M&P 15 sport - do the omissions mean anything?

[AngelKing]

and specifically, the forward assist and dust covers.

I decided on going entry level and perhaps building my way into something else later without going the route of a receiver on up route. Yes, AngelKing is lazy and wants to have room in the budget for things like mags and ammo, duh.



That said and asking out of pure newness - does the lack of an FA or dust cover detract from the rifle? The overall purpose is 2 fold - target shooting and if need be, home defense.

 

[scatter]

I have FAs on all my ARs. I have never used them. If a round doesn't chamber properly, the last thing I want to do is try to jam it in there and fire it. They have their place I suppose in a combat situation where your choices are either force a round in or get shot by the enemy, but otherwise they are not of any use that I can see.

Dust covers I use all the time. ARs can be finicky when they get dirty, so I always close them after shooting and when storing. All of this is MHO of course.

 

[chris_1001]

I think they also lack a chrome lined barrel.

 

[Varmint]

For what it’s worth, at Sig’s Rifle 101 class the instructor had us pushing the forward assist and closing the dust cover every time we load a mag.

I’ve seen Sig M400s and Colt 6920s for $800-850 so if you can swing the budget I think you get more for your money that way.

 

[JGstunt]

That said and asking out of pure newness - does the lack of an FA or dust cover detract from the rifle? The overall purpose is 2 fold - target shooting and if need be, home defense.

MP15 sport... The rifle takes away from the rifle, spend a couple more bucks

 

[pcgod]

AngelKing, There are a lot of good reviews online regarding the M+P Sport, take the time to read a few. Some of the reviews are lame but others are informative. Here Nutnfancy's take (I am not a big fan of him but some are):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YdpE6Lpw9E

I have a couple of AR's and 2 are Sports. I have one with the 1/8 5r barrel and the other is the standard 1/9 (current production). Overall, I am happy with them. I never use the FA so don't miss it and the scallop in the bolt carrier does allow you to apply some pressure if needed, I suppose. The dust cover is another feature they lack but I never use it on other rifles. I close it when done shooting or just before putting it into the safe. These also don't have chrome lined barrels, they originally used a melonite coating, I think, but that changed and I am not sure what coating is on a currently manufactured one. While the coating is better than nothing I am guessing chrome lined is more durable. The Sports come with rear flip up sites, the inexpensive magpuls, but I have aimpoints on them so that isn't a big deal. Finally the trigger guard is part of the lower, but it does resemble the larger ones folks add on.

Realize what these are - Entry Level AR's. S+W thought this through and created a sporting rifle rather than a combat rifle. Where they saved cost was on combat features that we can argue the need for from the comfort of our couch. I seem to go back and forth on selling my 1/9 to free up cash, but still shoot it fairly regularly.

One note: Run at least 200 rounds thru it before you decide the rifles level of reliability. I know 2 people that had less than reliable rifles until they got past the 200 round mark and then they were fine. The only ammo mine has issues with is Tula and I haven't tried it again.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

Go for the sport. It was my first AR and it is flawless. Just get another AR down the road with a DC and FA. Is it better to have them? Sure. But necessary? No.

 

[Mike-Mike]

It matters if you're lefty.

 

[mark056]

The FA was not part ofStoner's original design. It was an Army thing more related to bad ammo. After the first round a dust cover is moot and keeping the dam thing closed was always annoying when lugging it around.

Melonite barrel has its fan over chrome.

 

[ochmude]

The most common situation in which I've used the forward assist is when I'd do a brass check with a rifle that's pretty caked up with carbon.

 

[Tallen]

I've never used the forward assist, even during malfunction drills*. It's dead weight IMO. The dust cover is meant for very dirty environments which presumably your home and range are not. Even in such environments, grit enters through the mag well anyways so it's a moot point. I would recommend the M&P15 sport for your purposes.

*I was trained to minimize the amount of responses to malfunctions because in a high-stress environment you will be relying on muscle memory. Most malfunctions can be fixed either by cycling the charging handle, or removing the magazine, cycling the charging handle, and inserting a new magazine. All malfunctions that might otherwise involve the forward assist can be cleared by those actions.

 

[Pinion]

I dig mine. I don't need a dust cover or forward assist. Extra shit to clean or get hung up on something.

If I had the choice, I'd have my appendix removed too.

 

[That Guy]

A dust cover and FA are fairly useless unless you are using your weapon in a combat environment where your rifle is likely to get a lot of dust and dirt in it (dust cover) and if you find yourself in an extended firefight where it gets carbon caked with no chance to clean it. Those scenarios are pretty unlikely from what you described.

For what it's worth, the recessed section of the bolt carrier is Stoner's original "forward assist" for the platform. It was designed to allow your finger an area to push forward on the bolt if needed. So if it came to it, you'd still have the FA function.

- - - Updated - - -

It matters if you're lefty.

I am curious about this - how does an FA or a dust cover effect a left handed firer?

 

[AngelKing]

Im a lefty. do tell.

It matters if you're lefty.

 

[Mike-Mike]

A dust cover and FA are fairly useless unless you are using your weapon in a combat environment where your rifle is likely to get a lot of dust and dirt in it (dust cover) and if you find yourself in an extended firefight where it gets carbon caked with no chance to clean it. Those scenarios are pretty unlikely from what you described.

For what it's worth, the recessed section of the bolt carrier is Stoner's original "forward assist" for the platform. It was designed to allow your finger an area to push forward on the bolt if needed. So if it came to it, you'd still have the FA function.

- - - Updated - - -


I am curious about this - how does an FA or a dust cover effect a left handed firer?

Because most models without the dust cover and FA also are lacking an important feature for lefties.. The brass deflector.

ETA: It looks like it has one... So you're right.. It wouldn't matter.

 

[ToddDubya]

Im a lefty. do tell.

If it doesn't have a brass deflector you might get brass in your face. I have a "slick side" upper with no FA, dust cover or brass deflector and it works great for me. I let my buddy who's a lefty shoot it and his response was not positive.

To answer your original questions, I have an upper with the "missing features" and:
1. I close the dust cover when I put it away because it's there and I like the sound of it flipping open when I close the bolt.
2. I used the FA once, to jam a round into the chamber that didn't fit. That was a very short range trip.
3. I believe the M&P Sport has a brass deflector, so this should be no different from any other upper.
4. From what I understand the melonited barrels are superior to chrome because it's more like bluing than plating.
5. If I was buying an off the shelf AR I would buy a Sport.
6. Did you buy that 10/22 yet?

 

[jason19711971]

I didn't understand why it doesn't come with a dust cover. It cost probably .02 cents.

 

[Varmint]

I didn't understand why it doesn't come with a dust cover. It cost probably .02 cents.

Same reason a BMW doesn't come with standard heated seats, garage door opener, moonroof etc - to distinguish it from more expensive models.

 

[AngelKing]

If it doesn't have a brass deflector you might get brass in your face. I have a "slick side" upper with no FA, dust cover or brass deflector and it works great for me. I let my buddy who's a lefty shoot it and his response was not positive.

To answer your original questions, I have an upper with the "missing features" and:
1. I close the dust cover when I put it away because it's there and I like the sound of it flipping open when I close the bolt.
2. I used the FA once, to jam a round into the chamber that didn't fit. That was a very short range trip.
3. I believe the M&P Sport has a brass deflector, so this should be no different from any other upper.
4. From what I understand the melonited barrels are superior to chrome because it's more like bluing than plating.
5. If I was buying an off the shelf AR I would buy a Sport.
6. Did you buy that 10/22 yet?

6 - not yet, going on Tuesday

For what Im looking to do with it, it may be just about all I need. besides, if I really want an AR with the missing features, I can always buy an upper receiver later, correct? I figure if I can score a lower cost platform in the short term, it will allow me to buy up things like magazines and ammo so I can see what it is I like, don't like etc and then cerakote the thing in a hello kitty theme.

Ok not so much on the last part.

but maybe.

I don't know.

I need coffee.

 

[familyman15]

Bushmaster can be had for the same price more or less..

 

[JCV]

from a different thread:

Just go with a Windham and be done. Palmetto ARs are hit or miss, and their shipping department is responsible for 10% of suicides in this country.
Some people will tell you that the M&P is a tremendous value, which is a myth. It used to be, but in 2012, S&W changed the twist from 1 in 8 to 1 in 9, and stopped meloniting the barrels. For around $50 more, you'll get a better twist, a forward assist and a better quality BCG from WW. That's wort it all day long.

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/284016-AR-Rifle-Kits?highlight=windham

 

[bigblue]

6 - not yet, going on Tuesday

For what Im looking to do with it, it may be just about all I need. besides, if I really want an AR with the missing features, I can always buy an upper receiver later, correct? I figure if I can score a lower cost platform in the short term, it will allow me to buy up things like magazines and ammo so I can see what it is I like, don't like etc and then cerakote the thing in a hello kitty theme.

Ok not so much on the last part.

but maybe.

I don't know.

I need coffee.

Stop stealing my wife's ideas.



The sport is fine as a casual rifle, if your budget was $200 more there are several great choices that would offer more longevity*. Buy the sport, put a couple thousand rounds through it, sell it for $500, and then build your own.

*The 6920 is only $8-850 at FS and it does have significant upgrades over the sport. Then again you could get a Windham for that price as well.

 

[Varmint]

from a different thread:


http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/284016-AR-Rifle-Kits?highlight=windham

I thought the Windhams are more like $800 range, is there a place to get them cheaper?

 

[bigblue]

I thought the Windhams are more like $800 range, is there a place to get them cheaper?

If a Sport is $750 then a W is $50 more ... I don't see the confusion?

 

[JCV]

I thought the Windhams are more like $800 range, is there a place to get them cheaper?

You can get a Windham for under $600 before shipping and transfer.
Search "Windham" on Slick Guns. A bunch will pop up, some in stock, some out. Not sure what models though.

here's one:
http://www.anacortesgunshop.com/windham-weaponry-mpc-r16m4ftt-cf1-1

 

[Varmint]

If a Sport is $750 then a W is $50 more ... I don't see the confusion?

My bad, thought the Sport was $600.

 

[AngelKing]

Ive seen sports go as high as 750 new online. FS has them in the 600 range. Im looking to get into a base AR at 500 bucks, so a used sport or similar is where Im fishing right now.

My bad, thought the Sport was $600.

 

[Varmint]

You can get a Windham for under $600 before shipping and transfer.
Search "Windham" on Slick Guns. A bunch will pop up, some in stock, some out. Not sure what models though.

here's one:
http://www.anacortesgunshop.com/windham-weaponry-mpc-r16m4ftt-cf1-1

Yeah, it's just then you have to pay for transfer and MA-ssifying, but still better than buying a factory MA-compliant model.

 

[tomp]

I have the sport also short money . that thing eats anything I feed it put a tru glo cheap scope on it and its great. transport it in a hard case so no dirt gets in it I spend the money I did not pay for a more expensive ar on my ammo. and that m/p makes it to the range and back everytime with no issues.

 

[JCV]

PSA Complete Upper ($289 + Free Shipping)
PSA Complete Lower Build Kit (minus Lower) $80
Find stripped lower receiver for $50-70 locally

You're at $439 now before paying someone $40 to pin the brake/comp