New M&P15

[Motogunner]

I bought my first (YAY!) AR15 type rifle, a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport Rifle 811036. I like it a lot, so far but have to admit I'm not knowledgeable about this platform being more of an AK enthusiast. It is stock and would like to ad a quad rail and a grip to the quad rail. Questions I have so far:

What length/ size quad rail should I get?
I have noticed the hand guard it came with is a bit loose, if I get the quad rail, will it fit tighter?

 

[Dfresh15]

I have the Knights Armament Quad Rail on mine. Looks great and great quality. Easy to install. Just pop out that factory plastic hand guard and install the new one.

 

[cyphertext]

What length/ size quad rail should I get?
I have noticed the hand guard it came with is a bit loose, if I get the quad rail, will it fit tighter?

What length of quad rail do you want? You can go with a simple drop in quad rail that replaces the standard hand guard, or with modification, you can go with a quad rail that almost covers the entire length of the barrel... or anything in between.

Since you are new, I would suggest that you shoot it as is. If your buddy has a quad rail, shoot it too and see what you like. I personally don't like quad rails and would go with either a keymod hand guard, or a Magpul M-lok hand guard. To me, quad rails are too bulky, add weight, and most of the rail is left unused and feel like a cheese grater... adding covers just adds more bulk. Of course, your mileage may vary.

 

[Dandecoteau]

I'm not all about the "tacticool" AR rifles. I have iron sights and a magpul grip. Along with the magpul foregrip. Really clean look. Doesn't look like a quadrail but you can still attach your goodies to it if you need to. Search magpul forend in Google images. I have one on my Oracle. Feels great in the hand and holds up well to the elements

 

[Motogunner]

I would like a drop in replacement quad rail, think they look cool. and a red dot sight plus the grip attached to the quad rail.

 

[cyphertext]

I would like a drop in replacement quad rail, think they look cool. and a red dot sight plus the grip attached to the quad rail.

You don't want to attach a red dot sight to a drop in quad rail... optics stay on the receiver. There will always be some play in a drop in rail. Especially if you apply a little sideways torque to the vertical grip. Lights, grips, lasers for the cat to chase... these all attach to the quad rail if that is what you want.

For your purpose, get a drop in that is made for a carbine length gas system. These can range in price from $20 up to a couple of hundred.

 

[wurger]

OP, you are lucky your stock hand guard seems loose. It took two people and a tool to get the hand guard off of my Sport.

Here is my Sport with a Midwest Industries drop-in rail:

Same lower with a custom upper:

You can also go with a MOE with rail adapters.

 

[Motogunner]

OP, you are lucky your stock hand guard seems loose. It took two people and a tool to get the hand guard off of my Sport.

Here is my Sport with a Midwest Industries drop-in rail:

Same lower with a custom upper:

You can also go with a MOE with rail adapters.

Your Sport with a Midwest Industries drop-in rail is more like I have in mind.

 

[Vigilant]

I didn't know you could add a dust cover to a Sport. Shows how little I know....

I would go with a MOE drop-in handguard and a rail adapter for a light.

 

[cyphertext]

I didn't know you could add a dust cover to a Sport. Shows how little I know....

I would go with a MOE drop-in handguard and a rail adapter for a light.

He didn't add a dust cover to a Sport upper... he added a different upper to a Sport lower.

 

[JaPes]

Or he stripped a 15-Sport upper down then installed the parts onto a stripped full featured upper receiver. I've come close to doing it myself, but it wouldn't be a 15-Sport anymore. Mine's barely a 15-Sport as is.

 

[wurger]

Completely new upper. Vltor MUR, Troy SDMR 15" rail, Wilson Combat 18" SS Recon Match barrel, NiB M16 BCG, Magpul MBUS Pro irons, and a Dragon comp.

On the Sport lower for now, will be building a custom lower later.