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Posted: 2/8/2020 10:49:04 PM EDT
| When window shopping (online), I noticed S&W ARs and Ruger ARs typically go for around the same price. Which of the two offer higher quality? |
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Quoted:
I honestly like how Ruger has a decent grip/trigger guard out of the box. Also the FSB is pretty nice, and has a QD cup built in. Atleast they tried to innovate. I have a Ruger that is a few years old. Bought it used from a buddy that never had an issue with it. I haven't had an issue with it since I bought it 2 years ago. |
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Quoted:
I honestly like how Ruger has a decent grip/trigger guard out of the box. Also the FSB is pretty nice, and has a QD cup built in. Atleast they tried to innovate. |
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I bought a Ruger AR556 Pistol just before Thanksgiving, and I bought my two sons both an M&P Sport II for Christmas.
The S&W's are better finished (I'm definitely not a "fit and finish" kinda guy)...the Ruger lower receiver has some sharp edges that weren't knocked off before anodizing. Also, the lip around the ejection port isn't symmetrical and the dust cover catch is out of spec, causing the door detent to not engage and stay shut. I installed an SI door with an adjustable detent ball. The S&W's have a slightly better trigger...the Ruger has a hard wall and breaks @ 7.5 lbs., the M&P's @ 6.5 lbs.. Otherwise, they've all functioned 100% with @ 1k rounds each.  Ruger used to include a Magpul flip-up rear sight and magazine, so that's something, too. |
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I have both, they are both reliable low cost entry level rifles. No complaint with either, but if I were to get rid of one it would be the Ruger. The m&p has a better trigger, and has a smoother operation overall that is hard to quantify.
I would be happy with either and a different m&p than mine out of the box might not beat out a different Ruger. That's my observation, clear as mud, I know.. 
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| S&W's consistently put out ARs with good triggers and a couple of the posts above recognize that. Mine is on par with many coated triggers. The S&W Sport with the 5r rifling was often recommended as the go-to low cost budget rifle and their line is still putting out some great options. Lifetime warranty and longer run in the AR space along with my personal experience with one keeps me in their camp. |
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Quoted:
S&W's consistently put out ARs with good triggers and a couple of the posts above recognize that. Mine is on par with many coated triggers. The S&W Sport with the 5r rifling was often recommended as the go-to low cost budget rifle and their line is still putting out some great options. Lifetime warranty and longer run in the AR space along with my personal experience with one keeps me in their camp. |
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Quoted:
From my experience I would go with the Ruger AR 556. Their customer service is one of the best too. All that said, when my wife, then girlfriend at the time asked which AR to get inside her budget, I recommended the MP-15 Sport and still would. Outstanding rifle for the money. |
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Never owned either. Have fired two Rugers.
The Ruger grip is slightly better than an A2. The polymer trigger guard is a nice upgrade. Both shot fine and were as accurate (didnt shoot past 40ish yards tho) The rear sights on both were NOT Magpul. They were Ruger branded. I don't like them, as they only have one aperture which is large. |
OP: hopefully my reviews/accuracy tests help with the decision. Smith & Wesson M&P Sport II AR-15 Review: Great Budget Rifle Or Piece Of Junk? (HD) |
...and the Ruger Ruger AR-556 AR-15 Review: Is It Good, Great, or Junk? |
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Quoted:...Both Smith and Wesson and Ruger had pretty much the same customer service. Call in an issue with one of their guns, they send a call tag through email, we box it up and ship it out, they fix it or replace it and send it back for the customer. Done deal. With regard to quality, I have seen a lot of guns come in and out. The Smith & Wesson M&P-15s don't come back with issues. The Rugers did often.... |
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I have one of the fairly early S&W's and it has been a great rifle. The only thing I did with the upper was swap out the generic handguards for a DD Omega. It's one of the most accurate rifles I own, and that's saying something. I may have just lucked out there, no idea.
The lower has been SBR'd and seen plenty of changes over the years, but I never had any problems with the actual receiver. If I was shopping AR's and buying a complete rifle in that price range I wouldn't hesitate to get another from S&W. I've never seen much less handled a Ruger AR, other than maybe in passing at a shop without noticing. By the time they introduced theirs I was not really in the market anymore. |
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Quoted:
The Smith has a nitrited bore. The entry model Ruger is unlined. Also it is blued instead of parked. |
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I've had a Ruger for about a month. Had it to the range once and ran about 40 rounds through it. Everything works fine but I have little to compare it with. Any other firearms I have are lever action centerfire and bolt rimfire. My Ruger is the Ar556 with the free float 11" handguard so I can't elaborate on the stock Ruger sights. I ordered and installed fixed slim line UTG Pro picatinny sights front and rear. They work fine.
Fit and finish may not be up to par but I wouldn't know it. To me it is an ugly tool that gets the job done. My levers are nice looking with DIY polished triggers and unlined barrels, but you don't need lining with 1500fps lead bullets. The Ruger trigger seems to have a long throw and stiff break but that is compared to my tuned lever triggers. So far I am happy with it as is. It now sports a hand guard mounted LED light next to the front sight. Good luck with your decision. I suspect the differences in the Ruger and S&W models that are built to spec are minimal. |
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Of these two specific models? Between the M&P 15 Sport II (Model 10305) and Ruger AR 556 MPR (Model 8514), these are both upgraded models and not the lowest cost S&W, or Ruger. This past week, the Ruger MPR was an easy choice with it's 2-stage trigger, salt bath nitrided 5R barrel/ free floating handguard for accuracy, and included rifle-length gas system with Magpul PMag 30rd magazine. This Ruger can be found for a bit under $600 plus tax. |
| I had an early production Ruger AR 556. I put about 2000 rounds through it with about 5 or 6 cleanings. This was before they had an mlok handguard available. I never had a single hiccup. It was about 3moa with cheap range ammo, 2 with mid range stuff using a cheap low power Nikon. Never experimented with any match quality ammo. Ultimately I sold it to fund a different project but it was a solid reliable rifle. I have a friend with an m&p sport that seemed basically equivalent in my inspection. |
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Quoted: When window shopping (online), I noticed S&W ARs and Ruger ARs typically go for around the same price. Which of the two offer higher quality? I had a Ruger AR556. Gun store convinced me that the CHF barrel was a superior upgrade. Found out it wasn't chrome lined nor 4150CMV. Then as I shot the rifle and noticed the poor machining, it really annoyed me. The magwell wasn't flared. The fitment was so bad that Magpul M3 mags would not seat at all. I could only use Magpul M2 magazines. The BCG was poorly machined (below) and had an unshrouded firing pin. The FSB was proprietary. The take down pins were so out of spec and tight that I had to use a bullet to push them out. The castle nut was not staked. The trigger was the worst gritty trigger I have ever felt. The feed ramps were badly machined and sharp, had numerous feeding issues. If $600 is your budget, get a S&W M&P15 or an Aero Precision AC-15. Do not touch a Ruger. Ruger BCG, notice the poor machining and chewed up firing pin.  |
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Quoted: The Smith has a nitrited bore. The entry model Ruger is unlined. Also it is blued instead of parked. Depending on your climate and/or usage and cleaning cycle, this could be a deciding issue. If you live somewhere like AZ, it may not matter, but some of us live in places with jungle like humidity (Louisiana bayou country) where it could matter a lot more...I personally would not consider anything like this with an untreated barrel over one with a treatment known to be very resistant to corrosion. Outside of that, both rifles are well made and have decent CS. |
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Quoted: Can't speak to the Ruger, but the S&W has been in production since '06 and used by numerous LE departments, which is generally a plus for catching issues. I have an early M&Px with chrome lined barrel. It's more accurate than a rack grade AR should be and has never had a malfunction or a breakage as long as I've had it. Fit and finish is superb. These rifles at the time were made proper. Even came with the "ranger o-ring" in the extractor. Can't speak for the new ones. |
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