So, I admit to having been haunting gunbroker for quite awhile.

I also admit to having been salting away dough in my sock drawer for some time in hopes of realizing my desire. You see I had a front row seat to the sixties. I sat in front of the tube and saw the news reports from 'nam. That image of the weapon with the carry handle was burned into my brain. I've always wanted one. A couple weeks ago I won an auction for an M&P 15 with a removable carry handle. I had the bucks for everything including shipping and FFL sitting right there in the sock drawer.

Seller says it was his LE duty weapon that rode around in the rack for the most part. One of the early ones that were mostly made by Stag for S&W. Has a dust cover and forward assist. It's not a Sport, or an MOE or a 15T, just says Model M&P 15 on it. SN 66XXX

Can anyone shine a light on where it falls in the product line?

Thanks and looking forward to being a forum member!

Got a picture of it you can post? There are quite a few M&P 15 rifles that come with a dust cover and forward assist. Here is a link to the S&W product archive. Take a poke around and see if you can match yours up.

M&P Rifles - Smith & Wesson

If all else fails, you can call S&W customer service. Kindly ask them to identify what model rifle left the factory via your serial number.

__________________
-John

Also, welcome aboard! Good to have another M&P 15 owner join the forum ranks. If you have any questions, just ask.

__________________
-John

Thanks, I'll see what I can deduce from the link.

I'll post a pic tomorrow. It's after midnight my time right now.

@JaPes Looks like a 15R with the carry handle from the 15L

It is probably most like this one... The M&P 15

Product: Model M&P15 Rifle

Just a basic carbine with the carry handle.

Agreed.

Be aware that you may have to check several magazines to find ones that will drop free without assistance. Some of the early Stag manufactured guns had tight mag wells. My wife's will only accept Viet Nam era 15rd. Colt mags. No big deal for us because we have a bunch of them.

Agree with Cyphertext. Is there any way to query S&W via serial number. Mostly trying to find out for sure if it's just a 1:9 twist, what's chromed etc.

Gun show today in Bangor. Wonder what I can find for it there. :-)

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Welcome Schdsg!

I'm about the same vintage as you and have the same experience. I recall watching the first televised war every night on TV (followed once a week by the TV show Combat!) There are a few images that have stuck with me all these years. The carry handle M16 with the triangle hand guards is one. The others are the camo covered M1 helmet, Hueys, and for some reason, the first aid pouch high on the left suspender strap. Yes, I have a carry handle for my Sport, but I'm saving up for a retro AR kit.

At the gun show I found it a 20 round PMAG , was really hoping for a 5 round to enable it for hunting use. A Blackhawk web sling and some 77 grain hollow points. I had already hit wally world for a few boxes of 55 grain earlier in the week. Found the time to take it apart late today and clean it up good.

@michiganpete I have 2 30 rnd PMAGs and now today bought a 20 rnd PMAG all seem fine so hopefully I've dodged that problem.

@Spad124 You know I had my eye on a fixed stock Armalite with a carry handle but for some reason didn't jump on it. This one seems retro enough for me. I do prefer the look of the 20 rnd mag in it vs the 30's.

I also remember standing in front of the TV and watching the film of Kennedy getting shot. Everyone in the house absolutely apetihs over it. But me way too young to understand what has just gone down.

The chambering and twist rate should be stamped on the barrel. EX: 5.56 NATO 1:8.

To find out what's chromed, field strip the rifle. Shine a light into the chamber and bore. If you see chrome, it's chrome lined. Take a look at the bolt carrier, shine a light into the gas key. Take a look at the carrier where the bolt rides. If you see chrome, there's chrome.

Go to the S&W website. Their CS number is published there. Because the AR-15 is a modular platform built on standardized dimensions AND parts are easy to come by, the SN search will only tell you what rifle was built upon that particular serialized lower at the time it left the factory. The lower could have been mated to a different upper. The barrel could have been swapped out. The bolt could have been swapped out. Etc.. Etc.. Etc..



A serial number search at SW on this rifle will turn up a M&P 15-Sport. The only factory parts left on this rifle are: the lower & small springs/detents, the upper receiver, the barrel, the buffer tube & buffer spring, and the castle nut.

The only way to really know what's on your rifle is to look at it.

__________________
-John

The best deal on brass case, copper FMJ, manufactured to XM193 specs.

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail....dir=18|830|845

The hard part is buying a 1K round case for the first time and letting go of that much money at one time. It ends up being cheaper per round than buying a box here and there at a store. Factor in driving around trying to find high priced ammo on the shelf, paying the tax, etc.

__________________
-John

OK it's tomorrow where's the pictures.

Also remember your M16 was a 20" barrel 1/12 twist with 20 round mags. At least mine was.

And a warm welcome from “wild and wonderful “ West Virginia at least that’s what they tell us.

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Psalm 23:4

SALE - 1000 round case - 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJ Brass Case Non-magnetic WOLF GOLD AR-15 Ammunition


1000 round case - 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJ Brass Case Non-magnetic WOLF GOLD AR-15 Ammunition

High quality brass case ammo made in Taiwan. Brass case, sealed boxer primers, non-corrosive, non-magnetic 55 grain bullet. A great value for this type of ammo in todays market. Ideal for AR-15 target / all purpose ammo.

This is from SGAmmo

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Quantity:


Estimated Shipping Cost: $16.00
Estimated Shipping for 2: $26.00
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SKU: WG-223
Wolf Performance Ammunition 223 / 5.56mm

Good stuff. I reload so I appreciate the brass cases. I don't have a primer pocket swager to remove the military primer crimp. I keep the deprimed, cleaned, and resized brass in a bucket. When I feel I have enough, I'll get a RCBS swager.

__________________
-John

Ugh. Took so long to write my responses I got logged out and lost it all. Have to do shorter ones to address everyones comments.

My god what a nice job S&W did with the M&P15. Had a ton of fun today. I'll keep Mr. Nagle from getting too stressed with this I snapped getting ready to dial in the Barska I put on it.

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