I recently purchased a M&P15X. Now a friend wants to get into the AR world, but can't spend what I did for the Smith. It's just going to be a range toy and I don't know what advice to give him. His top end is around $600 and doesn't feel comfortable getting a "kit". He knows this will be "entry level". I've found a couple online... DPMS, Olympic, etc.
Need recommendations,
Thanks

You can probally find a Sport for just a shy more I know there are places selling for 600 before tax.

If you watch you can sometimes find a complete Spikes lower for around 250 and complete Spikes upper for 350-450.

pick up a m&p15 sport! awesome entry level ar. put 1k rounds brass & steel casing on mine & not a single hicup. very reliable...

+1 on the Sport. I bought a Sport 2 months ago. The fit and finish is far above its price. Mine is very accurate and reliable.

My Sport is my second AR. Previously I bought a C15 A1 assembled from old milsurp M16A1 parts with a new AR15 lower and new barrel. It was a great concept and historical, but the rifle itself was not very accurate or reliable. Everything was "milspec" but it was similar to what could be assembled from a parts kit. 4-5" groups was about the best it could do, and it tended to jam. The upper to lower fit was loose even with a wedge.

The Sport is entirely different. The upper/lower fit is tight with no wedge. Functioning is perfect. I haven't shot it a lot, but it will put 3 of 5 rounds touching. I'll blame myself for the other two. A far better AR than its $600 price. Being an older traditional guy I like my Sport as close to A2 looking as possible so I won't put on all the tactical stuff. But one certainly could.

Get the Sport. S&W stands behind their products and has a 100% back up if there are any problems and picks up the shipping both ways.

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THIS WE'LL DEFEND ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I had thought about recommending the DPMS Oracle. Now leaning toward the M&P Sport. The price point is very attractive.

+1 on m&p15 sport.nutnfancy did a good review on it on YouTube.usually can find them for under 700 on gunbroker.my lgs sells them for 699.

Does he like your S&W? If so, why would you recommend anything other than the Sport?

He can get a drop in quad rail for not much and have a rifle very similar in style to yours. Obviously will not have the Troy rear sight, dust cover, or forward assist, but it should shoot as reliably as yours since they will have the same bolt and BCG.



Just noticed this is California Compliant... Nevermind. On the other hand, this is a good deal too... https://www.primaryarms.com/Spikes-T...035-mls-cc.htm

I was going to recommend the Oracle because it was the only thing I could find at his price point. If I can find the Sport at the same price, it's a no brainer. I'd like to find him a good used Sport.

I've seen and heard of way too many people jumping on the AR bandwagon lately because of the threat to that particular platform politically, and opting for an "economy" model. There's no such thing as "just as good as". Encourage him to save for a bit of time and get a quality manufactured one. If that happens to be a S&W, so be it

I'm still waiting for a sport to come into stock at Bud's Police Supply. They sell them at $555 all day long.

I bought two other M&P AR's, an OR and a standard 'A' model. They are excellent AR's. I expect the Sport to be the same.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Best bet is to tell him to save a couple more bucks, and wait and watch for sales.

As to finding a used rifle for sale- there are 2 trains of thought on this:
1. Guy bought a rifle and ran it into the ground. ESPECIALLY if you see a rifle with parts/ mods and then a low, low price. The barrel is likely gone thru many, many rounds.

2. Parts gun. Guy bought 2 or 3 guns to create the rifle he really wanted, and is selling off the leftovers. Could be a very good value rifle. Could work like an M&P10..... Except there is no shop to send it to for warranty work.

Just because a rifle is used does NOT mean it was abused. Pictures would help; chamber pics, wear marks visible, etc. if buying from an online source.
If local and a private sale- I would ask to fire it at a range, and shoot paper at 50 and 100yds to be sure that accuracy is good, and no keyholing. Be fair, and bring your own decent hunting ammo.

Amazing deals are there to be had. There are also some Chevy Vegas with 30 round magazines driving around in the gun sale ads, so be patient and look long and hard.

If I were looking and on a budget, then in no particular order my choices would be: S&W Sport. PSA AR carbine. DPMS Oracle. Del Ton. Price point (NEW) $600-675, before tax.
They are out there, so don't get all excited and just throw money.

+1 for the Sport. Another consideration is the warranty. Saving $50 for a used rifle, vs having the S&W warranty is a no brainer. Give me a new S&W Sport all day long over any of the other budget rifles new or used.

The sport is regularly available for $599-$615 on slickguns.com.
Kentucky gun co., grabagun.com, and Lanbo's armory have been hovering around the $600 mark for a while now.




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please excuse me if this is already a well known fact or something...but are you implying that the 308 M&P Rifles have a bad reputation?

I am saying this from a place of 100% ignorance, I have never heard if the M&P-10s were good or bad, but I would like to know.