M&P 10: How's it stack up?

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Carter

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I haven't seen much about this rifle and am interested in it. Hows it compare to other rifles in its class? I shoot a lot of steel cased ammo and wonder how it handles wolf or brown bear. It and the ptr 91 GI have caught my eye.
I got to handle both in a store and the M&P feels noticeably lighter, is very easy to upgrade, but its new and I'm pretty hesitant on AR-10's.
The PTR 91 was heavier, but I liked the ergos more than reading reviews made me think I would, mags are cheap, and it seems to be very reliable.

Thanks for the input.
 
Every time I see someone mention the M&P 10 I think of an M&P pistol in 10mm and get really excited. Then I remember it's a rifle. Still cool, but not nearly as exciting.
 
Sorry I can't be more specific, but I haven't heard anything bad about them. I have one on my short list.
 
I DON'T KNOW but I would think the AR would be far more accurate than the other gun you mentioned.
Every AR-style rifle I've ever used has been very good in the accuracy dept and many rival the bolt guns with tailored reloads.
 
It is light because it has a pencil barrel and the cheapest all-plastic handguard I have ever seen. The flash suppressor is kinda funky looking. Fully ambidextrous out of the box - mag release and bolt release - so drop-in, modular triggers won't just drop-in. Gas block nothing special. Shoots great, not sure how accuracy would be affected by sustained fire.

If I bought one, I'd replace the furniture and trigger and be hunting.
 
Is the furniture rigged in a universal way/can it be replaced with standard handguards?
 
From the video posted it seems replacing parts in the upper is problematic due to S&W being proprietary. However, all the furniture is standard.

I'm sure it would be more reliable, but I'm mostly concerned with reliability and durability. I don't reload and shoot a lot of steel cased and don't want a finicky rifle.
 
Pretty much ALL "AR10's" are at least partially proprietary. They were never adopted by the military and therefore not standardized across the board.
There are at least 3 different magazine patterns being used that won't interchange at all between the brands. MOST seem to use std AR15 trigger groups but I wouldn't bet on anything. Handguards for an RRA are a breed of their own from what I can tell. On and on...........
 
I have had one for about a month now. It shoots fine with 168 grain soft points and just a little worse with 150 gr fmj. I like the right side bolt catch since its easy to hit with my index finger clearing the weapon. The rifle is really nice to carry in the field and light enough that I don't use a sling most of the time. I have had an issue with the 10rd mag tilting the follower on the last few rounds.
 
mtrmn said:
Pretty much ALL "AR10's" are at least partially proprietary. They were never adopted by the military and therefore not standardized across the board.
There are at least 3 different magazine patterns being used that won't interchange at all between the brands. MOST seem to use std AR15 trigger groups but I wouldn't bet on anything. Handguards for an RRA are a breed of their own from what I can tell. On and on...........

*cough*SR-25*cough*;)

but yes, I was gonna say the same thing. Most are proprietary of either Armalite pattern or DPMS, etc. For my money its either LaRue or KAC all the way. Sorry OP, cant comment on S&W specifically (Ive only shot AR10s) but I can say any AR pattern will blow the HK pattern away in most aspects that matter for a 308 auto-loader.
 
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Haven't shot the m&p 10, but I have a dpms tac 20. Best gun I've ever owned. I used to own a ptr 91. It was a fun gun for a bit, but I got bored with it. If i were you, I'd go with the ar 10 platform
 
Their main competition in the same price range is the AR-10. The comparable pencil barrel model AR-10 comes with a chrome lined barrel standard, while the M&P10 is a plain chrome moly barrel.
 
I've had one for about four months and I love it! It has never malfunctioned using handloads using 147, 168 and 175 grn bullets. It is acceptably accurate with all loads, and very accurate with selected loads using 168 and 175 SMKs over Varget and RL15. (Still tweaking the loads). I haven't measured the groups, but they seem to be about MOA. It is light rifle and has a great trigger from the factory. No need to swap out the trigger with a Geissele like my other 2 ARs. My only addition/improvement I am making is switching out the standard hardguard to a Troy FF handguard, as the poi at 200-600yds shifts when slung up tight. I would say that this rifle beat my M1A for out-of-the-box accuracy, and that's saying something! Overall, very pleased, and this will be a keeper!
 
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Based on my limited experience of only one AR10, granted not the S&W versus a couple HK 91's, a G3, and my PTR 91, I haven't seen anything in the S&W that would prompt me to sell my PTR91. Besides I'm pretty deep in it, what with all the accessories and whatnot. It really is the most fun to shoot.
 
Their main competition in the same price range is the AR-10. The comparable pencil barrel model AR-10 comes with a chrome lined barrel standard, while the M&P10 is a plain chrome moly barrel.

The M&P 10 has a nitride/melonite treatment that is done to the barrel. Great for corrosion resistance plus no compromise in accuracy.
 
Do you have a link or something where they advertise the M&P 10s with a nitride/melonite lined barrel? Nothing I have read on S&W's website or any of the retailers of these lists that feature. Their spec sheet lists barrel material as just 4140 steel.
 
Do you have a link or something where they advertise the M&P 10s with a nitride/melonite lined barrel?

The way I found out was through google. Someone at Smith & Wesson replied to this question on another forum. They also lay out some other info on the gun, that in my opinion should be on the web site.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_551/232139_Mandamp_P_10_barrel_question.html

Quote from S&W rep
Hi, The barrel does have a durable corrosion resistant coating inside and out. (Nitride/Melonite type coating.) We have found in our testing the this process is better than chrome lining, and offer protection internally and externally, and has better barrel life. The Barrel also features 5R rifling for decreased fouling and better accuracy. The M&P10 is compatible with the DPMS Lo-profile compatible rails. (Please be aware there are several types of so called "standards" for .308 AR rails. (Armalite, DPMS hi-profile, DPSM lo-profile )) Some manufacturers label them a such, and some don't offer all three heights. (This is mainly an upper receiver height difference and barrel threading.) The barrel threading of the M&P10 is compatible with the DPMS barrel threading. The two most popular .308 rail systems are from Troy or Daniels Defense.

and some more info from S&W
Hi, Most of the "major" components on the M&P10 are proprietary to S&W. (Barrel Extension, Upper and Lower Receiver, Bolt and Carrier, Receiver Extension, Buffer and Buffer Spring, Ambi-bolt and Mag release.) You can use standard AR15 trigger groups, free float and drop in rails, flash hiders, stocks ( mil-spec collapsible) sights, pistol grips etc.
Hi, We are working on a spacer/spring/buffer combination for rifle length extensions. We will be offering the part(s) on our online store once they are available as accessories. Thanks! S&W
 
I'm watching this thread, I got a look at one the other day but the dealer said it was his personal gun and that he had had a hard time getting a hold of it.
For those who have already got one what was the cost?
 
Based on my limited experience of only one AR10, granted not the S&W versus a couple HK 91's, a G3, and my PTR 91, I haven't seen anything in the S&W that would prompt me to sell my PTR91. Besides I'm pretty deep in it, what with all the accessories and whatnot. It really is the most fun to shoot.

Have you found your ptr 91 to be ammo picky? Also what all have you done to yours for customization? They seem to have a nice after market, but it already starts out pretty heavy, so add ons are a sticking point.
 
I had a Springfield SAR8 (their copy of the G# with a cast aluminum receiver) and while it functioned flawlessly it had horrible balance and ergonomics compared to any of my AR15's or M1A1's that I have owned.
Frankly I'm not a lover of the M1A1 compared to how the AR handles so if the 308 rendition shoots as well I see a Scout Squad on the market soon.
 
Their main competition in the same price range is the AR-10. The comparable pencil barrel model AR-10 comes with a chrome lined barrel standard, while the M&P10 is a plain chrome moly barrel.
I thought it was a mellonite treated barrel
 
If it's barrel is melonite lined, they really need to be advertising it better. It is a great feature. If there was a decent melonite light profile 18"+ barrel for the DPMS pattern, I probably would have gone with it for my .308 build instead of the Criterion chrome lined one I ended up getting. Granted, Criterion's CL barrels are supposed to be very accurate, but they cost a pretty penny.
 
I don't think Barrels are "lined" with Melonite. The entire barrel is treated inside and out. It is hard, corrosion resistant but does not affect dimensional characteristics. It has a case depth like nitriding a similar process.
 
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