I’ve read the very informative comparison chart here on M4C.net, read various magazine reviews for both ARs, did quite a bit of M4C searching, and now I’m about to take the plunge. What I need is a final “push” from fellow M4C users in making my decision.
Here’s my current situation: I’m itching and HAVE about $1.6K to buy the Colt 6920. But I know that I’m going to want to “Vltor” out my new M4 with the CASV-EL and EMOD stock. I can buy the “plain jane” S&W M&P15, the CASV-EL, and EMOD stock OR buy the Colt 6920 and slowly purchase the Vltor parts as I have money.
Basically, is the Colt worth the extra that it costs over the M&P15? If I buy the M&P15, will I be kicking myself for not getting the Colt when I had the chance?
FYI, I will be using the AR primarily for shooting sports (read: FUN) and for the day the SHTF.
If you are seriously torn save the money and get the Colt. If your mind works anything like mine you will just end up trading up later. I had a VERY early M&P and the barrel nut was loose. It was my first AR. I traded it in on a Colt and I have been beating it to death ever since.
I think COLT’s are great, BUT I also don’t think they are the end all of AR-15’s…
I think other companies make great products too… I think there are only a few companies that you you steer clear from, shy of that, I think most AR’s are good and can always be made better.
That being said, I’m not shooting competitions or anything… I am waiting for my S&W MP15FT to come in from Smith and Wesson.
No. IMHO, if you buy a Colt you’re paying a premium for the name.
If I had $1.6k to spend on an AR it would be on a precision mid-length upper with a free float rail system, mated up to a anyone’s milspec lower using a good lower parts kit. Save up a little more, add on a Trijicon TR24 and you’ve got something fun that will keep you learning for some time to come…
I have a S&W and had never had a problem. I know freinds who have colts and the SMITH shoots as good as the colt, I think colts are overated in my opinion.
I think both rifles are excellent choices and you should be very happy with either rifle. You may also want to look at an LMT, DD M4 or a CD M4LE.
Getting back to the orginal question. Although the Colt 6920 is the better rifle according to military standards, I think the smith and wesson is more than adequate for 99% of civilian shooters.
For a first AR, I would buy the Smith and Wesson and invest the rest of the money in ammo, optics, training, etc…
First off I will say I have very little hands on experience with the S&W rifles but what I have had has been good.
That being said I am a huge Colt fan as well.
Now that’s out of the way I personally would choose a DDM4. I really have come around to liking this rifle. With everything that it comes with from the factory all you have to add is am optic and that’s not even necessary right off the bat.
If I had it all to do over again and the DDM4 was available there’s no question that’s how I would go. Just my .02
if you are only choosing between those two, get the Colt. If you want to look at others around the 1500 price point, look at the DDM4 that has been posted a few times already. I got one and love the thing.
I got a S&W MP15 and Colt 6920 and if it’s between just these buy what you can afford.
But…if you got $1600 to spend, why don’t you consider a LMT MRP DI for around that price? I got one and if I am only allow to have one rifle the LMT MRP will certainly be it.
Anyone happen to notice that the Your Price is actually higher than the List Price? I bought this same lower from Dynamic Armament for 335.00. Do you know for a fact that LaRue has these in stock or is he going to wait 6 months? For some people that makes a difference because they want it now.
Ok here is my opinion…
Buy the Colt if you are looking for a long term (investment) colts are great guns every part milspec etc. But for the money and your intended uses I would go S&W. S&W had early problems but none receintly that I know of. I have one of each on layaway and I plan on shooting the S&W and putting the colt in the safe for later. BTW both guns cost roughly the same amount @ $1700 each but the S&W is the tricked out VTAC model with all the goodies, and the colt is plane jane stock.
Yes, it’s a little higher, but IMHO, buying quality once is actually cheaper in the long run. Certainly parts and pieces can be had at better prices elsewhere, I’m just trying to give examples, not shop for Crusader. No, I didn’t check stock, but even if he has to wait a little, isn’t that sometimes better than hurrying and having to upgrade/replace later?
I am no expert. But, I own a Colt and two S&W’s. The S&W VTAC may be in your price range. It is a very nice AR and I am extremely pleased with mine. The JP trigger is hard to beat. The Viking foreend is going to be on any future AR’s that I own. But, all in all, I would buy the Colt if I could only have one.
i as well bought a sw mp15 for my first ar before even finding this site, i kept it for a couple years, then sold it to my buddy after i bought a colt 6920, do i regret selling the sw? no, did anything happen when i owned the sw to make me want to sell it? no, i had no failures at all, i just wanted to upgrade and since at the time noveske wasnt even taking orders i bought a colt to hold me over until i get my hands on a noveske
I couldn’t justify a 6920 at the time when I decided I needed to replace a RRA A4 NM that was doing me no good, so I got an M&P15. Now that I am back to a full 40 hours at work, I wish I had waited a bit and gotten the 6920. Don’t get me wrong: the Smith is an okay carbine, though mine is a bit loose (upper/lower fit)… since I have run across a Colt or two like that, the wiggle isn’t really something to compare as far as features go. The side-mounted front sling already on the 6920 is a nice touch, but I can live without it. I do, however, regret not having the 1:7 barrel, and I may end up trading away a practically new M&P15 because of that.
Or not.
In the meantime though, at least I do have an AR handy that is… well… actually handy.
I have a fairly new M&P15x (Feb 09) and have been very pleased with the function of the rifle. If at the time the Colt was the same price I would have most likely gotten the Colt and saved my pennies for the upgrades.
But now the DD M4 or the LMT would make the decision even tougher.
