Got my first AR today

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rb81

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I picked up my first (personal) AR today. I've never really had an interest in them (beyond training/qualifying as LEO), but for some reason I got the bug a few months ago and happened upon this M&P15 Sport II brand new at a big box store for around $700. They even had ammo in stock. Now to read up on them and find out what to tinker with first.

I also got the Vortex Strikefire II while it was on sale.

Any tips on what to add, upgrade, etc. first?
I'm thinking of first a bag.... then a bipod.
 

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If it is to be used for any form of defensive use then get a light ASAP. Streamlight makes a great one for around $100.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Do not buy Pro-mags!!!
Shoot it some first and figure out what you like and don’t like then make your improvements.
I always liked the fact that they are light and fast handling. Add a bunch aftermarket gizmos and you lose that.
Light and maybe a good trigger and a sling would be all I’d start with, but I’d shoot it some first before the trigger swap.
Other than that, enjoy it. It’s a fun gun to shoot.
 
First recommended steps:
- Clean it thoroughly - right out of the box then lubricate as suggested in the manual. This will also help you become familiar with components and operation.
- Take it out and shoot a hundred or so rounds - enjoy and get familiar with it.
- Disassemble and thoroughly clean it.
- Shoot it again - clean it again. Do this about four more times.
- Ponder what you like and what you would change.
You may find it is up to the tasks you give it, fully functional, and just adorable the way it is. You may find that there are lots of things you want to do, and if that happens (which I doubt it will), total up those improvements and see if you just need to buy a step or two up on the price grid. Of course, all of this depends upon what you want it to be able to do for you. Consider what its purpose to you is and go from there. What you have now is a capable piece of equipment without what some view as upgrades.
 
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JH1951 said:
First recommended steps:
- Clean it thoroughly - right out of the box then lubricate as suggested in the manual. This will also help you become familiar with components and operation.
- Take it out and shoot a hundred or so rounds - enjoy and get familiar with it.
- Disassemble and thoroughly clean it.
- Shoot it again - clean it again. Do this about four more times.
- Ponder what you like and what you would change.
You may find it is up to the tasks you give it, fully functional, and just adorable the way it is. You may find that there are lots of things you want to do, and if that happens (which I doubt it will), total up those improvements and see if you just need to buy a step or two up on the price grid. Of course, all of this depends upon what you want it to be able to do for you. Consider what its purpose to you is and go from there. What you have now is a capable piece of equipment without what some view as upgrades.
Click to expand...

What he said.
 
rb81, I have an M&P15 Sport II too. The first thing I did was change that awful 7-8 lbs. trigger with a Timney 3 lbs. drop in.
 
I'll tell you the same thing I use to tell my first time AR buyers in the shop. Buy a base type AR ( the M&P 15 Sport II fits the bill nicely), then add a few more extra mags and then at least 500- 1000 rds of standard BRASS CASED 55-62gr fmj ammo. By the time you have shot up the ammo, you will have been to the range a few times and more than likely you will have been able to see, handle and shoot a couple of other shooters rifles and you will have a better grasp of what you want to add or change on your rifle depending on what you intend to use the rifle for.

My personal rifles would get a new trigger, more mags (I have a magazine fetish), sling, probably a light & mount and probably a different grip (the standard A2 grip does not fit me well).
 
Don't go crazy upgrading an entry level rifle, if you do, then you could have had a high end rifle with all the upgrades.... I just added a Vortex strike fire scope, and shoot it.
 
Number 1...A good Sling!

If you plan to use it for personal/home protection, as others have already suggested, get a sling. I don't know if you watched any of the Kenosha WI extracurricular from last summer, but if the kid hadn't had a sling on his AR, it could have been taken away from him and potentially used on him.
 
Enjoy that AR!

In the few years my boy and his Marine Gunnery Sergeant machinist buddy ran their Colt 6920s at 300 yds.... stock with OEM sights, the Marine rarely missed.

A crisp quality trigger can't hurt after you run that AR a bit depending on what it's used for.
Never fired any ARs but Colts so I can't compare them.

A quality five round mag would be nice so you can hold it more like a smallbore/trap shooter closer to the receiver.
A sling as mentioned above.
 
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krsmith58 said:
i like my rifles with minimal accessories. a good set of sights and a sling is all I have ever needed. have fun with it and get to know it well...
Click to expand...

+1. All that stuff adds weight. While I have AR’s with red dot sights & weaponlights, I have a tendency to reach for my KISS Carbine.
 
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