Recent content by John in SE Indiana

Got mine end of last week - exactly 8 weeks. Thanks S&W!

I have an M&P15R chambered in 5.45 that I bought back in 2008. I think the earliest versions were made by Stag, and then S&W brought it in house. Mine is the S&W, and it is as good as any of my other AR's. It's been completely reliable through several thousand rounds. I stocked up on 5.45 when...

My M&P9FS is a 2008 model - 7-10 yards it's a tack driver. I don't practice with it beyond that. It's within reach at night with a CTC grip and a TLR-3 light. 2 full magazines, all inside 8" - no problem, a couple of times a month.

I carry 115gr Critical Defense in my M&P9, so my range ammo is also 115gr loaded to about the same speed.

I started out with a Lee Classic Turret - solid, economical press. I reload everything I shoot except .22LR/.22Magnum. Press works fine for handgun and rifle calibers. I would suggest spare turrets for multiple calibers - makes changing super simple and quick. But before you load ANYTHING, get...

I've put many hundreds of plated bullets through my M&P9FS - they shoot just fine. But I agree with Stevefi - don't shoot reloads from someone else.

While Smith & Wesson apparently did make a Talo exclusive model, they also made them earlier for themselves. I bought one in 2008. It's an excellent AR as far as I'm concerned - well over a thousand rounds of milsurp through mine with no issues. A little bit of extra clean up to take care of the...

I've never used the ASC magazines, so can't say whether they are reliable or not. I've got a bunch of CProducts SS mags. They all work fine, but they are replacements for some that I did have a lot of problems with - mainly they wouldn't stay in the gun! Larry at CProducts did replace them with...

CProducts used to make the 5.45 magazines, but I think they went out of business. AIM has some from ASC (Ammunition Storage Components). ASC 30rd Black 5.45x39 AR Magazine

C-Products makes the 30 rnd magazines for S&W for the M&P15R (5.45x39 variant). I have a bunch of them, mostly bought directly from C-Products. The first group I got had some issues with dropping out of the gun, but CP replaced them without any hassle and they've been trouble free since. CP...

In the beginning, Stag made the M&P15 for S&W. The taper pins on Stag rifles push out in the same direction - or at least used to when I bought my M&P15R several years ago.

Neither the LG660 nor the LG661 will fit the M&P45C as far as I know. The CTC website says specifically that the LG660 doesn't fit the compact and the LG661 only says it fits the M&P9C, M&P357C, and the M&P40C.

I've put many, many rounds of Bulgarian and Russian spam can surplus through my M&P15R with no issues. Surprising to hear about your issues with S&W tech service. I've had some correspondence with Paul, and he's been very helpful on more than one occasion. Good luck with your rifle.

I've got the YHM sights on my M&P15R - they work just fine and I saved a bundle of money vs. the Troy. Maybe not the same quality, but perfectly functional. Why pay more for tacti-cool?

Both for 9mm, PDX-1 for .45ACP. Hornady just released the .45ACP Critical Defense, I think. I'll try some of that as well.