Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III Review: Is This Entry Level AR-15 Worth It?

I have the sport 2 all on my channel it’s one of my favorite rifles very underrated the M&P 15 line up is worth every penny 💯

That stock and grip are CRIMINAL at this point

I thought it would be like 300-400, $800!

After purchasing mine a few months ago , I’ve shot 1,000 rounds with minimal issues - two failures to feed with a steel Pro Mag when resting on the magazine , while PMags have functioned flawlessly. Considering its affordability, I find it a solid base AR, I plan on putting new furniture and changing the charging handle Smith and Wesson makes quality firearms used by police agencies across the country definitely worth the money.

What is this rifles largest competitors?
Those milspec stock and grip are so uncomfortable to me. Thankfully it's only $70 or so to swap them to something nice.
Also, nice to see that's it's using a mid length gas system.

I would rather get an Aero, Stag, or IWI for $700. That said my S&W Sport 2 is still a go to rifle for me. 👍

My only issue with the Sport III is my Sport II has been very reliable, no need for me to upgrade. Otherwise, love my all my S&W🇺🇸

I might buy a few, before the most important election of our lifetime lol

It looks so much better than the Sport II.

My first AR is the sport II, it was FSB carbine gas system with Magpul hand guard.

After customization and learning more about the system, if it was a mid length FSB I would have kept it like that instead of changing the carbing gov profile barrel out for a faxton midlength gunner barrel. I still kept the safety & trigger as it doesn’t bother me(left handed long gun shooter)

And it was only 550 in 2018😭

Can't find the hardness of the lower anywhere...does anyone know? Because even PSA makes them at 7075 T6

simple, no frills, reliable, and from a reputable American mfg. just a solid AR and great base platform to build on. my first ar was a Sport II and I have since upgraded nearly every part except for the upper and lower receivers. I learned a ton and had a lot of fun doing it.

did he really say inch and half moa?

Thanks for the review! I got 2 in April. Had several failures to feed in the first 100 rounds… lubed them up after and haven’t had an issue since. Very happy with this for its price point.

This is a PERFECT entry level option for someone on a budget!

You sir are way underrated in the YT community! Commenting on every video to help the bias algorithm

Can you decide whether you're measuring groups in inches or MOA?

Good review.

Liking the weight. What about the barrel? Is the barrel Melonite? Twist rate? What about the BCG?

The Sport III is still a bit of a hard sell when the Ruger AR556 and IWI's Z-15 are readily available.

The sport 2 was my first AR, my second is now my 14.5 super duty!

My first built AR I bought was a Radical Firearms that came with an Aimpoint scope on it. I have just north of 3k rounds through it and have had zero issues. I realize I have a sample size of one, but it just shoots.

Lack of QD on the handguard is irrelevant imo, since you can get a qd mlok attachment from BCM or Magpul or anyone else really and place the sling exactly where you want it. I like the BCM since it limits rotation more than the Magpul option

These groups are exactly why I don't buy when people declare their rifle is sub moa shooting 3 round groups. If it's going to open up it seems like it's usually the fourth or fifth round that throws the size way off.

If I wanted a budget AR I might consider it but that weird PING noise would make me nuts lol. I'd probably go PSA, Aero or BCM first though.

Great review🤘

I just recently purchased a CMMG in 300aac Blackout ... new to the AR platform ...

Wow

Your channel is fun.

This is my first time viewing your show…

Great work.

You can literally get a similar rifle right now from Anderson for $370.

I'm still rocking the OG M&P15 first Gen

Smith and Wesson definitely shouldn't put a B5 stock and grip on it....

Their trigger, pistol grip, and buttstock are the main reason i refuse to buy that trash. Buy once cry once. This is for the jamals.

Algorithm defeated

M&P Sport 2 was my first rifle, but I recently got a Springfield Saint Victor. PSA was running a deal for the Victor, several extra mags and a red dot for a grand.

For anyone looking for their first, I highly recommend saving up a bit more and going for the Springfield. Much better furniture, higher build quality, and far superior trigger.

How do I remove the handguard?

What optic is that? And what upgrades should I make

My first AR was a M&P Sport II for $600. Carbine length gas system still cycles brass 100%. Not a big fan of steel case however. Lots more value competitors these days in that price range than 2016. Buy your guns and gear around Black Friday, you can save $100s. STILL my go to rifle.

I bought mine 3 months ago. $650 plus tax. I think it's a good price, considering the specifications and the manufacturer. I'm pleased. Good Review 👍

This is the first AR I ever shot. Yeah, that hard plastic rear stock leaves shoulder bruises and something to be desired but the one I rented went 150 rds of Winchester without malfunction and showed an accuracy and precision pistols can only dream of. I would just upgrade the back stock to something with padding

I'm a big S&W fan but disappointed, they should have put more features on this gun.

@pewpewtactical, Were the rifles that you received marked Springfield, Massachusetts or Maryville, Tennessee?

I have a Sport 3 and 2. Love the Sport 2. The 3 is just as good. I’ve only shot 200 rounds out of 3. Shot Winchester and Remington Ammo. Groups between 25-100 yards were .25 inch to 1.25 inch once zeroed with red dot. I didn’t have any rounds that floated. Shoots as straight as I can. Added Magpul MBUS 2 sights, gen 2 and 3 mags, grip, hand grip, stock, and sling. Added Olight Ogden mini light and Sig Romeo 5 red dot(This is great for anyone wanting to keep cost down). Didn’t want to spend more than $1300, and I went over. Haven’t sighted the MBUS sights yet. Tried for a little bit and gave up due to it being super bright out and not being able to see shots on target. Definitely, easier to do with red dot.

After seeing all those mentally defective persons tattoos on your arm, you shouldn’t be allowed to have a gun you got mental issues. It’s like an insecurity. You need to put stupid graffiti all over your body to get attention, but I guess your generation you’re probably one of those people that are switch hitter you identify as Something you’re not

Oh, and the other reason we shouldn’t watch your videos you got your pubic hair on your face to blow on your little boyfriend’s bagpipe I guess mentally ill pedophilia is something you’re into

I’ve had the original M&P 15 with the forward and dust cover, I got it when it was new to the market. It’s honestly such a surprisingly good rifle. I have a lot of friends who go with Aero or PSA, and they all remark about how nice mine runs stock. I upgraded a few pieces of furniture (stock and grip are fine to me, but the charging handle felt like trash) but it still shoots great out to 500 yards on man sized targets!

For someone buying my first rifle vs “building my own” this m&p sport 3 is something I can go to a gun sales FFL and pick up right off the wall, it’s also In the range of what I’m trying to spend. And also so I don’t have to build my first one, I don’t wanna have things down to the wrong torque specs, but to be able to buy it ready to shoot, and take it to the range, I was at the range in less than a few days. For it being a “lower priced” rifle, it has a good feel to train before I buy a 2000-4000$ rifle.

Do you think AR will be banned if she gets in? And worth buying if so?

The return of the forward assist. Not a heavily used feature in the design but strange to have it deleted if you are keeping the deflector.

This is a solid budget platform but luckily so many options on bottom end now.

I had the original sporter, which blew up on me after one mag.I did research and bought a Sig tread, upgraded to a Cmc trigger, radial charger, red dot.The best rifle I have ever had except for my M1 carbine which was made in 1944, and Never cleaned!. No recoil, like a .22 long rifle. 860.00 for gun, 1450.00 for all the upgrades, beats my others the Ruger 556, is my second choice. Smith and Wesson make great revolvers, but weird stuff happens with their long guns, I hope refined means it will not blow up in my face, 72, first gun ever blew up on me. Notice all the changes because the sporter was junk, no dust cover, or other regular things found on most msr .They improved everything that was cheap quality I hope.The Ruger is a quality msr. If you want a DI type msr, a tread, it's a mid range in features like everything ambi, except for bolt release, and you have a stainless steel best steel available the 416R l believe, and is particle tested, all the other checks. Think Swiss watch meets German engineering that's sig. Wow, Smith and Wesson have a forward assist and a dust cover, how unique, when Aero is making good guns for the same price. The sig is not entry, by almost every review. I paid more for my .45 than my Sig, not counting upgrades. NOT by that much more, but a handgun more expensive then a rifle must show my age, cause it doesn't seem right. Be safe, wear shooting glasses.