First AR15 S&W M&P 15 Sport II?

[VERT]

Tagged for a picture. Curious what you ended up with.

 

[sgreen3]

I think you'll be very happy with either of those choices listed and either of them will serve you well. Just remember the first one is just the start of "BRD" (Black rifle disease)

 

[nickf2005]

Late to the party, but the Ruger didn't get much love. I picked mine up for $580 and couldn't be happier. It goes bang when I pull the tigger... only 100 rounds through it, but not one hiccup. I'd trust my life with it, but it's primarily for fun and a daggum coyote.

 

[Obm12ctsv]

I've got a M&P 15 Sport. It's a great, basic rifle and fun to shoot. Basically it served as a learning rifle for me and I've since added a Daniel Defense that I'm still putting goodies on.

 

[hdrenollet]

FYI - Point Blank just dropped their price $50 on the M&P Sport II making it only $599. Seems like a really good deal to me, I may have to go pick one up as my first AR. Been looking for a long time and have shot my friends', but just haven't taken the leap to buying my own yet. A good quality one for just under $600 sounds like a good start for me.

 

[seedubs1]

For $503, I'd rather have the Aero Precision furniture-less AR from Brownells. Throw on the stock/grip/handguard of your choice, and you'll be miles ahead of the S&W for the same price. The Aero will have a good Nitrided barrel (same as Ballistic Advantage.....these are probably the best budget barrels out there), mil-spec BCG (with C-158 HPT/MPI bolt), and a mil-spec 7075 buffer tube. It's a hell of a lot better rifle than the S&W.

There's a ton of better options than the S&W.

FYI - Point Blank just dropped their price $50 on the M&P Sport II making it only $599. Seems like a really good deal to me, I may have to go pick one up as my first AR. Been looking for a long time and have shot my friends', but just haven't taken the leap to buying my own yet. A good quality one for just under $600 sounds like a good start for me.

 

[hdrenollet]

For $503, I'd rather have the Aero Precision furniture-less AR from Brownells. Throw on the stock/grip/handguard of your choice, and you'll be miles ahead of the S&W for the same price. The Aero will have a good Nitrided barrel (same as Ballistic Advantage.....these are probably the best budget barrels out there), mil-spec BCG (with C-158 HPT/MPI bolt), and a mil-spec 7075 buffer tube. It's a hell of a lot better rifle than the S&W.

There's a ton of better options than the S&W.

Maybe I need to think it through some more. I'm a total NOOB when it comes to rifles. I've shot several, and I know I want one, but I obviously have some learning to do. Guess this is one area that I won't be able to impulse buy on a whim. Thanks for the input! You probably just saved me $600 on something I may end up regretting in the long run.

 

[seedubs1]

I'd recommend lurking the m4carbine.net site. Read and learn as much as you can before jumping in. There's just so many little things to take into account with AR's.

If you're looking for a budget option, I don't think you can go wrong with that Aero Precision furniture-less option.

Bump your budget up to ~$800-900, and you get into seriously war ready rifles.

Maybe I need to think it through some more. I'm a total NOOB when it comes to rifles. I've shot several, and I know I want one, but I obviously have some learning to do. Guess this is one area that I won't be able to impulse buy on a whim. Thanks for the input! You probably just saved me $600 on something I may end up regretting in the long run.

 

[hdrenollet]

I'd recommend lurking the m4carbine.net site. Read and learn as much as you can before jumping in. There's just so many little things to take into account with AR's.

If you're looking for a budget option, I don't think you can go wrong with that Aero Precision furniture-less option.

Bump your budget up to ~$800-900, and you get into seriously war ready rifles.

Cool, I'll check that out! $800-900 is no problem at all, and I'd even be willing to go up to $1200-$1500 for the right rifle. $600 would be a total impulse buy just because I'm really wanting one and $600 is about the max amount that I can do on a whim without running it by my wife first . I really appreciate the input. I'll check that site out this afternoon. Thanks!

 

[seedubs1]

If you can swing that budget, they'll tell you:
Larue, LMT, BCM, DD, Colt, Spikes, or build your own. Then save up a few bucks, upgrade the mil-spec trigger and get either a Geissele, Larue, or CMC trigger. You won't ever NEED (you'll want...) another AR or to upgrade it. Buy once, cry once. But don't just take my word for it, do your research. The extra few bucks spent up front will be worth it if you actually use your rifle.

As always, don't forget quality optics/sights.

Cool, I'll check that out! $800-900 is no problem at all, and I'd even be willing to go up to $1200-$1500 for the right rifle. $600 would be a total impulse buy just because I'm really wanting one and $600 is about the max amount that I can do on a whim without running it by my wife first . I really appreciate the input. I'll check that site out this afternoon. Thanks!

 

[throttletony]

Nobody pointed out the different and confusing ruger options.
They have an expensive, PISTON gun, that is called the SR556 (i believe ). This is the one that has proprietary parts.
And then they have a less expensive AR556 (i believe that's the name), which is a basic and competent entry level AR. This one is gas (DI) and should have full parts compatability with any mil spec AR parts.

 

[VERT]

Nobody pointed out the different and confusing ruger options.
They have an expensive, PISTON gun, that is called the SR556 (i believe ). This is the one that has proprietary parts.
And then they have a less expensive AR556 (i believe that's the name), which is a basic and competent entry level AR. This one is gas (DI) and should have full parts compatability with any mil spec AR parts.

Nothing confusing about it. You explained it quite well. S&W also has or had a piston gun and they have multiple AR models. For simplicity sake both Ruger and Smith is competing in the entry level AR market. Both the AR556 and M&P Sport are fine rifles for $600. Just add a Busnell TRS-25, a simple sling and magazines. For most people this will work just fine.

 

[throttletony]

Nothing confusing about it. You explained it quite well. S&W also has or had a piston gun and they have multiple AR models. For simplicity sake both Ruger and Smith is competing in the entry level AR market. Both the AR556 and M&P Sport are fine rifles for $600. Just add a Busnell TRS-25, a simple sling and magazines. For most people this will work just fine.

I guess I was implying that some people (I'd say "many" people that I talk to about ARs) don't realize that Ruger offers both the piston and the gas gun. You're right - there's nothing very confusing about it. I think they should change their naming strategies AR556 vs SR556

 

[Tooms]

I guess I was implying that some people (I'd say "many" people that I talk to about ARs) don't realize that Ruger offers both the piston and the gas gun. You're right - there's nothing very confusing about it. I think they should change their naming strategies AR556 vs SR556

Thanks for the info. From my reading I would say you're right. I was under that impression also. I updated my original post in an effort to not confuse anyone. It looks like the only proprietary part is the hand guard retainer ring, but still lists it as being compatible.

 

[VERT]

I guess I was implying that some people (I'd say "many" people that I talk to about ARs) don't realize that Ruger offers both the piston and the gas gun. You're right - there's nothing very confusing about it. I think they should change their naming strategies AR556 vs SR556

Yeah I can see that. People new to guns would get that confused. But my guess are those same people will see a Ruger AR for $600 and a Ruger AR for $1200 will buy the $600 model. I might be wrong. But $600 black rifles are pretty much the market right now. Kind of like $400-$500 polymer pistols.

 

[Tooms]

I ended up ordering:

PSA complete upper 1:7 Stainless / mid-length gas
PSA Complete lower w/ Magpul
PSA Premium BCG
Bravo Company charging handle
Primary Arms Micro Red Dot w/ UTG Riser

Seemed to get more for my money than getting the S&W complete rifle.

 

[shootersix]

I ended up ordering:

PSA complete upper 1:7 Stainless / mid-length gas
PSA Complete lower w/ Magpul
PSA Premium BCG
Bravo Company charging handle
Primary Arms Micro Red Dot w/ UTG Riser

Seemed to get more for my money than getting the S&W complete rifle.

ok 1/7 is the twist rate for 62 grain and up bullets, 1/9 s for 55 grain bullets, you can shoot either bullet in either twist, but you'll get tighter groups with 62 and up grain bullets, nbd, jus look for heavier bullets

 

[Tanfodude]

You can't tell the FSB is canted??? Factory assembled upper from PSA. How it left and was shipped shows their lack of QC.

Your link is not working.

 

[Tanfodude]

ok 1/7 is the twist rate for 62 grain and up bullets, 1/9 s for 55 grain bullets, you can shoot either bullet in either twist, but you'll get tighter groups with 62 and up grain bullets, nbd, jus look for heavier bullets

For some reason, I have 16" 1/9 and a 12.5" 1/7, latter has more tighter groups of 5 fast rounds on a rest. All using 55gr tula/wolf.

 

[KG1]

Nothing confusing about it. You explained it quite well. S&W also has or had a piston gun and they have multiple AR models. For simplicity sake both Ruger and Smith is competing in the entry level AR market. Both the AR556 and M&P Sport are fine rifles for $600. Just add a Busnell TRS-25, a simple sling and magazines. For most people this will work just fine.

But...but.. you can't go to battle with it.