Anyone else have this with their M&P Sport 2? As it came new. Also it was pointed out that the upper and lower were not aligned properly.

Wont affect function, but if you are OCD, it is going to bother you. I probably would not have accepted that one...

No, doesn't bother me. Just wondered if it was the norm.

my Colt 6720 LE/Military only restricted carbine came like that. its a factory gun to boot. i guess its different batches, or forging times... or poor quality control, maybe a late friday afternoon?

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why? why not?

It's not normal in the sense that every one of them is like that, but it is normal in the sense that it is not at all uncommon to see. In other words, there's nothing "wrong" with the gun.

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Pisgah

Just saw this post and went to the safe to pull out my 9 month old Sport II in order to compare upper and lower colors. The black color on the upper and lower are slightly different just like the OP's photo. This is my first AR and I did not notice this when I received it and still had not noticed it until I read this thread and it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I sort of like the slight contrast. My upper and lower lines do mate exactly where they should. It shoots fine having no malfunctions during the few times I have shot it.

There is that too...

AR receivers are investment cast aluminum with finish machining, followed by anodizing. The anodizing process grows a microscopic layer of weird crystalline oxide tubes that readily accept dye, hence the variety of colors for anodized parts. This is the way they were made until all the coating systems came to market. Mismatched upper and lower colors is a pathetic manufacturing flaw, probably harmless functionally, but poor quality control. Can you imagine a fine S&W revolver with a deep blue receiver and matte finished barrel? Same thing. All the AR's I have built have suffered this fate to some degree as the lowers, being firearms, are sourced from separate vendors from the uppers.

Think of it as different lots of paint. They are the same color code but variances from one lot to the next won’t exactly match. A big problem paint shops have to work with but is a reality of am imperfect world.


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Yes, every AR I have bought, including two S&W Sport IIs, have had some degree of difference in the color of the upper and lower receivers. After a through cleaning and oiling as described in the manual, the difference on both moderated somewhat.

For my purposes, I did not consider the color difference enough to constitute a defect and it hasn't had any effect on the function of either rifle.

I had not noticed that being out of line, as this was the first AR that I had bought. Thanks for activating my OCD. Now that is bugging me more than the color difference. Argggggg

Happens all the time shoot it be happy.

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Use should dictate gear!

My two cents worth ... Pretty is as pretty does! Unless of course you are buying a collector grade gun. Function over form is the name of the game. If you use it, it will show it. Does yours shoot when you pull the trigger? Will the rounds land about where they are aimed?
Why would someone expect perfection from a bargain priced gun, especially if it works well?

For my money, the Sport II shoots way better than some noticeably more expensive AR's. Mine is most definitely worth the $499.99 I paid for it! All I expect from it is that it fire and function well. I got way more than my money's worth!

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So long ... Ken

AR receivers are machined from forgings or extruded billets, not castings.

I almost jumped when I read the post by ggibson when I first read it, but decided to Google it first. Although the majority of AR lower receivers are machined forgings with machined billet coming in a distant second, there are cast receivers on the market.

Yeah, that pesky color difference is really bugging me...

Attached Images

Receiver Color Difference.jpg (54.2 KB, 544 views)

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Freedom isn't free.

"Ghost gun"!

And then there are the polymer lowers......

Well, that's why Cerakote was invented...solves that whole pesky problem!
Myself, I'm gonna go honk off some Liberals with mine!!

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

There are Other options as well






The only limitations are your mind and your wallet

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

actually high end AR receivers are either forged or billet and finish machined...

I'm rather certain that Rugers and some others are investment cast, but I'd never knowingly purchase an investment casting, when I could have had a forging, my Rock River, and to the OP, your Smith and Wesson are forgings!

That awful M&P billboard on the mag well* is, IMO, waaay uglier than a slight color difference...
*Edit

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Registration? NEVER!

I emailed them and they say I can return it for them to check. Guess I will give it a try.

Hope they work it out; it’s your rifle and money, so you should be happy with it.

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Registration? NEVER!

I'd say your about 114% correct, but you know its hard to get that pot metal and plastic to gel at the same consistency every time.

Not sure, but if the uppers are not forged aluminum (like the Colts), then I think they are die cast aluminum, not investment cast. FWIW.

i wouldn't worry about it. The receivers, both upper and lower, are forged aluminum. You didn't buy a top tier rifle, so I wouldn't expect a 100% color match.

Well, I shipped it back to S&W yesterday to see if they would " make it right ". Will post the results when I get it back.

Before: Not aligned,& color difference.

Wow. I wouldn't be happy with that. I wonder if it was made during the MAD rush where they were pounding them out night and day before the election.

Hope they make it right for you.

I showed the picture to my older son whose politics run very liberal. His response was a very deadpan, "A blaze orange gun in a self-defense situation seems a good way to get spotted and killed."

Didn't seem to piss him off at all. Just seemed to bemuse him that someone had out the time, effort and expense into decorating what is, after all, supposed to be a tool.

Easy way to avoid that is to not buy the rifle.

True, but it IS a very good rifle, and the best combo of features of the rifles on hand. I'm quite pleased with it; a bit of paint, and I'm an even happier shooter.

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Registration? NEVER!

Well, they sent me a return label and I sent it back. They are replacing the lower, so it has to go through an FFL dealer upon return. ( To fix the alignment problem.) I got that set up, and they said it would be shipped back in about a week. ( They have had it all month) Can't wait to get it back. I hope they got it right!

50 shades of gray, retro edition - AR15.COM

I got more twisted about the alignment after it was pointed out to me. This was my 1st AR, and I didn't know any better. I should have researched before I bought, but, live and learn. They must have thought it was not right as they are fixing it under warranty.

I have a later M&P Sport and it was a good color match on the upper and the lower when I purchased it, to be honest I looked at it before I even bought it.

In my opinion this totally unacceptable since this should of been rectified through Quality Control before the AR went in the box and out the door. What was the problem someone was drunk are forgot to put their glasses on during their job, maybe it is just possible I am looking at the wrong person, this could of been upper managements call.

Mind you S&W has a good reputation on building good firearm's but if this is the way they present their products then they are heading for a serious flaw in their business.

To me this would not go well with me if I paid good money for a new AR that should match as a complete rifle!

Hell I own three S&W firearm's, if I should ever buy another one in the near future it better be to my liking are it goes back to be corrected!

I guess I am some kind of perfectionist but that is just me and my honest opinion, beat me up if you like.

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NRA member since 1974

I'll tell you S&W is not alone with this. I saw a DDM4V11 for sale on another site that clearly showed a huge mis-alignment just like above. So even with a $1500 rifle the alignment can be an issue if that makes you feel any better.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

Yes, it can be there on higher priced rifles, and possibly not even cause an issue. Drill the holes on the upper just a little off center one way, and the holes for the pins just a little off center the other way, both individual pieces are within spec but when put together, you get misaligned upper and lower... tolerance stacking.

There is nothing written on the magazine!! Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

BUSTED!!! Should have been mag well. Thanks for catching--corrected.

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Registration? NEVER!

Roll marks FTW. Put some color fill in there and make them stand out even more!

I like my S&W roll marks

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Still carrying my S&W 642