M&P15 vs Ruger AR556

Today my Grand son-in-law and I, had a chance to shoot together and compare rifles.
He has the M&P 15 (the low price version from about 2 years ago) and I have the Ruger AR556, purchased about 2 weeks ago. Differences are very slight. No dust cover or forward assist on the Smith. Front sight/gas block slightly diffrent. Grip are also slightly different. Smith barrel twist is 1/9, Ruger is 1/8, (this is why I chose the Ruger). We both fired both guns from the same bench, using the same ammo, at targets placed side by side at 100 yards.
There was no measurable difference in accuracy between the 2 guns or shooters. He has youth on his side, but only has sight in one eye. I can (barely) see out of both eyes.
Both are very good/accurate guns.

The AR question I hear most often is, "Which one should I buy?" My answer -- the AR is such a generic item nowadays that it really doesn't matter a whole heckuva lot. Sure, there are specialized target, varmint, and other models that have their own features, but if an all-around, general purpose AR is what you want, buy the one you can get at the best price. Ruger, S&W, DPMS, PSA, etc., etc., etc. ad infinitum. They're all decent.

I bought a complete upper and lower from PSA. A few months later my wife bought a rifle kit and stripped lower from PSA, both are mid length. My son has a Colt LE6920 and my father-in-law has the Ruger. A buddy of mine recently bought an S&W Sport II and a coworker has a Spikes Tactical. All of those are carbine. All 6 rifles were between $500 and $1100 new. I've been fortunate enough to shoot all of these and as far as accuracy goes I really can't tell a difference.

The reason I went with PSA was that I specifically wanted a mid length and flat dark earth furniture. The PSA gave me exactly what I wanted for just under $700 total. Out of all the above mentioned rifle, the Colt my son has will have a better resale value if he ever chooses to sell it but otherwise IMO they are all pretty equal. Point is, find the one in your price range with the set up you like and buy it. Oh, and buy a bunch of ammo too because these things like to eat!

Electraclyde said:

There was no measurable difference in accuracy between the 2 guns or shooters.

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For most firearms enthusiasts, there will be no difference in accuracy. You've learned the secret that the marketing departments of manufacturers that offer entry to midrange priced AR-15's don't want anyone to know. Given a rifle constructed from standardized dimensions without any factory defect using the same ammo, the average civilian firearms enthusiast will shoot them all the same. That still does not mean that being knowledgeable about the differences between different makes/models of AR-15 is inconsequential.

Pisgah said:

The AR question I hear most often is, "Which one should I buy?" My answer -- the AR is such a generic item nowadays that it really doesn't matter a whole heckuva lot. Sure, there are specialized target, varmint, and other models that have their own features, but if an all-around, general purpose AR is what you want, buy the one you can get at the best price. Ruger, S&W, DPMS, PSA, etc., etc., etc. ad infinitum. They're all decent.

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I'll disagree. The AR-15 is "generic" because it's built upon standardized dimensions. Government milspec sets the minimum standard of materials specs and construction. As civilians we can use those as a minimum standard to weight the pro/con of both the features present or not present on a civilian rifle and the pro/con of parts that meet or exceed the standard.

Buying any AR-15 from a pool of AR-15's based on lowest price can burn you. The difference between the Ruger AR-5.56, the 15-Sport V1.1, 15-Sport V1.2, and 15-Sport V2.0 can make difference in the value for the firearms enthusiast based on their needs. For example:


Practical difference in an average civilian marksman's hands? Probably not much. Difference in long term outcome and ease of upgrade? Big. Between the big manufacturers, meeting a price point is a zero-sum-game. Give here, take there. Marketing departments, do spin the results of our give-and-take to minimize where we "take" from the rifle. By the way, let's go after brand recognition while we're at it.

In entry level priced AR-15's, the big manufacturers have the economy of scale to drive up the true value to the dollar for the entry level consumer. Small fry "wanna-be" boutique shop without that advantage (Core-15 and the ilk), don't have that same capacity. Look at their least expensive rifle and compare it to an 15-Sport or AR-556 based on price and features and you'll chuckle.

Ballistic147 said:

...the Colt my son has will have a better resale value if he ever chooses to sell

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While I do sell/trade firearms, I still never understand factoring resale value as a purchase decision criteria in a factory complete $550 - $1,200 AR-15. If I ever have a firearm in hand where my primary motivation is resale value, I put it back on the rack.

JaPes said:

For most firearms enthusiasts, there will be no difference in accuracy. You've learned the secret that the marketing departments of manufacturers that offer entry to midrange priced AR-15's don't want anyone to know. Given a rifle constructed from standardized dimensions without any factory defect using the same ammo, the average civilian firearms enthusiast will shoot them all the same. That still does not mean that being knowledgeable about the differences between different makes/models of AR-15 is inconsequential.




I'll disagree. The AR-15 is "generic" because it's built upon standardized dimensions. Government milspec sets the minimum standard of materials specs and construction. As civilians we can use those as a minimum standard to weight the pro/con of both the features present or not present on a civilian rifle and the pro/con of parts that meet or exceed the standard.

Buying any AR-15 from a pool of AR-15's based on lowest price can burn you. The difference between the Ruger AR-5.56, the 15-Sport V1.1, 15-Sport V1.2, and 15-Sport V2.0 can make difference in the value for the firearms enthusiast based on their needs. For example:

15-Sport V1.0 = No forward assist, but has the Thompson Center 1:8 5R progressive gain twist, Melonite treated barrel.

15-Sport V1.1 = Change out to standard 1:9 twist, corrosion resistant treatment barrel.

15-Sport V2.0 = Change out to full featured upper.

Ruger AR-556 = Unlined, chrome moly 1:8 twist barrel. Proprietary system that use a screw on nut that looks like a delta ring to affix the handguard to the rifle.​

Practical difference in an average civilian marksman's hands? Probably not much. Difference in long term outcome and ease of upgrade? Big. Between the big manufacturers, meeting a price point is a zero-sum-game. Give here, take there. Marketing departments, do spin the results of our give-and-take to minimize where we "take" from the rifle. By the way, let's go after brand recognition while we're at it.

In entry level priced AR-15's, the big manufacturers have the economy of scale to drive up the true value to the dollar for the entry level consumer. Small fry "wanna-be" boutique shop without that advantage (Core-15 and the ilk), don't have that same capacity. Look at their least expensive rifle and compare it to an 15-Sport or AR-556 based on price and features and you'll chuckle.



While I do sell/trade firearms, I still never understand factoring resale value as a purchase decision criteria in a factory complete $550 - $1,200 AR-15. If I ever have a firearm in hand where my primary motivation is resale value, I put it back on the rack.

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John, you are not disagreeing with my post; in fact, your response nicely reinforces mine.

For the vast majority of AR buyers, your points are utterly irrelevant. I seriously doubt that most of the rifles being bought in today's near-panic market will ever be shot 1000 rounds by their new owners, and those rounds will consist of the least-expensive and most commonly available ammo fired at paper targets or tin cans at ranges formal and informal. In the meantime, they will be going on to forums such as this one with panicky questions like, "The bolt on my AR15 locks back after the last shot! What's wrong with it??!!"

Chrome lined bores -- not needed. 1:7, 1:8, 1:9 rifling twist -- meaningless except at the extremes of the bullet weight range. Ability to be customized -- meaningless to all but a few, and some of those will ultimately discover that all the added weight and bulk of add-ons really hasn't done much to enhance their guns.

Not that their aren't owners for whom some or all of those things aren't important; most assuredly, there are many. But again, for the vast majority -- the beginners, the newbies, some of whom have never owned any rifle, much less an AR -- the difference between a $500 AR and a $1000 AR is $500 too much spent.

My first AR was an old-style Olympic Plinker I bought brand-new for about $400 -- a model that was roundly blasted as junk by online "experts". Yet, after years of shooting 1000's of rounds with no problems I sold it for $500 and moved up a step or two to a little pricier rifle that provided the things I knew from experience that I wanted. Buying a more expensive rifle to begin with would have gained me very little if anything, while buying a base model got me in to the game at an affordable price, gave me tons of fun and a valuable learning experience that helped me home in on the refinements that were really important to me, plus ultimately a profit on my way up the ladder to something nicer.

I sort of liken the experience to getting in to reloading. I know folks who were bitten by the bug and went out and bought, on advice from the folks who said "Believe me, you will end up wanting one", the fanciest progressive reloading outfit they could find. After years of frustration, their reloading benches sit gathering dust. On the other hand, I know many who went the beginners route of buying a simple, inexpensive single-stage press plus the minimum of needed accessories and are now happily rolling their own ammo every week, with the old single-stage still bolted on the bench doing the occasional small job right beside the fancy, high-capacity progressive outfit they moved up to after they learned what they were doing and what they really wanted.

Beginning with the basics is rarely a bad move in anything. Learn to walk, then to run, and soon you're ready to fly.

Pisgah said:

John, you are not disagreeing with my post; in fact, your response nicely reinforces mine.

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The guys here will do that. They don't always post to disagree and if they agree, will often do as you stated.

Within the context being discussed, the most expensive rifle is typically the one you buy to save money rather than the one you wanted.

I own nothing but Colt. The mil-spec is important to me, as is a chrome lined barrel. I am not saying that other less expensive rifles don't shoot as well, but do they last or maintain their value as long? It is just personal preference. I still believe you get what you pay for.

KSDeputy said:

I own nothing but Colt. The mil-spec is important to me, as is a chrome lined barrel. I am not saying that other less expensive rifles don't shoot as well, but do they last or maintain their value as long? It is just personal preference. I still believe you get what you pay for.

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If you own nothing but Colts, why are you posting on a S&W M&P15 board? Just asking.

I have a Colt too and like the gun, but it has it's downsides. My barrel had scuff marks on it and my Colt trigger was a gritty disgusting mess. I bought it when prices were rock bottom so I'm not unhappy, but if I had paid $1100 or $1200 for it? Not sure I'd be a Colt fan.

Anyway, as JaPes said too, if I'm buying a gun becasue of resale value, I'm really not buying it for the right reasons.

I had already owned a Sport 1 when I bought my Ruger AR-556. They are equal as far as shooting goes. When I pull the trigger on either one, they go BANG! A LOT!

Can anyone answer, which has the better trigger?

saltair said:

Can anyone answer, which has the better trigger?

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Many say that S&W typically has the best of the GI triggers, but it will differ from rifle to rifle.

saltair said:

Can anyone answer, which has the better trigger?

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Standard combat trigger is a standard combat trigger. Can't get around that. You can stone a stock combat trigger and swap out springs and make it better. Rifle A could have been touched by the firearms deities during assembly and the best parts out of millions of possible combinations of parts go into it. That rifle would have a better than average standard combat trigger. Rifle B, the bad news rifle, is the statistically probable horrible rifle.

Here's my honest advice. Buy an AR-15 with a stock combat trigger knowing you're going to eventually upgrade the trigger. You can go with an improved ALG Defense combat trigger. You can go with an affordable Rock River 2-Stage Varmint or National Match trigger. You can go all-in with a Geissele or Timney.