?'s for gun gurus.....

[bassman]

What are you thoughts on the M&P Sport II 5.56/.233 w/30 round mag as an entry level unit in the $650-750 range?  Anything better/recommended? Just to have one for the sake of having one and maybe some "plinking" now and then.  

TIA

[Psychotic Bovine]

The truth is that more money does not gain you more functionality.
There really are no bad AR platforms.  I mean, if you are looking for hyper accurate or ultra lightweight, you can pay a lot more.  But, I am confident that you will be more than happy with that rifle.
My $975 Colt Hbar shoots dime size groups at 100 yards with match ammo.  More than accurate enough to remove the nose ring from an antifa punk at 100 meters!

[Jess from VA]

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/smith-wesson-mp-sport-ii-review/

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/sw-mp15-sport-ii/

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/%EF%BB%BF-gun-review-smith-and-wesson-mp15-sport/

https://survivalblog.org/mp15-sport-review/

And with Smith and Wesson you get a lifetime guarantee and good reputable service if you need it.

Any good ARs may be hard to find these days.  And ammo even harder... especially 5.56/.223.  Some people are asking a buck a round now.   :'(

Try to leverage some ammo from any AR seller you deal with. 

[h13man]

If you can find one for sale go for it. Going price on sale for a AR15 in my area $650 IF you find one  regardless of brand let alone ammo. Been this way since February.

[bassman]

Thank-you gentlemen for the cogent responses.  Very much appreciated. 

[MAD6Gun]

 I recently traded a couple of guns I wasn't using for a 18 inch Diamondback AR15. Comes with a float tube and collapsible stock for right at 500 bucks. I haven't had a chance to put many rounds through it to check for accuracy yet but for the money it seams like a nice piece. The trigger is gritty but that can be fixed by a new trigger or simply a little filing. I doubt it will be as accurate as my Colt H-bar but should work just fine for a defence rifle.

 You can't go wrong with an M&P though.

[MarkT]

I haven't read the reviews for the M&P AR.  So this may or may not apply.  However I have some experience with weapons as a weapons mechanic in the AF and an armorer avocation since.

You realize the only GUN part of the AR platform (and most other firearms) is the lower receiver.  It's the serialized (if it's not a self-completed 80% lower) LEGAL firearm that is controlled via NICS checks.  The other parts are all accessories.

I have worked on many AR's.  I am not going into detail here on what I've done or what I have.  I'll say this - you can't go wrong with this AR if you can find one especially NIB.  S&W backing it up is a plus.  You can mix & match parts if you want to change something, particularly if it's "mil-spec".  The design is universal.  If you want a different trigger you can drop in performance trigger units with no machining or gunsmithing ability eg. Timney's models.  Or you can take apart the fire control group and change or replace anything there including match triggers that aren't drop-in assemblies like Geissle.  Here's Colion Noir's take on drop-in triggers:  https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-ar-15-triggers/

You can change the upper receiver, vary the caliber you choose (limited somewhat on what mags the lower receiver will support), change barrels and bolt carrier group, change to piston driven rather than direct-impingement, go for chrome lined, or bull barrels for competition, with or w/o forward assist or dust cover.  You can change the sights, have optics, lasers, lights; so many choices.  The platform is very configurable and parts are mostly interchangable.  MidwayUSA is a good place for parts at good prices.  So is Cheaperthandirt but some don't like them for policy reasons.

Go for it.  And soon.  Before Pres Harris FUBARS it up.

[Jess from VA]

Also (simply).... a lot of the higher end ARs use components, steel, coatings and parts designed to stand up to combat in Afghanistan for multiple tours.

Most lower end but decent ARs that get used for occasional shooting (not in Afghanistan) with reasonable care will hold up just fine.  Better than fine.    

[bassman]

And thank-you all for the additional well thought out responses !

[Jess Tolbirt]

if you just want to do some plinking and have a fairly good defense weapon, look for a ruger 10/22 in 22mag. they can be gotten for about 400 and with a 200 dollar ar kit you got a great gun that will last forever and 22mag aint no slouch.

[Jess from VA]

Not that they can't be found used, but Ruger made the 10-22 in .22 Mag only from 1998 to 2006, then discontinued.  It was discontinued because of extraction issues and breaking bolts.  Making a good and reliable semiauto in .22 mag is not easy as they require the addition of a longer delay in blow-back from normal .22 long rifle operation.  They exist now, but not in the 10-22.

Magnum Research sells 10-22 copies, and in .22 mag, but they can also have problems.  And they cost as much as the S & W Sport II, and other entry level ARs.  Kel Tek makes the CMR 30 in .22 mag.

https://www.magnumresearch.com/rimfire-rifles/

A good 22. mag semiauto has been on my short list of things I'd like to have for a long time, and has eluded me.

[ZekeValk]

"For the sake of having one" - if the stuff hits the fan most ARs will get you through the battle.  If its a real battle and you survive, you might have some spoils to pick through to upgrade. 

There's an M&P Sport in my house that belongs to my father-in-law.  I think he paid $500 back when the market wasn't stupid.  I can tell the difference between his M&P and my upgraded platforms, but at 100 yards, sighted in, all of them get on a man sized target.