Dilemma: M&P 15 Sport for $699 or M&P 15 OR for $799

[MPDC]

This is the way I would go too. $100 less, comes with sights. You put your red dot on it and you are good to go. I believe the melonited 1:8 twist with 5R rifling is a better barrel than the 1:9 twist chrome lined barrel.

That is a good price on the OR though. Either way you are getting a good rifle. You just have to decide which features are more important to you.

OTOH, the bbl. , while a good one is better is debatable and the OR is just fine with a red dot sight. NOT having a front fixed sight is desirable for many and most people spend a lot of money customizing their rifles anyway after buying it with basic equipment.

Forward assist IS valuable for quietly chambering a round without putting your finger in the ejection port and a dust cover is nice, if not necessary, to have for some of us.

The sport is a good rifle. However calling it superior to more traditional AR designs is a stretch, IMHO.

At the ranges most people shoot, the 1/9 twist will stabilize almost any round (under 200 yds). Heavy ammo is extremely expensive and 55 grn. ammo is the cheapest and most widely used anyway. The 1/9 twist is actually preferred for lighter , varmint rounds many use to hunt prarie dogs and vermin.

Buy what appeals to your senses and you will not regret it. My rifle is extremetly accurate and I would put the bbl. up against most. Technique and quality sights/scope are (along with a really good trigger) much more important than twist rate or lining type.

 

[cyphertext]

OTOH, the bbl. , while a good one is better is debatable and the OR is just fine with a red dot sight. NOT having a front fixed sight is desirable for many and most people spend a lot of money customizing their rifles anyway after buying it with basic equipment.

Forward assist IS valuable for quietly chambering a round without putting your finger in the ejection port and a dust cover is nice, if not necessary, to have for some of us.

The sport is a good rifle. However calling it superior to more traditional AR designs is a stretch, IMHO.

At the ranges most people shoot, the 1/9 twist will stabilize almost any round (under 200 yds). Heavy ammo is extremely expensive and 55 grn. ammo is the cheapest and most widely used anyway. The 1/9 twist is actually preferred for lighter , varmint rounds many use to hunt prarie dogs and vermin.

Buy what appeals to your senses and you will not regret it. My rifle is extremetly accurate and I would put the bbl. up against most. Technique and quality sights/scope are (along with a really good trigger) much more important than twist rate or lining type.

Where did I say the Sport was superior? I stand by my statement that I believe the barrel on the Sport is better, in theory at least. The 1/8 twist allows more versatility on the heavier end, and may give up some on the lighter end. Very popular twist rate in the hunting community. I have seen 1:9 barrels that would keyhole 68gr within 100 yards. Neither twist is optimal for the varmint 40 grainers. If you are shooting that light, you should be looking at 1:12.

Forward assist is over rated...wasn't even trained on it in the military. I keep hearing the "quietly chambering a round" theory, but that can be accomplished with the cut out. Not sure when that would even be used, but to each their own, I guess.

I'll give you the dust cover. No argument there. May not be needed, depending upon environment, but nice to have.

Front sight post....some prefer fixed, some prefer folding, some prefer optics only, personal choice. I don't notice it when using a red dot, so I don't mind fixed.

I'm not trying to turn this into a pissing match. Like I said, either way, he gets a good rifle and just has to decide which features or lack of are important. I chose the 1:8 twist over the dust cover and forward assist. For my use, it made the most sense. For others, they may chose the OR, or the 15-T, or the Magpul edition, etc. What makes this difficult is that the pricing he has between the OR and Sport is only $100. The OR is a good rifle and should have more value on the resale market, if that is important. If the traditional design AR is what he wants, then the OR will meet that, at least to those of us on this board.

 

[MPDC]

No problem with what you say and have opinions about. Just wanted to point out that in terms of real world performance, the OR stands up very well vs. the Sport or any other carbine type AR.

Sometimes this board reads a bit slanted and that is fine. Just don't want someone's choice based on anecdotal preference as opposed to real world performance.

I see people touting 1/7 twists on other boards and have actually defended the sport. Factually, I think very few people actually shoot heavy, expensive loads (actually longer loads developed for the military) but still think they need the fastest twist available.

Fact is, under about 200 yds. , even the heavy loads will stabilize well with a 1/9 twist. which ONLY IN MY OPINION is still the best compromise for the spectrum of commonly used ammo.

 

[Capt Crunch]

I believe the melonited 1:8 twist with 5R rifling is a better barrel than the 1:9 twist chrome lined barrel.

That is the game changer right there...go with the Sport, better barrel.

 

[MPDC]

That is the game changer right there...go with the Sport, better barrel.

I checked with Count Chocula and he disagrees.

 

[Capt Crunch]

I checked with Count Chocula and he disagrees.

That dried up old coffin creeper? I staked his butt years ago

 

[MPDC]

That dried up old coffin creeper? I staked his butt years ago

LOL...............

 

[cyphertext]

No problem with what you say and have opinions about. Just wanted to point out that in terms of real world performance, the OR stands up very well vs. the Sport or any other carbine type AR.

Sometimes this board reads a bit slanted and that is fine. Just don't want someone's choice based on anecdotal preference as opposed to real world performance.

I see people touting 1/7 twists on other boards and have actually defended the sport. Factually, I think very few people actually shoot heavy, expensive loads (actually longer loads developed for the military) but still think they need the fastest twist available.

Fact is, under about 200 yds. , even the heavy loads will stabilize well with a 1/9 twist. which ONLY IN MY OPINION is still the best compromise for the spectrum of commonly used ammo.

Agree, I even said in an earlier post that in reality, either rifle would have probably worked for me. For only $100 difference, it's a tough decision.

Texit, forget about the price. Which features are most important to you? Dust cover and forward assist, or iron sights ready to shoot out of the box? Make a decision man, so we can congratulate you and leave this thread alone!

 

[oneyeopn]

OK all disagreements aside, where he is purchasing, the retailer has put the sport up into another level. Please do not get me wrong, I love my Sport, it is possibly the finest rifle I have ever shot. But at $699 it is overpriced, for the $100 he can get the OR have you seen the pics of my Sport, it is dressed just like the OR, I do believe the barrel is better and your gonna have to hit me in the head with a hammer to change my opinion. the 1-9 is also a great barrel but the melonite makes the world of difference as far as lifetime and shootability. FA and Dustcover are great things to have, I keep my Sport in a tactical bag, yeah she gets a little lint on her but with the bolt closed its not a problem. We are not in the sandbox, I have a nephew who just came back from the sandbox and is going back in 2 weeks, he swears the Sport is the finest rifle he has ever shot also, except for some Chytec thing he shoots. (SP) anyhow for the $100 he is getting an awesome weapon, it is the retailer who has decided to up his profit margin on the Sport because the do sell extremely well and are so sought after that it is a sellers game. Get what you want you will be happy either way, you are never going to shoot out your barrel IMHO because none of us can afford that much ammo. So get which one your brain takes you to.

 

[BillyJack2012]

Sorry guys.... just had to bump this. I was searching for something else and came upon this thread. Love post #12 and Oneye's post above mine! Oh the good ole' days!

 

[str8liner]

LOL I clicked on this thread and seen the $699 sport and thought UGH I thought I got a deal the other week when I paid $724 for my sport.....

Then I seen the 2012 date lol.

 

[don5]

LOL I clicked on this thread and seen the $699 sport and thought UGH I thought I got a deal the other week when I paid $724 for my sport.....

Then I seen the 2012 date lol.

Same for me as well. I still liked some posts though! I was thinking that he had a heck of a deal! I was going to post that he should buy both at those prices!

 

[rojodiablo]

I planned on picking up the M&P 15 Sport on Thursday for $699, but I found another place that has the M&P 15 Optics Ready for $799.

What would you guys go for? If I get the Optics Ready gun will a rear Magpul sight work ok? What can I use for the front sight on the gas block?

$799 for the OR seems like a great deal.

Soooooo....................$699 WITH sights, or $799 WITHOUT sights.
I can see your dilema and desire to empty your wallet as fast as possible.
Look at it this way; A rifle AND 200 rounds of ammo for $799.

 

[PAPS94]

In France, the Sport is about 1180€€, not $$ !!