Appears to be a used or defective unit-I would let them have it back.
What you are seeing is perfectly normal, from factory test firing.
If it were a Ruger, it would look NOTHING like this "PEA OH ES" this guy got suckered into buying! I know, I just recently bought a Ruger AR-556. It had that nasty thick lube on some parts, but other than that, it was clean! And, on the OP's Sport, it has a lot of burrs and machine marks that could have been cleaned up a little bit better had S&W's QC didn't suck so much! This must be why S&W Sport 2 AR's are so cheap in price; they cut corners so much!You should just clean and shoot it. That's the way it should look.
The guns are not works of art or fine collectibles. The only thing out of the ordinary are the couple small cosmetic blemishes. Wipe them with oil and they may dissappear. If not, I'd not worry.
Since the advent of the internet, inexpensive digital cameras and folks obsessed with perfection on regular production firearms, I've noticed all manor of tiny cosmetic inconsistencies in various firearms, especially on AR-15's...and I think those people are warped.
Every AR or AR upper I've purchased has signs of being test fired with what appears to be the filthiest ammunition imaginable.
As others said, clean it thoroughly, especially the chamber, lube it, and enjoy.
The most common problem I've seen with those guns in the castle nut coming loose on the extension tube (buffer tube). You may want to check that for tightness and stake it deeper if it is lightly staked.
There's nothing there worth fretting about.
If it was a Ruger they'd probably replace the gun (or half of it in parts), but S&W's CS people have a little more common sense and I respect that.
I don't own a cosmetically perfect gun, not even those classic guns "made like they used to" everyone laments about.
The Ruger is not in any way better. The guns that come painted look terrible.
Being a fan is one thing, but let's not get carried away. I'd call them comparable.
And, my mind must be extremely warped then! I expect my firearms to be new if it is being sold to me new! NO marks, blemishes, scratches, etc. If you buy a new car or truck, will you want it scratched, dirty, or any other blemishes on it? Will you take it home and say,"Ah well, it's going to happen one day anyway, it's better now than later. Um, no, but HELL NO!
@cyphertext
I bought it from an internet dealer. It was sealed.
Should My New M&P Sport II Look Like This?
Just bought my M&P 15 Sport II about a month ago. While waiting on ammo to be shipped to me from Palmetto State Armory I decided to break the rifle down and clean and inspect it per the manual.
This is my first AR so I was wondering if this is what it should look like?
I haven't even shot nor cleaned it yet, but to me it doesn't look right.
Spoke to customer service, which I am NOT a fan of (because of past history with them and other S&W I own) and they said to just clean it and shoot it, and that this is the way it should look.
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6