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Posted: 1/11/2015 11:59:14 PM EDT
| I currently have the Smith and Wesson M&P 15. It's a great gun but for some reason in my stupid mind I think I wanna buy OR build a higher quality AR. All I do is use it for plinking ar range and shooting targets. I just feel that alot of people act like its a beginner off the shelf AR. I want something more noticeable and of better quality. What recommendations do you guys have? I've seen Daniel Defense, Spikes Tactical, etc The list goes on. Thanks and I appreciate any opinions and answers. |
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I am not sure that either of the manufacturers you've listed are any "better" than S&W. More history with the AR, yes, More popular on this sight, yes. Better? Well ........
Get another AR because you want one. Everybody needs more than one! Your Smith & Wesson is GTG. |
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What do you find lacking in your S&W? There certainly is a lot you can upgrade (trigger, sights, stock, handguard, barrel) to your AR.
I just feel that alot of people act like its a beginner off the shelf AR. True, but there's people with Noveske and KAC that can't shoot just as there are people with BMW and Mercedes that can't drive. Being safe, accurate and accomplished with a "beginner of the shelf AR" is something to be proud. |
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I know it feels good to fit in. But it can also feel good when you don't.
You said the rifle is filling the role you've chosen for it. It's serving its purpose just fine. Instead of giving in to the peer pressure and trying to impress or gain acceptance, ENJOY your rifle and revel in the fact that you have a perfectly good rifle without spending the thousands of dollars that everyone else has. Put your money into ammo and trigger time. Most guns are more accurate than the average shooter anyway. odds are if you take half the money you would spend on another ar, put that into ammo, by the time you are done, I bet you are out shooting most the guys with the high end AR's |
| From the tons of research that i've done, most AR "core" parts (Upper, Lower, Barrel) are produced from 3-4 different factories that have pretty much the same standards. So to make your weapon more comfortable from the "stock" version S&W sold you, just replace components from the myriad of manufacturers. Don't like the M4 stock? replace it w/ a Magpul or Vltor or comething. Want better trigger response and quicker follow up shots? Replace the trigger with a Gisselle or Wilson Combat or something. Replace the foregrip with something else, etc.... AR's are kind of like legos, parts are interchangeable between rifles for the most part. Keep your old parts and use them to build another rifle. Anyway, the core parts are damn similar on what you'd find on a KAC or DD made rifle, only the roll marks and slight differences in the casting are really different. Like an earlier response used the pickup truck analogy, comparing your S&W rifle to a DD rifle is like comparing a $20K Chevy work truck to a $60K GMC version, the only things that are different is the leather, paint, stereo, keyless entry, etc. The frame, driveline and motor (the things that truly matter for performance) are the same. Like the previos poster said, the biggest performance increase you are going to get is best spent on ammo and range time, and maybe a professional course or two. |
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assuming you've got the sport model, the only thing that makes the sport model a beginner rifle is the lack of forward assist and dust cover. other S&W models can be downright expensive, but they're high quality guns.
have you considered just swapping out the parts to a new upper receiver. if you're looking into building one anyways, buy the tools and the new receiver is like $50-60, and no one will ever know it was a sport model. |
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Sounds to me like your looking around the range (or this site) too much looking at all the other guys toys. Your Smith is a rock solid rifle that will take you many rounds to truly master. I bought a M&P15T and love the damn thing after about 1500rds. Are the Smiths the best rifle out there, no, but I'm worried more about mastering my rifle set up before I worry about impressing the boys. I think proficiency is more impressive any day over logos on your rifle.
You gotta do what you gotta do. You need to be satisfied with you rifle, if it takes $1500+ to do that... it's only money. |
| It seems to me that ar too many people spend 1500 - 2000 $ buying then "upgrading" a rifle to match one they saw shoot well on youtube or saw in a movie. They then seem to want to shoot the cheapest steel cased ammo they can find when they go to the range twice a year. I'm not saying that is what the OP is doing. He just got me thinking. |
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What nobody has probably mentioned is that there aren't many actual receiver manufacturers out there, Many of the more expensive and less expensive receivers come off the same tooling, and it's the rollmarks that give them identitiy. Take a look at this entry from a while back. It will show you who's making a lot of what. Pay close attention to CMT, and I think you will find that line very enlightening...
Receiver Manufacturers Now that you have that information, if you want your rifle to be better simply make upgrades to whatever you feel is inferior. If you want better accuracy get a better trigger, barrel, and freefloat handguard. Want it lighter? Get a shorter/pencil or fluted barrel and lighter handguard. Need it to fit you better or feel nicer? Upgrade your stock and pistol grip. Want more power? Go to a different caliber with a barre/bolt change. The posibilities truly are endless. Ultimately it's the parts around the receivers that make or break quality, not the rollmark. Unless you just want another rifle you have a decent platform to upgrade along the way and make it what you want. Frankly though, if you do want a second (or third, or forth... ad nauseum) I'm a fan of building them. I can pick and choose exactly what I want in my stick, not what bean counters say need to go into one to make a profit. I'm also a lefty so that is a strong consideration for me and building to my needs, wants, and tastes. That's why I don't own a factory AR, all mine are purpose-built specifically for me, with a few accomodations for my right-handed kids and gf. There truly are many others like them, but they are MINE. |
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Quoted:
I currently have the Smith and Wesson M&P 15. It's a great gun but for some reason in my stupid mind I think I wanna buy OR build a higher quality AR. All I do is use it for plinking ar range and shooting targets. I just feel that alot of people act like its a beginner off the shelf AR. I want something more noticeable and of better quality. What recommendations do you guys have? I've seen Daniel Defense, Spikes Tactical, etc The list goes on. Thanks and I appreciate any opinions and answers. Personally, I respect anyone who shoots an AR regardless of who makes it. Everybody doesn't have $1500+ to spend. If you like it and it shoots well, don't worry about the name on the lower. |
| I'm not looking around the range OR anywhere else too much. These are things I've seen or heard others say. I don't have the Sport Model. I have the M&P 15OR model. I have added a few goodies like EOTECH 512, Quad Rail, Grip, Stock etc. My question was just a simple question and I was hoping for some opinions. Wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers OR whatever. Thanks |
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Quoted:
I'm not looking around the range OR anywhere else too much. These are things I've seen or heard others say. I don't have the Sport Model. I have the M&P 15OR model. I have added a few goodies like EOTECH 512, Quad Rail, Grip, Stock etc. My question was just a simple question and I was hoping for some opinions. Wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers OR whatever. Thanks honestly then it sounds like you already have a high quality rifle. unless you want to spend $2k+ on larue, noveske, ou\r KAC, i really see no reason to upgrade at all. S&W uses really nice barrels. the only upgrades i can think of to the gun itself is a nicer trigger. a CMC flat trigger looks really cool. and supposedly they shoot real nice at 3.5lbs, or of course a geisele. add a flash light and a sling and your choice of charging handle and that covers everything that i can think of. a good cerkaote job can really make a gun come to life too. but it doesn't add any functionality and is essentially a waste of $300, but if it makes you happy..... |
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