M&p sport vs a PSA build vs DPMS

[Brianv1980]

Ok I am having a REALLY hard time deciding what to do. I have searched and read a ton of reviews and the more I read the more concussed I feel. I would like an ar that will be used for range time and home defense. I love the reviews and info on the sport but reading ar15.com has me thinking about a PSA build. I have also seen DPMS oracles in my price range. I am fortunate enough to live in NJ so I have ban compliance to contend with as well. I would like to stay at or below $700. I have found the sport compliant at $620 shipped. Am I missing anything going with a sport. I know everyone with forward assists never use them. Is the dust cover gonna be that big of a deal???

I figure I can get a sport and have a few $ left for accys

 

[Florida J Frame]

The Sport is a great rifle. I haven't missed the forward jammer or dust cover once. Don't over-think it. Buy the Sport and enjoy some range time.

 

[Dedezelic]

Go with the sport. It even gets good word on ar15.com. Unless you're planning on doing lots of classes and shooting 1000s of rounds it's a great gun. Well made, lifetime warranty from S&W, etc. You'll never notice the lack of dust cover and fwd assist.

 

[Brianv1980]

Like I said its gonna be a be a safe queen. Range time and self defense. If SHTF I have a Remington 870 to help out. . I am looking for something well built (new to ar's and I don't know if building my own really enthuses me) and fairly inexpensive. Looking to add a decent optic and have fun. I don't need a $2500 piece to use everyday.

 

[rojodiablo]

Go with the sport. It even gets good word on ar15.com. Unless you're planning on doing lots of classes and shooting 1000s of rounds it's a great gun. Well made, lifetime warranty from S&W, etc. You'll never notice the lack of dust cover and fwd assist.

I have 2 of them. The one is lonely; it has maybe 600 rounds thru it in a year.

The other one is a gutter whore. She has eaten around 16,000 rounds now. Hardly ever barfs one up. I will venture to say that I am STILL at less than 50 hiccups with the rifle. And, it shoots as well as it ever did, with no key-holing other than from cheap ammo occasionally. It's hunted in Texas, Az, and NM for varmints and hogs. it's gotten filthy dirty.
It has done at least 8-9 training courses, with the round counts being between 400-900 a day.

I got no complaints; none at all.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have 2 of them. The one is lonely; it has maybe 600 rounds thru it in a year.

The other one is a gutter whore. She has eaten around 16,000 rounds now. Hardly ever barfs one up. I will venture to say that I am STILL at less than 50 hiccups with the rifle. And, it shoots as well as it ever did, with no key-holing other than from cheap ammo occasionally. It's hunted in Texas, Az, and NM for varmints and hogs. it's gotten filthy dirty.
It has done at least 8-9 training courses, with the round counts being between 400-900 a day.

I got no complaints; none at all.

Wow - quite a testimonial!

 

[slammr]

Get the M&P. It's complete, it works great and you will have no hassles. A great rifle at a great price.

 

[BillyJack2012]

It would be between the PSA and the Sport of the 3. S&W seems to have a lot more consistency in their product and their customer services makes PSA look silly. PSA seems to always be busy and it takes a while to get in touch with them. Seemed that every week, someone had a canted front sight block. I have 2 PSA lower parts kits. One has a really nice trigger and the other has one that feels like it's been dragged across a beach and stuffed in my lower. Every S&W I've shot and heard of has a really nice trigger. Mine is the best of the mil-spec triggers I have. And yes, quality of the overall rifle is top notch.

 

[Brianv1980]

I understand what I am missing with the sport but for my intended purpose is there any real need for the dust cover or FA. Mostly the FA is used when the weapon is dirty and in essence forces the weapon to fire which to me sounds dangerous and I am not deployed anywhere where my life depends on it. Secondly the dust cover keeping the chamber clear of foreign debris entering the chamber.

I just don't want to feel like I cheaped out on the gun after I buy it. Thanks for the help guys

 

[JDSo]

Just my 2 cents. I have the MP Sport and it is a great work of engineering. It was my first AR and I certainly do not have the experience that some of the other folks have. For a newbie, it is a great gun.

Based on everything I know and that I have read unless you plan on dragging yourself through a few wars the dust cover is moot. You will not need it. And if you ever need one, use a piece of duct tape

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Forward Assists, Dust Covers were all added after the original design had failure issues in the jungle.
Same with the chromed barrel bore and BCG. Corrosion issues with both so they chromed them to slow down corrosion issues.
The Sport's design eliminates the FA and DC but keeps all the other improvements that have been made to the AR platform since back n da day resulting in a solid, well priced shooter w/lifetime warranty unlike S&W competition.
Buy it, shoot it and be grateful we live in a country where fine weapons such as these are legal to own and shoot.

 

[gunny4053]

The M&P's are solid rifles, the fit and finish are clean with good attention to detail, and appear to have quality barrels. As to dust covers, unless you plan on dragging your rifle through the back forty as a means of transport to the range, you will never need it. As soon as you pull the trigger it's open anyway. How many bolt guns do you know of with dust covers? Just food for thought. Bolt assist, unless you're a member of the " I haven't cleaned my gun for 20,000 rounds and it works just fine" club, you will never need it. In all honesty, I've found more dirt collecting in bolt assist than the rest of the gun. In a fire fight in the sand box, it may get you back in the fight. Here in America, punching holes in paper or a bad guy in your home, not needed.

I have no experience with PSA, but a build, any build is only as good as the parts and attention put into it. In my opinion, it's no place to skimp on the budget.

As to DPMS, many, many folks will tell you to walk away. I'm not one of them. Every one I've owned has worked and worked well. If you insure the gas key is staked properly, and you can fix it yourself if need be, not a big deal, I have found nothing to make me leery.

Save yourself from getting an ulcer, and just buy the Smith. If there's a problem with it, S&W will make it right. Good Luck and good shooting.

 

[eschoendorff]

Save yourself from getting an ulcer, and just buy the Smith. If there's a problem with it, S&W will make it right. Good Luck and good shooting.

Gunny has a good point. Buy the Sport, shoot it, and them come back and tell us how awesome it is. Easy peasy.

 

[Brianv1980]

U guys are all very helpful. I am really leaning toward the sport and having money for some accessories. I know I want a quad rail a magpul 45 degree forward hand grip. And a red dot. Any ideas on a budget redot? Or where to look for used optics and find a good deal?

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

My opinion:
Red dots are for quick target acquisition, not for driving tacks.

Close quarter combat, quick off hand shooting = Red dot.

Shooting 100 yds, 300 yds and want to impress your pals with your shooting ability, get a scope.

Red dot on a budget, I'd get a Vortex StrikeFire w/red, green dot. @ $160. That's whats on my 15/22 and I likey lots.

AimPoint Pro, double the cost of the StrikeFire and add a little more.

If you are gonna add a 3X magnifier behind the red dot, buy a cantilever mount for the red dot to free up rail room. With the cantilever mount for the red dot, the iron sights can remain on the weapon.

At least that was my experience.

 

[gunny4053]

BSA red dots have been pretty good, and run about $35 (give or take). They're not heavy duty combat sights, but for everyday casual target popping, they get the job done.

Quad rails can be had for as little or as much as you want to spend. I'm not a big fan of them because, if you put one on, you feel the need to hang stuff on them, thus turning a 4 lb weapon into a 20 lb decoration hanger. I personally like the Magpul hand guards. If all you're putting on is a fore grip and maybe a flashlight, you can put on only the rails you need and leave the rest clean. A lot more comfortable as well. If you want to free float the barrel, I really like the VLTOR CASV for the same reasons. Change to a low profile gas block, and put a mid length model on and it's clean and can lengthen your sight radius if you're using flip ups front and rear.

As for your fore grip, I'll leave you alone on that one. Suffice to say I have no use for them. Just one more thing to snag stuff on, they don't aid accuracy, and don't provide a more secure/ stable grip. But hey, a lot of folks like them, so it's a personal thing.

 

[CIDI]

I understand what I am missing with the sport but for my intended purpose is there any real need for the dust cover or FA. Mostly the FA is used when the weapon is dirty and in essence forces the weapon to fire which to me sounds dangerous and I am not deployed anywhere where my life depends on it. Secondly the dust cover keeping the chamber clear of foreign debris entering the chamber.

I just don't want to feel like I cheaped out on the gun after I buy it. Thanks for the help guys

I'm new to ARs too. It's my understanding that the FA doesn't force the weapon to fire, it just pushes the bolt into battery, so it CAN fire.

I bought after the CT shooting and the Denver stores became overrun with $1000 guns on consignment for $2000. Ain't happening. So when I found a wall full of ARs in a Steamboat gun shop for msrp, least expensive on top, most expensive on the bottom: I picked the one at my price point. It turned out to be the Optics Ready M&P. I knew S&W's reputation, so I was comfortable buying one of their rifles. Since then I found out I made a great choice.

For a first AR, buy one complete at a price you want to pay, learn about them and then build your next one.

 

[CatSnipah]

My first AR is not an S&W, but S&W was one of the two I boiled it down to.

It will be my second. Love what I own, and love what I see, hear and feel with the M&P (aiming to pick up a 15-22 in about a month or two).

 

[Autococker07]

The dustcover and fwd assist were the products of the US Army "Good Idea Fairy" back in Developmental Testing. Stoner designed the gun without, and Armalite saw no need to change until the army asked them to. Both are useless if you keep the weapon clean and properly serviced....


That said, you will not beat price /quality of the M&P. <---thats a period

I like Palmetto, they build great rifles, and if cost isnt an issue, Id go with a PSA -BUT- you don't lose anything at all with the Smith.

I wouldn't take a DPMS in that price range.

Up till last week I worked in a gun store that sold these three... over the last few years I have probably moved out about 100 each or so of these rifles in all three brands. Of the PSA and S&W I would not hesitate to take either into the woods with me. Good luck on your search!

 

[Kadonny]

Quality red dot at the cheapest price? Primary Arms, without a question..

You can fit a Sport with a quality USA made handguard, a Primary Arms red dot and a VFG for under 1k. How can you beat that?