Hello everyone, I plan on picking up an AR-15 within 5 days or so. My budget is $850 (total).

My first thought was the M&P 15 Sport. I figured I would get the 15 Sport for $699 (local chain has them in stock, but over priced IMO), the MOE Stock, ammo and be all set.

Or get the Windham Weaponry MPC from a local chain for $849-899.

I sure wish S&W offered another M&P rifle right around $850. I can get an Optics Ready model, but then have to spend another $100 or so on sights.

I'm leaning towards the 15 Sport. How is the coating (receiver) on this gun? Does it scratch or show wear easily?

Any suggestions?

In my opinion, you cannot go bad with the M&P Sport, it doesnt scratch or show wear any worse than any other AR, in fact the Barrel scratches less easily than any I have found. If you are on a limited budget (I was) you cannot go wrong with a Sport, you will find when you buy it that you will want to dress it up but shoot it as it is a bit before you start dressing it up so you know what direction you want to go. I like the fit and finish better than the windham in my opnion and I know the accuracy is better.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Thanks oneyeopn. The M&P 15 Sport has been what I wanted from the get go. I just didn't want to feel any buyers remorse later on since it doesn't have a dust cover or Fwd assist. From everything I've read those features aren't necessary. This gun will just be used as a plinker out in a field, my dad and I will shoot it.

Can I ask where you are getting it from? Do they have a web site?

I carried an M16a1 in the Marine Corps till I traded up to a M60, never really used the dust cover and have never used a FA for anything other than when the Drill Instructor told us how to use it. I have put a couple of thousand rounds through mine now and other than a sideways primer on a wolf bullet have had no problems what so ever. I have also been able to customize it extensively (LOL just ask anyone) for a reasonable amount of money. I have had not one second of buyers remorse and after comparing them side by side with a Colt AR15A3 and a Bushmaster Patrolman? something like that, I have actually been happier that I chose the Sport its accuracy was quite a bit more than the other two. If you are looking for more than the sport offers then you need to look around but if you are wanting a good, dependable, solid and accurate AR to get into the game with, one that you can customize cause all the parts fit then the Sport is the way to go. This is all my opinion but I believe there are other people in this room who will back it up.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Bass Pro Shop in DFW area has them.

It sounds like you really want a rifle with a dust cover and forward assist. If these are wanted features, then the Sport is not for you. You will drive yourself nuts thinking about not having these features if you want them and they are not on the rifle. You are about to spend a good chunk of change, so make sure to get what you want.

I did not feel that those were must have features, so I went with the Sport and I couldn't be happier. No matter what anyone else may say, it is a "true" AR. It does everything that most recreational shooters need a rifle to do. It is accurate and feeds the cheap steel cased ammo that I have been using. The bolt and bolt carrier seem to be the same as the ones used in the rest of the M&P lineup. Any furniture or additions that you would make to any other AR, you can do on the Sport as well.

If you're going to get one you better get it before they sell out! The only place I have seen a Sport lately is Buds Gun Shop, but that is the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia edition.


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A dust cover and forward assist are not needed, this is my first AR15 and will just be used as a plinker out in a field. The Sport looks to be the best quality and value combination.

So what are you waiting for? Go buy it already.

I'm glad I got mind when I did, it has been every thing I wanted and more.

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M&P9/9C/Shieldx2/Sportx2/15-22

I got my M&P 15 Sport last year in Athens, GA for $609. I wondered a bit about the dust cover and forward assist features also. So, I asked my son, who is in the U.S. Army and has done a deployment to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. His word on the subject (I guess you could call him an expert) is: unless you are in a desert or extremely dusty conditions, the dust cover is not needed and he was trained on with it in basic, he has NEVER used a forward assist in the field.

I have never had a malfuction with my Sport and have run a couple thousand rounds through it. That includes everything from name brand match grade ammo to filthy Russian steel cased CR@P. NO PROBLEMS!! It eats it all and shockingly there is not that much difference in accuracy!!

I like it!! Georgia coyotes fear my M&P 15 Sport!!

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The Lineman-Proud Army Dad

It's the barrel that makes it special.

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-John

The good thing is...if you buy the sport and for some outlandish reason are unhappy with it the demand is so high you could sell it before the barrel cools from your first range trip.

It appears that our friend Texit has posted the same request on M4carbine....

Be interesting to see if he gets an answer other than Colt, DD, BCM, or Noveske.

I was debating on posting over there, they look to be very biased towards very high end guns.

I am learning towards the M&P 15 Sport. If I can find one in great shape, it will be mine.

Yes, they are very biased and most do not take into account how you will be using the firearm. Also, notice that you stated that you did not want to order one, yet you are given websites for a Colt for just a "little bit more", and even yet, that website lists the Colt as out of stock.

I'm surprised that they haven't beaten you up over there...probably coming though.

I've read buy once cry once more in 20 minutes over there than I've heard in my entire life.

I may take a beating over there, but maybe a couple of the posts will be useful. No way in hell I'm spending $1,000 on a plinker. If my life depended on it, yes.

Yep I posted over there almost 6 months ago....still havent forgotten the treatment I received, quit posting at M4orgery and the other one which shall be the name I cant mention. LOL

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Grover Oathkeeper

Very surprised by the response from Rob S (author of "the chart") in the thread over there. He actually said that the Sport was fine for Texit's needs. And he also responded with "If I needed someone to "back me up" I would happily take the guy with the M&P15 Sport who spent the $300 savings on ammo (and had fired said ammo) over the guy with the 6920 who was still trying to save up for his first case of ammo. In truth, this site has become bloated with the latter or, worse, those who "built" the gun that is "exactly what they want" with a similar ammo and experience deficiency."

Texit escaped without too much of a beating over there. Another poster came to his defense and the mob went after him instead!

Go get your Sport bud. For your use and budget, it can't be beat.

Wow, I just read the thread at M4orgery, and all I can say is wow, the vulgarity and the lack of civility is almost scary. I also notice that Rob more than once stuck up for the Sport. After reading it I am glad that I dont spend a lot of time over there. Thanks for the post Cyphertext.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Its not too much fun over the at M4...

A couple of guys stood up for the Sport and that was nice. I'm going to go with the Sport. I will have money left over for ammo (I have 200 rounds now) and accessories.

for a person on a limited budget it is a serious value....I read over there people put it down but never gave a definitive reason as to their opinions but they sure wanted you to buy the colt....here you can buy a used colt for $600 my Dad did. it doesnt work any better than my Sport and my Sport is way more accurate and he has the HBar barrel, he quit talking trash about my rifle that day.

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Grover Oathkeeper

That's why I asked the questions the way I did. I, too, was surprised at the answer Rob gave me.

I had to go and look. What a bunch of holes they are. This is one of my favorite forums.

You'll enjoy a Sport. I do mine!

Hobie

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Laissez les bons temps roulez!

Buy the Sport - It works, it's cheap, it's Smith and Wesson. If you want to add stuff on to it you can. If you don't, you can shoot it with the backup sights and spend all that money you saved on rounds for it.

Best new product Smith has introduced for a long while. Who cares what someone on another forum thinks?

Especially that forum, I believe they think that they are using their rifles for their intended purpose, combat and to kill people. Unless you are in the sandbox you are doing neither.

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Grover Oathkeeper

• Buy once cry once
• It's not mil-spec
• Save up a more and buy a real rifle
• The bolt isn't HPT, MPI, or some other acronym
• It isn't hard chrome lined.
• The twist rate isn't good
• You can build a better one for less money.
• The barrel is 4140 not 4150 CMV
• The 15-Sport won't hold up in the sandbox
• Your life is in peril because you don't have a forward assist.

I forget the more funny ones.

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-John

Don't get me wrong, the high end rifles are high priced for a reason. In the hands of a highly trained individual with years of experience and tens of thousands of rounds down range, the minute improvements in operation that is inherent in a high-end rifle will be realized.

My gripe is with the bunch of arm-chair commandos over there who think of themselves as "operators" and want to perpetuate the self delusion by owning high end rifles.

The issue isn't the gun, it's the arm chair d-bag wanna be who buys a rifle with capabilities that the d-bag will never use, then has the gall to tell me that his rifle will perform better than mine.

Chumps don't understand that 99.9% of accuracy has nothing to do with the rifle, rather it lies in the skill of the individual behind the trigger.

It's been my experience that the guys who are real "operators", put the 15-Sport into the proper context of use and don't take issue with it. There are a few out there, and you know it when you encounter them.

I need a beer to calm down. I got a bit hot under the collar for a moment.

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-John

Y'all got my curiosity up so I had to go check that forum out for myself. I have no plans on ever going back. They can take their overpriced guns shove'em up their---well you get my point.


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Man this place feels like home.

When I first get my Sport, do I need to dissemble everything? Or just clean the chamber/bore and make sure the receiver is free of packing grease and well lubed. Also clean the bolt with CLP.

What kind of a cleaning rod do you guys use? I just bought a brand new bore snake, will that be sufficient for the first couple of outings in terms of cleaning the bore?

Is there anything else I need to look for?

I have a winchester 1 piece rod I got a wal-mart plus the rods from multiple rifle cleaning kits. When I got mine, I disassembled into the major groups, upper, lower and BCG (bolt carrier group) looked it all over, lubed it and swabbed the barrel and put it back together and started putting rounds through it, I fired probably 50 rounds through it before I really heated it up and had over 300 rounds through it when I did my one and only magazine dumps. But to each his own.

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Grover Oathkeeper

Guys I just get a kick out of the remarks from elsewhere. I can tell you around here the military and former military likes the 15 and at the range I haven't yet heard one bad thing about the M & P, in fact i get looks because of the ranges I tend to shoot at with her and more importantly hit the targets to me and them that's all the proof you need.

Whenever I receive a new firearm or new-to-me firearm, I field strip, clean, inspect, and lube it. Because your rifle is brand new, this should be quick and easy.

Prior to hinging open the rifle, pull the charging handle to cock the hammer and engage the safety. The hammer should be back whenever you separate/re-engage the upper & lower.

Give the lower a look over. Check to make sure the springs aren't broken. Disengage the safety, put your hand over the hammer, pull the trigger and gently ride the hammer forward. You don't want it slamming into the lower receiver. Feel for any binding or dragging. Put a drop of oil on the sear. Cock the hammer & engage the safety.

Pull the BCG. Since it's brand new you could just give it a shot of CLP and be done with it. If you want, field strip the BCG. Wipe down the bolt & lube it.



I put a light coat of lube on everything but the face of the bolt.

When lubing the BCG, all you need to lube is the 4 rail areas.



Check the gas key and try to wiggle it. It should be rock solid and not wiggle.

Clean the barrel as you would any other barrel. Wipe out the upper receiver.

Go out & shoot it. While you're shooting check to see if any of the trigger group pins are walking out of the receiver. Check the stock castle nut to see if it's vibrating loose. When you clean it, inspect the charging handle and pay attention to any witness marks (where the finish is wearing off due from contact). The witness marks will show you where you need to put a little lube.

It sounds like a lot to do, but it goes real quick once you get used to it.

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-John

Right on! Proof is in the pudding.

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-John

BTW,the bcg is made by Lewis Machine and Tool(LMT) and the screws on the gas key are staked.
The Sport is and will be an excellent entry platform for the money. Those tools are just jealous that S&W has produced a fine firearm that the unwashed masses can have some serious fun with and still be an effective weapon if need be.
I kinda sorta love mine!

Hobie

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Laissez les bons temps roulez!