Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Another Annoying This vs. That Question

A local gun shop has one S&W M&P 15 (sku # 811000) in stock for $1100. They have Colt 6920s listed on their website for $1000, but they are currently out of stock. I put my name on the waiting list for the 6920, but the LGS cannot tell me when the next shipment will be received.

The $1100 M&P appears to be very similar to the 6920. It has a removable carry handle and a chrome-lined bore with a 1:9 twist. The latest Colt 6920s seem to have dropped the removable carry handle in favor of a BUIS, and they have a 1:7 twist.

Setting aside the availability issue, I am sort of surprised that this particular M&P is being sold for $100 more than the Colt. Aside from the removable carry handle, I would think that the Colt would command a higher price than the M&P, but that's not the case in this instance.

My inclination is to stay on the list for the $1000 Colt and pass on the (one) in stock M&P at $1100. Anyone want to talk me out of my decision?

Thank you.

Based upon the sku # quoted by the LGS, this appears to be the M&P model in question:

M&P 15 811000

No warts on the M&P. I have two of them for general range work and have no complaints. One required an aftermarket trigger, but the other was fine as issued.

FWIW, I just tried to order a Colt 6920 figuring a quick $500 profit in December and was told they were out of stock at the distributor level and they had no idea when they would be replenished.

The 1:7 twist is not needed unless you plan on shooting the heaviest bullets.

Buy the Smith while you can, but stay on the Colt waiting list. Past experience tells me that name AR's will be getting harder to find as you get closer to November.

There's no way I'd pay $1100 for a S&W when Colts can be had for $800-$900 and the Smith should retail about the same, probably a little less.

The 1/9 twist may work for most but the 1/7 will work for all.

Thank you. I know that the M&P is a good rifle. I guess I was just surprised that it's priced higher than the Colt, although the carry handle could be the difference. I see that Ruger sells a $700 rifle that appears to be in-stock in some places, but it seems to lack some of the mil-spec features. Maybe not a deal-breaker for me, though.

If money was no object, I would just find the highest quality rifle that was in stock and met my needs and grab it. I just want a good AR to salt away in case it becomes impossible to get one in the near future.

BTW, I like your sig line. Ralph Peters was born and raised less than 10 miles from my home town.

Any opinions on this Cabela's "exclusive" Colt? Their website says it is "backorderable".

$800 Cabela's Colt

I'd be on that Cabelas Colt.




Travis

Gunbroker - buy a Colt 6920. I wouldn't wait at this point myself. Prices are already rising, and becoming harder to find.

You'd be out of your mind to pay $1100 for that S&W.

That's sort of what I was thinking, but this LGS does not appear to be out of line with most of their pricing. Looking around the Internet, it looks like S&W is pretty proud of their rifles lately.

They list the MSRP of that rifle at $1249.

You need to look around more.

I missed the price in the original post, but I agree the S&W is too high. However, if you want iron sights I firmly believe a carry handle sight with a A2 front beats a polymer Magpul anytime. Polymer may have a place in firearms, but sights aren't one of them.

CC,

If you really want a Colt M4gery and don't want to wait, search for the 6920 OEM1. I see a couple in-stock online. Needs a stock and handguards, but that was the point by Colt... a lower priced 6920 where you add your own. You can also look for the OEM2.

Jason

Thank you for the idea. I did see those a few days ago on the 'net somewhere, but I don't remember exactly where. I've been to the end of the Internet and back.

I have a LE6920, but two is one and...well, we all know how the rest of the saying goes. I'm getting that feeling that if I don't act soon, I'll regret it later, but I don't want to get too hasty and make a move I'll regret, either. I figure a 6920 might not be the best move, but it's never the wrong move.

With that said, I wouldn't mind having something a little bit different. Maybe even an A2 style rifle would be nice to have.

What would you say about a Colt 6920 with BUIS vs. a FNH FN-15 with removable carry handle at about the same price? At some point I might add an optic, and so I'm not sure if the carry handle would be a deal-breaker on this particular purchase.

The addition of an optic also has me wondering whether I'm interested in a rifle with the A2-style front sight (on both the Colt and FN). Also, standard handguards are OK, but I wouldn't mind something a little more versatile, but that's easier to remedy later compared to altering the front sight.

I wish I had more money and more time, but November will be here before you know it, and things could get dicey soon thereafter.

For $1100 I'd build one out of MUCH better parts than either the Colt or S&W have.

I like Colt better. The front sight can be used with a scope of 3-9 power you won't see it.

I bought one of the Colt OEMs and couldn't be happier.

It's been my experience that once someone adds an optic they never go back to irons. If that's in your future, buy the Colt instead of the FN. If you want irons, buy the FN.

Come December, the Colt will have a higher resale value.

That's great, but I don't want to feed another gun-barer. Does it come without the little person?

Looks like it also comes with a 30 rounder and a bag of Fritos.