you want. It's his purchase and he should definitely get what he wants. If I was the seller, sorry about the mistake, but it's not like he got a 1 in 12 pencil barrel, which would be a different thing. Send it back and purchase elsewhere. I wouldn't give a refund at that price.

1/9 or 1/8 the average Joe isnt going to be able to tell the difference. IMO, it wouldnt be worth the hassle to end it back.

It could have been worse. He could have just sent you a DPMS, lol.

Hey! I loves me some DPMS Half the AR10 rifles out there have DPMS parts, uppers or lowers. It's just that mine has all of them.

If your LGS is charging $900 for a Sport, that is too much, as that is over MSRP. You can't get the 1:8 twist barrel from the places you listed either, unless you find it on the used rack at Cabela's.

Only a hell of a deal if it is what you wanted. And the Sport has never had a 1:7 twist, but I am assuming that was a typo....

How do you figure you have more flexibility with 1:9 twist? The 1:8 twist will stabilize the 45gr varmint loads like the 1:9, plus it will stabilize the 77gr and longer rounds that the 1:9 doesn't do as well with.

You wouldn't refund the buyers money if you misrepresented the item, whether intentionally or not? The 1:8 twist, with 5R rifling is very much a "different thing" from the 1:9 barrel he received. Or are you saying that you wouldn't offer him an additional discount? At $650, I would probably offer him a little additional discount to try to avoid eating the shipping charges, but it wouldn't be much. Of course, if he didn't want to keep it, then I would be obligated to refund the money, plus shipping and fees since I did not deliver what was stated.

Buy the 1/8 twist, keep the 1/9 in the closet till the next panic then sell it and double your money.

I would simply return it b/c it's not rocket science to determine, or pre determine in this case, what the twist rate is on a barrel. Heck, they are stamped right on them. So to use S&W as an excuse is bologna to me. Would make me feel like the seller was trying to get over from the get go, while patronizing my intelligence.

On the other hand, you got a quality sporting rifle, for a great price. That ticket was pre panic, and a little too sweet to pass up, regardless of barrel and twist. We're pretty cheap around here in SC, and I believe the bigger chains are selling the sports for $749 - $799 and the optics ready model for $999. Both with the 1/9 twist from factory.

In my honest opinion, if you don't feel like the guy was trying to get over, I may just keep it for the quality and price alone. However, if you're going to be consistently taking bench shots at 400-600 yards, I may return and wait on the barrel you initially sought after.

I have the 1/7 twist on my M-4, and it absolutely loves 5.56's for some reason lol

BINGO!!!!!

All of my customs have a 1/7 and mine absolutely love heavy grain, lol. If i were the OP, i'd buy a 1/7 and forget the 1/8. Keep the 1/9 for the next panic and sell it for double the money as someone else has already stated.

The difference between 1/9 and 1/8 isnt worth the trouble. Now from 1/9 to 1/7, thats a game changer.

Are you all brain damaged...its not the rate of twist, it is the rifling. The way some of you pass right over that lets me know the level of your knowledge. Yes I have built customs, but unlike my custom Mauser's, a custom AR Variant is just something you put together. It requires no machine work but just put the pieces together, I have built these also.
When you talk about the 7, 8 or 9 twist you are completely passing over what the difference is. It is the 5R rifling. If you don't think it makes a difference why is the most expensive M&P15 still using the barrel?

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Grover Oathkeeper

Well keep going if you are going to start with that. Are you saying 1-7 is very little difference from 1-9 if they both are not 5R? I am new to AR's but I have been researching quite a bit and the only place I ever heard of 5R is with this Smith barrel that everyone wants. I have never seen mention of 5R rifling from any of the barrel makers people mentioned in here or other AR sites I won't name. Believe me I have no clue and I am honestly wanting to know the scoop. So for all of us who have bought 1-7 stripped barrel from the reputable manufacturers we all know they are not 5R? Or maybe they are but they just don't mention it in their descriptions? Have we all been had? Please understand I am asking in all seriousness. How are we to know if a barrel is 5R if it's not listed? is this "common knowledge" every AR enthusiast just inherits upon getting stuck with this bug?

The reason it's still on the most expensive M&P15 is that it costs more to manufacture. So they can use that to make it more expensive. Otherwise, all they got is furniture. They have to pay for tooling up, but they don't get the $$ from the bottom tier. They saw their error.

1-in-8, 1-in-9, cold hammered, 5R - none of it will matter to the average shooter or PD/paper shooters. This disagreement is much like the one in the optics sections. Aimpoint/EOTech junkies will swear that $199 RDS you just bought is **** because there is no way in hell it can be as good as their $500+ RDS. Because theirs cost $500+.

How you use the gun and your skill level matter far more than any of that. But again, the OP wanted 1-in-8, was told it was 1-in-8 so that's what he should have received. Up to him to decide, which I guess he already posted he did. Should be the end of it.

IMHO, of course.

If you bought one of the "mil-spec" ARs, you do not have 5R rifling. You have the traditional 6 land and grooves type rifling. You won't see 5R rifling mentioned on the other AR sights where the harder than hard, high speed low drag operators hang out. Smith and Wesson AR-15 barrels are not mil-spec, but when Smith went with a 5R rifled barrel that was Melonite coated, they strayed far away from the spec. Turns out that they made an extremely accurate barrel and put it on their budget gun.

If we could get a side by side comparison of the 1:8, 5R barrel and the 1:9 Sport barrel, we should see that the 1:8 barrel is more accurate, velocities are higher with the same load, and less copper fouling in the barrel.

Will you realistically be able to see a difference? Depends on your shooting. I shoot cheap, steel cased ammo at 50 yards with a 3MOA or greater red dot. Being able to hit a 4 inch clay target at this distance is acceptable accuracy for me the way I use the rifle today. I probably wouldn't see a bit of difference between the two barrels.

Oneyeopn shoots at 200 yards or greater, with a free float barrel and hand loads. He is using a high power scope that allows him to see up close on his target. With his style of shooting, the 5R barrel is much more advantageous.