Thanks, msp3903,I had both at the same time............I kept the M&P
Thanks, Frankie/msp,Like so many , when I was buying another AR and looking for one on a budget ,both models were choices I went with the M&P over the Ruger .I'm a big Ruger fan and Having owned and owning Mini's I love Ruger rifles . The M&P has awesome reviews and a reputation for digesting anything .Ruger still not having the trac record of its competition I felt I should pass . thats said I've seen mostly good reviews and have considered it again for another rifle to have .
As a 'user' of the M16A1 with a forward assist in RVN back in 1968, we found that the it was mainly an 'assist in getting a round stuck tighter into the chamber rendering the rifle useless' rather that aiding in any way.PERSONALLY, I would never purchase an AR without a forward assist and dust cover. I consider the AR platform a battle rifle and as such I'd like both functions in them. If you are going to use it to plink, I'm not sure what really matters.
Alos: Buying a stipped upper and additional hardware later down the road and swapping would only be about a $150 mod......
Steve, I sort of think the forward assist is similar in some ways to the cleaning rod that comes with most AK's. They probably almost never get used, and are of dubious usefulness should the need for one ever arise. Still, they're just "supposed" to be there. I have to be honest here. One thing I like about my Ruger AR-556 is that it has both the forward assist and the dust cover. It's "supposed" to have them. Still, if I were looking at buying Sport, I'm pretty sure the lack of both would never be a problem.As a 'user' of the M16A1 with a forward assist in RVN back in 1968, we found that the it was mainly an 'assist in getting a round stuck tighter into the chamber rendering the rifle useless' rather that aiding in any way.
I found the dust cover a useful addition, the forward assist ... not so much.
Can you explain more on the forward assist cold be deadly?Supposed to be there and useful are two entirely different things. I prefer to have my ARs with a dust cover and without a forward assist as it is a useless piece of equipment and could be deadly in a life or death situation.
Pretty true....no lie thereAs a 'user' of the M16A1 with a forward assist in RVN back in 1968, we found that the it was mainly an 'assist in getting a round stuck tighter into the chamber rendering the rifle useless' rather that aiding in any way.
I found the dust cover a useful addition, the forward assist ... not so much.
Yes, in a pinch you might be tempted to use the forward assist to ram home a defective round rather that cycling the weapon to use a fresh round. If the problematic round jams the weapon you are left defenseless.Can you explain more on the forward assist cold be deadly?
Steve, thank you for the explanation.Yes, in a pinch you might be tempted to use the forward assist to ram home a defective round rather that cycling the weapon to use a fresh round. If the problematic round jams the weapon you are left defenseless.
I never use the forward assist as it's an invitation to making a small issue a big problem. Pictures of dead GIs in RVN with their weapons opened trying to remove a jammed round were seen years ago.
I'm not sure i agree ,there are other platforms like 1911's , CZ copies, the Ak ect that will and have different degree's of reliability , performance, durability and acçuracy they are simply not all created equal... and a " trac record " for a specific model is important I think for choosing one over another . Again thats not knocking the Ruger just simply stating a fact .I have handled quite a few examples of both. I think the Ruger and the Smith each have excellent build quality. I'm sure if you looked at enough of them you could find examples of both with flaws. Generally, though, that's not going to be the case.
As for a "track record," these are AR's, and not some new proprietary design. They're assembled from AR components. Yes, the Sport has been around longer, but there is nothing about the Ruger that would be cause to wait until "the bugs are ironed out."
I guess I should state it's mine too.Steve, thank you for the explanation.
Also a big thanks for your service in my country back then.