Thinking about buying a new AR-15

[MTboatguy]

Anybody have any experience with the Smith&Wesson M&P 15, looks like it is a good quality lower priced AR, just wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular model, I have a lot of experience with firearms and own a couple of M-16 as well as AK's that I picked up while in the Army, but thought this might be a fun plinking gun.

 

[Cat nip]

My boss has one and it seems like a decent rifle especially for the price.

 

[alldodge]

You have two M16 (full auto) and your looking at an AR15/MP15 to plink with, no expert but don't they both use 5.56 NATO rounds? If so cost of shooting would be the same

 

[Tnstratofam]

What caliber are you considering? If it's the 22 caliber version I've shot one, and it seemed to be good quality. I have a pre ban Colt AR in 5.56 and the Smith and Wesson seemed to be a close match to it in build quality. Although there were some plastic pieces on the Smith and Wesson that kind of felt cheap.

 

[MTboatguy]

You have two M16 (full auto) and your looking at an AR15/MP15 to plink with, no expert but don't they both use 5.56 NATO rounds? If so cost of shooting would be the same

No, the cost is not the same, if I had to replace one of my 16's it would run over 10K, these are mid 70's VietNam era rifles and although usable, they are collectors items as are my AK-47 I have a Russian Model and I have a Chinese Model, both of them are museum pieces as well. Yes, the 16's and the AR both use .223 rounds, but I can't get parts for the 16's as easy as a standard off the shelf AR, so I would prefer to have another AR to play with, besides, I am thinking about tinkering with it what a bump fire system, basically bored and want a new toy to play with.

 

[alldodge]

No, the cost is not the same, if I had to replace one of my 16's it would run over 10K, these are mid 70's VietNam era rifles and although usable, they are collectors items as are my AK-47 I have a Russian Model and I have a Chinese Model, both of them are museum pieces as well. Yes, the 16's and the AR both use .223 rounds, but I can't get parts for the 16's as easy as a standard off the shelf AR, so I would prefer to have another AR to play with, besides, I am thinking about tinkering with it what a bump fire system, basically bored and want a new toy to play with.

That makes a bit more since, thanks
I still use the saying of "He how dies with the most worn out toys wins"

Told all my kids and grand kids, When I die I plan to owe someone 10 bucks, I plan to spend and use up everything the wife and I worked for

 

[southkogs]

No, the cost is not the same, if I had to replace one of my 16's it would run over 10K, these are mid 70's VietNam era rifles and although usable, they are collectors items as are my AK-47 I have a Russian Model and I have a Chinese Model, both of them are museum pieces as well. Yes, the 16's and the AR both use .223 rounds, but I can't get parts for the 16's as easy as a standard off the shelf AR, so I would prefer to have another AR to play with, besides, I am thinking about tinkering with it what a bump fire system, basically bored and want a new toy to play with.

AR is probably a little lighter too ... I like the AK, but they're typically a little rough on the shoulder, aren't they? 16 has just always looked heavy to me.

 

[MTboatguy]

I can be honest, the 16 is really an easy gun to shoot, yes, a bit heavy, but being honest, that weight helps when you are shooting it, my other AR's are Armalights and they are heavy guns, so I suspect the typical off the shelf AR would be a challenge to shoot accurately due to light weight construction, but for what I want to do with it, I think it might work out, as I said, I am bored and want a new play toy, I am thinking about putting a bump stop stock on it and play with a "simulated" full auto gun.

https://www.bumpfiresystems.com/

 

[dwco5051]

I can be honest, the 16 is really an easy gun to shoot, yes, a bit heavy, but being honest, that weight helps when you are shooting it, my other AR's are Armalights and they are heavy guns, so I suspect the typical off the shelf AR would be a challenge to shoot accurately due to light weight construction, but for what I want to do with it, I think it might work out, as I said, I am bored and want a new play toy, I am thinking about putting a bump stop stock on it and play with a "simulated" full auto gun.

https://www.bumpfiresystems.com/

I have an AR7 and have found out if you hold it in a certain unconvential way it will fire 2 and sometime 3 round bursts. I can see where a bump stock will work on AR16 type non selected fire rifles.

 

[southkogs]

I can be honest, the 16 is really an easy gun to shoot, yes, a bit heavy, but being honest, that weight helps when you are shooting it, my other AR's are Armalights and they are heavy guns, so I suspect the typical off the shelf AR would be a challenge to shoot accurately due to light weight construction, but for what I want to do with it, I think it might work out, as I said, I am bored and want a new play toy, I am thinking about putting a bump stop stock on it and play with a "simulated" full auto gun.

https://www.bumpfiresystems.com/

I tried bump firing a handgun once. Nothing bad happened, but I couldn't make it a smooth enough experience to do more than waste bullets.

I like a heavier gun too sometimes. My .243 has a varmint barrel, so it's rather heavy - and I actually like shooting a gun with a little weight forward to it. I think I control recoil better that way. The AKs I've shot were all heavier (and a bit "clunky"), but I felt it made them better shooting for me. I've never shot the 16, but I have shot the M4 and a few ARs.

 

[gm280]

Well you could buy an AR15 kit and build your own. I've built so many now that I think I can build them in my sleep. One very nice manufacture for both the lowers and the uppers is a company that is huge around where I live called Double Star. You would be amazed at their quality and finish. I will stack it up against Colt, S&W, Armalite, Bushmaster, DPMS, Rock River Arms, Stag Arms or any other brand as well. Or you could even go the route of a 80% lower and machine your own for a even more interesting built. And that would mean there is ZERO paperwork as well. Very popular and easy to do...and completely legal as well!

What caliber are you looking at? I built a few AR platforms using 7.62 X 39mm barrels and they are very nice to shoot. And you could even hunt deer and/or wild boar with that caliber and drop the game in their tracks. I will never ever use another .223 for hunting anything. Too light a bullet to get the job done properly every time. There are so many options for calibers and barrels that it is endless. JMHO!

 

[aspeck]

I see where the retail Sporting Goods store with the headquarters in Sidney, NE is having a sale on the M&P15 Sport ... $590 with Magpul folding rear sight & 30 round mag. Not too shabby and sale starts today ... but that might not be a company wide sale, it might just be in our local stores ...???

 

[MTboatguy]

I see where the retail Sporting Goods store with the headquarters in Sidney, NE is having a sale on the M&P15 Sport ... $590 with Magpul folding rear sight & 30 round mag. Not too shabby and sale starts today ... but that might not be a company wide sale, it might just be in our local stores ...???

Nope, it is company wide, I looked at one last night and they had a bunch in stock for the sale today.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Never heard about bump firing systems until now. I see C a b e l a s is all over it.....
http://www.c abelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=2069421&type=product&MDK=dyn banP_NW&MDC=cat104190480

Looks like an end a round to a full auto......

I've been looking at those DPMS AR

 

[gm280]

Never heard about bump firing systems until now. I see C a b e l a s is all over it.....
http://www.c abelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=2069421&type=product&MDK=dyn banP_NW&MDC=cat104190480

Looks like an end a round to a full auto......

I've been looking at those DPMS AR

WIMUSKY yes you are right. Bump fire empties the mag(S) and the wallet all at the same time. And for what? I guess different strokes for different folks. That IS what makes the world go round.

Give me a semi-auto in single shot mode and I am happy...and more accurate too! :thumb:

 

[southkogs]

Oh ... full-auto is worth it once in a while :rockon:

 

[WIMUSKY]

WIMUSKY yes you are right. Bump fire empties the mag(S) and the wallet all at the same time. And for what? I guess different strokes for different folks. That IS what makes the world go round.

Give me a semi-auto in single shot mode and I am happy...and more accurate too! :thumb:

It would be fun to do on an "occasion", especially if you can get the rounds cheap enough. I have a Chinese SKS w/the heavy barrel that takes 7.62x.39. It's super accurate. And I have an extended clip shall we say. I bought the ammo at $2 for a box of 20. At times I've loaded it up and pulled the trigger as fast as I could. I had large clumps of grass flying high in the air. It was a riot.... But, it didn't cost much to do it.....

Ps. The gun was un-fired and still in grease. It was never "issued"......

 

[Limited-Time]

Or you could even go the route of a 80% lower and machine your own for a even more interesting built.

Have done several of these. All worked great. It is a good way to go if you have the resources and skills My next 80%er will be a .308.

 

[thumpar]

I have shot the M&P 15-22. It is good quality. S&W has good fit and finish. I sold all my Glocks and got M&P pistols.

Full auto is fun. My good friend owns a shop and is a Class 3 dealer/manufacturer. He does most of the demos for the law enforcement in the area. That is the guy to go shooting with.

On a side not and just a heads up, Ruger just lowered their pricing on the LCP to compete with the new Remington coming out. My dealer buddy bought out every one of them in the area for his shop. I picked up 2 of the LCP custom model (better trigger, much better sight and stainless guide rod). I can't say what I paid for them because I got a deal but it was less then the Taurus TCP sells for.

 

[jkust]

All this talk makes me want to go out and get an AR. Not a gun guy, only have one shotgun that was given to me, but there is a shooting range close to our lake house I'd like to get involved in with the kids. How did you get those 16's home from Vietnam? My dad served in Vietnam as well in 69 having got shot 6 times with AK's but he wasn't able to bring much home with him. Only reason he's alive actually is because the AK doesn't do damage like the 16.