Is it worth tacticooling the Mp sport?

[Little Creek]

Let's see. I am LH, so I love the fact that there is no FA. The first things I added were ambi: fire selector, charging handle, and Norgan mag release. The I traded some stuff for a Troy 13" VTAC FF handguard. I also put a Magpul ACS stock and a Magpul MOE K2 grip. I just added an SSA trigger. The most recent addition is a Leupold VX-R Patrol scope mounted with a Leupold Mark 2 mount. I am thinking I need a comp and a quick throw lever for the scope. That should just about do it. It has been a three year journey. This will be my 3 gun competition carbine. So far over 1,000 rounds through it with no issues.

 

[CrustyShellback]

I bought the Sport for the K.I.S.S.

The only things I wanted were mostly functional changes. Still waiting for this Sunday to drag slowly by and then the freakin' mad dash as 100 other people run to get their rifles at 9 am Monday morning. But, at least I have all my mods/upgrades already in and ready to slap on.

What I have and why I got it.

Vortex Strikefire - these eyes aren't getting better, but at least I'm not dependent on magnification yet... the dot helps tremendously, especially with a co-witness.

Magpul MOE handguard - stock one, too skinny, limited mounting options, no heatshield.

Magpul MOE pistol grip - stock grip, too skinny, flimsy and want/need a storage compartment for batteries. I've got 3 in there now, with room for one more. Got a small cloth for my optic and would really like to find a very small oiler bottle.

ArmsTAC VFG - cheap VFG. Nothing really lost, if I don't like ($10). Mounts ROCK SOLID, however. I am impressed with it, I'll give them that much, at this point.

Elzetta A2 front sight tactical flashlight mount - Fits about as far forward as you can mount one, decreasing barrel shadow. Since it fits under the barrel, you keep the slim profile of the gun. Made of similar polymer as Magpul (also made in USA). Very strong and stable light mount. You can adjust the placement of your light, so that just bumping the sling mount, will turn on your momentary light. It actually works, quite well.

Streamlight Polytac - the new Polytacs are 275 lumen, programmable and have one of the most effective strobes, I've seen. It even started to make me nauseous. The effective light range, is insane. In low light, it will light up enough to easily identify/spot someone at 100 yds and you'll stop them in their tracks at 200.

Tapco Intrafuse buttpad - purely for shoulder retention/placement. I like the feel of them and the way they seat the rifle.

Other than that, I don't see much need for anything else. Maybe I'll change out the front end some day, quad rail. Who knows? But, I'm generally not like that. I know what I want and I move towards that, tweaking along the way, if need be. When I got my Mini, it went thru a couple changes, before it ended up exactly like the original build I based it off of.

Finally, all those upgrades didn't cost me that much, really. I already had the Strikefire, but only paid $120 for the red dot only one. Everything else... nothing was over $36 (flashlight). Had I needed a new optic, I still would be starting off with a very nice, reliable AR for well under $1000. All those upgrades (minus optic) only cost me just over $140 and had them all, from online sources, inside a week. I'm pleased with my (around) $700 purchase.

P.S. I made my son, let me throw all my stuff on his AR, is how I know I like it. Hahaha...

 

[JaPes]

I bought the Sport for the K.I.S.S.

I like where this is going.

...The only things I wanted were mostly functional changes.

Ut-Oh... Black Rifle Disease Stage 1 Alert! Stage 1 starts with the defense mechanism of rationalization.

What I have...

Vortex Strikefire
Magpul MOE handguard
Magpul MOE pistol grip
ArmsTAC VFG
Elzetta A2 front sight tactical flashlight mount
Streamlight Polytac
Tapco Intrafuse buttpad -

Other than that, I don't see much need for anything else.

...and there goes the progression to Stage 2.

Maybe I'll change out the front end some day, quad rail.

Stage 2.5

Who knows? But, I'm generally not like that. I know what I want and I move towards that, tweaking along the way, if need be.

Stage 3 evidenced by employment of the defense mechanisms of rationalization and denial at the same time.

Finally, all those upgrades didn't cost me that much, really. I already had the Strikefire, but only paid $120 for the red dot only one. Everything else... nothing was over $36 (flashlight). Had I needed a new optic, I still would be starting off with a very nice, reliable AR for well under $1000. All those upgrades (minus optic) only cost me just over $140 and had them all, from online sources, inside a week. I'm pleased with my (around) $700 purchase.

Stage 3.25 evidence of all the defense mechanisms.

P.S. I made my son, let me throw all my stuff on his AR, is how I know I like it. Hahaha...

Buying the gear before you get your hands on your AR and testing it on someone elses rifle = style points.

Take it from someone who is in the terminal stage of Black Rifle Disease, you ain't done yet.

 

[Little Creek]

Let's see. I am LH, so I love the fact that there is no FA. The first things I added were ambi: fire selector, charging handle, and Norgan mag release. The I traded some stuff for a Troy 13" VTAC FF handguard. I also put a Magpul ACS stock and a Magpul MOE K2 grip. I just added an SSA trigger. The most recent addition is a Leupold VX-R Patrol scope mounted with a Leupold Mark 2 mount. I am thinking I need a comp and a quick throw lever for the scope. That should just about do it. It has been a three year journey. This will be my 3 gun competition carbine. So far over 1,000 rounds through it with no issues.

Shot a three gun match yesterday with three sets of three 6" gongs at 110, 100, and 90 yards from three different shooting positions. The carbine and the scope worked great. The 4 power with the illuminated SPR reticle was perfect for the job at hand. It helped that I spent a good bit of time getting a more or less "perfect zero" at 200 yards the day before.

If a sport was the same price as a "normal" it would be a bargan. I being LH would pay extra not to have the FA. The FA just gets in my way. I don't miss the dust cover and the trigger guard is perfect (in my opinion).

 

[bhayles]

fTake it from someone who is in the terminal stage of Black Rifle Disease, you ain't done yet.

I think...hope...I have found a vaccine for BRD. If not, I'll wind up one of those addicts that spends the grocery money to support the habit.

Like most addictions, folks seem to get an AR to "try it out", not realizing where it can lead. Not me. I'm looking at the end result I want...a home defense weapon and a rifle to hunt deer with...and building toward that as an endpoint. Hopefully, that will keep BRD from becoming so much of an obsession it costs me everything else!

Basic rifle: Smith & Wesson M&P Sport-check.
Magpul MOE hand guard-logical for the heat shield-check.
Magpul BAD lever-improved functionality-check.
Maglight MagTac 310 lm tactical light-check.
Bayonet lug mount for the tactical light-yet to be purchased, looking for the right one.
Red dot sight, offset 45° left-leaning towards primary arms red dot combo.
A scope for deer hunting-maximum range will probably be 150 yards. Open to suggestions, but remember… I am very budget minded.
A sling. I was leaning toward a Magpul two-point sling. Both of my nephews (who have each served multiple tours in Afghanistan as infantrymen) tell me I should go with 3 point. JaPes's problems with a 3 point, indicating you need to be a nuclear physicist to figure out how to use one, leaves me not knowing which way to go.
Sling mounts-the one place that gadget -itis might bite me. Logic tells me to use the sling mount at the front of the hand guard and the slot in the stock stock. After all, once attached, how often am I going to be removing the sling? My little gadget -itis gnome inside my head wants QD attachments, though, one near the back of the hand guard and one where buffer tube meets upper.

One thing from the above list that I might add is a different grip. The stock grip is comfortable to me, but the idea of spare batteries for the tac light and optics is appealing.

After that? Ammo, ammo, and did I mention, more ammo. The less money I spend adding gadgets is the more money I can spend feeding the beast.

 

[Plazzman]

Did you put an extended rail and free float the barrel while you were at it? If you already had the flash hider, FSB, delta ring, and barrel nut off anyway, then no biggie. But I wouldn't do all of that just to add an ejection port cover. YMMV

Nope added the YHM upper because I found it cheap so I went for it, plus the cover came way later. As for the free float quad rail that came much, much later also. Sorry I make you sick.

 

[cyphertext]

Nope added the YHM machine upper because I found it cheap so I went for it, plus the cover came way later. As for the the free float quad rail that came much, much later also. Sorry I make you sick.

Some like to tinker more than others... but as far as being sick, you have the disease man!

 

[Plazzman]

Some like to tinker more than others... but as far as being sick, you have the disease man!

As for as the disease, I think I have been cured, the wallet has been emptied and I figured I have gone far as I can go.

So all I can do now is buy ammo when the price is right and enjoy going to the range and be proud of what I have built out of my Sport with my own hands.

That is it pretty much it in a nut shell.

 

[CrustyShellback]

Ut-Oh... Black Rifle Disease Stage 1 Alert! Stage 1 starts with the defense mechanism of rationalization.

...

Take it from someone who is in the terminal stage of Black Rifle Disease, you ain't done yet.

Take it from someone that is truly "terminal" (health-wise), I don't have many options there. I really don't operate like that.

Though, no denial of the desire, want and what the future holds. I can't take the luxury of planning that far ahead and I try to avoid it. Every time I do, I take it up the wazoo some how. So I take things, as they come... or at least try to.

The Sport... like my Mini, is meant to fill a role. Being redundant, its a K.I.S.S., home defense, range toy. I know how I want it set-up and was blessed enough to have literally years to build it in my head. S&W met me half-way there, building the perfect platform for me, to modify around.

But, Black-Rifle disease? Sure, I want to tacticool a firearm. No denying that, its in our blood/DNA. But I'll save that for something I build and I need a LOT of things to fall into place before that happens. Unfortunately, life keeps getting in the way. In fact, just today... the money I was planning to buy some ammo with, bought a new AC. There went my budget.

Naw, the "toy" will hopefully come, but not right now and not this one.

As for as the disease, I think I have been cured, the wallet has been emptied and I figured I have gone far as I can go.

So all I can do now is buy ammo when the price is right and enjoy going to the range and be proud of what I have built out of my Sport with my own hands.

That is it pretty much in a nut shell.

BINGO!

 

[JaPes]

Take it from someone that is truly "terminal" (health-wise), I don't have many options there. I really don't operate like that.



Though, no denial of the desire, want and what the future holds. I can't take the luxury of planning that far ahead and I try to avoid it. Every time I do, I take it up the wazoo some how. So I take things, as they come... or at least try to.

Crusty, I hope you know that if I offended you in any way it was unintentional. When you get your 15-Sport set up, post a pic.

 

[JayFramer]

Ive had my sport for 5-6 months now. One of the most reliable guns I've owned. Seems accurate as I am.

I've been tossing around the idea of making it tacticool, magpul stock. Rail or Moe hand guard. Maybe a bipod since I hunt with it. Maybe even an after market trigger, is there any reason why The gun wouldn't be worth the upgrades?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Maybe because you don't need any of that JUNK to weigh down your lightweight rifle. JK! Do whatever you feel is best, but I personally think nothing is needed except a RDS and a sling.

 

[Rick_A]

Make of it what you will.

I still have my first AR with an A2 upper. It's out of style but the rifle doesn't seem to care.

At least half the price of my rifles is in the stuff added as accessories.

 

[CrustyShellback]

Crusty, I hope you know that if I offended you in any way it was unintentional. When you get your 15-Sport set up, post a pic.

Oh gosh... no, at being offended.

As the new guy, my strange sense of morbidity, really throws people. My "terminal" condition is an odd situation. I should have died 5 years ago. Massive circulatory carnage... they were able to fix 6cm and left the rest to luck/chance. They fixed one little aneurysm (the one killing me at that moment), yet the remaining length of my aorta is still shredded/dissected with 2 aneurysms, stretching from the top of my carotids to the top of my right femoral artery

So I have extreme and stupid physical limitations I'm not supposed to surpass them, or *POP* my aorta goes. I have to keep my BP down at insanely low levels (standing up is an adventure)... I'm supposed to have a Zen-like composure and demeanor about myself. Not supposed to lift anything heavier than a bag of groceries (that's the one that bothers me).

I pretty much do the exact opposite... except for the insanely low BP. The docs say, the longer I stick around, the better my chances are. I think they're being nice... I'm caught in that moment between advances in medicine. It happened, when they were advanced enough to save me, but fixing me, that's a way's off.

My skin is pretty thick on the subject, it is I who should apologize for kind of poking fun, at the point. You hadn't any idea.

 

[LiveFast]

I added a few things to mine.

 

[L Pete]

Anybody scoping their's? If so, what base/mount/rings are you using? And,.....what scope?....That's all I want to do to mine, besides buying more mags and ammo...

 

[Chew]

Anybody scoping their's? If so, what base/mount/rings are you using? And,.....what scope?....That's all I want to do to mine, besides buying more mags and ammo...

I have a Vortex scope mounted in Nikon mounts.

 

[CrustyShellback]

Anybody scoping their's? If so, what base/mount/rings are you using? And,.....what scope?....That's all I want to do to mine, besides buying more mags and ammo...

Expect to get a lot of different feedback and you may have just started a war.

I'm at the stage, where I need to see if a new prescription or if I'm just at the point, I need magnification in my optics. Last range day, I noticed some difficulty picking out some targets.

I don't have a particular one in mind, however owning a Primary Arms and a Vortex, you really can't go wrong, starting there. If you go directly to their websites, both have a wide selection of mounting options.

I will probably go with a setup similar to Chew, on the mounts. Several companies make good mounts... but expect to pay around 1/3, or more the price of your optics, on mounts. They're just as important.

 

[SiGfever]

An AR platform in an AR platform. It's a modular rifle.

There isn't anything about the Sport that makes it inherently more or less worthy of an MOE handguard or anything else. Each item should be considered on its own merit based upon your needs or preferences.

On the other hand.... if you already know that you want an AR in a particular configuration it may make little financial sense to buy a new Sport and then replace everything rather than buying a rifle that is already configured how you want.

Excellent explanation!

 

[Milky]

I have a sport and have tried 5 different buttstocks, 4 different pistol grips, 2 plastic handguards, 4 aluminum rails. 2 separate B.A.D. levers, 2 muzzle devices, 2 sets of irons (and 2 different front post), & 2 red dots.

I have switched to a low profile gas block and replaced the upper receiver with a receiver that has a dust cover and forward assist. put a spikes buffer weight and a fancy buffer spring from damage industries. Next up will be a trigger!

After all that I now want to put back on my front sight post and go back to standard carbine handguards!

How much money have a put into it (enough to make me sick thinking about it)? But on the flip side I know exactly what I like and don't like, so what if that took a couple hundred dollars to figure out.....

I say go for it, if you don't like it or find something better you can always swap it out with relative ease. Try before you buy if you can.

What I have found is that I like the magpul K grip better than most others (moe works well for me too), and I have tried the houge. I like carbine handguards (standard or MOE). Tube rails are fine but going past 9" starts to through off the balance for me, and 9" tube rail looks funny on a 16" barrel (without a front sight assembly in front of the rail i.e.: a mid length system).

Also for me there was no real advantage by replacing my upper receiver! the one that came with my rifle was just fine, don't regret making the swap (BCM had a great deal on blemished uppers a half a year ago).

I really like BillyJack2012's rifle, standard well balanced and clean, all MOE gear is good as well, and it's cheap (Also feels good in the hands).

I do regret going the low profile gas block and extended rail route. For me the standard fsb is much more robust and the big advantage is it's attached to the barrel. I'm always leery that my rail will magically come loose and my sights will be off (even though this will likely never happen!!!!