I just recently bought a S&W MP15 and it is my first AR. I absolutely love it and it seems like i have picked up another addiction. I bought the rifle for a good price from a family friend (it was 100% new, the old guy bought it and never even shot it). As i have been researching and reading around various forums, i know its cheaper to just build your own rifle on what parts you think you will like; but sense i got the MP15 stock, i need some advice on upgrades.
So far i have added a Magpul CTR stock, Magpul ASAP, Magpul rear MBUS and an EOTech 512. I had a Magpul MOE handgaurd on it with a vertical grip and took it off because i didn’t like how it felt after a few trips to the range… this leads me to my questions.
I have been looking around a quad rails and i was pretty set on UTG for a good priced, USA made rail. (Keep in mind, this is a range gun and possibly used for HD if my Glock and Walther run dry). As i read around more, i started seeing MI gen 2 pop up for lower prices/good quality rails. I would prefer the lower weight of the MI rail but the price on the UTG is hard to walk away from. My question is, for my situation, is it really worth spending the extra 60-70 bucks on the MI? Is the MI gen 2 drop in rail really a good rail? Or should i get the UTG and use the other money for ammo/other parts.
Any other advice for an AR noob would be appreciated too. I have no LE or military background. Just an average guy who likes knives and guns and got a good deal on an AR.
Thanks for your time! Look forward to learning more on the site.
-Thomas
Read this please. This site is great however you must have thick skin. Great place to learn about the platform. Welcome and just know that the guys here know there $hi?. I wish some one would of directed me and I would of kept my mouth shut . Read as much as you can and take that thing apart a few times…enjoy!!!
Thank you for the response. May i ask why you say UTG is crap? Have you had first hand experience with it? Did it fail? Did it not fit right? If you replaced it…with what?
You really need to read more. The brands you mention would be…acceptable…for a range toy, except you then added this:
This means your plan for the firearm includes it being more than just a range toy. Before you whip out your credit card, ask yourself: What do I really expect this rifle to do for me?
Will I ever call on it to defend my life or the life of my loved ones?
How upset will I be if the rifle fails in a critical situation because I bought cheap instead of smart?
If it’s just a range toy, buy all the cheap Chinese gadgets you want to hang off of it, you certainly don’t need anyone’s advice from m4c.
If you have any greater expectations, spend some time reading the stickies and other threads. There is a wealth of information here that will actually save you money in the long run.
I have used several DD rails. They are good quality rails.
Having said that, I’ll have to ask why you want a rail? In my opinion, you would be better off saving the money on the rail, selling the Eothingy, and buying an Aimpoint. Unless you have a real need for a rail, I’d strongly urge you to reconsider that purchase. You don’t need a rail to mount a light - there are several very good ways to mount lights without getting a rail…
I would keep the Magpul MOE handguard before I ever put a UTG piece of garbage on my rifle. If you absolutely want a quad rail and feel you need it, look at the Centurion C4 rail. Strong, light, arguably the best quad rail there is and at a price similar to DD and Larue.
Never used a MI so I can’t speak on them, but I have seen them popping up a bit more frequently lately and I haven’t heard too many complaints.
The main reason i want a rail is to mount my vertical grip and mount a light down the road. I also think they make the rifle feel more solid and look better. I had the vertical grip mounted on the moe handgaurd and it was not solid feeling, there was a little movement.
I just tried a quick search to provide you with some links, but when I put “eotech problems” into the search engine on this site, I got over 11 pages of hits…
Personally, I find that the dot in the Eotech is way to small for me to use. Maybe it is my eyes, I dunno… After using an Aimpoint, there is no way you could pay me to use an Eotech…
I wouldn’t be sinking ANY money into that rifle. Since it apparently isn’t from the M&P line, I would be hesitant to use it for anything but a range toy…
I just looked up “aimpoint problems” and got 20 pages… OP, UTG is a crappy rail. Eotech vs. Aimpoint is an endless debate. Your M&P will most likely be fine for your needs.