OK, thinking of getting an M&P Sport 5.56 and I know its not techincally Mil-Spec, but that being said, what configuration limitations do I have with this rifle? I know...no dust cover or forward assist, but I assume I can mount a scope, change the cover guard, etc. Yes? any suggestions, thoughts, ideas would be greatly appreciated. Just want to make sure there aren't too many limitations with this AR.

Thanks!

It's an AR without a dust cover

The Sport model is a no-frills sort of thing. Why pile a bunch of money into it? You might want a nice rear sight, or maybe optics if you prefer them to iron sights, but other than that, why not use it like it is and be happy? It is a great little rifle for the money. Mine has been an exceptional shooter and had zero issues. The only thing I've even considered is Magpul "furniture" and maybe a trigger job, but I've managed to restrain myself.

One thing you didn't mention, don't forget the trigger guard is fixed, if that would make any difference in your plans. And yes, you can mount optics on the rail just like any other "flat-top" AR.

I like my Sport as it is. Only thing I would do is get some mags for it, especially 10 round mag for range shooting and a 30 round mag, both aluminum.

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_It was love at first shot_

The only real limitations are your wallet and imagination... But if you are new to the AR-15, I would spend my money on ammo and range time, not a bunch of add-ons.

I won't make a lot of list for you, just some pictorial examples.

IN THE BEGINNING



And then there was light(er)



Perfection though slow in coming, can be achieved!



But it's the little things that make the difference.







Careful, there are others worse than I.

Good Luck and good shooting.

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SFC, US Army, Retired

Thanks all...all good information. Kind of the direction I was planning to go in, but its always good to get some other (more experienced) opinions.

Thanks again

A lot of us have sunk a lot of money into our Sports. Not because any is needed, but because AR's are fun to customize.
The Sport is a VERY good rifle for the money. It needs nothing to give you years of fun, but what you can do with it is limited by you and your wallet, not by the rifle.

I've read somewhere that the AR-15 is the man's "Barbie Doll", because so many accessories are available for it. As you've seen in some of the pics here, there are tons of possibilities. Me? I'm gonna go low tech. All that I've done is to replace the Magpul rear sight with a used Colt carry handle on it and bought a magnetic magazine release. The only other items that I plan on is a sling and of course, spare magazines.
I'll spend my money on rounds rather than parts and pieces, but that's just me.

It's easier to list what you can't do:

1. Add a forward assist
2. Add a dust cover
3. The forged trigger guard precludes some pistol grips, without modification, (Tango Down comes to mind). It also precludes changing the trigger guard.

Both 1 & 2 would be possible with a new upper receiver, other than that your only limitations are your bank account & imagination.

-Klaus

There is huge catalogs in what you could do with it, pretty much anything. I added Nikon scope, hand-guard with rails, vertical grip and bipod. mags are great from magpul including clip to hold two of them. It is extremely accurate rifle, best I own in accuracy.

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Guns ...

Not much of a fan concerning the collapsible stocks so I ordered a BCM A2 stock for mine, should be here Monday. The Sport is a fantastic rifle and it's almost as much fun to accessorize as it is to shoot.

The first thing to do is put in a good 3.5 - 4.5 pound trigger.
The rifle will not look as cool as it would with some of the other mod's you could do. But, your groups will look cool.

I found a site where I can get a steel 10 and 20 round mags and a carry handle/rear sight at a good price.

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_It was love at first shot_

Let's see. I bought my sport because it did not have the forward assist. IMO the FA is more than worthless, it is a nuisance. I am LH and it gets in the way of my ambi Raptor charging handle. I also like the trigger guard. I do not need a dust cover. Mine has the 1/8 R5 barrel. I added an ambi safety from Stag, an ambi mag release, a SSA trigger, a Magpul CTR stock, a Magpul K2 grip, a Troy VTAC Alpha rail, MBUS, and a Leupold VX-R 1.25-4 scope in a Leupold M2 mount. I might have left something out. This was over a 3 year period of time. I do not think their are any more limitations with the M&P15 Sport than with any other M4 style platform. I use mine for local 3 gun matches and fun.

I must be the only person on the planet who's ever used my forward assist.

Not saying it's mandatory, I'm just saying it's not worthless.

^ I've softened on this over the past couple years.

I hope that I never live to see a local/regional/national calamity that turns my neighborhood into a two way range. In that situation, I'd want every unfair advantage I can get. A forward assist would be one of those things. Better to have one and not need it than to need it and not have one. Given my level of training and stress indoctrination, I'm not sure I'd have the presence of mind to say...

"Hey you. You need to reach up and nudge the scallop in the bolt just a little bit before you can take care of that neo-commie coming at ya."

I'd probably be so amped up that I'd suffer form tunnel vision and loss of fine motor control from adrenalin overload.

On the full featured AR-15 I own, I'm sure I'd forget my own advice that all the forward assist needs is thumb pressure. I'm sure that if Kim Jung Un's minions are on my street, I'll be pounding that forward assist.

FA: If you don't have one, no big deal. If you have one, no big deal.

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-John

I don't have it and dust cover, but I paid about $400 less than mp15 model with it, I believe it is too much and I would better save for replacement top or ammo. Sport is amazing and I wish I could be as accurate with my other rifles as with Sport.

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Guns ...