I need help with AR-15 decision

[oneyeopn]

Ever thought about getting a ASA?

ASA-M4A2 AR-15 Rifle M4 Carbine - American Spirit Arms

Jorge. Never heard of them anywhere, how long have they been in business. Their "about us" is pretty vague and they say their products are being used by the U.S. government but no proof. All they have to do is have some government employee own one of their guns to make the claim. Their parts seem to be old technology except that side charger looked pretty interesting but $1275 for a 9mm AR is pretty pricey and $225 for a standard barrel not even chrome lined and no melonite. I liked the fact that they claim a lifetime warranty as we all know AR's are made to wear out with individual pieces replaceable as they wear. What do they consider the lifetime of an AR to be. I will have to find some reviews of their line of firearms but they all seem to be pretty pricey for an unknown company. thanks for the heads up.

 

[JJEH]

Jorge. Never heard of them anywhere, how long have they been in business. Their "about us" is pretty vague and they say their products are being used by the U.S. government but no proof. All they have to do is have some government employee own one of their guns to make the claim. Their parts seem to be old technology except that side charger looked pretty interesting but $1275 for a 9mm AR is pretty pricey and $225 for a standard barrel not even chrome lined and no melonite. I liked the fact that they claim a lifetime warranty as we all know AR's are made to wear out with individual pieces replaceable as they wear. What do they consider the lifetime of an AR to be. I will have to find some reviews of their line of firearms but they all seem to be pretty pricey for an unknown company. thanks for the heads up.

I understand your concern and honestly, my wife knows somebody who has one and he likes it.

All your questions you might carry directly to ASA, since I don't work for them I cannot answer those.

But the fact that it's made in the USA, lifetime warranty and the option of a side charger looks pretty interesting to me.

ASA was also featured in Guns & Ammo,

http://www.americanspiritarms.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Guns-Feature.pdf

and I like what I see/read.

More print stuff here:
American Spirit Arms | M4 Carbine AR-15 Rifle Firearms Blog

The M-4 rifle I would like would cost $1,374.00 on their website. If I compare the features to other manufacturers it's not that far appart...

 

[CrossRifles2008]

So's my Army opinion and it's REGULAR ARMY. Not drafty,reserve or NG.

Ok you have a valid opinion, but the Colt M4 has beed trust worthy for me in the Army. I'm also not a "Drafty, Reserve, or NG". Unlike you I don't have anything against them though. I'm just waiting for Michael Keaton to jump in here and say "Shake your dicks boys! This pissing contest is over!" (Other Guys reference.). I'm not a Colty. In fact my preference kinda goes to the M&P 15T by cosmetics and taste. Does anyone own one of these? Has anyone shot one next to a Colt? If so how is the comparison? I don't have anything against the sport really. Its just not
my cup of joe. I wouldn't mind having one if I had multiple ARs but right now I'm not looking to own more than one.

 

[cyphertext]

Guess I may as well chime in.... I have the Sport and love it. Great rifle for my needs. Put a Matech BUIS rear sight and mounted a red dot on it and that is it. Still pretty much stock. For $650 very hard to beat. Great value for the money.

However, as you climb the S&W ladder, in my opinion, you start to see that value erode some. You can still get good deals on the M&P 15 OR, and they are a good buy, especially when they are found in the $750 (or less) range.

Once you start getting into the higher priced S&W models and the $1000 and up range, there S&W might not represent as good as value to some. S&W tends to have more "upgrades", such as rails, Magpul furniture, etc... to their higher end rifles, but they don't follow the TDP. You will have to study where they deviate and decide if it is innovation on their part, or cost cutting. (Or maybe a combo of both, like melonite treatment of the barrel)

Buy what you can afford and what you like. If you must have a dust cover and forward assist, you shouldn't buy a Sport, because you won't be happy with it. If the pony rollmark makes you smile everytime you see it because it was your trusty friend "over there" then get one. If you want a midlength gas system, with Magpul furniture, and a 1:8 twist, melonite treated barrel made from 4150 CMV, with a couple of Magpul training DVDs thrown in, S&W has got you covered there....Many rifles out there, you have to decide what flavor you like and are willing to pay for.

 

[CrossRifles2008]

Buy what you can afford and what you like. If you must have a dust cover and forward assist, you shouldn't buy a Sport, because you won't be happy with it. If the pony rollmark makes you smile everytime you see it because it was your trusty friend "over there" then get one. If you want a midlength gas system, with Magpul furniture, and a 1:8 twist, melonite treated barrel made from 4150 CMV, with a couple of Magpul training DVDs thrown in, S&W has got you covered there....Many rifles out there, you have to decide what flavor you like and are willing to pay for.

I appreciate the help. Juggling between M&P 15T I think I found it for about $1,029.00. I also found a Colt Magpul AR15 for $1,199.00. I have time to think about it anyway not pulling the trigger today.

 

[cyphertext]

In fact my preference kinda goes to the M&P 15T by cosmetics and taste. Does anyone own one of these? Has anyone shot one next to a Colt? If so how is the comparison? I don't have anything against the sport really. Its just not
my cup of joe. I wouldn't mind having one if I had multiple ARs but right now I'm not looking to own more than one.

The new M&P 15T is really a dressed up Sport. Same lower, same BCG, same barrel. You get a dust cover, forward assist, and a rail for a little bump in cost. You should expect the same reliability and accuracy. I would buy one over the Sport today if I were in the market.

I have read a report on another forum where an LE agency had 24 of these on the line for a 5 day class. Five days, minimum of 500 rounds per day. The officer posted that he had one failure, and it was operator error when shooting from the support side. He said he holds his rifle at the magwell, and when shooting left handed, his thumb got in the way of the ejection port and caused a stovepipe. Only failure in the class that he was aware of, as the instructors pointed it out as an example and talked about it.

 

[cyphertext]

I appreciate the help. Juggling between M&P 15T I think I found it for about $1,029.00. I also found a Colt Magpul AR15 for $1,199.00. I have time to think about it anyway not pulling the trigger today.

At that price, that sounds like the older version of the 15T, when it had a Troy rail and flip up sights. If that is for the new version of the 15T, with Magpul sights, that sounds pretty high. I haven't priced them in a couple of months though, and I have heard that prices are going up.

 

[Mots0311]

I have a S&W MP15, its the only rifle I own and I am more than pleased with it. $1200 will get you a lot of bang for your buck. Its a great rifle I've only had mine for a year and put about 1200 rounds through it. Not a lot but I'm happy with its performance.

 

[CBA44]

I appreciate the help. Juggling between M&P 15T I think I found it for about $1,029.00. I also found a Colt Magpul AR15 for $1,199.00. I have time to think about it anyway not pulling the trigger today.

There is a colt 6920 brand new right on this forum now for 1060 shipped I believe.

If your waiting for a better deal than that I dont know what to tell you...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/266312-wts-nib-colt-le6920-m4-carbine.html

 

[cyphertext]

There is a colt 6920 brand new right on this forum now for 1060 shipped I believe.

If your waiting for a better deal than that I dont know what to tell you...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/266312-wts-nib-colt-le6920-m4-carbine.html

Local Wal-marts carry them for the same price, without the additional FFL fees.

 

[CrossRifles2008]

There is a colt 6920 brand new right on this forum now for 1060 shipped I believe.

If your waiting for a better deal than that I dont know what to tell you...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/266312-wts-nib-colt-le6920-m4-carbine.html

Academy has the magpul Colts for $1,199.00 so between the two I'm leaning Academy.

 

[Foxtrot]

I ditched all of my Colt AR platforms in favor of the M&P15OR.

 

[CrossRifles2008]

I ditched all of my Colt AR platforms in favor of the M&P15OR.

What was your reason?

 

[Foxtrot]

What was your reason?

Several reasons ...but...

They were a little shy of being four years old. There has been enough rounds put through them (several thousand a month), and they have been abused enough, that they were showing their age and starting to get picky and increasing in the number of malfunctions. The cost and time of repair to restore the weapons to their original specifications would equal over half the price of the original cost of the weapon which was $500.00. I can get a new S&W M&P15OR for around $400.00 on our purchase contract and with discounts. Since I get reimbursed for my weapon purchases if I use the weapon for work also, when repair and time to restore a weapon to its original condition specifications meets or exceeds half of the cost of the weapons original price its not to be repaired but instead replaced.

We are also in the process of retiring all of our Colts at work and replacing them with S&W M&P15's (picked one of those up yesterday). The Colts; Some of them will be sent to test and the rest will be offered to other departments or agencies, or destroyed and some will be offered for sale to other officers who want them.

 

[CrossRifles2008]

I see. So just wear and tear.

 

[nra jim]

The rifle you choose will be the one that fits you best or tickles your fancy. I know alot of people say if its not a Colt its a clone, well let me tell you about my S&W clones. I have attended 2 different 3 day courses where you run your rifle and pistol hard, dry, wet, dirty, about anything you can think of. When I showed up to the first class with my M&P 15T (older model Troy ) and my 108284 1911 some of the students and a couple instructors told me that I would be lucky to last one day. Well 3 days later, 3000 rounds thru the AR and 500 thru the 1911 Not only did the weapons preform flawlessly they out preformed many of the "charts" mil-spec weapons. I saw many other Original manufacturers weapons **** the bed by the second day both their Ars and 1911s, I currently have over 50,000 rounds thru my 15T, and 27,000 thru my 1911. Your choice should not be based on my experience, but it will give you something to think about. One more thing, my M&P 15T will still ring the steel at 200 yards with the flip up Troy sights.

 

[w0ady]

as someone shopping for their first ar, the sport is an awesome deal. but i think i would spend a little more and got with the tactical just for a couple more features. looking at other companies, its harder to find something similar with s&w's reputation along the same price.

 

[Aircrew7886]

Usaadjuster, I think you need to look at 2 things before you buy yourself a rifle. (1. Is this your first rifle? (2. What do you plan to do with it??? Now here's my opition!! I have a S&W M&P 15 MOE( my personnel gun for rec and fun shooting, do to being military I only paid $796 at my local gun shop. Now being military I am issued at work the Colt M4, I have the same sights and extras on both guns and I will tell you the both shoot just about the same, except my home gun does not have the fun setting (full auto).... I can tell you that I would not hesitate to take my Smith and wesson into combat if i had to. I have run about 1000 5.56 nato thru it and it is doing great. The gun is just like your car, If you take care of it and perform preventitive maint it will last almost forever. I hope this helps you in you thought process, good luck and happy hunting!!!

 

[kdailey]

what do you guys in the know think of the newer Armalite rifles ?

 

[Jumpmaster]

Update

Usaadjuster-

Any decisions after all the advice here? Just curious...