Considering one of two carbines

[grizzman]

I heard of S&Ws making it through those high round weekend classes.

If the S&W isn't up to anything serious, would it be after a good lower parts kit was installed? Replacing springs and detents isn't going to magically make a S&W the same as a Colt.

I like the S&W barrel but don't really like the Colt barrel. If Colt offered an HBAR model, that would be something else Regardless of barrel contour, Colt barrels (and the subcontracted barrels Colt uses) are well known and well regartded.

While reading the initial post, my initial thought was also that the OP should just spend a bit more for a Colt. I own a few Colts, but didn't pay anywhere near $1,000 for them. If you're patient, you could do the same. If someone pays over $1,500 for an LE6920, they screwed up.