Puzzled on the MP15 Sport- pls help

[Saida365]

Hello. I purchased today my new AR MP15 811036 after weeks of researching and deciding on the SW. I get it home and realize that the barrel isn't the 1/8 twist but a 1/9 twist. Is this a good thing or bad thing? Doesn't this make the MP any less. SW website until today didn't have a price nor the new spec listed on their website . Looking at the site today it's updated with price and spec at 1/9 Very disappointed on this feature. Any advise? Is this the same AR as the famous review test to failure MP sport review?
I paid $629 for NIB at my gun shop. Can I add to the out of the box hand rail or should it be replaced with a quad?

 

[JustAnotherGunGuy]

You paid a good price and got a fine firearm. The 1/9 twist helps with shooting 55-69gr bullets which is what most civilians shoot. Your rifle is no worse for having it. Hell, mine has the 1/9, several years old and still shoots great. If you can find any ammo, shoot and enjoy.

 

[str8liner]

I have a sport with a 1/9 and it pokes holes in stuff i shoot at just fine.

You got yours $100 cheaper then I did!

 

[cyphertext]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent and tell you that yes, that rifle is less desirable with the 1:9 barrel...not so much because of the twist, but due to the fact that it does not have the 5R rifling.

Many of us who have the 1:8 5R barrel bought the Sport because of that feature. Otherwise, you may as well have bought a rifle from PSA or Spikes that is "mil-spec", complete with dust cover and forward assist.

I'm not saying that you have a bad rifle. Shoot it and enjoy it. I just feel that it does not represent the value that it once did, especially since S&W moved to a cheaper, easier to produce barrel and raised the MSRP at the same time.

ETA - If you want the 1:8 5R barrel and a quad rail, then the M&P 15T would be the way to go. Folks have reported on here that it has also changed to the 1:9 twist, but the S&W industry rep on another board is telling me that is not true, and it still has the 1:8 5R barrel.

 

[Vinney47]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent and tell you that yes, that rifle is less desirable with the 1:9 barrel...not so much because of the twist, but due to the fact that it does not have the 5R rifling.

Many of us who have the 1:8 5R barrel bought the Sport because of that feature. Otherwise, you may as well have bought a rifle from PSA or Spikes that is "mil-spec", complete with dust cover and forward assist.

I'm not saying that you have a bad rifle. Shoot it and enjoy it. I just feel that it does not represent the value that it once did, especially since S&W moved to a cheaper, easier to produce barrel and raised the MSRP at the same time.

ETA - If you want the 1:8 5R barrel and a quad rail, then the M&P 15T would be the way to go. Folks have reported on here that it has also changed to the 1:9 twist, but the S&W industry rep on another board is telling me that is not true, and it still has the 1:8 5R barrel.

I view the 5R rifling like the micro groove rifling on the rimfire marlins back in the day. Supposedly better or more accurate or something, but the barrels on competing rifles didn't seem to really notice. Despite all the claims and testimonials that micro groove rifling is superior, it's not around today. We'll see how 5R rifling does.

I think the value of the Sport is in it's price for an M&P15. In that regard, nothing's changed.

 

[Saida365]

Thank you for the info. Imy choices were the Stag Model 2 . dPMS Oracle or the Bushmaster CAAr 15. Ad well the 5R feature 1:8 twist was my factor along side lifetime warranty. I will enjoy... Any good advise on where to get some decent upgrades. I don't believe you can hook up anything to the factory hand rail/shield.... Thank you

 

[cyphertext]

I view the 5R rifling like the micro groove rifling on the rimfire marlins back in the day. Supposedly better or more accurate or something, but the barrels on competing rifles didn't seem to really notice. Despite all the claims and testimonials that micro groove rifling is superior, it's not around today. We'll see how 5R rifling does.

I think the value of the Sport is in it's price for an M&P15. In that regard, nothing's changed.

The 5R rifling has already been around for years. Many competition shooters have been using it, as well as the military, in some platforms. There is a gentleman who does not post here as often anymore, but with his handloads and the 5R barrel, he shoots very impressive groups. I've been waiting for him or a couple of other guys to get a chance to shoot a 1:9 barreled Sport side by side with a 1:8 barrel to see if there is any difference.

One gentleman, I believe it was don5, has reported that his son has the 1:8 Sport and he has a 1:9 M&P (can't recall model, possibly the OR?), and the Sport did outshoot the other side by side.

 

[cyphertext]

Thank you for the info. Imy choices were the Stag Model 2 . dPMS Oracle or the Bushmaster CAAr 15. Ad well the 5R feature 1:8 twist was my factor along side lifetime warranty. I will enjoy... Any good advise on where to get some decent upgrades. I don't believe you can hook up anything to the factory hand rail/shield.... Thank you

There are rails made to attach to the handguard so that you may use vertical grips and lights. The ones you are looking for are made to fit a tapered profile handguard.

However, you could also spend $30 and purchase a Magpul handguard, and then buy some rail segments that attach to it and you would gain heat shields in the hand guard. Or buy a quad rail handguard, either a drop in or one that free floats the barrel.... the possibilities are endless!

 

[BillyJack2012]

What do you need to add? By the way, of your choices, you made a good one and the price you got is superb. Add a good light and a sling and you'll be in great shape.

 

[don5]

I have the OR with a 1/9 barrel and my son shoots a Sport that I bought last year. The sport has the 1/8 5R barrel. My son outshot me with his. We shot both of them back to back. I also shot his sport as well. It did not matter who shot the sport, it still outshot the OR. Now when I say it outshot the OR here was the difference. I was using the same bullets in both guns. They were reloads. I was shooting Hornady 55 gr Vmax with Varget powder. At 100 yards the sport put 3 shots smaller than a dime. The OR put 3 shots slightly larger than a dime at 100 yards. Both guns are topped with Nikon P223 3x9 BDC scopes. I was able to compare both rifles and my findings indicate that the sport is more accurate. I also felt that the test was very fair in regards to using the same ammo, same scope and I was shooting with a Caldwell lead sled also.

I will also say that I am happy with my OR and the 1/9 barrel. It shoots good enough for me. There is a difference between the two barrels, with the 1/8 5R barrel being more accurate, but I still enjoy the OR. OP do not let the 1/9 barrel put you off of the gun. BTW, both rifles have had Magpul furniture installed on them. The sport has OD green and the OR has foliage green on it. I hope this helps.

 

[don5]

There are rails made to attach to the handguard so that you may use vertical grips and lights. The ones you are looking for are made to fit a tapered profile handguard.

However, you could also spend $30 and purchase a Magpul handguard, and then buy some rail segments that attach to it and you would gain heat shields in the hand guard. Or buy a quad rail handguard, either a drop in or one that free floats the barrel.... the possibilities are endless!

OP, cyphertext is correct. I found the rails at Walmart and they are made by Blackhawk. These were tapered and full length. If you order a vertical grip from Magpul, they enclose a section of rail that is the same color as the vertical grip with it. Btw- I ordered my magpul furniture from http://ottofirearms.com

 

[Bkreutz]

I'd recommend buying a bunch of ammo and putting it downrange before you start thinking about accessories. Otherwise you won't know if the accessories improved anything.

 

[thetalon]

ETA - If you want the 1:8 5R barrel and a quad rail, then the M&P 15T would be the way to go. Folks have reported on here that it has also changed to the 1:9 twist, but the S&W industry rep on another board is telling me that is not true, and it still has the 1:8 5R barrel.

I have one of the post Jan. '13 15T's and can confirm they are infact 1:9 twist. There have been some conflicts between what various "reps" have reported and whats on the SW website but unless they have again switched anything assembled after Jan of this year is a 1:9 w/ standard rifling. I should still have the email from SW stating as much some where as well as the rifle to support it.

 

[cyphertext]

I have one of the post Jan. '13 15T's and can confirm they are infact 1:9 twist. There have been some conflicts between what various "reps" have reported and whats on the SW website but unless they have again switched anything assembled after Jan of this year is a 1:9 w/ standard rifling. I should still have the email from SW stating as much some where as well as the rifle to support it.

Thanks for posting thetalon....I know we had several threads regarding the barrel changes and I will probably point the rep to this thread and a few of the old ones.

 

[thetalon]

Np, the 1:9 still shoots great btw. It's also melonite treated which I personally consider an upgrade from the older chrome 1:9. I can try to find that email if youd like to reference who I received it from.

 

[brorex]

How do I know when my 15t was made. I bought it about a month ago and it has the 1:8 5r rifling

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[thetalon]

You can try emailing SW with the serial number. If you got a 1:8 then perhaps they switched back. I always kinda figured they were just throwing the 1:9 barrels on cause they ran short on stock when people were buying them like crazy. If so really make me think those of us who got the lesser barrel should be able to send it in for replacement. Not very cool to say a model has one spec then ship it with another. Kind of accepted it as the website just hadnt been updated but may have been a load of ****.

 

[wild_weasel]

Last year I bought a S&W Sport with 1/8 5R rifling for my son’s upcoming High School graduation and liked it so much I kept it for myself, a few months later I bought a second Sport that came with the 1/9 standard rifling. Living in the city we are limited to shooting at an indoor 25 yard range, at this range we cannot tell the difference in accuracy shooting 223/5.56 55gr or 62gr ammo, both easily shoot inside 4cm. However, were I can tell the difference is when I use my CMMG 22lr conversion. The Sport with the 1/9 rifling will out shoot the Sport with 1/8 rifling all day long.

Both rifles shoot to point of aim with clean cold barrels and continue to shoot to point of aim as they heat up and become fouled, unlike a Mini-14 I owned who’s point of aim wondered all over the place.

While I have upgrade (pimped out) the furniture on my rifle with MagPul MOE and added an Aimpoint PRO, we went for a RETRO look on my son’s by adding surplus USGI COLT M-4 furniture and carry handle / site.

Cheers,
W-W

 

[cyphertext]

Thetalon, the S&W rep on the other board responded to me and said "Hi, The 15T model has not changed, and is still shipping with a 1/8 5R barrel. If there is someone stating that theirs has a 1/9 non 5R barrel, they should contact customer support."

 

[thetalon]

Thanks for that, I contact them again and see whats up. Going to search my email for the rep that told me otherwise, could I bother you for some identifying info for the rep you've spoken too so that i may reference them.