I picked up an M&P 15 and when I opened the box it had these places that looked like gray/white blemishes in the finish. The dealer said it just needed some oil rubbed on it. He said it was just dry spots. He rubbed it with a rag that was very lightly oiled and it seemed to help. So, I got it home and rubbed the spots more with M-PRO 7 gun oil. They seem to be gone for now but I am worried it may start to show again. I read an older post where someone had this same issue but they never followed up with an update. So, has anyone else had this same issue? What was the cause and how was it resolved?

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I don't remember seeing that particular issue before. The question is, do you care? I don't believe it's a structural issue and is only cosmetic in nature. So, the gun should be safe to shoot.

If you've rubbed it out for now, wait and see if it comes back. Then decide what you want to do.

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Freedom isn't free.

I own a few AR's and have coonfingered probably hundreds. I've never seen or heard of anything that looks like that?

When I got mine it looked like that in spots. After a good cleaning it was gone. Hasn’t come back. Looked like the lube used for shipping, had dried out in areas.

Sil357

I've seen it before when a parkerized or anodized firearm is degreased for painting or some other kind of refinishing. The coating absorbs some of the oil for anti corrosion purposes. Usually, recoating with oil and wiping the excess off fixes the problem.

Rub it with some oil. Rub off any excess. Fire rifle.

If the finish flaw reappears and it gets on your last OCD nerve, call S&W.

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-John

Mine was that way out of the box... clean it, oil it, not an issue.

Idea:

Completely disassemble your rifle. Cerakote the upper receiver, lower receiver, burnt bronze. Cerakote the barrel and buffer tube sniper grey. The remainder of the parts keep black.

Or..

Cerakote the upper receiver, lower receiver, and a free float handguard arctic white. Cerakote the barrel and buffer tube silver. The grip and butt stock sniper grey.

I have to stop now. I'm eyeballing my barely 15-Sport and thinking of giving it a Stormtrooper color combo.

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-John

Thanks for posting this... I was wondering the same thing about mine (got it two weeks ago, haven't cleaned it yet). What oil is best to rub on the exterior? I have Break Free CLP and RemOil.

CLP is more for the barrel and the internals since it's a bit thinner and has a cleaning component to it (Cleaner, Lubricant, and Protectant). Rem Oil would be better. Not the CLP is bad...


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Your gun is fine !! Just purchased my M&P 15 TS and had the exact same stuff as yours did. Took a rag and poured some weapon shield gun oil and wiped right off. Took it to the range shot 100 rounds went home looked it over and the "stain" or what ever you want to call it has not returned. Have fun shooting your new gun!!!



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Aim small miss small

Don't tell me, you want to "Boba Fett" your gun? I thought you were done with all the "upgrades"? Here we go again...

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Freedom isn't free.

I was actually thinking about getting my glkck white

No need for y'all to get nervous. I'm just thinking of adding some color to the rifle, it's not really a modification. I'm not adding parts to the rifle. I take off all the existing parts then put them back on again.

Google "Storm Trooper AR-15" some of those look pretty cool.

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-John

Yea they look awesome. Maybe ill doone glock and one ar 15 in it. Just gotta make sure its not the HD weapon

I had the same issue with that M&P15 purchase and I just lightly wiped a oily rag on the whole upper and lower receivers, which it eventually disappeared over time. Now you can't tell were the effective areas are now.

When I picked up my Sport the barrel had what looked like scuff marks. I thought it was a "dry" spot and accepted the rifle. It turned out the marks were scuffs in the melonite finish from assembly. I contacted S&W, sent the entire rifle back and they replaced the upper.

The new upper was dry on the outside and had similar areas to yours. I stripped, cleaned, and properly the upper. The spots went away with some Remoil. Clean and lube your rifle including wiping down the outside with oil. If the spots keep coming back contact S&W.

My M&P15A had more wrinkles in the upper receiver where the forging did not fill out during manufacture. I shot it for most of a year before sending it back in for replacement, simply because I figured it would affect resale if I didn't. The barrel still has a dime size spot on it where the Parkerizing didn't take well. These may be just tools, but I prefer to put my own dings on them.

No one wants the rifle to be beat up when you get it but it is a tool to use and they like to be used hard. My rifles do not have a ugly look but natural wear is a sign that it is used often and some wear should be expected. Keeping one in the safe to maintain it's retail value is a bit silly, but that probably is because I do not sell my firearms (been known to trade) and have given a bunch away---the recipiant in each case did not complain of a little shiney metal or scratched wood. Each of the last three Colt AR's I acquired (new) had scratches on the barrels and trigger openings rough as a Washington state county road but they shoot and shoot and etc.....I will enjoy them as they are.

Oh man. Ive never had a friend give away an AR. only my dad

Sorry it took so long for me to get back with an update....So, I generously oiled it and 24hrs later it was back! But not as bad, about 90% of it came back. So, I decided to not just oil it again but clean it good with M Pro 7 gun cleaner and lightly oil afterwards with M Pro 7 gun oil. 42hrs later since I cleaned and very lightly oiled and there's no visible sign of it returning. If it returns I will post back and let you guys know what I plan from there. Thanks for all the replies, they're a big help!

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Hopefully it won't come back! I wonder if it's their preservative they use? And maybe they used more than usual on your weapon and took extra effort to get rid of it? I know my M&P 15TS had it, but after wiping the rifle down with some gun oil it never came back as of now.


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Aim small miss small

Clay, I gave three AR's to friends at Christmas, one was a bribe because I shoot on his land all the time, the second was to a 13 year old Montana boy (with father's permission) who lit up shinier than their Christmas tree and the third to a good friend who I knew could never come up with the purchase price. What did I get in return? The glow inside is still bright and warm. ��

I have in the past given firearms to others never an AR15 but 1 was a savage m-110 in .243 to a young man that was a natural shot that could take a staple out of the X ring at a hundred 100 yds later he went to Iraq and did save quite a few of our Boys & girls over there. Yes the glow is still there. God Bless you

Just picked up my M&P 15 last Friday and same thing, clean it and oil it and it's gone. It's just a protection coating like others have said.