M&P Performance: 6 Do-It-All Smith & Wesson M&P ARs

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S&W M&P15 Sport II
S&W M&P15 Sport II: The M&P15 Sport II in 5.56mm NATO delivers a good-to-go package that now includes the addition of a forward assist as well as a dust cover. The M&P Sport II features upper and lower receivers forged from 7075-T6 aluminum. The 16-inch barrel is made of 4140 steel with a 1-in-9-inch twist rate. It will shoot light bullets from 55 grains up to heavy hitters weighing 75 grains. The heavy-profile barrel comes equipped with an A2-style flash suppressor. Inside the rifle, the bolt carrier, gas key and firing pin are chrome lined. The flattop upper offers plenty of space for optics, and an adjustable, folding rear sight is included. Near the front you’ll notice an A2-style front sight post. For furniture, S&W has equipped the M&P Sport II with a six-position buttstock, a round and ribbed handguard and an A2-style pistol grip. Sling swivels are also included. The lower receiver’s integral, oversized triggerguard is a nice touch for shooters wearing gloves. The receivers feature a durable, corrosion-resistant Armornite finish, giving the rifle a clean, matte black look. A 30-round Magpul PMAG is also included.

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S&W M&P10
S&W M&P10: If you need more power than the .223/5.56mm, Smith & Wesson’s M&P10 harnesses the power of the .308/7.62mm while being accurate and affordable—two words that aren’t always used in the same sentence. This big rifle uses the traditional direct-impingement operating system and a skinny 18-inch barrel. I have personally spent time with this big-bore AR and was able to ring steel at 1,000 yards with an off-the-shelf model. At 300 and 400 yards, it was a chip shot with the M&P10. A smooth-cycling action and ambidextrous controls make it easy to run the M&P10. The skinny barrel has a 1-in-10-inch twist rate and uses 5R rifling. At the muzzle is a proprietary S&W flash suppressor. The M&P10 comes from the factory with a 6.15-pound trigger pull that is crisp and breaks consistently enough for even a hack like me to make hits at 1,000 yards. What is pretty amazing about the M&P10 is that its thin barrel is not free-floated, yet is still has excellent accuracy. Both matte black and camo versions are available.

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S&W M&P15 .300 WHISPER
S&W M&P15 .300 Whisper: Smith & Wesson offers an M&P15 chambered for the .300 Whisper. This rifle comes ready to hunt with a 16-inch, threaded barrel in case your state is suppressor friendly. The barrel has a 1-in-7.5-inch twist rate to stabilize a wide variety of bullet weights ranging from 110 to 220 grains. The barrel also features 5R rifling, which offers less deformation and enhanced accuracy. The rifle’s feed ramps and gas system are optimized to run efficiently with a full range of factory-loaded subsonic and supersonic ammunition, whether suppressed or unsuppressed. The 300 BLK cartridge was developed to achieve ballistics similar to the 7.62x39mm cartridge in an AR-15 platform while still using standard AR-15 magazines at their normal capacity. The M&P15 in .300 Whisper is finished in Realtree APG so it will melt into the natural landscape. The rifle is equipped with a 10-round magazine, a six-position stock, a round handguard and a mil-spec-style pistol grip. The Picatinny rail allows for plenty of optic choices. The rifle also comes with a sling swivel so you can sling it easily when you’re dragging out your bragging rights by the horns. If you want a more tactical version, S&W offers a matte black variant that uses a 30-round magazine.

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S&W M&P15-22 Sport
S&W M&P15-22 Sport: The M&P15-22 Sport offers serious plinking fun in an adult-sized rimfire rifle set up just like a centerfire AR-15. It was designed from the onset as a dedicated .22 LR rifle, and though it’s built for adults, the adjustable stock makes it comfortable for smaller-statured shooters. A shell deflector is built into the receiver so both right- and left-handed shooters can operate the rifle without empty cases getting in the way. This rimfire features a slim, 10-inch, M-LOK-compatible handguard so users can easily customize the M&P15-22 Sport with accessories. Smith & Wesson includes a 2-inch M-LOK rail panel with the rifle. The M&P15-22 Sport comes equipped with Magpul MBUS sights. The magazine for the M&P15-22 Sport is similar in size to a standard 30-round AR magazine. Hold the loading button down with your thumb and you can easily drop in rounds. Each magazine has a 25-round capacity. The rifle operates just like a centerfire AR with a charging handle in the correct position. The bolt release, safety selector and magazine release are also similar in size and location as a centerfire AR’s. Having a rimfire rifle that is similar to a centerfire version makes for inexpensive training.

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S&W M&P15 PC
S&W M&P15 PC: The M&P15 PC comes out of Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center and offers 1-MOA accuracy. This AR is equipped with a 20-inch, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. The barrel floats freely within a Yankee Hill Machine handguard. The two-stage trigger is set for a crisp 4.5-pound pull. This rifle also comes out of the shop with a fixed A2-style stock and a Hogue Monogrip. The M&P15 PC comes ready for optics and is a good platform for a high-powered riflescope. Expect excellent accuracy from the M&P15 PC whether you are varmint hunting or target shooting.

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S&W M&P15 TS
S&W M&P15 TS: Smith & Wesson tricks out the M&P15 TS with Troy and Magul components. The handguard is a slim, 13-inch Troy TRX Extreme unit while the stock, pistol grip and backup sights are all from Magpul. The M&P15 TS can easily compete in competition or pull its own weight for home-defense or duty use. The M&P15 TS is also relatively compact thanks to its 14.5-inch barrel, which has a fixed Vortex flash suppressor to reach a legal 16.1 inches. The barrel has a 1-in-7-inch twist rate. The M&P15 TS only weighs 6 pounds unloaded, and with the adjustable Magpul stock, its overall length can be adjusted from 31 to 34 inches, making the carbine very maneuverable in tight environments like vehicles and narrow hallways. The rifle comes with one Magpul 30-round PMAG.

There are those AR shooters who believe more is better—more rails, more accessories, more stuff hanging off of their carbines. Then there are the minimalists who prefer a streamlined weapon devoid of unnecessary add-ons. These shooters want a dependable AR—nothing more, nothing less. They also do not want to compromise on features just to make the rifle more affordable. This is where Smith & Wesson M&P rifles come into play.

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S&W’s ARs are well-tested platforms known for their dependability and accuracy. They are suited for applications that range from sandpit plinking and shooting competitions to tools for those with professions that demand an affordable but reliable rifle. And while S&W offers a number of AR-platform rifles to suit a wide variety of shooters, the M&P15 Sport II is an AR in its purest, unadulterated form that is ready to rock right out of the box or serve as a solid foundation for customization. This is a rifle that adds a lot of value without any compromises.

Scroll through the gallery above to learn about the M&P15 Sport II and five other Smith & Wesson M&P AR rifles.