| Smith & Wesson M&P15 | |
|---|---|
 M&P15 with MOE grip and PRI sights | |
| Type | Semi-automatic rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Eugene Stoner |
| Designed | 1957 |
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson |
| Unit cost | $1,169–2,244 (MSRP)[1] |
| Produced | 2006–present |
| Variants | Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO/.223 Remington |
| Action | Direct impingement |
| Feed system | 10 or 30-round detachable box magazine[1] |
The Smith & Wesson M&P15 is Smith & Wesson's version of the AR-15 rifle with which Smith & Wesson reentered the rifle market in January 2006.
History[]
Smith & Wesson is a gun manufacturer and supplier of law enforcement and personal-defense firearms. The "M&P" stands for "Military & Police."
Design details[]
The M&P15 series of rifles is based on the AR-15 platform. Smith & Wesson now offers the M&P15 semi-automatic rifles in a variety of configurations tailored to specific shooting applications and styles. Each model is chambered in 5.56mm NATO/.223 Remington and has a six-position collapsible stock, chrome-lined 4140 steel barrel, 7075 T6 aluminum receiver and a hard-coat black anodized finish.
Variants[]
Unveiled at 2006 SHOT Show, the rifle debuted in two varieties; the M&P15 and the M&P15T. Both are basically the same rifle, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, with the T model featuring folding sights and a four-sided accessories rail. At its debut, the M&P15's suggested retail price was $1,200, while the M&P15T retailed for $1,700. Their current line consists of twenty-four models, ranging in price from $739 to $1,989. These rifles were first produced by Stag Arms, but marketed under the Smith & Wesson name.[2] Currently Smith & Wesson makes the lower receiver in house while the barrel is supplied by Thompson/Center, an S&W company.
In May 2008, Smith and Wesson introduced their first AR-variant rifle in a caliber other than 5.56×45mm NATO. The M&P15R is a standard AR platform rifle chambered for the 5.45×39mm cartridge.[3] In 2009, they released the M&P15-22, chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge.[4]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Product listing
- ↑ S&W press release on new M&P15 Rifles
- ↑ "Smith and Wesson M&P15R: New AR15 Platform Rifle and Uppers in 5.45×39". http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2008/06/05/smith-and-wesson-mp15r-new-ar15-platform-rifle-and-uppers-in-545x39/.
- ↑ Rackley, Paul. An AR Plinking Good Time, American Rifleman
External links[]
- Smith & Wesson webpage on the M&P rifles
- The Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport Semi-automatic Rifle via Yahoo Voices, June 2011
- Will the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 fire .223 rounds?
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The original article can be found at Smith & Wesson M&P15 and the edit history here.