M&P15 VTAC FOR $1399...worth it?

[DaveB57]

Saw a brand new M&P15 VTAC ON CLEARANCE @ Cabelas for $1399...Any thoughts on this rifle? Is it a good deal? Would be my first AR type weapon...

 

[MPDC]

Saw a brand new M&P15 VTAC ON CLEARANCE @ Cabelas for $1399...Any thoughts on this rifle? Is it a good deal? Would be my first AR type weapon...

Bud's , who I consider generally reasonable has it for 1504 so the price you have seems good to me.

 

[Dragon88]

It's a good price, but does it have all the features you want? That's an unusual first AR...

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

$1599 here, so pretty good deal in my book.

 

[christcorp]

I know what the difference is between the VTAC and other models, but I don't understand the Price. I was able to get an M&P15OR for $649. I can then put on just about every imaginable accessory, and not come any where near the $1300 mark. Granted; it's not a 1:7 twist barrel, but that isn't important to me. But just about every accessory on the VTAC can be bought. Can't it. Guess what I'm saying is: "Is a VTAC really worth the money? Even at $1300"?

 

[460v LAC du FLAMBEAU]

I purchased the VTAC in 2008 for $1,580 and love it. It's my main "go-to" rifle in crunch time. 2,600 rounds through it...just a trigger adjustment...no problems.

I purchased it when the AR's were super hot...sounds like you got a good deal. Make sure it is brand new with black plastic case.

 

[Foxtrot]

Unless your really hot on a 1:7 barrel, its cheaper to get the OR model and just add the sighting system/accessories, hand guard forend, you want, isn't it? Even if a 1:7 barrel is important to you, you could still get the OR model cheaper and add the after market 1:7 barrel your self and still come out paying less some or most times.

Besides, after you add the sighting and your accessories, your going to end up looking like most of the OR models do anyway

 

[jollymon32]

I bought one recently for $1199 from Palmetto State Armory. I can compare it easily to the MP15 PS (Piston system) that my business partner has; the biggest difference is the trigger on the Vtac - silky smooth. Also, the modified hand-guard is awesome - smooth with rails only where you need them.

I have shot about 500 rounds through it. Only problem I have had is shooting non-brass cased ammo. They stick after about 140 rounds. Once I have finished firing off the 800 or so rounds I have of Tula 223 - it will be strictly brass for this rifle.

Also, my partner's AR runs considerably cleaner than mine. This is normal when comparing piston versus direct impingement.

 

[Dragon88]

Only problem I have had is shooting non-brass cased ammo. They stick after about 140 rounds. Once I have finished firing off the 800 or so rounds I have of Tula 223 - it will be strictly brass for this rifle.

Good idea. Your rifle deserves better than cheap steel cased ammo.

Also, my partner's AR runs considerably cleaner than mine. This is normal when comparing piston versus direct impingement.

His rifle gets dirty too, just in a different area. Luckily ARs clean up pretty easily and don't really need to be spotless in the first place. Pistons are cool and I might buy one eventually, but I've never had a problem with direct gas.

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

Only problem I have had is shooting non-brass cased ammo. They stick after about 140 rounds.

A lot of tactical classes prefer you don't use steel cased ammo but enjoy the show when you do. It does shoot fine, I shoot the hell out it in sks' and aks', but get an AR hot enough and it WILL stick. Every time there's someone that brings a stockpile of wolf or bear. By the 2nd mag malfunctions accure. The original system has already been altered by shortening the barrel from 20" so with pressure issues being resolved with stronger extractors, antitilt mags etc., no sense in causing another issue with ammo that contributes to the pressure/expansion issue. Good call.

 

[christcorp]

Sorry if I don't buy that at all. Especially comments that seem very extreme. e.g. "Every time there's someone that brings a stockpile of wolf or bear. By the 2nd mag malfunctions accure." EVERYTIME??? You're positive. Yet, I can probably find MORE people who have shot THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS of steel case ammo and have never had an issue. Why it is that the only people who seem to ever have problems shooting steel case ammo seem to go to particular gun ranges; or it's some self proclaimed range officer or gun smith that sees it happening ALL THE TIME????

I'm not saying that no one has ever had an issue with steel case. Hell, I know some people who have guns that have issues with Corbon and Blackhills. And to be honest; the ONLY people I've seen with issues with steel case ammo, are those who are the type that actually "BRAG" about going 500-1000 rounds "or more" in between cleaning their rifle. There's a lot of them around.

Sorry; but your comment about "Every time" steel ammo is brought to the range, that there are issues by the 2nd magazine....... Well..... I just think that is a very big exaggeration. "That's my polite way of saying there's a flag being waived."

 

[crofoot629]

Why wouldn't you just buy a Colt 6940?

Colts are actually battle proven and I guarantee you will hold their value better.

FWIW I only own Colt and Noveske AR's but have had experience with RRA's too. The SO I just retired from has gone pretty much all Noveske.

Emory

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

Sorry if I don't buy that at all. Especially comments that seem very extreme. e.g. "Every time there's someone that brings a stockpile of wolf or bear. By the 2nd mag malfunctions accure." EVERYTIME??? You're positive. Yet, I can probably find MORE people who have shot THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS of steel case ammo and have never had an issue. Why it is that the only people who seem to ever have problems shooting steel case ammo seem to go to particular gun ranges; or it's some self proclaimed range officer or gun smith that sees it happening ALL THE TIME????

I'm not saying that no one has ever had an issue with steel case. Hell, I know some people who have guns that have issues with Corbon and Blackhills. And to be honest; the ONLY people I've seen with issues with steel case ammo, are those who are the type that actually "BRAG" about going 500-1000 rounds "or more" in between cleaning their rifle. There's a lot of them around.

Sorry; but your comment about "Every time" steel ammo is brought to the range, that there are issues by the 2nd magazine....... Well..... I just think that is a very big exaggeration. "That's my polite way of saying there's a flag being waived."

........

 

[turbo38gn]

Back to the OP's question..... I just handled that Vtac at the S&W retail store, if I had the money, there would be no wasting time to purchase. It is a pretty incredible looking and feeling gun in the hand. The price looks fair, it has some of the best of the best on it. I handled about 5-6 different models while there, as soon as I picked it up, I knew it was the "one"..Not sure what is wrong with buying an AR with good stuff on it and not having to do it yourself. If you like it, buy it... it's beauty and it is not an OR, that is a different model with different partrs..

 

[Dragon88]

Sorry if I don't buy that at all. Especially comments that seem very extreme. e.g. "Every time there's someone that brings a stockpile of wolf or bear. By the 2nd mag malfunctions accure." EVERYTIME??? You're positive. Yet, I can probably find MORE people who have shot THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS of steel case ammo and have never had an issue. Why it is that the only people who seem to ever have problems shooting steel case ammo seem to go to particular gun ranges; or it's some self proclaimed range officer or gun smith that sees it happening ALL THE TIME????

I'm not saying that no one has ever had an issue with steel case. Hell, I know some people who have guns that have issues with Corbon and Blackhills. And to be honest; the ONLY people I've seen with issues with steel case ammo, are those who are the type that actually "BRAG" about going 500-1000 rounds "or more" in between cleaning their rifle. There's a lot of them around.

Sorry; but your comment about "Every time" steel ammo is brought to the range, that there are issues by the 2nd magazine....... Well..... I just think that is a very big exaggeration. "That's my polite way of saying there's a flag being waived."

Why don't you try replying to the OPs question, instead of going on one of your rants again?

 

[christcorp]

Why don't you try replying to the OPs question, instead of going on one of your rants again?

Yea; I definitely should follow your example. (Good idea. Your rifle deserves better than cheap steel cased ammo.)

FWIW: I did respond earlier to the OP's thread. I even asked for someone to explain the major advantages of the M&P15VTAC rifle, that made it worth $1400-$1900; especially considering the majority of differences are external, and can be added to an OR or similar model, for a lot less money. Unfortunately, no one has been able to respond with why the VTAC is worth the money. Apparently, it's more of a status thing. So; my response to the OP is: $1400 is not worth it for a VTAC. Not when you can build a standard M&P15 basically to that caliber/quality for a lot less money.

But that's what opinions are for. Just like crofoot saying how he ONLY owns colts and Noveske AR's, yet he's commenting in a S&W forum. Hey, go figure.

 

[jollymon32]

Dragon
Every single time I shoot my rifle, I spend about 1 hour cleaning it. I have bore cleaner, solvent, tapcon star brushes for the lug, bore/chamber brush, bore/chamber mop, one piece stainless steel bore rod, gg&g gas block scraper, bore snake. You name it.

If you look at the word '@n@l' in the dictionary, you will see my picture next to it holding my Vtac.

I bought a case of brass bullets, and after sending half of it down range, I bought a second case, this time Tula, to lower the per bullet cost.

The three times I have shot Tula, I have had stuck cartridges. This is after cleaning the rifle so well you could of licked the gas block and not tasted anything but metal.

Now, I am down to shooting 2-300 rounds of brass followed by 60 rounds of Tula to finish off the day (I have to finish off that metal ****). I won't dare shoot Tula first. On my last outing, I got a stuck case on my first Tula shot, and two more by the time I shot off the final 60 rounds of the day.

So, I can definitely say, That every single time I have shot Tula, I have had stuck cases.

EVERY-TIME. WITHOUT FAIL, ON A CLEAN RIFLE.

One more thing, I bought a stainless steel, single piece bore rod for a reason: Without fail, every time I go shooting, there is someone on the firing line with the exact same problem; a stuck round. And 100% of the time, once we extract the round using my one piece bore rod, it is a metal case.

Now to be fair, I have only seen this on the AR platform. It seems that there is a significant tolerance difference between the AR platform and AK platform. I see guys shoot metal all day through AK's without a problem.

 

[christcorp]

Brass is also a "Metal".

But if you'd like, I'd be more than happy to buy the tula ammo off of you. I've only had my m&p15 for less than 3 months, and have only shot about 1000 rounds through it, but it shoots anything. Including my tula, barnaul silver bear, MFS, LC mil surp, and PMC bronze. So; if you've got a significant amount of steel case ammo left and want to get rid of it, I'll buy it from you. Just let me know. It's only costing me $3.89 a box from Cheaper than Dirt.

 

[Dragon88]

Now to be fair, I have only seen this on the AR platform. It seems that there is a significant tolerance difference between the AR platform and AK platform. I see guys shoot metal all day through AK's without a problem.

Some firearms are designed to shoot steel cased ammo. The AR-15 is not one of them. Sorry to hear about your frustration, but hey you know what the problem is, and the solution.

 

[jcall]

Brass is also a "Metal".

But if you'd like, I'd be more than happy to buy the tula ammo off of you. I've only had my m&p15 for less than 3 months, and have only shot about 1000 rounds through it, but it shoots anything. Including my tula, barnaul silver bear, MFS, LC mil surp, and PMC bronze. So; if you've got a significant amount of steel case ammo left and want to get rid of it, I'll buy it from you. Just let me know. It's only costing me $3.89 a box from Cheaper than Dirt.

+1 I have a M&P15T and have put at least 3000 rounds of Wolf and Tula and 1000 rounds of XM193 thru it. The only time I had a problem was after I had put around 900 rds of Tula, without cleaning....just occasional lube, I had a stuck case. This was my own test to see what the "evil" ammo would do. Went home, cleaned the rifle (it was filthy), and went out and put more Wolf and Tula down range. This time I kept the round count to around 500 rds before cleaning and lubing and it runs like a champ. Each time I go out shooting its at least 300-400 rounds. Wolf and Tula are not the "scary ammo" that everyone likes to jump on the band wagon for. Its great plinking ammo. Get some.

Jollymon..... an hour to clean? to each his own, put some lube on it and put some rounds down range. Dont be scared of Wolf and Tula.