The M&P Sport II is a good entry level AR and the only “budget” one I would ever buy.

Colt doesn’t make the guns they used to, their quality has suffered tremendously in recent years to the point that I would not buy one.

I’d spend the extra money to get a LMT MRP, MLC, or MLR. They’re worth every last penny and it’ll be the last AR you ever have to buy.

 

Do not skimp on this rifle. If you want to keep it for the next 30 years and maybe pass it on to a son or grand son then get a upper end rifle. also get at least 12 0r 15 metal magazines and a few thousand rounds of ammo for it. Good optics and a maintenance bag with tools.

 

M&P15T has full length rail with good quality folding front and rear sights and a pretty good out of the box trigger. BCM4 has full length rail (iron sights not included) and is very light with good quality components. The factory trigger is a little heavy but it's still a tack driver.

 

M&P15T has full length rail with good quality folding front and rear sights and a pretty god out of the box trigger. BCM4 has full length rail (iron sights not included) and is very light with good quality components. The factory trigger is a little heavy but it's still a tack driver.

Good value if they can be found. I found one online at that price, no telling for how long, a bunch of sites with none in stock and a few going for over 1k. I have tended to find the solid value off the rack stuff, good brands with decent features for under 1k, flies off the shelf fastest in a crazy market. Or at least that was the case when I bought, which is why I started matching good pre built uppers with cheap lowers.

Gets me more bang for my buck than what I’ll find on the shelf in a local gun store in these times.

 

Get the Sport. Don't worry about handguards and twist rates. Get a sling and a 4x scope and you're good to go!

 

At the end of the day the M&P 15 sport is a mil spec rifle that will last a very long time. If I was servicing overseas I would feel confident taking that rifle into battle. Smith and Wesson knows how to build guns and I’m sure even if they sub out the lowers and the BCGs everything is properly built / staked, etc

.. but all of this talk about building has me excited. I think I’m going to build out my stripped aero lower this weekend. Already have 2 Anderson’s on the table as well but my aero lower might get some high end parts .. upper is TBD

PS .. do you guys check headspace when slapping a new upper to a different lower. I never really thought about it but pre Covid got a ridiculous good price on a 14.5” upper with pin and welded flash hider. Ballistic advantage barrel. Barrel mid length gas system. BCG is unknown .. but looks properly staked. The local gun store builds their own uppers. Never really thought about checking headspace as they seem like knowledgeable builders. About 1,000 rounds down range, all types of different grains, brass case, steel case and no issues but just something on my mind.

 

I don't swap BCGs between rifles. So I don't check head space between upper and lower swaps.

I build an upper and pair it with a new BCG.

Faxon will serialize a BCG and barrel so you can keep track.

I would headspace a new bolt to an old barrel and vice versa.

 

I’m not an expert, but overanalyzed my first and only purchase and went with a Ruger AR-556 upgrade called the MPR. It only costs a little more, and I find I have no need for a second AR.

 

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Something that’s a bit subjective is caliber.... but what do you prefer for your AR?

 

Definitely 5.56.

 

5.56


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

5.56 is the most widely available and you can build or buy another upper when you want to try something else.

 

Im mostly trying to decide between that or 300 blackout. 5.56 seems a bit cheaper too

 

Nobody mentioned Stag Arms so I will.

The fit and finish is superior to my former Colt 6920, and that was a very nice rifle. Properly staked gas key, chrome lined, and runs like a scalded dog. A lifetime transferable warranty on every rifle.

Mine is the only AR I've kept and I've owned several. I use non folding rear, a co-witnessed Vortex Sparc red dot, and am well served from 25 yards out to 300 yards. YMMV for brand choice, but they do put out a quality product.

 

View attachment 936450

Double post...

 

You should buy your first AR as a complete rifle from a reputable Company. Learn from it, Learn what you like., don’t like, what you would like to improve.
Save up, “buy a good one”.

 

I got a Colt, but the M&P was my second choice.

 

I paid attention to which calibers had worse scarcity issues than others in the last year. My understanding is 300 blk completely dropped off the face of the earth for a bit. Not hard to get like everything else, but completely unavailable everywhere. Apparently one of those calibers sacrificed for an extended period to devote capacity to other stuff. It is back, but not cheap.

Made me decide I won’t mess with it unless I ever do a sub 10 inch AR, which I don’t foresee in the near future.

 

Is the Aero 10mm carbine out yet? Takes Glock mags. That is the next fully assembled ar style weapon I buy

 

Thanks for all the help and recommendations! I've narrowed it down to two different models. Just waiting for the first deal I can find on one.

 

I am really happy with my Ruger MPR.
It has an 18” bbl and full length gas system.
Comes with a good trigger too.
Mlock handguard and magpul furniture.

 

I considered the MPR but counted it out as the BCG in the Victor and Stag are m16 and heavier duty. Plus no sights from what I've seen on the MPR.

 

I don’t think the BCG in the MPR is ever goi to let anyone down.
I don’t want (fixed) sights myself!
your $$$ though.

 

I would just go with the S&W M&P Sport II. The Ruger 556 and Springfield Saint are both fine choices as well, but Ive just had great luck with the S&W rifles.

Bought a couple for the kids at Christmas and put some MagPul furniture on them, a Sig red dot, a Viking Tactics sling, and a Streamlight light...

But frankly they are just fine stock as well. I got them for about $650 each locally.

Regardless of what you pick just go get an AR. It’s the modern day minuteman’s rifle.

 

Dapper Deeds... Decision time?

 

🤣 yeah I think I’m getting the Victor. SA may have crapped the bed with their political views but they killed it with the Victor line. Still like discussing the differences between different platforms because as you’ve said, too many people say x, y, or z because that’s what they have.

 

Might want to post this in the Black Rifle Forum

 

whatever you buy, don't worry too much on the little things. i bought my first and so far only AR last summer and already have a box full of extra parts. mostly sights, mounts and other smaller items, but i have been swapping parts looking for what best works for me. you might not like the furniture that comes with your AR but it's easy to experiment with...

 

Unless you are jumping out of a helicopter as part of the special forces pretty much any stock AR will suffice. I would say for your first AR just stick with mil spec parts which all the companies mentioned in this thread will have in their rifles. You can always experiment with drop in triggers, etc. I would feel very comfortable if I was in the service and they issued me an M&P sport. I would also feel comfortable if they issued me a radical ar-15 as well! I wish I held onto my m&p sport but I sold it back around 2012 time frame. That gun didn’t have a forward assist or dust cover, and guess what .. it didn’t matter

Don’t worry so much about the brand name. Just worry about learning how the platform works, maintenance requirements, etc. Once you get more experience with the platform then you can upgrade parts, etc. Regardless of what you buy def buy one of the ‘oops’ kit with extra springs/pins.

My first build is a bunch of mil spec parts from different companies. Zero issues with the Frankenstein build. Steel case, brass case, the gun doesn’t discriminate. It eats everything I have thrown at it

 

Or just skip the AR and get a Robinson Arms XCR L better rifle all the way around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Buy a basic like an S&W and find what you like or don't like. Switch out what you want to change: forearm, trigger, stock, etc. At least you will have a functioning AR to shoot while you upgrade and find your preferences. The lower on an S&W is pretty much standard. I have an HK 556A1 upper on one now with a Giselle trigger and a PRS stock.