M&P Sport - $619 - Pull the Trigger?

[Ibmikey]

If you desire Mid length gas and the other features buy once and you will not regret it. Building something else out of a sport may be entertaining but will always be short of your dream and it can be expensive. Give the money to yer buddy to hold then you will not spend it until there is enough for the ultimate purchase. With the current market being well supplied that dream rifle is out there and at a reasonable price, but it is up to you to make the final decision on how to proceed, not us well wishing guys.

 

[Mr Pokeyman]

Look at this one
Academy - Bushmaster .223 Remington SuperLight Carbine Semiautomatic Rifle

The Bushmaster has a 1 in 9 barrel twist. I read that the S & W has a 1 in 5 or 1 in 8. Wouldn't the Smith have better accuracy?
Or doesn't it really matter unless you are shooting very long distance?

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

I read a lot of posts saying it's a great 'starter' rifle.

A question to the OP: Are you gonna start collecting ARs? And this will be the beginning of your collection??

If not, I'd take the advice of others that say to save for the model you want to begin with so A; You'll be happier, B: You will have a fine AR w/everything you want, and C: You won't be feeling like you have to 'upgrade' to a model w/FA and a DC.

I own 2-M$Ps, one 15/22 and a model 'T', 5.56.

I bought the ones I wanted to buy and added the accessories I wanted and have absolutely no plans of buying any more ARs, unless something bad happens to ones I own.

So, if starting a collection, the 'Sport' IS a good starting point, but it isn't the model you really want.

Remember, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE and my time is shorter than it ever has been.

Get the model YOU wantz and if it's a SPORT, get the SPORT!!

 

[JaPes]

The Bushmaster has a 1 in 9 barrel twist. I read that the S & W has a 1 in 5 or 1 in 8. Wouldn't the Smith have better accuracy?

Or doesn't it really matter unless you are shooting very long distance?

The S&W M&P 15's come in 1:7, 1:8 5R, and 1:9 barrel twist rates. The different barrel twist rates accommodate different grain weight projectiles. 55gr works best with 1:9 twist rate. It stabilizes the lighter projectile without spinning it into bits. 77gr works best with 1:7 twist rate; the increased mass of the projectile needs a bit more spin to stabilize.

The 1:8 5R is the middle of the road. As long as I don't go to either extreme of .223/5.56 projectile grain weights, it performs well. The 5R rifling has a land opposite the grove, and the rifling has a sloped transition between the land and groove. This provides a better gas seal and lessens the deformation of the projectile, positively affecting the potential for accuracy.

Accuracy depends on the rifles purpose of use. If you're not shooting long distances, then the lighter weight projectiles and the 1:9 twist rate will give you the accuracy you need. Shooting longer distances means a longer, more aerodynamically efficient projectile that weighs more. You'll want the 1:7 twist rate barrel. I wanted to shoot a range of commonly found projectile weights, and wanted a good all-round rifle, 1:8 5R was the ticket.

The biggest factor that affects accuracy is the nut behind the trigger.

 

[Mr Pokeyman]

Thank you JaPes. Appreciate the info.

 

[Little Creek]

I have a Sport. I do not miss the forward assist or the ejection port cover. I like the trigger guard. I eventually added Magpul stock and grip, ambi safety, norgon ambi mag release, raptor ambi charging handle, 13" Viking Tactics free floating Troy handguard. Did I say I was left handed? Do I feel like this is an inferior M4gery? No Way. This was my first M4 and I enjoyed shooting it along the way toward getting it set up like I want it. Now I just need a SSA trigger and it will be perfect.

 

[dogboy99]

Dropped in a timmeny trigger and houge grip to the sport. Just awesome. I would get the sport & use the extra $ for these two mods.

 

[Wtex]

Vote for getting the Sport and adding the Magpul furniture. Have a Sport and love it. Recently put together an AR kit and I thought the dust cover got in the way at the range.

 

[RainDodger]

You'll get every opinion here. I have both; my Sport is one of the first, with the 1:8, 5R barrel. I took it out last weekend for the first time in a long time. I'd forgotten just how good it works. It's my opinion that the barrel is superior to the chrome lined barrel on my Colt. With a red dot on there though, you're never going to know the difference. In my case, there's simply no need for a forward assist or a dust cover. I shoot my rifles and am not just an internet commando. I've never needed either of those. I have other ARs with those items and they've never been used. In point of fact, I prefer the looks of a receiver with a slick side anyway. I would be just as happy picking up a Sport if I'm in need of an AR, as any other AR of any brand.

With all that said, it's just a matter of whether you want that barrel or not. I've found the 5R rifling to be a bit easier to clean, with the more gradual angle of the lands, but that's pretty subjective. Others also call the Sport an "entry level" AR... I view that as an error in terminology. It's simply a rifle with less accessories on it when you buy it. It still says "M&P" on it. It still functions the same and shoots the same caliber bullet.

Get what you want, get what you like, and don't bother thinking much about what the guy on the next shooting bench is thinking, because he really doesn't care much about what rifle you're shooting.

Just my take on it.

 

[iron6]

If you really want the magpul version, I would wait, you'll always be kicking yourself for not getting it, on the otherhand I bought the sport vs a windham weaponry ar at the LGS because I decided having 200$ for ammo made more sense than having a dust cover I would never use and having to buy sights . After shooting it I don't regret it at all. If 300$ is a big deal for you then you should also consider buying ammo on top of your gun. You could have a $3000 nosveske that would be more worthless than a shot out orginal m16 if you couldn't afford to feed it.

 

[pgamboa]

I have about ~700-800 rds of ammo I bought while I found them at WM. Think I'll hold out for FDE Version.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JustAnotherGunGuy]

I say hold out for the MOE!
I am looking into getting a mid-length with a faster twist rate for shooting longer/heavier bullets.

 

[Pants]

Get the Sport! The price is too good not move on.

 

[gm272gs]

You could build one, but not for that price. Close, but not quite.
I usually use Aero Precision receivers with Windham Weaponry Barrel, bolt/carrier, and receiver parts. That will run $720, and then you have to build it. The most important parts to the rifle are barrel, feed ramps, and bolt. In my opinion, all three should be made by the same company.

The M&P 15 Sport is a very good rifle. It is complete and tested. It comes with a warranty, and is my recommendation for a first rifle.

You can always build a 2nd one.

 

[worm5932]

ill chime in even though I don't have an ar. it seems to me that the sport will do everything I would want it to, shoot paper and coyotes. yeah you can go all out and spend as much as you want on one, but really for what? is spending all that extra money to talk about what you got worth it? me, id rather say I got 700 in a rifle that will do what yours will. that conversation will happen while its sitting at home in the safe, or at the range target shooting, if were in war no one will be asking.
a guy at work and were talking about building one at lunch a couple weeks ago, and I now have an itch to get one. I think the sport will do everything I want it to.

 

[JaPes]

I think the sport will do everything I want it to.

It will. The 15-Sport has good bones.

 

[worm5932]

ive been thinking about this some more and looking on youtube the last hour and have another question.

I understand the dust cover and forward assist however, is chambering a round and needing to use the forward assist really needed? it seems to me that if you take care of your gun it should cycle correctly, if it doesn't send it to smith to be repaired. I can see if you go out and shoot 1000 rounds one day it may get dirty and act up, at that point its time for a cleaning. the ar platform is so easy to takedown and clean it can be done in a few minutes.

to the OP, I think the sport is the way to go.

 

[red dragon]

Many people on this forum agree that a FA is worthless. If a round dosen't chamber,jamming it forward is the last thing I'd do. stopping and addressing the malfunction before ramming it home can save you time and headaches.

 

[JaPes]

When used to address a correctly diagnosed failure to return to battery and applied properly, the forward assist is a very useful feature. Finger or thumb pressure is used on the forward assist to nudge the round into battery. It is not meant to be hammered on to force a round into battery. Forcing a round into battery can have catastrophic consequences.

Is there a squib in the barrel? Am I shooting faulty ammunition? Is there something wrong with my rifle?

 

[gm272gs]

I used the forward assist the last time I chambered my bore laser. I don't let the bolt fly forward on the bore laser (seems like a bad thing to do) so, it doesn't close all the way. One or two pumps on the FA, and it clicks closed. Easy peasy.

If I am shooting one-at-a-time from the bench, I do the same thing. The FA comes in handy there, too. I am not a fan of letting the bolt slam into my finely-tuned shiny match-quality reloads, before I shoot them (hopefully) through holes that are touching.

Other than that, you probably don't need one.