New M&P 15T, but...

[saw577]

So I couldnt hold out any longer. I finally broke down and bought the 15T my local shop has had for ahwile. Ive been itching to get this, as its the only original model I can find anywhere (311001). However, when I finally got it broken down and poking around inside, I was kinda irritated. According to the website, and the sleeve around the forend, the bolt carrier and gas key are supposed to be chromed. Mine are not, unless they have come out with a new black chrome. I looked at a few other models, and all of them say the same thing. Chromed bore, gas key, and bolt carrier. Has anyone else run into this? I have emailed CS, so hopefully they can explain it.

On another note, and I'll preface this with the fact that I am a complete novice with rifles, but how is a little O-ring an adequate spring for the extractor?? I thought I had lost the spring before I even got to fire it when I first broke it down. When the pin is in place, the extractor doesnt move. According to the manual, its supposed to feel springy (technical term...). Ive seen where this O-ring setup is supposed to be better, but the engineer in me is confused.

As usual, any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Dream to Dream]

1. The chroming on the bolt carrier group components is internal, not external. Very few bolts and carriers have chroming on the outside. If you shine a light inside your gas key, inside the carrier, etc. you should see chroming.

2. Your extractor should have a small spring as well as the O-ring.

Post pics if you don't mind.

 

[oneyeopn]

I dont have the "t" model but on my Sport I had the Oring, coil spring and spring insert.

 

[saw577]

Well that kinda sucks... Im almost positive there is not a chrome coating on the inside of my bolt carrier, unless its just that dirty out of the box. I havent cleaned it yet. Also, Im almost positive that I dont have a spring, only an O-ring. I will double check when I get home tonight, and post some pics.

 

[oneyeopn]

saw577...you do have a chrome plating it is not polished chrome. I thought the same thing when I took mine all apart when I got it to make sure what they said about it was true, thats when I learned there are chromes that arent polished bright and shiny. I took my Dad's colt apart to compare and his BCG looked the same. I will have to look up some of what I read but its there it just doesnt look like you would expect it to by the name.

 

[usamade]

I too, picked up a 15t last week, shot it twice, and just striped and cleaned it yesterday, I did notice that the bolt didn't have the mirror finish, but wasn't too worried, I also noticed the same thing you are talking about with the spring and o-ring, I didn't see a spring, and didn't really notice one when I removed the ejector to clean, I didn't have to apply really any pressure to remove, jus popped the pin and out it came, I didn't investigate more as everything seemed to function with 100 rounds on each range trip. This is my first AR, and boy I'm hooked!

 

[saw577]

Ok, so upon further, closer inspection, there does appear to be a spring under the O-ring. Its little... Hopefully everything functions properly this weekend when I get to finally shoot it. I also got a picture of what I guess they are calling my chrome lining. Its inside the carrier where the bolt goes. You can almost see inside the gas key too, which has a bit of a shine to it. Glad to see Im just being paranoid.

This is my first AR too, so Im pumped. I havent even shot it, and all Ive done for the last few days is research accessories. Im not sure I want to mess up the castle nut, but I really wanted that Magpul ASAP for their single-point sling. I found a few others that will mount over the piston tube, so I may go with those. Looks like Magpul will be getting alot of my business. I like their grips and trigger guard. And their stocks and slings and sling mounts... Cant decide on optics though. Right now the only place I have to shoot is a 25 yrd indoor range, so Im not sure how much I really need a red-dot sight/scope just yet. And of course I want a flashlight. For some reason I was really bummed I cant put a bayonet on here. I know its totally impractical, but I think it'd look cool. Oh well. Thanks for the input everyone, I really appreciate it. I'll put more pics up once I start getting the additions installed.

 

[oneyeopn]

I bought one that clamps over the castle nut and it works great. The way I use my rifle a one point doesnt really work. I use a traditional 2 point sling but the one that clamps over worked very well.

 

[batmann]

My M&P MOE is the same as yours, the chrome is there, just can't see it. For optics I suggest a Burris AR332 and get the QD mount. I have put a 1000 or so rounds down the tube, mostly cheap Russian stuff and mine has been faultless. Careful on the 'extras', you will wind up spending as much on them as you did the rifle----LOL

 

[saw577]

Oneyeopn - which one did you go with? Ive seen a few, and they all look pretty good.

Batmann - Ive been looking at that Burris. So is it a fixed 3x, or can it vary from 1 to 3?