Ordered an M&P15-A

[CW Mock]

Well, I went and ordered a new M&P15-A (Troy flip up rear sight, standard front sight model) today from my local dealer. After tax, shipping, etc, its coming to about 910.00. I am anxious for it to get here, which should be sometime towards the end of the week.

I hope that it comes with the side sling swivel on it. Smith and Wesson advertises that the side swivel is no longer standard. I hope mine is one of the ones that was built before they discontinued that, as it would save me about 50 bucks buying a replacement.

I'll get pics and such up when it gets here. Anyone have and M&P15-A pics to share? I am already scheming about doodads to put on the thing. Damn black rifle disease anyways ....

[Skintop911]

I'll get pics and such up when it gets here. Anyone have and M&P15-A pics to share? I am already scheming about doodads to put on the thing. Damn black rifle disease anyways ....

You're not going to get the side swivel, sorry. On the upside, the ones I've seen more recently have been more deliberately assembled than the older, and that's desirable as well.

When you post pics, do the pertinent insides as well as the outside, as well as assembly methods of interest.

[CW Mock]

All right, will do.

Kinda stinks that the side swivel is not included anymore. You would think with a 3% price increase coming up for January, they could afford to keep putting them on. Does anyone other than Colt make a durable one?

[Skintop911]

All right, will do. Kinda stinks that the side swivel is not included anymore. You would think with a 3% price increase coming up for January, they could afford to keep putting them on. Does anyone other than Colt make a durable one?

Lots of options out there.

Watch the want ads, they appear there a lot.

[U1121]

Don't forget to check out the special deals that Smith & Wesson is offering with the purchase of your M&P15. Free Magazines or a Sigma Pistol for $99, if I'm not mistaken.

U1121

[Skintop911]

Don't forget to check out the special deals that Smith & Wesson is offering with the purchase of your M&P15. Free Magazines or a Sigma Pistol for $99, if I'm not mistaken.U1121

He should've held out. I heard a toaster is next. Four-slice, even.

[RMTactical]

All right, will do.

Kinda stinks that the side swivel is not included anymore. You would think with a 3% price increase coming up for January, they could afford to keep putting them on. Does anyone other than Colt make a durable one?

I have one that I will sell you for $20 shipped, if you are interested. It was a Stag Arms take-off. As good as anything else out there. They retail for $27.

On a side note, you did very good. You will be pleased.

[jeremy54b]

I love mine...and have been to their armorer's course. It's a great rifle, well put together and a tackdriver.

The side sling swivels stopped shipping a while back apparently, but I have one on my early M&P-15. :)

[CW Mock]

Does anyone have an M4 zero target BTW? Or is the standard 25m target used?

[RazorbackME]

Are folks having good luck with the M&P15's? It looks like the base model is retailing for about $900... and I'm guessing I could sell the $99 Sigma and make a $100. I always said if I bought an AR it would be a Colt, but now that I'm ready to make a move, it's just hard to justify the extra $450. I could use that money to buy a nice optic. I don't want to start any arguments about who builds the finest AR... just curious what people think about the Smith & Wesson. Thanks.

[epsylum]

Are folks having good luck with the M&P15's? It looks like the base model is retailing for about $900... and I'm guessing I could sell the $99 Sigma and make a $100. I always said if I bought an AR it would be a Colt, but now that I'm ready to make a move, it's just hard to justify the extra $450. I could use that money to buy a nice optic. I don't want to start any arguments about who builds the finest AR... just curious what people think about the Smith & Wesson. Thanks.

Mine's an oldie (one of the first batches of M&P15Ts released), but works great.

Another option is buying uppers and lowers separately. It saves a good bit of money. Look into stag or CMMG uppers.

I like my S&W, but my next AR will probably be a CMMG. I mainly want it because of the 1:7 twist and M4 feedramps. My 5.56 AK is 1:7, so I would like them to be able to shoot the same ammo.

However 1:9 is a good general twist rate and is capable of shooting all but the very lightest and very heaviest bullets. They shoot 55 and 62gr. (most common weights) very well.

[CW Mock]

Well, it got here and I brought it home.

Had to break it down first thing and clean the gunk and stuff out of it. It looked like it was test fired at the factory with the dirtiest, black powder they could load. The barrel was dirtier than I usually get them after 200 rounds, or so it seemed. No M4 feedramps, but I am not worried too much about that.

Tightened up the screw on the rear sight, just to be safe.

The bolt and bolt carrier are LMT, and staked properly. The extractor had the black insert and O-ring installed. Looks like the carrier from an M16. (Compared it to a buddy's M16A1 duty rifle).

Front sight base is F marked. Barrel is stamped 5.56mm NATO 1/9

Castle nut is staked well.

The hammer is stamped with an "E4"

M4 style hand guards were a SOB to get on and off. VERY tight. I took them off to clean some dust/grime from under them. This one came with the side sling swivel. Looks like it is going to be a SOB to move it from the right to the left side.

Trigger seems like it is every bit of the 7lbs advertised. Breaks clean though, no creep to speak of. Very different from the RRA 2 stage NM trigger on my other rifle.

It was loaded with preservative gunk. I flushed it out with CLP, and gave it a good going over. Function checks well, and nothing looks loose or about to fail.

My twelve 30 round USGI magazines on hand lock into place and drop free no problems. A Colt 20 is a little tighter fit, but locks up solid and drops free when empty. I have one cheap 30 round Thermold mag, and it will not lock into place. Not that I care, because I never use it, but it makes me wonder about PMAGs. The problem seemed to be with the catch not grabbing enough of the detent on the mag body.

One thing I had never noticed was the rear sight apertures on the Troy folding sight. The small aperture has the "bowl" facing away from the shooter's eye, where as it is the opposite on every other AR sight I have seen. Different, but I doubt it makes a big difference.

Other than that, I have not noticed anything amazing or of note. I am going to try and get some pictures later if I can. I doubt I'll be able to go shoot it until Christmas Eve. I have saved some ammo up to break it in, and zero it. If all goes well, I'll et it up to HQ in Denver to have it looked over and approved for duty use. Eventually I'd like to put an Aimpoint Comp M3 on a Larue mount on it.

Oh, quick question(s):

The KNS anti-roll pins, are they really much of an improvement? And what is required to install them? Total disassembly of the lower? I have never taken my lowers apart before. If it's merely cosmetic improvement, I'll probably pass.

[G31Steve]

You did good man I like epsylum have one the original run M&P though I have the "A" like you mine came with the side sling swivle I have not had any problems with mine and its put together well.Now I am trying to talk myself into poneying up the $$ and getting an ACOG , a railed forend and probly a CTR stock.

Here is a pic of mine the day it came home...sence then its taken a coyote a few racoons and a possum(un-confirmed).

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/thumbs/large/976134_0nvte/S%26WM%26P1.JPG (http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/view/full/976134_0nvte)

[jeremy54b]

I have one of the first 4K M&P-15s made, and my coworker has an early A. We've had no problems with PMAGS...but others with later model A's and T's have. FWIW. Oh, and be careful with those roll pins on the side sling mount assembly...they're a toughie to move in and out on mine!

[WolfiePacker]

The Troy BUIS they come with aren't cheap sights, both in cost, and in quality. The front retails for 140 and the rear 120. Subtract that from the rifle and that makes the A model 770. Not too shabby for a good quality AR.

[CW Mock]

I hear you on the roll pins holding the side swivel on ... I flipped mine to the left side, and DAAAAAAANG. One came out like a roll pin should. The other behaved as if it were welded into place. It was a real SOB to get it back together.

I don't know what the heck those things were ... but a normal roll pin they were not.

In other news, I got to shoot exactly 38 rounds out of my M&P before the snow got so heavy I could not see. I'm going to go back and verify the zero on the thing, and reset if necessary for the Improved Battlesight Zero. Maybe on New Year's if I can get down to the range, and its not snowing or windy as all hell.

I also put a set of KNS pins it it I got as a Christmas gift, and painted in the fire/safe markings with enamle paints. Still got one more gift on the way for it - not sure if it is a Vicker's Combat Applications sling with Cobra buckle, or a Magpul MIAD grip.

[the iceman]

The MP15 shoots 5.56 and .223, right?

Sorry, I am not very up on AR rifles but also looking to make my purchase this month and was leaning towards the MP15.

[S&WM&PAR15T&G34]

Yep 5.56 or 223 will work. You'll find 5.56 to cost more. The S&W15T I shoot will print 1.5 inch groups at 150 yards using American Eagle 62gr Soft Points. You can find then for about $5.99 per 20.

[the iceman]

Great! Thanks a lot.

I am also curious...what is a 1/7 rifling twist? Is it a big deal?

[epsylum]

Great! Thanks a lot.

I am also curious...what is a 1/7 rifling twist? Is it a big deal?

It is a faster twist rate to stabilize heavier bullets. .223/5.56 can have bullets anywhere from 40gr. to about 80gr. Most popular weights are 55 and 62gr. and 1/9 twist (what the M&P15 has) will work just fine for those weights and possibly up to about 70gr. or so. 1/7 is for people who want to shoot the heavier bullets and are willing to possibly sacrifice some accuracy with 55gr. and under bullets.

Some reasons people would want to shoot heavy bullets. The heavier bullets actually shoot flatter at long distances despite having lower muzzle velocity because they can carry their velocity over longer distances (they don't slow down as fast from the friction with the air). They also can cause more damage to flesh and have larger fragmentation range. This is why the military's new round uses a 77gr. bullet (Mk 262). A 1/9 MIGHT be able to stabilize a 77gr., but it is not a sure thing. You would just have to shoot it and see how it prints.

Bottom line, for most uses for the average civilian AR-15 owner, 1/9 is just fine. I want 1/7 just because I have a 5.56 AK that happens to have a 1/7 twist barrel and I just want to simplify my ammo purchases by being sure that the ammo I order can work well with either gun. Unfortunately that might mean 55gr. would be out of the question (I would have to shoot it and see how it does to be sure).