What's Wrong With the M&P Sport II Rifle?

[powwowell]

What parts would you change out, to make this a top of the line AR15?

For an occasional shooter, why won't the factory version last a life time?

Is it's accuracy not acceptable? Can't get the job done?

 

[Pisgah]

What parts would you change out, to make this a top of the line AR15?

For an occasional shooter, why won't the factory version last a life time?

Is it's accuracy not acceptable? Can't get the job done?

-- Define top-of-the-line.
-- I didn't know it wouldn't.
-- Acceptable to whom? What job?

 

[cyphertext]

If by top of the line, you mean built of the same materials as the Colt LE6920, then don't waste your time... just buy the LE6920.

The Sport II will last a lifetime for the occasional shooter. It will last a lifetime for any shooter. Depending upon the volume of shooting you do, you might have to replace a barrel, but the barrel is considered a consumable wear item. Same with magazines...

Accuracy is fine. Just as accurate as any other standard AR 15.

 

[KSDeputy]

I have read complaints about this rifle on this forum, so I bought a Colt LE 6940. I am quite pleased with it. Other than what I read here about the S&W rifle, I have no first hand knowledge of it. You do get what you pay for, and there is a great price difference between the Colt and the S&W.

 

[powwowell]

If by top of the line, you mean built of the same materials as the Colt LE6920, then don't waste your time... just buy the LE6920.

The Sport II will last a lifetime for the occasional shooter. It will last a lifetime for any shooter. Depending upon the volume of shooting you do, you might have to replace a barrel, but the barrel is considered a consumable wear item. Same with magazines...

Accuracy is fine. Just as accurate as any other standard AR 15.

It sounds like I should be quite satisfied with my rifle! The point I was trying to make is, why buy a rifle then spend gazoos of funds, to upgrade it? I don't think I need a Colt LE6920. I'm a shooter, not a soldier.

 

[BAM-BAM]

IMO and practice........ I try to buy an AR with all or most of the features I want/need ..... changing out 'stuff" is just a waste of money IMHO!

Add sling and optics..........

 

[cyphertext]

I have read complaints about this rifle on this forum, so I bought a Colt LE 6940. I am quite pleased with it. Other than what I read here about the S&W rifle, I have no first hand knowledge of it. You get what you pay for.

Ever been to a Colt forum? You will read complaints about the Colt there. Go over to Ruger forums, you see issues about Rugers. Holds true for every brand. If you have a problem or question about a particular brand, go to a forum where the members have experience with your brand.

Still trying to figure out why you even come to this forum...

 

[cyphertext]

It sounds like I should be quite satisfied with my rifle! The point I was trying to make is, why buy a rifle then spend gazoos of funds, to upgrade it? I don't think I need a Colt LE6920. I'm a shooter, not a soldier.

You should be satisfied. It is a solid, basic carbine that typically performs well right out of the box. There will be occasional issues, just like other brands have, but if you are unlucky and draw a bad one, S&W stands behind the product and will make it right.

If sometime down the road you decide you want to free float the barrel, you can do that to the Sport II. But for now, I say shoot it and enjoy it. Figure out what you like and what you don't like about how your Sport is configured. Purchase or build the next one the way you want it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

What parts would you change out, to make this a top of the line AR15?

For an occasional shooter, why won't the factory version last a life time?

Is it's accuracy not acceptable? Can't get the job done?

My one-word answer to your first question is... trigger.

2nd and 3rd questions....

"Last a lifetime". Longevity isn't necessarily the issue for folks wanting to replace parts, performance quite often is.

For example-- The trigger on the Sport and most all factory ARs is something I wouldn't waste the money on ammo to shoot with. Trigger longevity isn't the issue but rather performance. "Top of the line" triggers are $200+ and there are many to choose from for different types of shooting and operator preference. I would MUCH rather shoot a Sport with my WC trigger in it than more expensive rifles with a GI trigger that "doesn't get the job done" for speed and accuracy as far as I'm concerned.

Of course 'top of the line" isn't required to meet the expectations for most folks. Most are satisfied with the factory trigger or to upgrade to something a little better for a modest price.

 

[MichiganScott]

Put a free float handguard and a good trigger on the rifle and it will probably be as accurate as any AR from any major manufacturer with the exception of purpose built target rifles. However, you would be money ahead to buy a different rifle with a free float already installed at the factory.

It's darn near impossible to wear out an AR for the occasional shooter. If, by some odd chance, that you manage to wear out the barrel you simply buy another tube. Mass produced barrels are relatively cheap and if you can afford to shoot one out, you can afford another barrel.

 

[Arik]

For occasional shooter it should last 5 life times

If I'm changing out parts for more expansive ones I may as well buy a whole new rifle. Instead of paying $500 or so then dumping a lot of parts (that you just paid for) and adding better ones then just spend a little more and get a BCM or DD.

accuracy is perfectly fine but it depends on your shooting intentions. 1000 yard tiny groups or combat accuracy?



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[spad124]

Personally I think S&W engineered and "value engineered" the Sport and SportII very well. The heart of the rifle, upper, lower and barrel, are well manufactured, fitted, and made from quality materials. The parts people always seem to change are serviceable right out of the box but not very expensive to keep the cost down. People replace parts they think will "improve" their shooting skills- handguards, stocks, trigger, 20x red dots, or will "improve" the looks of the rifle. But why pay S&W for a top of the line handguard you're just going to replace with one you think is "better"? And the MBUS sight is serviceable until you mount the ACOG you really want.

The basic Sport is really all one needs to become a proficient marksman and will outlast most people's shooting careers.

 

[Arik]

It sounds like I should be quite satisfied with my rifle! The point I was trying to make is, why buy a rifle then spend gazoos of funds, to upgrade it? I don't think I need a Colt LE6920. I'm a shooter, not a soldier.

If your concerned about quality then Colt 6920 has a know standard for all parts including the finish. So do others like BCM. Otherwise you're using the same mechanism to send the same bullet down range so being citizen or soldier doesn't mean anything.

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[cyphertext]

If your concerned about quality then Colt 6920 has a know standard for all parts including the finish.

Finish on a Colt? Yes, I guess you could say Colt has a "known standard" for finish...

 

[Pro2nd]

Ever been to a Colt forum? You will read complaints about the Colt there. Go over to Ruger forums, you see issues about Rugers. Holds true for every brand. If you have a problem or question about a particular brand, go to a forum where the members have experience with your brand.

Yeah this is true with just about everything..

I see it all the time about guitar amps, motorcycles, lawn tractors, pistols, riffles, toaster ovens etc. LOL..

that said, the S&W seems a fine AR for shootin, having fun with etc..
its obviously not an absolute top of the line AR etc, but it will get the job done, seems to be accurate and very dependable, but of course like with ANYTHING, a lemon comes down the line sometimes..

 

[Scotiapilot]

What parts would you change out, to make this a top of the line AR15?

For an occasional shooter, why won't the factory version last a life time?

Is it's accuracy not acceptable? Can't get the job done?

Its perfect for exactly what you are saying. Nothing to change add or delete. It gets the job done, its more accurate than you (meaning any human just about), it will last longer than you and I swear you will be able to pass it down to many generations and will last decades.

 

[Arik]

Finish on a Colt? Yes, I guess you could say Colt has a "known standard" for finish...

Yep. Something I have less than zero care about.

All my ARs kinda look like this but less paint and more scratches

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[hdwhit]

powwowell wrote:

1. What parts would you change out, to make this a top of the line AR15?
2. For an occasional shooter, why won't the factory version last a life time?
3. Is it's accuracy not acceptable? Can't get the job done?

I still use the Ruger Mini-14 that I bought in 1979 and it will probably be my principal centerfire rifle when I die, but I did buy M&P-15 Sport II's for my sons and with respect to your questions, this has been their reaction:

1. My older son prefers iron sights and so removed the plastic backup sight and installed an a2 style carrying handle with rear sight. He has made no other modifications. My younger son has kept his completely stock, finding nothing that needed to be changed.
2. My Mini-14 has fired about 3,000 rounds across the last 38 years. I figure any accumulated wear on it will be my sons' problem. Similarly, I expect that unless they start preparing for the zombie apocalypse, wear and tear on their Sport II's will be a problem for my grandchildren.
3. As far as accuracy goes, the question is what is acceptable to you? For me, where I use my rifles, the accuracy standard is whether I can get at least 9 out of 10 rounds in the circular divot on the side of a gallon milk jug at 100 yards firing offhand. While the size of the divot varies with whoever made the milk jug, that's generally about a 3 moa target and with my Mini-14 or either of Sport II's are fully capable of achieving that. So, yes, the accuracy is acceptable to me. My older son is a little less accurate than I am because of a neurological condition, but my younger son can reliably get 10 out of 10 rounds into the divot.

All of these rifles were purchased for self-defense and, in a crisis, to put food on the table, so none of us feel the need to make changes to an otherwise serviceable rifle simply to impress the poachers we might encounter in the woods or the tugs we might encounter in our living room.

 

[hdwhit]

KSDeputy wrote:
I have read complaints about this rifle on this forum, so I bought a Colt LE 6940. I am quite pleased with it. Other than what I read here about the S&W rifle, I have no first hand knowledge of it.

Interesting.

After reading what Colt users had to say on the Colt forum, I was leading towards the S&W, but the deciding factor was when I read what the Army had to say about Colt.

You get what you pay for.

You admittedly know nothing about the M&P-15 and yet you dismiss it with that adage. Shame on you.

But let's look at that adage objectively. You got a rifle that was in every functional aspect the same as the M&P-15 and then you paid Colt to engrave a pony on the side of it. Glad you're satisfied with your engraved rifle. For my part, I chose to skip buying the artwork and spend the money on ammunition.

 

[hdwhit]

powwowell wrote:
What parts would you change out, to make this a top of the line AR15?

I should add that when a local gun shop went out of business, I did pick up two sets of handguards with liners (the ones on the Sport II are not lined) for $12, but that was to have them as spare parts, not to "upgrade" the rifles.