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/firearm...t-optics-ready
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.
No staking on castle nut....if you intend to keep it OEM , one should address this themselves.
Solid BCG with a single ejector design. Has some unique features compared to a LMT MWS
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.
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