For Newbe to the AR Platform Who Are Considering Buying The S&W M&P Sport

[Scott10d]

I just bought two of the sports this weekend,one I removed the front sight and added a gas block with rail on top and bottom.I installed a sling mount on the bottom and going to add a bipod and a flip up sight.I installed a bushnell scope with hi rise mounts this is going to be a hunting rifle.I hope to check long range accuracy this weekend.I was really impressed with one hundred yard accuracy.the other gun is more of a test gun too see how it holds up we put 400 rounds through it this weekend hopefully we will put another 1000 this coming up weekend.

 

[Damien]

The Sport has a 5.56 chamber, which means you can shoot both 5.56 and .223. Same magazine, no changes required.

Do not try to shoot the 5.56 in a gun that is marked as a .223 chamber.

I've always know/believed a 5.56 was good to go with 223, But when you look at the M&P 15's on S&W site almost everything thats good for 5.56 is marked "5.56 mm NATO/.223", but the Sports are only marked 5.56 mm NATO. Does anyone know why they omit 223 designation on the Sport but advertise 223 on all the other 5.56 chambered rifles?

 

[cyphertext]

I've always know/believed a 5.56 was good to go with 223, But when you look at the M&P 15's on S&W site almost everything thats good for 5.56 is marked "5.56 mm NATO/.223", but the Sports are only marked 5.56 mm NATO. Does anyone know why they omit 223 designation on the Sport but advertise 223 on all the other 5.56 chambered rifles?

Different product manager did the write up? Who knows...

 

[Damien]

I have a ORC model....... same as a Sport -sights +Dust cover and FA. I don't know about anyone else but bottom line for me is I'd shoot the same with my M&P as I would with a $3,500 AR. Unless its in a vice with a scope vs hand held at my shoulder, the M&P is more accurate than I am

 

[cyphertext]

I have a ORC model....... same as a Sport -sights +Dust cover and FA. I don't know about anyone else but bottom line for me is I'd shoot the same with my M&P as I would with a $3,500 AR. Unless its in a vice with a scope vs hand held at my shoulder, the M&P is more accurate than I am

The Sport and the OR are not alike as you described. Older Sports had a 1:8 twist vs. the 1:9 on the OR. Both old and newer Sports have a melonite treated barrel, vs. the chrome lined barrel of the OR. The two barrels are completely different on these models.

 

[Jlduke]

I've always know/believed a 5.56 was good to go with 223, But when you look at the M&P 15's on S&W site almost everything thats good for 5.56 is marked "5.56 mm NATO/.223", but the Sports are only marked 5.56 mm NATO. Does anyone know why they omit 223 designation on the Sport but advertise 223 on all the other 5.56 chambered rifles?

Because if its marked 5.56 you can shoot .223 with it, but shooting .223 through a 5.56 can be dangerous.

 

[riderrick65]

To Jlduke, after reading your post I think you meant to say, shooting 5.56 through a .223 could be dangerous. just sayn.

 

[Damien]

Reading my post again it look backward from what I ment too. What I ment was if you can shoot 223 thru a 5.56... why are some marked with both and some just marked 5.56 .... seems the way specs are presented by the same company on the same page would be a consistant text

 

[oligoodday]

Picked up a sport & the only disappointment was my panic buy price at 849. Other than that its pretty accurate out of the box. Love mine!

 

[shawn mccarver]

I agree that the Sport is well thought out in its design features. While it would, no doubt, be looked down upon by the armchair warriors that frequent certain rifle-oriented forums, it has everything needed for sport, home- or self-defense and law enforcement work. Yes, I included LE work. LE officers need a dust cover like they need a "third tit," if you will pardon the expression. The melonite treatment on the barrel is not a "coating" as some say or suggest in various postings, but a metal treatment that is the same as tenifer. Exactly the same. It makes metal parts very hard, and is as good as hard chrome. The process is explained at this site:

Melonite / QPQ

"MELONITE / QPQ

MELONITE, and its synonymous trade-name, Tufftride (or Tenifer), is a relatively straight-forward, flexible process to operate and maintain, and produces exceptionally uniform case hardening. The MELONITE process begins with the placement of parts in a re-circulating air preheat furnace, followed by immersion for 60-240 minutes in a molten nitrogen-rich salt solution contained in an aerated furnace. After nitriding, parts are treated in an oxidizing bath, water-cooled and rinsed.

An alternative series of post-nitriding steps involves a Quench-Polish-Quench (QPQ) sequence after liquid nitriding. For many applications, this finishing process provides a surface condition that protects against corrosion and wear better than hard chrome or nickel plating."

In any event, the Sport might just be the best buy of the AR industry for competition, plinking, self- or home-defense and LE work. Taxpayers take note the next time the local SWAT, SERT, HRT or other team, by whatever name, decides to buy $3,000.00 rifles by HK or some other maker.

 

[JDSo]

I read this review after I had a chance to put 100 rounds through one. It was a lot of fun to shoot and even with my old eyes I could get a few in the center. The rifle is amazingly accurate. I finally got mine but have not had the chance to shoot it yet.

 

[RainDodger]

... and the written specs don't matter as much as how it shoots! I own other more expensive ARs and they don't do anything that my Sport doesn't do. Truth be told, I find the fit and finish of the Sport better than the new Colt sitting next to it.

The other thing I found is that cleaning the 5R barrel is easier too. Because of the "softer" angle (65 degrees vice 90 degrees I think it is) of the lands where they meet the grooves, there isn't as much crud in there to clean out.