Looking for AR15

john45

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Hi, I would like to get an AR15 and thinking about a S&W. I would use it primarily for the range. I don't want to spend too much on one. Any recommendations?

Thanks
 
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A few questions to help us narrow down our recommendations:

1. What is your budget?

2. To what distances will you regularly shoot?

3. Are there any exterior features you'd like to have factory equipped on your M&P 15?

4. If you have considered buying any after-market accessories, what are they?

5. Are there any other brands of AR-15 that you have considered? If so what models?

6. Within the M&P 15 rifle lineup, are there any that catch your eye? http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...4_750001_750051_787653_-1_757785_757784_image

7. What is your experience level with AR-15's? The answer to this will let us know how much background information to give you with our answers.
 
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1. What is your budget?

$800-900

2. To what distances will you regularly shoot?

Good question, maybe 25 yards, not sure. I have several hand guns and shoot those regularly

3. Are there any exterior features you'd like to have factory equipped on your M&P 15?
Maybe a scope

4. If you have considered buying any after-market accessories, what are they?

A scope if needed

5. Are there any other brands of AR-15 that you have considered? If so what models?

Maybe Rock River, I just started thinking about one so I haven't really looked too hard yet.

6. Within the M&P 15 rifle lineup, are there any that catch your eye? http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...5_757784_image

M&P 15 Sport looks pretty good

7. What is your experience level with AR-15's? The answer to this will let us know how much background information to give you with our answers.

None, I have shot hand guns for years but this will be first AR
 
Looking at your last reply, I'd say you answered your own question rather well. The M&P 15 Sport is an extremely fine entry level AR. As others will no doubt tell you, it has everything you need and nothing you don't. Mount the optic of your choice, stock up on a few more mags, grab a bunch of ammo, and enjoy. :D I don't know where you're located, but around here, the Sport is going for about $650. That's well within your budget, leaving plenty for ammo and goodies. :D

Good Luck and good shooting.
 
Thanks!

I am a M&P 15-Sport owner. For a factory complete rifle from an established firearms manufacturer, it represents a good value. It's nice to have a 1 year factory warranty & lifetime service policy.

Some things to consider when buying a 15-Sport:

1. The 15-Sport omits a forward assist and dust cover. The functional presence/absence of these features is debatable depending on your use. If you feel that an AR-15 doesn't look right without the dust cover & forward assist, then take the next step up the M&P 15 lineup.

2. The 15-Sport's trigger guard is integral to the receiver, not a 2nd pinned on part.

3. The 15-Sport's hand guards lack heat shields. This makes the stock handguards narrower in diameter than other's.

4. The 15-Sport does not have a chrome lined bore & barrel. Recent production 15-Sports are equipped with a 1:9 twist rate barrel. Older production 15-Sports are equipped with a 1:8 5R Melonite treated barrel.​


A 15-Sport is a great all-round rifle out of the box. For those new to AR-15's it provides an affordable platform on which to discover your preferences. I never felt bad replacing the stock AR-15 accessories on mine because they were plain, standard, parts.

I went from this:

e59029b3-f66e-4296-a025-9d430ed49335_zpsefa4a7de.jpg


to this:

ffcc8371-34fd-41e2-8ea8-b4f64cf7080f_zpsaef1bcc9.jpg


Took a couple years of shooting it, trying out different furniture (grips, handguards, etc), a couple different sights, red-dots. I had to discover what worked for me. The downside is the $$$ cost of discovering my preferences.

I highly advise going to your local gun store and handle different AR-15 configurations. Make note of any AR-15 furniture (grip, handguard, sight, etc) that feels better than others. If the list becomes long, then you may actually save $$$ over the long term by buying a rifle already factory equipped with those exterior features.

If you have any specific questions, just ask. Being new to AR-15's can be confusing and overwhelming. Don't hesitate to ask about AR-15's other than S&W M&P 15's. Some of us here own different brands. :)
 
You are going to shoot 25 yards and you want a scope? I wouldn't get an AR-15... I would get a good .22lr. You can even get one that functions the same as an AR, for less money and the ammo is cheaper too, if you can find any.

As far as a scope goes that is down the road, not something that is a high priority. The main thing is to get one and have some fun shooting it at the range and get good with it.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I will hit the local gun shop and look at the different models and see what I like.
 
As far as a scope goes that is down the road, not something that is a high priority. The main thing is to get one and have some fun shooting it at the range and get good with it.

This statement makes me confident in recommending the 15-Sport to you. Don't forget to check out other rifles in the same price range. You may find something you like more than the 15-Sport. Who knows? If you're planning on mounting a scope, you may opt for an AR-15 with a railed gas block so you can fold the front sight out of the way.

Again, if you have any specific questions just ask.
 
While the Sport is a solid choice, if it was me and I had a little more cheeze, I'd go with the M&P15TS. 14.5" barrel w/ Vortex pinned flash suppressor, killer free-floated handguard by Troy (I think), just a great looking AR, IMOHO. Devastating at 25 yards.
 
Thanks I will look at a few of them but thought I would start here with a post.

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I found an M&P 15T today for $949. Product: Model M&P15T - 5.56 mm, Tactical

What do you think of this? I looked at Colt and Bushmaster and this seemed like a great deal.

Thanks

f1adb8ef-1d1e-47ff-8cee-dd51bcba2e2d_zpse7b06e21.jpg


It has the 1:8 barrel, "Durable, corrosion resistant barrel finish" (Melonite). I am very biased and think the 1:8 Melonite barrel is excellent. I like the free float 10" quad rail. Free floating the rail is something you may have wanted to do anyways, so having it right out of the box is good. The quad rail is nice to have because it opens the door to accessories.

The most important thing is that you like it. If the M&P 15-T floats your boat, get it. You won't be disappointed with any of M&P 15 series rifles. If you do buy it, shoot it in its stock configuration to get a feel for it. Then you'll have a better idea of what accessories will make the rifle fit you better.

Just eyeballing it if it were mine, I'd swap out the grip, the stock, a QD sling mount for the rail, a simple 2-point sling, drop in a RRA 2-stage trigger, and some rail covers to make it more comfortable to hold with my bare hand. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake.
 
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Thanks it looks pretty nice. I will do a little more shopping but this is on my list.

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Look at the qualifications list at budspolicesupply.com. If you qualify best deals around that I have seen.
 
I am not a LEO. I may look online too. I will do some more shopping locally it's fun.

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If I was looking to spend close to $1000, I'd definitley consider looking at the Colt LE 6920.

The good old Colt LE 6920 Wally World Edition:

colt692011_zpsa459f39d.jpg


v.s.

The S&W M&P 15-T

f1adb8ef-1d1e-47ff-8cee-dd51bcba2e2d_zpse7b06e21.jpg


Been eyeing one up at my local Wallys world, and the price tag is just under $1100.

If the Colt floats your boat and as long as the expense does not interfere with paying for necessities and prior financial obligations, go and get it. Life is too darn short.

...now if I could find some way to make the "life is too darn short" rationale work at a Lamborghini dealership and be congruent with my bank account :o
 
I have an M&P 15x and really enjoy it. I'll say this. Look around a lot, you can find a lot of rifles these day. From a decent mid range rifle to an even nicer higher end, fully mil spec + model will only set you back another few hundred. I added STR stock, Magpul AFG, rangeplates, trigger guard, EOTech XPS, BCM Mod 0 Comp, BCM gunfighter medium charging handle, YHM riser, a bunch of magpul mag's in 30's 20, window's, none, version 2, version 3. I planning to upgrade the trigger. My point is, $800 to $1200 quickly becomes $2000 or more. Figure out what you want, save for a few more weeks if you are not a cash hoarder like me, and get what you want the first time. You'll save money in the end and have a better rifle too.
 
While the Sport is a solid choice, if it was me and I had a little more cheeze, I'd go with the M&P15TS. 14.5" barrel w/ Vortex pinned flash suppressor, killer free-floated handguard by Troy (I think), just a great looking AR, IMOHO. Devastating at 25 yards.
Out of curiosity, ( 5.56 ) why would anyone want a 14.5 barrel with a fixed flash hider? Loss of 1.5" of barrel? Lower velocity? Less energy? Less stability? If you decide you want to put on a suppressor you need a new barrel? It is not "more compact" so I do not see the benefit. Please understand that I am not saying you are wrong, just trying to see a benefit. If it is purely cosmetic, that is reason enough, I just saw the purple platinum and it looks interesting, purely cosmetic and there is no right or wrong. As a side note, I also did not see any benefit in the bushmaster 14.5 with izzy comp 20 yrs ago. Be Safe,
 
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