On the fence M&P vs. RJF

[J Rich]

As it says. I'm on the fence about buying a M&P AR vs. buying Red Jacket Firearms KMP AR.I can get the RJF KMP for about $200 more (give or take).

I'm looking for honest opinions or real experiences with these AR's. I KNOW I'm on the S&W forum, but I'm not looking for bias opinions. The M&P is not the end all be all, neither is the RJF KMP.

 

[oneyeopn]

All I can say it that the S&W M&P15 is made in house by a reputable firearms company that has been around for a long time and is going to be around for a long time. No disrespect to RJF ( I wasnt sure who you were referring to until I opened the thread) But they are just one of a lot of Boutique rifle assemblers. Buy the rifle that you want, that is the one who is going to make you happy with your purchase. I have never seen an RJF rifle but they are on TV and there is a lot of notoriety that comes with that. I am happy with my M&P15, I built it to my satisfaction and it looks nothing like it did when it came home. I knew I was going to change it maybe not as much as I have but.....Purchase what makes you happy anything else and you will be doing the whatif's..I just looked it up, It looks just like an MOE with a different roll mark and a different flash suppressor, I dont know what their warranty is like but as I said buy what you want!

 

[Martimus]

They both will get the job done... And since it's your money I'd recommend getting what you like. Bias will permeate most any response you get here or anywhere. It's my biased opinion that you'd be better off spending the difference in cost for ammo. You are welcome to take that for what little it's worth...

 

[J Rich]

I will say I'm new to AR's so I don't know a whole lot about them or the terms or different parts that makes one better than the other. They both shoot .223 the RJF can shot5.56 so ammo price isn't an issue. I not looking for someone to make a choice for me. I know S&W is a quality manufacturer and I'd like to think RJF is to. I'm not sure of which one will make me happy. I'm just tring to hear both sides to make an educated decision.

 

[oneyeopn]

I will say I'm new to AR's so I don't know a whole lot about them or the terms or different parts that makes one better than the other. They both shoot .223 the RJF can shot5.56 so ammo price isn't an issue. I not looking for someone to make a choice for me. I know S&W is a quality manufacturer and I'd like to think RJF is to. I'm not sure of which one will make me happy. I'm just tring to hear both sides to make an educated decision.

they both shoot 5.56. Red Jacket buys quality parts and assembles them, S&W makes their own except for the MOE which also has the Magpul furniture like the RJF you are looking at. I am not sure if anyone in the forum has an RJF but if someone does they will come along and speak up.

 

[Kodiakco]

Stick with a known name brand maker (S&W, Colt, BCM, DD, Noveske). After watching some of their shows, I don't like how they hack some things to make them work. I remember one where the guy that's popping the owners daughter could not figure out a problem with an AR. It turned out to be a buffer/spring problem! This chart should help you out and explain a lot for you.

 

[Dragon88]

Why are you considering the Red Jacket AR? Is it just because of the TV show?

 

[oneyeopn]

I tried to explain the difference between a manufacturer and an assembler!!

 

[JaPes]

Unbiased reply:

Either AR should serve you well.

Ask yourself this. If both rifles have equal function & equal reliability, which one would you choose? Is the $200 premium for the RJF brand roll mark worth it?

If the RJF roll mark is what you really want, get it. I can understand the implied cool factor of having an RJF roll mark and showing it off to friends who enjoy the show.

Buy what makes you happy.

 

[JaPes]

This chart should help you out and explain a lot for you.

NOOOOOOOOOO! Not the "Chart"! I hate that thing.

 

[storeyteller]

I havn't seen or heard of anyone that owns a RJF assembled weapon. That being said, I'm sure whatever you decide to purchase will indeed make you happy.

 

[Cajun Sport]

Buy them both and run them side by side. Send me the one that you like the least... LOL

 

[StlBluesFan72]

I havn't seen or heard of anyone that owns a RJF assembled weapon. That being said, I'm sure whatever you decide to purchase will indeed make you happy.

Me either. I dont think they are easy to come by. After watching all the disfuction on that show, and the legal problems with the FFL holders, I dont think I would want to spend my money at RJF. I had a jamming problem on my brand new OR. I called S&W, boxed it up, wrote a letter explaining the problem, and had it back with a brand new upper in 16 days. I am almost positive that would NEVER happen dealing with RJF. To the OP ... save some cash, buy a sport, and throw some Magpul furniture on it, and go shooting man!

 

[LAS&W4me]

I've handled both. I prefer the S&W

 

[philevans]

S&W brand for me!

if i was a novice in ar's,
and i was and still am,
then i'd get a known and then later
broaden into something more esoteric.

 

[BillyJack2012]

I never see RJ mentioned or considered when I see others on multiple sites making a decision on ARs. There are a lot of options out there. As Oneye mentioned, they are an assembler, not a manufacturer of ARs.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Red Jacket had a reputation as a mediocre gunsmithing business before the show began airing. I cannot see that anything has changed? I wouldn't spend top dollar on a mediocre build when I could get much more for the same $.

 

[awmp]

I would go with the M&P rifle for one reason, it has a life time warranty.

 

[PainterlyShotgroup]

I might get flamed for this but I couldn't help it.....These are just funny!!!

Get a Smith&Wesson. You won't regret it.

 

[KeithR]

Programs like "Sons of Guns" and "Top Shot" are what got me more interested again in shooting. When I happened to catch a Top Shot episode where the contestants used an M&P 40. I was hooked and started to research the M&P line. After a few weeks I had the chance to handle a M&P .40. I was so impressed with the quality and feel that I did some more research, and bought the 40. I picked up a Sport a few weeks later. Zero regrets on S&W. I will admit I looked into a lot of manufacturers, RJF being among them but I could not justify the cost for the name. The S&W M&P are made and assembled here in the US, have a lifetime warranty, and years of reliable service to back them up. I'll admit that having an RJF or a Gunsmoke brand would be cool, but the bottom line is I'm not made of money and the M&P's will do everything the "boutique brands" do equally(if not better) for less money.
A very favorite photographer whose work I have admired for 30 some years was once asked what equipment he used because his work was so beautiful. He exclaimed what brand he used, but then said that not once had the camera ever gone out and taken a picture by it self. It's not the equipment. It's how it's used that's more important.