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View Full Version : A look at S&W's M&P 10 16" Optics ready model...


ALCOAR
12-23-18, 17:48
A good friend wanted a budget friendly .308 AR style rifle for hunting Whitetails in Alabama. He ask for my opinion, and after hearing the other rifles in his budget range that he was looking at (Aero, DPMS, PTR-91), I suggested a M&P 10 16" Optics ready model along with a Vortex budget line optic, and PA extended mount. He took the advice, and bought the rifle locally for less than $900. We went together for the rifle's first range trip so that he could shoot it first, and put about a 100rds of surplus on steel at 100yds with a pair of irons. It did that boringly perfect. The ammo for the break in was PPU battle pack 145gr. FMJ BT. The rifle came with just enough lube to not ruin somebodies new rifle should they not know to clean and oil it first. After that he sent me home with the rifle, new optic, mount, and two types of ammo in order to mount the optic, and zero it for a specific hunting ammo he bought when he got the rifle.

I mounted the Vortex Diamondback series 4-12x40 Dead Hold BDC optic in the Primary Arms ext. scope mount. Prior to this however I stripped the rifle for pics, and a cleaning, and figured I'd share a detailed look at a rifle that delivers what I believe to be a great value for the money. I hope to update it with his hunting success, and future more accurate hunting ammo evals that I told him we should do based on the sub par performance of his TSX type ammo I zero'd it for.

This is the actual rifle, and specs from S&W:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-10-sport-optics-ready

http://i64.tinypic.com/otdgef.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/sq1k7k.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/24v46li.jpg

The lower is exceptional for the money, fully ambi. Pmags drop free. Trigger is ok at about 7lbs with some creep, but it's to be expected. Not your standard looking hammer either. With a little grease, and some rounds, the trigger has gotten better. The ambi safety is a bit loud, and needs some use before it becomes a bit less stiff.
http://i64.tinypic.com/333zrsw.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2nq4o0m.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/21d2bgj.jpg
http://i68.tinypic.com/264tmww.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2m6n8lw.jpg

No staking on castle nut....if you intend to keep it OEM , one should address this themselves.
http://i64.tinypic.com/rvhs9y.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/x0u0jc.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/1zvxykh.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2l95b90.jpg

Solid BCG with a single ejector design. Has some unique features compared to a LMT MWS
http://i64.tinypic.com/8z1ugl.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/xc6ibm.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/1tqyvl.jpg
http://i67.tinypic.com/1zd2lmt.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/28gq96p.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2cqfp5u.jpg

The upper receiver features a railed gas block that allows you to mount a front iron sight to the same height as the rear sight on the receiver. The receiver is T marked, and features feed ramps. Oddly, it has front and rear set of small rubber pads that I assume helps with fitment, I have no idea though really. The A2 F/H was slightly off timed, however it won't effect anything and it's no big deal.

http://i65.tinypic.com/302n97c.jpg
http://i63.tinypic.com/2rf8odv.jpg
ALCOAR
12-23-18, 17:48
Standard .308 CH
https://i.imgur.com/0l1RYap.jpg

As far a accuracy testing, I only sighted it in with surplus, and then shot a cpl 5 groups to zero, and check the rifle for a specific hunting load my friend had bought. I think the rifle is capable of shooting lots of factory ammo under 3MOA easily, but will have to get the rifle back again with different loads in order to confirm.

https://i.imgur.com/ZOjKKwa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/enPVy9X.jpg


Again, overall I think for under $900, my friend got a great deal of rifle for the money. More over, I think he was realistic in is his goals, and price budget....and was able to get the absolute most out of his coin with this setup. This rifle seems to fill a sweet spot in between budget rifles like a DPMS, and higher end rifles like DD, LMT, and KAC's offerings. The rifle is certainly over gassed, but this isn't always a bad thing especially for somebody that isn't an AR expert that can tune a rifle, and wants it to be reliable first and foremost. With the standard OEM plastic stock without a pad, this rifle becomes a bit of a pain in the shoulder after several mags through it. I put a SOPMOD on it for zeroing and it made a tremendous difference alone. If the end user adds a nice stock, and FF rail, this rifle becomes exponentially more user friendly. A FF tube and bipod would do wonders for accuracy as well.
Ryno12
12-23-18, 18:54
They’re decent for the price but yeah, they may require some tweaks to suit one’s needs.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181224/0f6309d0074ab79113ebbab5ea60f3be.jpg
ALCOAR
12-23-18, 19:01
Thanks for posting yours up, my friend will love to see how far he can refine, and improve his with time. Excellent job on yours, and I might have some questions for you down the line.

Yours is exactly how I want him to set his up. Nice upgraded budget friendly trigger, robust long FF rail, a bipod, and lastly a good cheek weld stock with padding.
Ryno12
12-23-18, 19:18
Thanks for posting yours up, my friend will love to see how far he can refine, and improve his with time. Excellent job on yours, and I might have some questions for you down the line.

Yours is exactly how I want him to set his up. Nice upgraded budget friendly trigger, robust long FF rail, a bipod, and lastly a good cheek weld stock with padding.

Thanks. Everything I’ve added was “budget friendly”. The ACT was an extra I had laying around & suits my needs. I’d like a better rail & glass, but again, they suit me for now.
The OEM GB and stock were the first that had to go.
n8vmind
12-24-18, 12:16
Odd there is no staking on castle nut....M&P 15s have staked castle nut

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
mtscout
04-08-19, 19:16
Good looking carbine.
What hard case is that, 'Plano' ?
ALCOAR
04-09-19, 11:04
Mtscout….your correct it was a Plano AW2™ 36" Rifle/Shotgun Case


https://www.planomolding.com/hunting/gun-cases/aw2-36-rifle-shotgun-case

For some reason I can't see the pics in this thread. I hope they didn't disappear, as I've heard Imgur deletes them after so many months of inactivity.
Mrgunsngear
04-13-19, 07:21
I've been happy with mine so far. In the OEM configuration:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_PQcze3IIc

Current form factor:
https://i.imgur.com/440U5Azl.jpg
NQNPIII
06-02-19, 21:05
I bought a PSA lower a long ways back. ACS-L lower for $149.99 and the free ship. I don't want a damned stainless upper. :mad:
NQNPIII
06-02-19, 22:03
I've been happy with mine so far. In the OEM configuration:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_PQcze3IIc

Current form factor:
https://i.imgur.com/440U5Azl.jpg

Just watched this video. That funky looking hammer is probably a MIM part. Thank you for the video.
maximus83
06-10-19, 10:29
Just watched this video. That funky looking hammer is probably a MIM part. Thank you for the video.

Nice review on the OEM version. If you have a link to another video or post somewhere that summarizes a brief list of what items you used to upgrade it, would be interested to see that.

For people like me where a KAC/LMT is not in the cards right now, it's interesting seeing a few fairly lightweight and affordable .308's coming out. Sounds like the M&P could be a solid option in this price range, as their past ones have. Another new one in the 'affordable lightweight .308' category I'm waiting to hear detailed reviews on is the Springfield Saint. It has good specs on paper.
robbins290
08-27-19, 09:13
I have been debating on getting one for a hunting rifle. I have the windham weaponry 20" 308 for hunting. That thing is way too heavy to carry all day. The M&P is 2 lbs lighter.
NQNPIII
08-27-19, 09:46
Nice review on the OEM version. If you have a link to another video or post somewhere that summarizes a brief list of what items you used to upgrade it, would be interested to see that.

You won't get that info from me as I don't have one. I've gone PSA.
maximus83
08-27-19, 17:46
You won't get that info from me as I don't have one. I've gone PSA.

I meant to reply to Mr G's post--my bad. I found out later what all the upgrade options are on the M&P 10, including the MI rail and gb, etc.

It does seem a nice rifle for the $$$. Had the same reaction to the S&W M&P 10 in 6.5 CM. But with the 6.5 CM, it comes pretty well g2g out of the box, shooting sub-MOA accuracy even at long range. Maybe change the trigger, that's it. With this one, no way most of us would leave it alone, you'd be upgrading all kinds of stuff and before you know it you can have $500 to $600 in upgrades. Which doesn't really make sense on this type of rifle, IMHO. If planning to do much in the way of upgrades, you'd be way better off just spending a little more to get something like the new Colt CM762, which is setup pretty much the way you want it right out of the box. The colt is the below-$1500 .308 to beat these days, if you can actually find one.
Mrgunsngear
09-02-19, 15:06
Nice review on the OEM version. If you have a link to another video or post somewhere that summarizes a brief list of what items you used to upgrade it, would be interested to see that.

For people like me where a KAC/LMT is not in the cards right now, it's interesting seeing a few fairly lightweight and affordable .308's coming out. Sounds like the M&P could be a solid option in this price range, as their past ones have. Another new one in the 'affordable lightweight .308' category I'm waiting to hear detailed reviews on is the Springfield Saint. It has good specs on paper.


Video's in the works :moil: