I've noticed that the post Newton price surge for AR rifles has seemed to calm down, and I am now in the market for an AR. I am totally new to the AR platform and have a ton to learn. I have narrowed down my choices to the MP15 Sport and the Colt LE6920. The price difference is almost $500 in my area, the Colt being more expensive.

What I am asking of you is to tell my why I should get the MP15 vs the "better" 6920. I've read a ton of articles on why everyone thinks the 6920 is superior, but the technical terms are lost on me. For the record I do own a MP 15-22 and am pleased with it.

Whatever AR I buy, the purpose will be for range use and (don't laugh) SHTF. Where I live using an AR for home defense isn't practical. The AR will essentially be a range toy unless there is a zombie apocalypse. So should I invest the extra $500 in the Colt, or get the MP15 and spent that money on ammo, training, and accessories?

I think you have your answer right there. That $500 dollars will better serve you in ammo and training, and yes even accessories.

Left out mags though. Gotta have plenty of those. And as always, when you get your rifle - shoot a lot with it as it is out of the box. That way you will get a feel for what accessories you want, which ones will help you. Add them one at a time to gauge their effectiveness. My advice would be to not dump that extra $500 (assuming you go with the sport) immediately into accessories based on what you think you want the gun to look like. Accessories can be about what you want the gun to look like, but ultimately they should be what makes the gun more accurate, faster and comfortable for you.

Have fun and enjoy which ever you choose.

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686/M&P9 Pro/M&P15X/M&P15-22

Although I own the MOE non sport, I would not hesitate to buy a sport model!

+1 for the Sport/ammo and accessories route.

The Sport at its current prices (~$600) is the best value in the platform, IMO. You get a really accurate, well built rifle with a stellar factory warranty from a company that has been providing great customer service for generations.

For the application you mentioned, you can't go wrong with the sport.


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At a measured 70yrds with a 3x P223 scope mine will shoot 10 shot groups that are just one ragged hole you could easily cover with a nickel. This is firing outdoors over an improvised sawhorse bench. Not sure what it will do beyond that as I live in the woods and just don't have much in the way of "safe" long distance shooting. As a range gun I think the Sport would do well. Especially for it's price.

It really depends on what you want. You're really looking at two opposite ends of the spectrum of ARs. The Sport is a fine rifle that will serve your purpose well, but it's not a completely comparable model with the Colt 6920 (which is the AR I own.) the Colt will have all the features and milspec qualiities. The sport won't have some of those qualities but that doesn't make it any less of a fine AR. I absolutely love my Colt, it's run flawlessly out of the box with all kinds of ammo and haven't regretted it one bit. Given your uses and plans for your rifle I would look at one of the higher end model S&Ws (ie 811000) and compare it to the sport and decide what you want feature wise in your AR.
Best of luck!

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- Nate

At that price point, I don't think there's a better option than the Sport. It's accurate, will eat anything you give it, and has a superb company behind it. Can't say that about too many 600 dollar ARs.

"Better" is a very highly selective term and will always be the subject of debate. You'll always find someone that will claim "their brand X is better than your brand Y. The Sport is a really fine, well built weapon whose quality and service is backed by one of the best warranties around. Don't be sucked into the this one is better than that one. Unless you're going into battle(in which case you'll be given a weapon based on your competence) I opt for what you can afford. Use any extra you have for mags and ammo. If you're lucky enough to find a Sport(some LGS have older stock) with the 1:8 twist & 5R rifling then you'll have an extremely accurate rifle.

Personally, while I think the M&P Sport is a fine entry level rifle, you are comparing apples to oranges.

There is no comparison between the Colt LE6920 and the M&P Sport. As between the two rifles you mention, the one to get is the Colt LE6920. The more analogous comparisons would be:

Colt LE6920 to M&P 15A
or
Colt LE6920 SOCOM to M&P 15X
or
Colt LE6900 to M&P Sport

As between the Colt LE6900 and the M&P Sport, the M&P Sport is the better choice.

It isn't apples to oranges, more like GMC vs Chevrolet. Both are AR rifles. If you want as close to a GI rifle as you can get without enlisting, then you get the Colt. It has the forward assist, ejection port cover, higher grade steel in barrel, full auto bcg,...But for range use and zombies, you won't see $500 difference in performance. None of the other M&P rifles listed above are mil-spec either. All three are 1:9 twist, 4140 steel barrels. The A and X are chrome lined, but the Sport is Melonite treated. All have the same BCG, bolt, buffer, etc. To say that either the M&P 15A or the M&P 15X is more comparable to the Colt 6920 is quite a stretch, considering how much these three rifles have in common.

You'll always pay more for that Dancing Pony Logo....and the "C" name. S&W DOES make an outstanding MSR and second to none. I have both (and other MSR brands, RR and a couple home builds) and have found nothing wrong with the S&W MSR's compared to the others.

The Colt LE6940 (Freefloat barrel and fold down sights), is a better MSR over the LE6920 model.

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THIS WE'LL DEFEND ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I am considering a M&P 15 Sport but recently heard, through U-Tube, that S&W has a unique barrel for the Sport. I know you can't always believe what you hear, so what is the story on the Sports barrel?
Texas Tiger: Shoot straight. Look Cool.

The barrel the Sport previously came with was somewhat unique, especially in the price range. The older barrel was a melonite treated, 1:8 twist, with 5R rifling barrel. The barrel the Sport now comes with is a 1:9 twist, traditional rifled, Melonite treated barrel.

well im not an experienced AR15 user however i will say this, i just got back from using my M&P sport tonight and after 50 rounds it was sighted in and alot of fun to shoot!! its super light. very easy to maintain ( i was shooting standing off hand) i have the magpul pistol grip, and magpul MOE handgaurd. i love this rifle with tax it was 637.00 out the door!! i do plan to add an optic next!!! i am very happy i bought this rifle. save some money and have fun with this for now. if you decide your above its level trade towards something of higher quality later..

This weekend Cheyenne Mountain is having a huge black Friday Sale. $649 for the Sport NJ legal, buts it's in the 609 area on RT. 130. Buy it, don't look back!

for the Money... cant beat the sport

Love mine... its more accurate than ME for sure...

I'd LOVE ta have a Colt.... but cant justify th $$$ right Now... but I already have a Sport so the Colt would be just another Toy for me

get the Sport for yer 1st MSR, use the Saving on Accessories and ammo,,,,,,,, and Have a BLAST...

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--Stav--

Ok...I am going to heat up this thread just for fun.
No harm intended....I drive a Ford F150 and shooth a SW MP Sports II.
Don't get any better. Paid two much $$$$ for both. Happy 4th of July to all.

I won't buy a rifle without a dust cover, forward assist or chrome lined barrel. I don't like the front sight on the COLT 6920, so I bought a COLT 6940. It is set up for a scope, has a dust cover, forward assist, chrome lined barrel, comes with a cleaning kit and sling, places for accessories and I love it.

I own a M&P 15 Sport and it's just right for the purposes you mentioned. It performs well at the range and it nice to have around the house. Mine does not have a forward assist or dust cover which I feel really aren't necessary. For the money, it's a lot of firearm.

Mil-spec...... is nice ... but remember none of the rifles we will own..... will ever be called on to fire 1 to 300 rounds in full auto or bursts....... in response to and to break contact in an ambush!!!!

**** or TEOTWAWKI will at most be a series of double taps...... or just hiding while the threat passes..........if we face that level of threat ...... I will upgrade to something with the so called "happy switch" if possible..... but more likely I'll be happy to have my S&W M&P 15, food and clean water!!!!

All that said get a decent AR..... I like S&W, Colt, Older Bushmaster ...... and learn to use it ......

Well the new S&W Sport II has the dust cover and forward assist and is an excellent AR for the price. It's slightly higher in price then it was before the mass shooting in Florida. Keep it clean and lubed and it will do anything you want an AR-15 to do. It's not a match grade target rifle but it's as accurate as other AR-15's and some cost considerably more.

FIRST-I AM NOT A FAN OF THIS RIFLE PLATFORM. But if I were to have one, it would not be a 556/223, and it would have to be gas cylinder operated-no direct impingement guns at my house. For fun and/or home defense, I would look at a pistol caliber carbine that shared the same mags as a hand gun in the same caliber. JM2CW.

I'm on the other side of the fence. I've always preferred semi-automatic even when assigned rifles with selective fire.

(More accurate than spray and pray plus you don't run out as fast. Just my opinion of course. Otherwise, we're pretty much always on the same page. )

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Just curious, why do you find the dust cover, forward jammer and chrome lined barrel necessary in a civilian rifle?

LOL.....even with full auto ....... semi is the way to go......... unless you're laying down suppressive fire to break contact.... nice to have but not my first choice .......................................

I've shot quite a few entry level AR's at the gun club. The Sport has been by far the most reliable model I've seen among the entry level rifles. Mine is plenty accurate and reliable. It may not shoot as accurate as my bolt action .223 but that's to be expected.

I agree. I'm a "round counter". It's also easier to keep track of what you have left in the mag. No surprises.

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THIS WE'LL DEFEND ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I just recently got the AR itch again, a few weeks before the O-Town massacre. I was determined to build my own using PSA for the build. I already own a Sport 1.
I had been shooting AR's at my LGS and the last day I was there shooting, they put a Ruger AR-556 on the rental side. When I saw it I knew I wanted one. After a few 30 round mags through it, I had to have one! So, I have a Sport 1 and an AR-556, both with the 1:8 twist barrel. And, they both shoot ANYTHING I feed them, esp. WOLF POLYFORMANCE steel ammo.

I'll jump in! The S&W Sport II is a fine rifle. Is it "mil spec" no and it was never advertised as such. It is designed as a quality entry level AR and it serves that purpose quite well. I have one and I speak from experience.
I did upgrade mine with MagPul furniture, WMD BCG and a Bravo Co Mod III charging handle. The BCG and the charging handle were left over when I traded my M&P MOE for a POF.
The POF Puritan is a very high quality piston AR and the Sport II is a DI and they both shoot better than I can!
If you decide to go with the Smith, you won't be disappointed. Shoot it a lot before you start adding 'improvements' and then you will an idea of what you really need as opposed to what a gun store commando says you need.

If you want a sport ll, the. Buy a sport ll. If you want a colt or something else, then buy that. Obviously your an adult, so make up your own mind.

I would say buy whichever one that you like or can afford. Danny Malloy and his merry band of liberals have banned them for sale here in Connecticut since 2013. Never know what can happen come November.

After tonight it may not be November before they become extinct.