First AR15 - Mistake?

[Qwackertoo]

Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Optics-Ready Centerfire Rifle Package
I bought this last month online from Gander Mountain and it was pictured and I believe it mentioned the flash reducer too, but when it arrived, nada, and no threads. Since I plan to use this for home defense is it that big of a deal or should I take it somewhere and have it threaded and buy a brake or flash reducer?

 

[Ken NC]

Gosh that is annoying. If returning isn't what you want to do, I would be inclined to leave it alone....

 

[2hawk]

ADCO has a good shop, and can thread it. That said, it might be easier to exchange for the one you want.

 

[Qwackertoo]

I think all sales are final on gun sales. ARgh Makes me mad though. Wonder IF I called S&W IF they'd offer any assistance to my problem since they are advertising with it pictured on there?

 

[JohnK]

I have an ORC, like it, and don't miss the flash hider at all.

It is my belief, (correct me if I am wrong), that the flash hider, makes the rifle LOUDER, to the user. Certainly to the people next to you, at the range.

As I am not currently in a desert combat environment. I see no use for it, other than to look "military".

There is a certain AR-15 forum, where you would be drummed out, if you didn't have a mil-spec rifle, flash hider and all.

To each his own.

 

[Lost Lake]

The OR I bought in Feb had a flash suppressor...

Does your state ban them?

 

[Qwackertoo]

OK couldn't find it on S&W site SKU 150645

here is link to Ganders page for it suppose to be Gander Exclusive

Smith Wesson MP 15 Optics-Ready Centerfire Rifle Package - Gander Mountain

 

[VaRecon]

These are just my opinions, not facts so please don't regard them as such.
Gander is too pricey and their "firearms associates" know less about the industry then our current VP. (In my area anyway)
And as far as home defense goes, get yourself something more maneuverable.
An AR15 is a spectacular weapon but overall it is pushing around 34 inches, a 1911 or 4" revolver is much more suited to the job of protecting your home with much less risk of flying through the wall and God forbid hitting something you weren't aiming for.
More to the point, are you sure the model you ordered was threaded and do you have a link to the model you ordered?
If so this is a dealer mistake and one you should take to their corporate office.

 

[Qwackertoo]

Well, I emailed S&W and included the link and serial number so I'll wait the up to 3 days to hear from them. I also have a couple of other guns. Colt .357, Ruger LCR .357 and LCP .380 and just recently a Remington 20 gauge shotgun but I can't find any ammo for it yet.

 

[oberon]

Hmmm... I s'pose you could do the double whammy and stick a different upper on it, or just swap out the barrel.
Those things aren't so complicated as to be beyond the reach of the home ordnance guy.

 

[cyphertext]

That Gander page has a lot of errors on it. Biggest one is that it says it comes with a 5r barrel, Melonited barrel. The OR comes with a traditional rifled barrel that is chrome lined. Also states it has an integral trigger guard, but the OR does not.

In other words, the description does not match what you have. If you do not have a 5r rifled barrel, tell Gander to take it back...if you are not happy with what you received, because it is not as advertised. The pic also shows a 30 rd magazine, but the description states 10 rounds.

 

[Qwackertoo]

Oh dear, I guess I better try and call them tomorrow. I feel like maybe I jumped the gun when I bought this and they and other models go in and out of stock so quickly but it was a lot of money. I feel like I really messed up.

 

[cyphertext]

Oh dear, I guess I better try and call them tomorrow. I feel like maybe I jumped the gun when I bought this and they and other models go in and out of stock so quickly but it was a lot of money. I feel like I really messed up.

I wouldn't say that you "messed up", as much as it just sounds like you are not happy. The item is not as advertised. The picture clearly has a flash hider and yours does not.

If you are unhappy, then call Gander Mtn. and tell them that you are unhappy and that the rifle is not as advertised. If they are unwilling to work with you, call your credit card company and dispute the charges. Just save that ad before it disappears. The rifle they are selling is not the same specs as advertised. You have many things that you can state are not as advertised other than just the flash hider.

If you like the rifle other than the lack of the flash hider, perhaps GM will discount the rifle enough to purchase a flash hider and have it installed by a local gunsmith.

 

[alwslate]

I have a Colt Lightweight Sporter that was made several years ago
when certain restrictions were in effect. It has a 16" lightweight barrel
with no flash hider and there is no bayonet lug on the gun. The plain
barrel gives the rifle a slightly more compact look and the gun is a bit
shorter without the flash hider stuck on the end of the barrel. I like
it the way it is and see no useful purpose for a flash hider for a rifle
not likely to be used in a combat situation. The military look is just
for looks and you might find that over time you will come to like your
rifle as it is.

 

[Gyrene6891]

One of the people who wrote a review stated there was no flash hider.

 

[MichiganScott]

One thing you need to consider is that a flash hider can have adverse effects on accuracy. A lot of National Match AR's do not have flash hiders for this reason.

What I don't understand is why the gun was not taken out of the box and examined prior to the OP walking out of the store. I've examined every gun I've ever purchased for cosmetic defects. Even with a special order, you certainly have more leverage to correct defects if they are noted before you leave the store. In this case, the OP could have refused to accept the rifle for not being as advertised.

Good luck on getting Gander Mountain corporate management to do anything.

 

[gm272gs]

...Since I plan to use this for home defense is it that big of a deal or should I take it somewhere and have it threaded and buy a brake or flash reducer?...

A flash suppressor is designed to reduce the blinding effects of a muzzle flash at night, to the shooter. They don't hide the flash, they just "reshape" it into a star-like pattern in lieu of a "big ball-o-flame".

A muzzle brake on the other hand, reduces recoil. The two are different.

A flash suppressor will make no difference if you use your M&P 15 for home defense, because you won't notice the blinding effects when your ears are bleeding from the noise in a confined space.

In other words, 12 ga. shotgun and electronic hearing protectors are better.

 

[UKNixter]

I live in California and have a compliant 10 round bullet button OR that came with a muzzle break. I just looked at the S&W site and sure enough, it looks like the are 2 different sku's for the compliant models. If you look under the compliant tab, the CA model is sku# 151009 and the CR, MA, MD, NJ sku# is 811013.

 

[cyphertext]

One thing you need to consider is that a flash hider can have adverse effects on accuracy. A lot of National Match AR's do not have flash hiders for this reason.

What I don't understand is why the gun was not taken out of the box and examined prior to the OP walking out of the store. I've examined every gun I've ever purchased for cosmetic defects. Even with a special order, you certainly have more leverage to correct defects if they are noted before you leave the store. In this case, the OP could have refused to accept the rifle for not being as advertised.

Good luck on getting Gander Mountain corporate management to do anything.

If they won't help him, his credit card company that he put the charge on will. They advertise it with a collapsible stock, 5R melonite barrel, and an integral trigger guard...those last two describe a Sport or 15T, not an OR model. And it can't have a 6 position stock and be Maryland compliant at the same time to my knowledge, yet the page says both. Gander screwed the goose on this one!

I do agree that the OP should have looked at the rifle before accepting it, but when you order online, you have already paid your money to the store. I don't know that you could just refuse it at your FFL. I'm not familiar with what that process would be though. Anybody ever gone through that?

 

[Boris B]

The link to the Gander web page you posted is not working for me currently...

Maybe they are changing it...