M&P15T for $719 - pull the trigger?

[TexasElement]

Grab A Gun marked down the M&P15T to $719. I live locally so no shipping charges. I had my mind made up on a Colt LE6920 MPS-B Magpul edition which they sell for $905. I have an M&P 15-22 and a Shield 9mm and I love the line and both those guns. What are your thoughts? Is the Colt worth $200 more?

Smith and Wesson M&P15T Black .223 / 5.56 NATO 16-inch 30rd Quad-Rail

 

[snm8510]

You'll get a mixed bag of reviews.. Just remember, the government loves the lowest bidder. Who can do what they want for the least amount possible. MilSpec doesn't necessarily mean quality, it can be better than some products and it could be worse than others.

 

[cyphertext]

Depends on what you want. The Colt has all that "mil-spec goodness", but you get a free float barrel with the T, if you like a quad rail.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The 15T at $700 is an ok deal in today's buyers market as long as that's the configuration you want. The new 15T tactical has a longer slim M-LOK hand guard, lighter counter barrel and mid-length gas system. Depends on what features are of value to you.

No matter what the initial sales price is, buying a rifle that isn't in the configuration you ultimately want typically turns out to be the more expensive rifle.

Happy AR hunting.

 

[TexasElement]

Thanks guys. Is this M&P15 MOE Mid Magpul comparable to the Colt? (I know this is a S&W forum). The price is about the same, as are the features. Colt, of course, has the 1:7 twist rate.

Smith and Wesson M&P15 MOE MID Magpul Black .223 / 5.56 NATO 16-inch 30Rd

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The two M&P rifles you'e mentioned, MOE and 15T, are rifles in different configurations. Have you decided what configuration you want? Free float or standard handguard... mid-legth or carbine gas system... A2 front sight or folding sights...

 

[TexasElement]

Sorry for the dumb question, but could you explain the differences? And compared to the Colt? This will be used for home defense mainly and plenty of range time.

 

[SWMP15Pks]

Take the following with my signature - as free advice. This is part of what I have learned since buying my first AR- an S&W M&P15PSX a little over a year ago.

A free floated barrel in an AR basically means that the handguard never actually touches the barrel, it is mounted to the upper receiver via clamping to the barrel nut. There are slight accuracy advantages to doing this but most "range" time guns will never know the difference. Google "freefloat my AR" you'll get more info than you want.

Carbine vs Mid-length gas? Not much. You'll never know in real world terms until you shoot both side by side. The recoil impulse is slightly slower in the mid-length. Not less of an impulse, just slower. This makes it feel like its slightly less, and can be easier on rifles long-term. Will you know the difference? Not likely. Not until you've got several thousands of rounds down range on your ARs.

There are several threads here that discuss the rifle twist. Suffice it to say, if you're looking for a 100 yard range gun, 1:9 is more than sufficient. If you know you want to shoot beyond - say 200 yards - on a regular basis, do some reading on AR twist rate.

Google is your friend when it comes to understanding the platform. And understanding what you want to do with your AR is our friend when giving you advice.

In the end, the S&W and the Colt are both going to give you years of quality service. Both are quality firearms, both have good reputations. Both will do what you have said so far you want to do. Personally, I would save the 200 bucks for ammo and range time. 200 bucks buys you 1000 rounds of ammo.

Again, see the signature. Good luck, and good shooting!

 

[cyphertext]

Thanks guys. Is this M&P15 MOE Mid Magpul comparable to the Colt? (I know this is a S&W forum). The price is about the same, as are the features. Colt, of course, has the 1:7 twist rate.

Smith and Wesson M&P15 MOE MID Magpul Black .223 / 5.56 NATO 16-inch 30Rd

The price may be close to the same, but the "features" are much different... they may look alike, but that is where it ends.

I don't mean to be rude, but you keep saying "compared to the Colt", but it doesn't seem to me that you understand what the Colt is or has to be compared to.

The Colt LE6920 is the closest you can get to the rifle that our troops carry. It is "mil-spec" in the sense that most of the parts come from the same bins and have most of the same testing as those meant for military rifles. It comes with a full auto BCG (even though it only operates as semi auto), 4150 CMV barrel that is chrome lined, heavy buffer...

If you want the same type of gun that the military carries, then go with the Colt.

The S&W line isn't built quite as robust. Most of their rifles use salt nitriding vs. chrome lined barrels. Many, but not all, of the barrels are 4140 steel, not 4150. All the bolt carriers are the lighter, semi auto carrier type. The buffers are lighter as well. Many of these things may be cheaper for S&W, but also many of these things really don't make a difference to the average shooter... but it is good to know that the differences exist and what they are.

Basically, with the Colt, you are getting a very solid, basic no frills carbine that is the baseline that all others are judged by. For the same money in S&W, you get more tangible features, such as free float quadrails on the 15T, or Magpul furniture on the MOE.

Hope that helps.

 

[bloodlord77]

The price may be close to the same, but the "features" are much different... they may look alike, but that is where it ends.

I don't mean to be rude, but you keep saying "compared to the Colt", but it doesn't seem to me that you understand what the Colt is or has to be compared to.

The Colt LE6920 is the closest you can get to the rifle that our troops carry. It is "mil-spec" in the sense that most of the parts come from the same bins and have most of the same testing as those meant for military rifles. It comes with a full auto BCG (even though it only operates as semi auto), 4150 CMV barrel that is chrome lined, heavy buffer...

If you want the same type of gun that the military carries, then go with the Colt.

The S&W line isn't built quite as robust. Most of their rifles use salt nitriding vs. chrome lined barrels. Many, but not all, of the barrels are 4140 steel, not 4150. All the bolt carriers are the lighter, semi auto carrier type. The buffers are lighter as well. Many of these things may be cheaper for S&W, but also many of these things really don't make a difference to the average shooter... but it is good to know that the differences exist and what they are.

Basically, with the Colt, you are getting a very solid, basic no frills carbine that is the baseline that all others are judged by. For the same money in S&W, you get more tangible features, such as free float quadrails on the 15T, or Magpul furniture on the MOE.

Hope that helps.

^^^What he said. I'd put my money on the colt. You know the whole "buy once, cry once" thing. I have an LE6920 Socom as my go to rifle, and a Bushmaster XM15 as my range toy.

 

[Engine49guy]

I have 2 Colts (SP1 and Government Model), an older Bushmaster A2 and a S&W M&P15 carbine with free floating barrel (not a sport).

All are great guns but IMO the extra $200 spent on the Colt will come back to you if you ever sell it.
To be clear I dont think my Colts are better guns but with the Colt name stamped on the lower they become more desirable in the used market since it so so saturated with other brands.

My big question is "When will S&W offer us a $499 AR15 9mm carbine already " !?!?!

 

[TexasElement]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your input and explanations. I'm still leaning towards the Colt.

 

[GunGuy69]

I have a question about the m&p 15t, does this rifle have a pinned gas block? Thanks for the help. I have a gen 1 m&p 15 sport, and would like to move up to the 15t.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I have a question about the m&p 15t, does this rifle have a pinned gas block? Thanks for the help. I have a gen 1 m&p 15 sport, and would like to move up to the 15t.

Funny you should ask. We were just discussing this on the Forum a couple days ago. I don't own a 15T, but just for the heck of it I called S&W and asked. Was told the low profile gas block under the handguard is not pinned.

 

[GunGuy69]

****, thanks for getting back with me. How can my m&p slick\sport be double pinned, yet a step up is not pinned. I want to have a clean line of sight, and with my sport I have the a2 in the way, so to speak. Read about taking it off so I could cut it down grind it clean it up paint it and do it that way. The problem is I was told that on the gen 1 models they put the pins in such a way that neither end is tapered. Going to mic it just to make sure. Someone called and said during the gen one sport the pins where for lack of knowledge pressed and flanged so they don't come out. I guess I could drill out the pins. It's really important to me to have a pinned gas block. Everyone has a certain belief and mine is if a gas block moves out doesn't matter how good the rest of your rifle is. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[cyphertext]

****, thanks for getting back with me. How can my m&p slick\sport be double pinned, yet a step up is not pinned. I want to have a clean line of sight, and with my sport I have the a2 in the way, so to speak. Read about taking it off so I could cut it down grind it clean it up paint it and do it that way. The problem is I was told that on the gen 1 models they put the pins in such a way that neither end is tapered. Going to mic it just to make sure. Someone called and said during the gen one sport the pins where for lack of knowledge pressed and flanged so they don't come out. I guess I could drill out the pins. It's really important to me to have a pinned gas block. Everyone has a certain belief and mine is if a gas block moves out doesn't matter how good the rest of your rifle is. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

The pins are tapered on the Sport 1. They are backwards though from how most other manufacturers put them in.

As far as the gas block is concerned, the low profile gas block on my BCM rifle is not pinned, and I think you will find that most are not. Dimple the barrel where the set screw bites, use loc-tite and it's not going to move... plus you have the hand guard covering it, protecting it from being hit and knocked loose.

 

[GunGuy69]

I appreciate your info. Wow, not pinned on a BCM and that blows my sport out of the water... Something to chew on, thanks again for the info and time.

 

[GunGuy69]

Sorry, yes the pins are right to left correct?

 

[cyphertext]

Sorry, yes the pins are right to left correct?

Yes, hammer on the left side as you are looking down the barrel with the rifle shouldered to remove the pins.

 

[cyphertext]

I appreciate your info. Wow, not pinned on a BCM and that blows my sport out of the water... Something to chew on, thanks again for the info and time.

I have a Sport I as well... still like that rifle!