At what point am I just putting lipstick on a pig? Upgrading M&P vs high end AR

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rob350

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Have a XCR. Then got a M&P15 sport 2 because of the price.

Love the AR platform now.

Being left handed as well as folling in love with being able to change things up, I ended up:
Ambi safety (approx $100)
Ambi charging handle (approx $100)
Ambi mag release (approx $100)
Different bolt release being more ambi - bigger pads on it ($50)
K2 pistol grip
MOE SL stock

I have a scope/mount on order($600?)

And now looking at replacing the trigger (Looking towards triggertech, $300). Figure since most aftermarket AR triggers come as a unit might as well get a good one and can use it on future AR's really easy.

Once I get the scope/mount, will see if the front sight post is in the way. If so the next would be replacing the front post with just a gas block, and then I guess some form of a rail (want to keep it light)


At what point do I just get a higher end AR?
With that said even a high end AR wont have all the little changes I am making.
Whats the advantage to a higher end AR? (other than coming factory possibly with a rail instead of plastic hand guard thing) Action feel smoother? Simply look cooler not having the big white "M&P" on the side telling all the AR snobs your cheap?

I have zero function problems. If the accuracy is good enough (will find out once I have the scope) is there any advantage to higher end AR?
 
If it works and you're happy with it, then who cares? You can put the difference in money towards ammo and become more proficient with shooting what you have. I've seen several guys with expensive rigs who can't hit the broadside of a barn because they think the high end stuff will make them a great shot (not to mention some that don't have any more money to spend on the most expensive part of shooting, the ammo). If you decide to upgrade later on then you can always sell the one you have now, or even better keep it and have two!!
 
How many rounds through the M&P? I'd opt for ammo before I'd switch out the trigger, let it wear in a bit first.

Furniture is something you will customize no matter what price range of AR you are looking at. Ambi charging handle is a smart move especially if it has longer pull tangs, I am swapping my OEM for a Raptor for better scope clearance. I swapped out the furniture for a Magpul SL hand guard, K2+ grip and SL stock all for better ergos.

Optics are a good option and you won't need to ditch the front sight post, I have a 1-6x24 on mine and it is almost invisible at power.

Otherwise I am keeping the OEM mag release, bolt release and safety.
 
Any AR that works and shoots well is a good one. My brother's $450 Norinco shot where he aimed it and rand flawlessly at a 3 gun match where $2000-5000 AR's were screwing up. $.02
 
Keep experimenting and trying different upgrades, but also give ammo the #1 priority. After years and 1000's of rounds down the pipe, i am finally getting close to the perfect AR15 (in my opinion). Still a few upgrades that need to be done but i am getting there, then i will start building another one with a different intended purpose.
 
Consider this:

I own 4 AR's that I have built over the past 3 years, all spec'd to exactly what I wanted. I'm not a fan of Gucci receiver parts so they're all built out of milspec type receivers. One is predominately built on BCM parts, another is Spikes receivers and a DD mk18 barrel, my noveske is well, primarily noveske with a Faxon barrel and the other, colt USA receivers with a Rainer arms ultra match barrel.
While there may be marginal gains on using better barrels in terms of longevity, accuracy etc, your rifle still does exactly the same things as all of mine and I've dumped a lot more cash into mine.

What can you take away from my rambling? There's really not much to be gained from a "higher end" rifle. A lot of folks will say that their HK 416's and their KAC's are the the epitome of paper punching semi autos, but they'll still punch paper all the same as your 700 dollar M&P. Not to say there's anything wrong with those rifles, if that's what you want have at er.
At the end of the day, if I was in your shoes, I'd upgrade your m&p to how you see fit, shoot the piss out of it and when you start thinking you want a higher end gun, swap out to a higher quality barrel and maybe jump the gas system up to a mid length if you plan to stick with the 14.5-16" barrel. That's really all there is to a higher end gun that shows any measureable difference. Don't get sucked into the sales pitch vortex that has been the gun industry for the last 5 years or so. An M&P is reliable enough in its stock configuration, a better barrel, optic and trigger will make it a slightly more accurate shooter, cases upon cases of ammo will make YOU a better shooter, and building it to your specifications will keep you satisfied with it.
 
I say upgrade away. IMHO a receiver set is a receiver set is a receiver set, sure the $800 colt Canada set may have higher tolerances and what not but as long as they are built to the same spec it will function just the same. From what I have seen a shooter with 10,000 rounds down range will shoot tighter groups with a $700 AR then someone with 200 rounds down range with a $2100-$5000 AR. Save your money, buy ammo and practice practice practice. Once you have your self squared away a new barrel and a better trigger and all the other upgrades you can do will make the little differences to take your groups down that ever little bit more. Basically you can have the most expensive AR in the world but if you tug the trigger every shot you won’t hit a thing with it, upgrade your skills to the point where you can out perform the rifle then upgrade the rifle. My $.02
 
I own both an M&P 15 and a Colt LE-6920-R and the M&P 15 shoots and functions every bit as good as my genuine Colt. I am a lefty as well and added some mods to both rifles for that unfortunately thats just part of being a lefty.
 
Thanks for those posts FoxAlpha and Fastxr ... they really helped put things in perspective for me . I’m new to the AR thing and plan to shoot Tac Rifle matches locally this year for the first time and it’s good to know that going in with an entry level AR ( M&P15 ) is not going to be a handicap. I dressed my little pig up to suit my tastes but it’s all been ergonomics / aesthetics ( red dot notwithstanding ). I do wonder though if a better trigger and or muzzle break are going to net me perceivable gains ? Faster double taps being the area of concern.
 
instead of spending 300 bucks on a trigger and another few hundreds on these Ambi stuff, you should use that money to buy good optics like Aimpoint right out of the gate, or add some money to buy a night force scope.
 
Allot of good info thanks guys!
Will rock it out for a while. Get a better feel for it.


greentips said:
instead of spending 300 bucks on a trigger and another few hundreds on these Ambi stuff, you should use that money to buy good optics like Aimpoint right out of the gate, or add some money to buy a night force scope.
Click to expand...

I got a little bit addicted to changing out the easy stuff after. All I originally wanted was a ambi mag release... Lol
As for optics, I don't know what I want to do with the AT yet, until then I don't want to invest big into optics. If I want red dot, true 1x or some magnification, scope, idk.
I love the idea of the flip up magnification on a red dot, but did not get many positive reviews to the set up. Might try in the future.

I like a red dot, but I also like reaching out.... figure give it some more time and see what I want to move it towards and match optics for that.
Then I feel i will end up building a AR for the other spectrum...

Ordered a Burris RT6 1-6x24, it's new but the few reviews are very positive, says better glass than strike eagle, and they say (will see) it's a true 1x on 1x, with Illumination.
On the low end, but will feel out what I want to do with optics as I play with it more.
 
Way back when, I was confronted with the same dilemma when it was no longer possible to use my grandfather prohib at the range. The AR-15 was about the only platform still legal for shooting service rifle. I could have gone with a Colt H-Bar which was the premium rifle to use or build one from different parts available at the time. I choose to do the parts route and put together a rifle that for me was reliable, accurate and had exactly the furniture which suited me.

I used the savings for reloading components, targets and gas to and from the range. I wasn't necessarily the best shot or had the best equipment at the club but I was always the best prepared as I was precisely zeroed in with a match load and well practiced before the match. That confidence in my equipment and my shooting led to winning club match after club match year after year.

I've seen the S&W and it looks good and solid and more than capable to win matches. I say accessorize the hell out of it and shoot and practice with it as often as you can. You'll be surprised what you can accomplish.
 
trailskinpat said:
Thanks for those posts FoxAlpha and Fastxr ... they really helped put things in perspective for me . I’m new to the AR thing and plan to shoot Tac Rifle matches locally this year for the first time and it’s good to know that going in with an entry level AR ( M&P15 ) is not going to be a handicap. I dressed my little pig up to suit my tastes but it’s all been ergonomics / aesthetics ( red dot notwithstanding ). I do wonder though if a better trigger and or muzzle break are going to net me perceivable gains ? Faster double taps being the area of concern.
Click to expand...

Faster double taps aren't achieved by triggers or brakes, they're achieved and perfected by constant and consistent training. Work the gun, and yourself and eventually you'll both perform well together.
Once you have the skill set committed to memory, then you will start to see "minimal" but necessary improvements with those parts.

Think of the gun as a race car. A car with 600hp isn't going to win without a seasoned and qualified driver.
 
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