Is the Smith & Wesson MP-10 rifle a wise choice?

[bergermeister]

Trying to ascertain if a precision barrel company could provide a compatible barrel/extension for the MP-10 owners I basically hit a brick wall. Apparently none of the (other) manufacturers are catering to the S&W MP-10, and S&W makes no custom-precision barrels. Even if they did it seems they are not for sale as an open item to the consumers. I have read that S&W 'may' open a store for consumers. Quick-switch items such as a barrel assembly is quite unlike their handguns; so the question, "Will S&W ever allow consumers to purchase their AR parts (like so many other manufacturers) without sending the gun back to them for 'fitting'?"

The following information is posted on-line:
Jun 20, 2014, 1:32 pm EDT | By Karl Utermohlen, InvestorPlace Writer
Smith & Wesson (SWHC) stock has plummeted over a decline in gun sales in the U.S.
Americans started buying more guns when Obama was reelected over fears that stricter gun restrictions would be passed. However, Obama’s failure to pass these laws have slowed down gun sales and gun companies has taken a hit as a result.
Smith & Wesson has reason to be optimistic as handgun sales have gone up 30% over the last quarter. However, the slowing demand for semiautomatic rifles and other modern sporting rifles has caused a decline in the company’s overall revenue.
SWHC stock is down about 10% Friday afternoon

An inquiry with S&W Representatives about barrel/extension/bolt face interchangeability got this response:

Dear Customer,

The MP10 platform is not interchangeable with other brands.

If further assistance is required please reply accordingly.

It appear's "Iff'y" from all of this that precision barrels, or any barrels for that matter will be available to consumers any time soon. More likely, the best hope would be for enough demand from the S&W MP-10 crowd to warrant one of the quality barrel makers to manufacture the necessary parts to install in their rifles.

Which begs to ask, "Is a purchase of a S&W MP-10 rifle really an intelligent move?"

 

[webfarmer]

I own one so my answer will of course be yes. But I have no intentions to swap the barrel since my bolt actions in the safe will out shoot most semi-autos. Only change other than furniture already made will be the trigger group. The M&P 10 IMO is a fine, accurate enough, hard hitting AR platform. People don't fancy the M&P 15 as much as other makes either yet mine shoots fantastic. I suppose your answer - like so many unfortunately - it depends on what your ultimate goal is.

 

[Lost Lake]

Is the M&P 10 a wise choice?

It was for me!

I love mine. I can easily drill 2" targets at 100 yards effortlessly. The point of impact doesn't change with the barrel cold or hot. Recoil is mild because the gun weighs a ton! Especially with a full mag and a ginormous scope

While some folks have built semi-autos to use as precision rifles, I wouldn't do that. Maybe it's being old fashioned, but I like the old Rem 700 actions, and have bought a couple new Ruger bolt rifles that are impressively accurate right from the box.

To me the AR platform is all about lots of rounds, dependability and customization. Accuracy is placed behind those first three traits. If my AR's will shoot MOA I'm very happy with them.

.

 

[bergermeister]

Points well taken. I agree that an accurized bolt action is a weapon of choice, in most cases, for precision. Entertain a scenario when you had to grab one weapon and haul-a** ..if only to support wanting a precision MP-10.
But, that aside, what happens down the road when your pet MP-10 starts to string groups? Going to send it back to S&W for a run-of-the-mill re-barrel job, or toss it and buy a new S&W MP-10? I personally would rather have a custom barrel for my money... Just sayin'

 

[copemech]

It is wise if you got what you wanted, which I did.

You want a custom barrel? There is someone out there to do it.

DPMS profile is going to be similar, not sure the exact differences but I understand bolt is different, and thus prolly barrel ext. , yet these could be re-used/ exchanged if needed.

Barrels themselves can come in blanks, so build your own poison!
And that is how some spend their money!

 

[copemech]

I canno afford to wear it out! As ammo costs too much!

 

[souljahboi]

It comes down to what you what to do with it.
If you want to tinker with it like a set of LEGOs similar to an AR15, then DON'T get it.

If you want to just shoot it with minor swaps of furniture for personal fitting, then it's a good choice.

 

[webfarmer]

Points well taken. I agree that an accurized bolt action is a weapon of choice, in most cases, for precision. Entertain a scenario when you had to grab one weapon and haul-a** ..if only to support wanting a precision MP-10.
But, that aside, what happens down the road when your pet MP-10 starts to string groups? Going to send it back to S&W for a run-of-the-mill re-barrel job, or toss it and buy a new S&W MP-10? I personally would rather have a custom barrel for my money... Just sayin'

Berger, sounds like you've made your decision. No problem - that's what makes America what it is. I'll be long dead before my M&P 10 barrel will fail to the point I need it replaced (well I hope anyway). I put 430 rounds through it this year which means some of my other toys were horribly ignored until next summer LOL. Good luck man and enjoy the U.S. while it remains free to do what we pro gun people want!

 

[bergermeister]

Berger, sounds like you've made your decision. No problem - that's what makes America what it is. I'll be long dead before my M&P 10 barrel will fail to the point I need it replaced (well I hope anyway). I put 430 rounds through it this year which means some of my other toys were horribly ignored until next summer LOL. Good luck man and enjoy the U.S. while it remains free to do what we pro gun people want!

"AMEN", My friend!

I have carried S&W 'wheel guns' for over 50 years and have literally staked my live on them. IMHO they need to re-think their MP-10 version. It appears other manufacturers have left them in the dust when they decided to be so heavily 'proprietary' in this arena.

 

[rojodiablo]

All in all, the reality is few rifles are ever shot until they fail or wear out. Plain and simple, it just takes a long time to wear one out.
As to accessorizing the rifle, then yeah, the S&W misses the mark in a few ways. But they are different, by design, and this means they will support that platform for quite a ways into the future.
On the other side, I do believe with a little creativity, it would not be impossible to either adapt the seat on a DPMS platform barrel to fit an M&P, or to modify the M&P upper to fit a common barrel.
As of yet, the rifles I have dealt with are so low in round count, no one is willing to experiment.
I don't think they are bad rifles, nor a bad investment. I DO feel they did not do a really good job with QC and individual testing of their rifles, but given the stupid situation we were looking at for the last 18 months, it was almost expected that all manufacturers were pushing very hard to fill a market desire, and QC was the victim- and not only from S&W.

If there is a silver lining, S&W has been very positive in their warranty and service for the M&P 10 line of rifles, which if ANYTHING, should foster some confidence that they will take care of their customers and deliver a good rifle, or pistol. (Other than the Sigmas. That we gave up on the 95 series of pistols for the Sigma was an unforgivable sin.......)

 

[bergermeister]

Well stated..

All in all, the reality is few rifles are ever shot until they fail or wear out. Plain and simple, it just takes a long time to wear one out.
As to accessorizing the rifle, then yeah, the S&W misses the mark in a few ways. But they are different, by design, and this means they will support that platform for quite a ways into the future.
On the other side, I do believe with a little creativity, it would not be impossible to either adapt the seat on a DPMS platform barrel to fit an M&P, or to modify the M&P upper to fit a common barrel.
As of yet, the rifles I have dealt with are so low in round count, no one is willing to experiment.
I don't think they are bad rifles, nor a bad investment. I DO feel they did not do a really good job with QC and individual testing of their rifles, but given the stupid situation we were looking at for the last 18 months, it was almost expected that all manufacturers were pushing very hard to fill a market desire, and QC was the victim- and not only from S&W.

If there is a silver lining, S&W has been very positive in their warranty and service for the M&P 10 line of rifles, which if ANYTHING, should foster some confidence that they will take care of their customers and deliver a good rifle, or pistol. (Other than the Sigmas. That we gave up on the 95 series of pistols for the Sigma was an unforgivable sin.......)

Very well thought out evaluation. Unfortunately, if anyone HAS to have warranty work done on their MP-10 they have to strip off any mods they have made (hopefully none visible or permanent) and rebuild it to as-was before sending it back.

 

[Coaltminer]

Any 308 is going to be expensive to shoot, unless you reload, especially in an AR platform. You know, bang, bang, bang, bang! Once saw a guy at the range with a new Springfield Armory Socom blast up a hundred bucks worth of ammo in a few minutes, barrel absolutely smokin hot. One of the reasons I'll never buy a used AR in 223 or 308, abuse. Smith will stand behind their products, but I wouldn't customize the ****out of it and expect them to take care of it.

 

[rojodiablo]

Very well thought out evaluation. Unfortunately, if anyone HAS to have warranty work done on their MP-10 they have to strip off any mods they have made (hopefully none visible or permanent) and rebuild it to as-was before sending it back.

No; we have sent some back which had a bunch of Magpul hardware added on, and yeah, we pull the optics, but we have left the BUIS, and foregrips and all the other stuff. Everything came back exactly like it was sent out...... only cleaner!!

 

[bergermeister]

Good to know..

No; we have sent some back which had a bunch of Magpul hardware added on, and yeah, we pull the optics, but we have left the BUIS, and foregrips and all the other stuff. Everything came back exactly like it was sent out...... only cleaner!!

Amazing surprise, never would have guessed; Thanks for enlightening me