I own a M&P15 and so far so good! I was pleased to see how it fared on the excellent M4 Carbine spreadsheet provided on this forum. It appears to have a lot going for it. I have a couple of questions:
I look forward to hearing your honest opinions. Don’t concern yourself with hurting my feelings!!
Quality. You can improve upon it by buying ammunition, magazines, and a carbine training class.
Quality for sure. I have done some “upgrades” to mine, but not because of any malfunctions or other issues. It’s a great gun and has run 100%.
changes I made were: BCM BCG, Geissele SSA trigger, Spikes buffer.
I have not owned one but have spent quite a bit of time with friends that bought them. I think they are a pretty good value for the buck. They offer a good solid product. In my own, probably biased opinion they are right below the Colt, DD, BCM, LMT, but not by much. I would buy one before I would but the Armalites, Bushmasters, RRA’s, DPMS, etc. I really like some of their packages.
Just wondering why you switched out the BCG? The S&W has all the right check marks, the only difference is one is an auto BCG and one enhanced semi.
quality ar all the way i have not had one problem with mine. I bought the standard set up, the only thing i changed was put a rail system and put a ctr stock on and a mbus
How long have you had the gun? How much have you shot it? What do you like or dislike about it so far.
Personally, I haven’t had any real issues with any of the components (early M&P15T). Switched out the barrel to a BCM 11.5, added some furniture, but I haven’t had any problems with the internals.
My next thought would be to pick up a BCM BCG, for reliability, but so far I haven’t seen anything in mine that would suggest parts breakage or issues. More of an “if/then” purchase.
Good rifle. The BCG is good to go. I did replace the buffer assembly with an H2 buffer and Chrome Silicon buffer spring (based on Grant’s advice) and it is really a sweet rifle. 
I picked up mine as a birthday gift to myself last month and although I have only shot 200 or so rounds at this time no issues.
I thought I read (on here maybe) the new or newer M&P15 has a LMT BCG? For the most part were it places on “the chart” it looks like a very good unit…and for the cost (picked mine up for $745 out of pocket) hard to beat. I dont think anyone should/will say its better than a Colt but maybe one of best “big” name/volume brand units behind the Colt assuming DD, LMT, and other “top tier” brands sell less volume. The 1:9 twist for me is not a big issue since 99% of the ammo around me is 55 grain anyway.
I think my next purchase will be a new grip, co-worker has a magpul on his BM and I shot it last weekend and it feels nice. That or a Hogue(sp?) grip. Also going with an H buffer but probably not right away.
For my use, fun gun/plinking, home protection behind the Glock 22, and maybe some hunting if I ever get back into that again…well under 1k rnds a year and a non professional/work use environment it is a great fit.
Like said earlier a training class is probably the best thing to know tactics, fundamentals, and use of the weapon. I am really thinking about taking one (after I get my CCW) at a local range that is opening up…400rnd day on top of instruction is a great day.
i wanted an Auto bcg and the staking on the S&W was not done very well. it’s now my spare.
I give it high marks. My two duty guns are a 6920 and an M&P 15. If you read enough, you would think they are not even in the same league. I have used the M&P while transitioning our department over to patrol rifles and it has held up quite well.
Overall I’ve been impressed with the Smith…
I have the “FT” model, and it is great. I would buy another M&P15 tomorrow if I had to.
My staking was done pretty well, and havnt heard too many people complain about it, guess you just got a bad one that got threw the cracks
He may have gotten an early stag model…the pics posted of those do show a weaker stake. There may have been some early in house S&W that went out until the issue was resolved.
Interesting. I thought most M&P 15s are offered in 1x9" twists with 4140 barrel steel. Curious why the high praise for them while most people poo-poo the barrel material and twist rates.
I’m not stirring the pot, just wondering. Personally, I would love to have one of the M&P15 VTAC rifles.
The only thing I really don’t like on most S&W guns is the 1:9 barrel. I would be much more likely to recommend them if they were all 1:8 or 1:7.
As it is, I know that there are some people out there that insist on 1:9 barrels out of misinformation or ignorance, and S&W’s purpose is to sell guns, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it.
From the ones I have dealt with they demonstrate fewer issues than RRA, BM, or Stag.
Yep - read and read, and you pretty much think they are taboo - unacceptable, ‘unmentionable’.
They DO have mostly all the needed features.
I suppose if you are doing much full auto and burst fire, the barrel may not hold up past 10,000 rds. And, forget the longer and heavier tracer ammo. But other than that…
Some would have you believe that 1:9 is anethema. But, so many ‘nonspec’ rifles use it - why? Buy some bulk ammo, or even handload cheaper bullets. Are they over 70 gr and long like the latest military tracers? Ooops - maybe someone has a reason. Maybe S&W is making a decent gun. Maybe they chose 1:9 to accomodate the more average user.
because they are mil-spec zombies.
On the high side of the mid quality AR’s. You could do better with DD, LMT, etc. But you have a good rifle.
I would say a G2 light and Aimpoint optic would be all the upgrades you need.
Also I agree with training if you have not received any quality formal training.
You can do a lot more to an AR but after all the time and money spent I think it makes more sense sinking money into a higher quality rifle. In the long run it gives you more bang for your buck.
it was not terrible, i just drank the BCM kool aid and now i sleep better at night. 