Colt 901 VS M&P 10

AR/M4 Beyond 5.56/.223
1

Here are the 2 Im deciding on
Colt 901, There are some proprietary parts, And at this time there are no parts just warranty. 16" barrel, 1-12 twist, monolithic upper, can switch to 223 upper with adapter at the cost of another 300.00 This is not important to me.

M&P 10, There are no parts available at this time just warranty. 18" barrel, 1-10 twist, no fore arm rail, so will change that out and need gas block so extra parts needed to get what I want.

The price difference is about a little over 700.00 dollars, Is the colt that much better of a rifle. Re- sale value or in the end parts and maintenance I don’t plan on getting rid of it, But if something should happen to me my wife probably will.

Please give me your honest opinion of these two rifles, Thanks Both have limited life warranty.

2

I haven’t tried the Colt 901 but I have an M&P-10. I like the M&P-10 and feel it’s a good rifle for the money. I’m hearing there are some real good deals if you shop around. Here’s my take on the big Smith
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?134269-Smith-amp-Wesson-M-amp-P-10

Here’s another good thread started by Ash
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?142729-Smith-M-amp-P10-final-config-and-accuracy-testing

I like that the M&P-10 has an 18 inch barrel. In my experience, the muzzle blast isn’t as brutal as it is from a 16 inch

3

I own both, though I haven’t put that many rounds through either of them. If you see a price difference of only $700, you’re either getting an incredible deal on the 901, or need to do some more shopping on the M&P. I’m seeing more like a $1200 difference right now.

The 901 is a Colt, and while not adopted by a military can be ASSumed to be made to their normal high standards. It’s a really cool design. It’s also very heavy overall, front heavy in particular, and a bit bulky too. I think it compares more closely to the LMT MWS in terms of quality, weight, features, and intended use. Very few aftermarket parts can be used with it - basically some handgrips (many require modification), buttstocks, and triggers. It uses extra long trigger pins, so if you want a Geissele trigger you’ll probably want to send another $20ish to Geissele for their Colt 901-sized pins, not a ton of money but an extra hassle. You’re stuck with the factory charging handle for the foreseeable future.

The M&P10 is an entirely civilian proprietary design. But S&W seems to be doing good things these days, and it has a lot of nice features and touches, including the forged-with-trigger guard lower, the nitride treated barrel, full ambi controls, an improved GI style trigger, etc. You have more aftermarket part options, although a BCM charging handle is not a drop-in fit (some report it works with minor modification). The factory barrel is almost cone-shaped and is pretty skinny out front. It comes with a muzzle device that’s nearly 4" long, so no matter how effective it may be you may want to replace it.

To me, the M&P is basically a .308 carbine that compares most closely to the Armalite carbines, while the Colt 901 is a fairly heavy DMR type .308. Either company could change the barrels and forends to change this characterization, but that’s where I see it today. In theory the Colt may be a higher quality piece, but I can’t put any specifics on that or point to something where Colt is good and S&W is bad.

If you would buy a Colt 901, I would also look at the LMT MWS. And there’s some interesting stuff being announced at SHOT, including the PSA .308 and a DPMS gen2 that is lighter and more compact.

4

Thanks I appreciated that,

5

if you want a Geissele trigger you’ll probably want to send another $20ish to Geissele for their Colt 901-sized pins

I’ve read that you can use the original Colt pins? is that fact or fiction. Good response. I was looking at the SIG 716, and have decided on the Colt for the reasons you articulated. On the topic of stocks, what is your opinion on going with a Magpul MOE fixed stock? I know it requires a extension tube exchange etc. I thought that the A2 style stock would be a better application for the DMR style rifle.

6

Im getting the M&P at a little over 1400 and the colt at 2200 Im sorry that’s around 800 difference, Have considered the LMT but it was priced over 400.00 more and delivery at 4-6 mo. I realize all in all the colt is maybe on the higher end. But by the time I add a rail, change the furniture out, and BUIS, and change flash Im adding another 4-500. To get what the colt offers, so that would make the colt about 400 or so more and trying to make sure its worth that.

7

Are there any more 308s we can suggest so you can change your mind again and start another thread?

You can buy and LMT and have it right away many places online. You can get one on Gunbroker right now for $2520 shipped. I’m not sure where you are having to wait 4-6 months.

I’m thinking you will be fine with whatever you choose.

8

As far as I know you can reuse the Colt pins with a Geissele trigger. However, once you’re dropping $2200+ on a rifle and $200+ on a trigger, it just feels like you should spend the extra $20-30 to get the Geissele super duper precision trigger pins also. But again, I don’t think you have to. I believe you can also use the standard length Geissele pins if you want to, they just won’t be as wide as the lower.

On the Colt 901, I think (am not sure) the buffer tube is a unique length. I would stay with an adjustable stock unless state law forces you to go fixed, and I think the other features of the 901 will make it a no-go in a ban state anyway. There are lots of good adjustable stocks - I personally like the Magpul STR and ACS-L, and the SOPMOD (whether LMT or B5 flavor). If you start changing the buffer tube itself I would just get a different rifle, the 901 is a fully engineered system and I’d go with any of the aftermarket receiver sets and build your own if you’re going to make any significant changes.

9

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t go with a 901 or MWS as a purely hobby gun unless you have bottomless pockets. The DPMS and M&P10 platforms will be much cheaper and much more flexible starting points if you want to change stuff around on a regular basis for fun. I think the 901 makes sense for some mil/govt type uses and for someone who wants to SBR the gun and have the ability to use almost any AR upper on earth (AR-15 or 901 sized). Although I have one, I have no particular need for it and probably wouldn’t buy one over again.

10

Notwithstanding “state laws” it’s more of a application reason to go to a fixed stock. I like the Magpul ACS-L as well and it was one of the choices before considering the fixed version. Odd that the receiver ext would be proprietary as well? Thanks for the “heads up” I’ll have to check up on that.

11

One of the “disappointments” with the M&P-10 is that you have to change the furniture etc. I’m confident that the Colt is the right choice for me.

12

It’s all in what you want. There is a Magpul MOE model of the M&P10 which would be good for some people. I’ve changed both stock and grip on my Colt, and will be changing the grip again once I saw off part of the tang on either a MOE or BCM mod1 grip (it currently has a mod0, which is too small for me). The OEM VLTOR imodstock is just too light for how front-heavy the gun is - the STR that’s now on it is a little better, and as a bonus has a good (accessory) recoil paid. My M&P10 has also had a complete furniture swap, including an STR stock.

13

I agree on the BCM mod 0, too small, have you considered the Tango Down BG-17 grip? I have big hand & it’s fits me well. I’ve read that the Colt doesn’t like the grips with the “high back” they don’t fit without some modification. It appears that the receiver ext is just a standard AR 15, so a rifle ext should work.

14

I’ve used the TD BG-16 and BG-17, I don’t like the angle and find the -17 too big for me (even with 2XL size hands). I just need to spend 15 minutes with a hacksaw and some sandpaper to make a grip fit.

My understanding is that the Colt 901 buffer is proprietary in both length and weight. Even if you can install a rifle buffer tube, you’ll need an appropriate buffer and spring. You can probably find one (check out http://heavybuffers.com) but it’s one more item to change that costs money. How many parts do you want to swap out before you would be better off just building a .308 AR from stripped receivers? There are several nice options now - MEGA and Seekins are two I can think of. I’ve even seen KAC SR-25 receivers for sale as a stripped set, and of course you could get Armalite or DPMS ones.

15

That’s just what I was told at LGS, I do change my mind a lot, just looking for best bang for buck, you don’t know if you don’t ask, Trying to buy off internet looking at pictures is kinda risky. I do learn something new every time people with knowledge tells their side and out look about something other people you just take with a grain of salt. I keep notes pro and con and in the end I hope to make an informed decision. I already bought a DPMS on impulse it shoots good I just don’t like it. Do not want to do it twice is all. If I could see and hold the different rifles it would be different . But LGS don’t have them I have held the M&P 10 that’s why I know I would have to do some changes to be happy with it, Ive held the SCAR 17 that’s why I know it just wont work for me. I see you have a colt avatar so what’s your knowledge of the 901

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I was just ribbing you. Nothing wrong with getting as much info as possible to make the right decision.

I know nothing about the 901 but I wouldn’t mind owning one in the future. I do however own a LMT and I’d really like to have an SR25.

17

Nothing wrong with that, how do you like your LMT, Ive heard there are a lot of proprietary parts on them, I called and talked with them very nice guy’s. They have no parts store per say either. Would buy on line but I would rather hand my money to the same person I will come back to if something goes wrong. Rather than my LGS saying hey you didn’t buy it here I would rather have them involved in the purchase. Might help and might not. But I cant get online prices this way either. They all have to make money . I would like to have a KAC, or Larue. My brothers company is right across the street from Larue that would be hard to take he says you can hear them test firing all the time. I told him get over there and buy one.