New here to the forum living in California. I've had a couple AR platformed carbines for a few years, even built a one from bottom to top myself, and wanted to get possibly pick up a S&W, too. I am more of a hand gunner.. I see some of the differences in the M&P 15 (811000) vs. M&P15 Sport II (10202) with a $380 price difference at what i can get them for now. Is there something I am missing even from the suggested retail price that makes the M&P 15 have such a greater price point? Thx for some input.
M&P 15 vs M&P 15 SPORT II
- Thread starter DesB
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5point5sixGUY
Member
At a quick glance, the M&P 15 (811000) seems to have a different barrel profile than the Sport 2, a chrome lined bore and chamber and a carry handle.
I guess that's where the $ difference is. The trigger guard is different too.
I guess that's where the $ difference is. The trigger guard is different too.
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[email protected]
Member
Would have expected the M&P15 to have 4150CMV steel like my M&P15 MOE. Could be that the chrome lining makes up for the steel?
Sport has a forged 7075 lower too, only deviation from "mil-spec" is the integrated trigger guard which to me is actually a plus not a minus.
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TAC
Member
They used to use a different aluminum alloy between the two, but I just checked S&W's site, and they're not making a note of that anymore. I wonder if they're using the better alloy on the Sport II, or the cheaper alloy on both of them now?
cyphertext
US Veteran
TAC
Member
You might be right! I looked into this back around July, when my son bought a Sport II, and I bought a 15T, but I can't find any reference to what I read at that time. Must be my imagination.
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Big Deal
That makes little difference. There is nothing about the 15 that makes it worth over 500.00 more than the sport II unless you just have to have the m-203 cut profile chrome-lined barrel. This is where S&W can take advantage of those old die-hards that prefer chrome lined barrels over nitride.
That makes little difference. There is nothing about the 15 that makes it worth over 500.00 more than the sport II unless you just have to have the m-203 cut profile chrome-lined barrel. This is where S&W can take advantage of those old die-hards that prefer chrome lined barrels over nitride.
MichiganScott
Member
Depends on your way of looking at it.
Armybrat
Member
Yep, I bought one of those “slick side” Sports years ago, but gave it to one of my sons. It was a fun little shooter.
Think I’ll Replace it with a Sport II.
Think I’ll Replace it with a Sport II.
Here's my thought on the dust cover. Yes it makes it look cooler. Much like the forward assist. Have I used the forward assist? Yes, on a Bushmaster 15yrs ago. All it did was help further seat a laquered Wolf steel case to where I had to pry it out with a screwdriver. The dust cover. Well, are you going to war? Will you be dropping it in mud? Does your Remington 742/7400 or Browning BAR have a dust cover? Not a big deal for me shooting in the backyard. I do have a Sport II though with dust cover, but if they didn't make that change, I'd still have it.
As far as the alloy is concerned, who has noticed any problem with this so far? The Sport II is probably the best low end AR you can get. Never an issue with mine, and accurate as all get out, even though all its ever been fed is the cheapest brass cased stuff I can find. Independence or American Eagle basically. I won't stoop to steel case anymore though, but I've shot my share of it. You can blow a lot of money on a higher end AR, but think about what you intend to use it for in the end. Most of the time its bragging rights that you own some $$$ AR. Most put a dang 4MOA dot on them and at that point, its how well you can shoot with it more so than how well the gun itself can shoot. Myself included. If you are doing some precision shooting with a high powered scope, I can see it, but for most, they will get the same out of that Sport as they will something more pricey. My brother in law's M&P TS has never shot as good as my cousin's Sport or my Sport II. Who even knows why, but that gun has been a problem child.
I've had more expensive AR's. The one I had didn't shoot as accurate as my Sport. And the dust cover? People here never thought it was a problem until they put one on the Sport II and suddenly it was a must have. I like my Sport just fine. It's reliable and accurate. Very accurate. I don't know what else there is? No it isn't free floated and it doesn't have the cool factor finish but it shows no signs of a problem with the finish and if a free floated AR is more accurate it must be mighty accurate. The AR is a battle rifle anyway. Precision is not the top priority for a rifle like this IMO. If I want precision I'll use a bolt action rifle. I still think my Sport is very accurate. I consistently shot a 12" group at 200 yards off hand with mine. The balance is there, the trigger is consistent which is really the main thing and it just puts bullets where I want them. I haven't really tried it but I suspect it will be plenty accurate at 400 yards shooting from a rest. All .223 / 5.6 rounds are susceptible to wind at that distance in my experience. I wouldn't expect an AR to match my varmint .223. But I'm guessing minute of man would not be a big problem. But I can't foresee any reason to need to shoot that far with my AR anyway other than just for giggles.
cyphertext
US Veteran
CJ, a lot of folks complained about the lack of ejection port cover on this board. Many of us didn't care, but many did. S&W reacted to the market and competitors. If the Sport 1 would have been released as a "full featured" rifle, could you imagine how much it would have cannibalized sales from the rest of the lineup?
flyinmech59
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How can you tell you tell the difference?
I have one, but can't find much info. Is there a serial # lookup somewhere; I think I already tried the S&W site.
I have one, but can't find much info. Is there a serial # lookup somewhere; I think I already tried the S&W site.
cyphertext
US Veteran
Post pictures... we can typically tell you which model it is by looking at the features.
