M&P15 or Daniel Defense?

Navarre

Navarre

Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
156
Reaction score
44
Location
Florida Panhandle
I have a problem. I want an AR 15 that will be used as a plinker/Home defense and have been looking at the Smith MP line and the DD line. I like both but the MP's we have around here will require some upgrading..i.e Rails,sights, butt stocks etc... where as the DD has most of the upgrades that I desire right out of the box. Since after the upgrading of the MP, it will be really close to the price of the DD, which would be the better choice? Get the MP and work my way up or get the DD and have most of it already there? I know that they are both great rifles and the only difference I have noticed in handling both is that the DD is considerably lighter than the MP. Is there any other differences I should be looking at that might swing the choice one way or the other? The two I have been looking at are the DDM4 version 4 & the MP15 Optics ready.

Thanks in advance! :)

Navarre
 
Register to hide this ad
I would get the DD. IMO it is true military grade and will hold its value better. Truth be known, there isn't a whole lot of difference.

I have a BCM midlength with Aimpoint PRO, Magpul MOE stock and forend, Ergo grip, and Geissele trigger.

Save some money for mags and ammo.
 
You arent really comparing apples to apples. The S&W is a solid dependable rifle. The DD is a really nice decked out solid dependable rifle. I happen to think the smith barrel is better but comparing everything else its just not a realistic comparison. the one thing that boutique gun owners (DD, Noveske, Larue, LMT, etc) always claim is that future resale value will always be there, At this time resale may be good but 10 years down the road it is hard to tell what is going to hold its value and whats not. There are a lot of guns that brand new were really pricey nice guns but after 10 years their price just isnt what it once was. If you have the funds and want a DD get it, I throw my S&W in my truck and haul it out Prairie Dog hunting all the time, it may be in a soft case but if I had a DD or any of the others I listed, it would be in a hard case and wouldnt be used like that. This is just IMHO :D
 
Tough choice though I do think outfitting the OR will give you at least equivalent quality for less money. I'm a week out from picking up my OR by the way. I just couldn't justify the added expense for a "top tier" rifle when everything I read on the M&P was glowing.
 
As mentioned, it's not really fair to compare the two. I think for a plinker/home defense I'd go with the S&W, but a few pieces of furniture, some ammo AND have money left over.

For me, I'd rather have a nice rifle that has a solid name, looks great, and wil shoot good that I'm comfortable actually using versus spending money on a rifle that will turn into a safe queen because I'm too scared I'll scratch it.
 
So, if I am understanding correctly, the DD is the way you want it, right off the shelf. The M&P 15OR would get new everything and in the end, be the same price as the DD. If that is the case, no brainer...go with the DD.

However, as others have stated, you are comparing apples to oranges. The OR is a very basic rifle. Have you looked at the other M&P rifles that may be dressed more to your liking? It is quite possible that there is something else in the M&P line that suits your wants and still comes in at a lower price than the DD...but again, if they are equally equipped and equally priced, go with the DD...but I doubt that will be the case.
 
Thanks everyone for their replies! To answer some of your questions, the Model 15 that fits the bill, out of the box, is the 15T. I only picked the OR version because it is pretty much all that is available in my area. I have found only 2 Model 15T's online, both for $1520 each. The DD I can get locally is $1450 plus tax. I was originally going to go with the OR Model and just add what I wanted (Magpul butt stock, BUIS, rails), but totaling up the extras would bring the OR cost close to the price of the DD. So I was wondering which way would be better, start with the OR and work my way up or just get the DD that's pretty much gtg right out of the box?

Thanks again!
Navarre
 
If youre gonna spend that money anyway go DD. I had one years ago, and got it for dirt cheap too. I ended up selling it to fund another purchase. It was a real nice rifle

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 
Personally I like playing amateur armorer so getting the lesser rifle and upgrading it exactly the way I want is preferable. Sounds like you need to make a similar decision. Do you feel comfortable making modifications to your rifle? Or would you prefer it to be set up the way you want from the factory? One nice thing about setting it up yourself is that you get complete control over which parts to use...
 
Last edited:
CDNN Sports has the M&P 15T for a great deal. Not sure if posting price is okay, if not shoot me a pm. I ordered one from them.

Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk 2
 
Even if you get the DD, it won't be everything you want out of the box. You will soon find yourself with uncontrollable urges to mod and re mod your rifle. There will always be things you want to add to it. Sorry, but you are doomed....
 
I had an M&P 15 until I bought my DDm4v7. No more M&P for me. DD is nice and Customer Service is damn good like SW.
 
Navarre said:
Thanks everyone for their replies! To answer some of your questions, the Model 15 that fits the bill, out of the box, is the 15T. I only picked the OR version because it is pretty much all that is available in my area. I have found only 2 Model 15T's online, both for $1520 each. The DD I can get locally is $1450 plus tax. I was originally going to go with the OR Model and just add what I wanted (Magpul butt stock, BUIS, rails), but totaling up the extras would bring the OR cost close to the price of the DD. So I was wondering which way would be better, start with the OR and work my way up or just get the DD that's pretty much gtg right out of the box?

Thanks again!
Navarre
Click to expand...

Holy Cow! That is way too high for the 15T, especially if it is the new model. Actually, that is too high for either model...The older version had a Troy rail and Troy sites, and the newer one has a UTG Pro rail and Magpul sites. Of course I base this assessment off of pre-election pricing. I haven't price shopped in a while.
 
PainterlyShotgroup said:
Even if you get the DD, it won't be everything you want out of the box. You will soon find yourself with uncontrollable urges to mod and re mod your rifle. There will always be things you want to add to it. Sorry, but you are doomed....
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Some of us are more immune to the EBR disease. For example, I have a Sport. Added a red dot, and swapped the Magpul rear BUS for a Matech BUIS. Added a handful of Pmags and ammo. That's it. Rest is just like it came out of the box. Meets my needs, but YMMV. :D
 
GR00VY said:
I had an M&P 15 until I bought my DDm4v7. No more M&P for me. DD is nice and Customer Service is damn good like SW.
Click to expand...

Nice looking weapon, and mid-length gas system. I could be very happy with that too. Of course, it's about twice what I paid for my OR.

What issue did you have to call customer service about?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
M&P15 SBR
Replies
15
Views
1K
Badmatrix
B
stringpicker
My first M&P15
Replies
10
Views
2K
stringpicker
stringpicker
B
Gen I M&P15, 300 aac and OPTICS.
Replies
5
Views
544
Echo40
Echo40
strobro32
M&P AR15 high or low shelf?
Replies
15
Views
753
Oldsalt66
Oldsalt66
S
New M&P15 sport II
Replies
14
Views
4K
342ti
3

Latest posts

Back
Top