Hey just bought my first AR the other day it is a S&W M&P 15 sport
pretty basic AR and had a few questions if you guys don’t mind helping out
first off it came with one 30 round pmag and i have sense ordered another 30rd and two 20rd pmag’s for it. Anyway I was wondering if anyone out there had gone though any ammo tests with this gun and found what seems to produce the tightest group out of it. I picked up some cheap Herter’s 62 grain hollow points(40 of em), also some 55gr Remington FMJ(40) and also got a big bag of what looks like tulammo hp’s(I think 61 rounds). Has anyone used any of these and if so how did it work out?
Also was looking to put an extended quad rail system one it but can’t find a pick of an A3 with one to see what it looks like.
Probably just going to throw the rails, a flashlight and a red dot on it for the time being along with nixing the rear sight that came with it and going with a flip up. If anyone has an idea for a cheap but not to cheap red dot please let me know and also.
I’m new to the AR platform too. I’ve had many other types of weapons but this is my first set of rifles outstide of a .22lr.
This is what I’m doing regarding red dots. I’m saving my money to buy ammo to learn how to shoot with the iron sights. Only after I’m as proficient with my iron sights will I look into getting a red dot.
That is my advice to you as well. Learn how to shoot the iron sights and become extremely proficient before adding anything to it.
A good red dot is going to cost half as much as an entire rifle [just looked up price of S&W, it’s going to cost 3/4s of the entire rifle]. There is no point in spending money twice.
This post serves no purpose–care to explain you position further?
OP. The short answer is even if someone has the exact same model as you, every rifle is going to be different. You need to just shoot different brands and see what you’re rifle likes. However none of the ammo you listed is going to provide you with match type groups so don’t set your expectations too high.
Also since you stated that this rifle was so you could learn about the platform, IMHO you should do exactly that. Don’t worry about rails, changing sights etc. Buy ammo (think cases of 1000, not boxes of 20) and go shoot the gun. Learn what you like, don’t like, and what actually needs to be changed to fit your needs before you just go changing things.
I’ll bet you’re going to hear some of this over and over from other folk here, but what the heck- I might as well throw my 2 C’s in.
KISS- Seeing how this is your first AR, the best thing to do with it right now, is do nothing. Just buy a bunch of mags and ammo, and get to shooting. Give yourself a chance to get a feel for the gun as is, before tinkering with it. Forget the rails and all the other stuff for now.
When you get to looking for a light, don’t cheap out- get a good one from a reputable manufacturer. Obviously, some lights are not made to be mounted on a weapon…as well as some mounts are junk too. Plenty of info on here about that.
Also, there is no such thing as a cheap red dot, as I learned much to my chagrin… As previously stated, if you want a serious, reliable red dot, get ready to dish out some money.
On a side note, if you just end up hating the standard handguards, or this is intended to be used as a defensive weapon, it is my un-expert opinion that you take a look at Magpul’s MOE handguard. Really comfortable, and you can still mount a light.
For what it’s worth, from a noob to a fellow noob…
What you need is prcatice, then, more practice.A good course or three would help.Take the rifle apart, test ammo, etc.Then, get your game on with a Colt or Bravo gun, also other recommended types.Then practice some more.You’ll get the idea and remember, safety first.
Oh, I did, I wouldn’t put a primary arms dot on my BCM or DD, but on a $500 s&w I might… I guess buying an H1 or eotech would be a good investment for him, but you wouldn’t even put a cheap dot on a cheap gun like that?
Buying a crappy red dot and then buying a good one costs MORE than just buying a good one. You can use optics on other firearms it’s not like they are permanently affixed.
Like everyone has said shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Then make decisions on what you want to do with it. Also congrats on your M&P15, and you don’t HAVE to have a Colt or BCM (don’t get me wrong they are amazing companies) to get your “game on”. You made a good decision, very good choice for your first AR. Listen to Iraqgunz better to save up and go with a quality optic you know with out a doubt will serve you well no matter what.
Every gun is different with ammo. Just shoot as many different kinds of ammo as you can and try to find that ammo that your M&P loves. My M&P15 LOVES Brown Bear 55gr. Which is nice because the price is great on that stuff Its worth a try for your M&P15.
OP- Buy ammo and more Ammo and shoot until you find what your weapon likes.as said DON"T BUY CHEAP OPTICS it took me a while but I saved up for a Aimpoint which is almost the cost of your weapon.learn the Irons upgrade down the road and then worry about a optic
I agree with buying quality optics OP but if your just looking for a nice but cheap red dot to have some fun and shoot with IMHO Primary Arms more than fills the role.
I bought their M3 clone for my sig 522 and I’ve since moved it to a 556. I wouldn’t trust my life to it if I had the choice but it was $69 and that’s not gonna put u too far behind while u save for an AP. Mines held zero just fine and although I’ve never flat out dropped the gun upside down on the sight I have bumped it around a bunch. For fun or practice it does everything an AP does minus battery life and ruggedness. It even has the nice look of an AP. IIRC it has a 1year warranty so even considering it broke IMO it would still be worth the money for a year of use.
Regardless if you buy one or not you still need to save for an AP or somethin similar.
As previously stated, if you want a serious, reliable red dot, get ready to dish out some money.
Its worth a try for your M&P15.