Mixed Nuts
Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2017
- Messages
- 243
M&P Smith and Wesson Lower Parts Kit is a Bad AR 15 Product
As some here know I am building an AR15. It is my second build and it has, so far, held a few surprises.
My first build was on a Stag lower. It was affordable, but in all ways a fine lower and I got the lower parts kit from Stag, too. Went together nice and the pieces were all well fitting. Because Stag was a sort of mid-level outfit, I assumed their stuff was kinda standard.
I bought a lower from under glass at a gun shop recently. It was an impulse buy, a Spike’s lower and some of the markings on the lower are juvenile but that’s no biggie. And so far, the lower looks like a good part. I’m not complaining about the new lower – just giving background to my complaint.
I was at Sportsman’s Warehouse recently – best store for ammo here – and I saw a lower parts kit on a rack. It was labeled M&P by Smith and Wesson and it was priced at 38 bucks. I saw this kit and thought it was a good price on what would be high quality lower parts.
But they were bad parts.
Particularly the bolt catch and the safety selector switch. The bold catch was too thin. I could see the roll pin between the lower and the catch and the catch was very loose. Not wanting to blame Smith and Wesson I unpacked the Stag and compared the bolt catches. The difference was dramatic. The Stag piece fit and pivoted only on its axis. The Smith and Wesson M&P catch was undersized and wiggled all over.
The safety selector from M&P was also oddly loose and very rough to operate. The Stag part was just better, smother and more positive snapping into position.
So. I guess I’m saying all lower parts kits are not created equal and Smith and Wesson has decided to sell some cheap crap.
As of today, I have ordered the two parts from Colt by way of Brownells. I’ve overpaid but I just don’t want t be bummed again. If the new pieces are a bust I’ll just buy the whole kit from Stag which I should have done in the first place.
As some here know I am building an AR15. It is my second build and it has, so far, held a few surprises.
My first build was on a Stag lower. It was affordable, but in all ways a fine lower and I got the lower parts kit from Stag, too. Went together nice and the pieces were all well fitting. Because Stag was a sort of mid-level outfit, I assumed their stuff was kinda standard.
I bought a lower from under glass at a gun shop recently. It was an impulse buy, a Spike’s lower and some of the markings on the lower are juvenile but that’s no biggie. And so far, the lower looks like a good part. I’m not complaining about the new lower – just giving background to my complaint.
I was at Sportsman’s Warehouse recently – best store for ammo here – and I saw a lower parts kit on a rack. It was labeled M&P by Smith and Wesson and it was priced at 38 bucks. I saw this kit and thought it was a good price on what would be high quality lower parts.
But they were bad parts.
Particularly the bolt catch and the safety selector switch. The bold catch was too thin. I could see the roll pin between the lower and the catch and the catch was very loose. Not wanting to blame Smith and Wesson I unpacked the Stag and compared the bolt catches. The difference was dramatic. The Stag piece fit and pivoted only on its axis. The Smith and Wesson M&P catch was undersized and wiggled all over.
The safety selector from M&P was also oddly loose and very rough to operate. The Stag part was just better, smother and more positive snapping into position.
So. I guess I’m saying all lower parts kits are not created equal and Smith and Wesson has decided to sell some cheap crap.
As of today, I have ordered the two parts from Colt by way of Brownells. I’ve overpaid but I just don’t want t be bummed again. If the new pieces are a bust I’ll just buy the whole kit from Stag which I should have done in the first place.