To enlarge this photo of the S&W M&P15, please click HERE

Those who are surprised by Smith & Wesson's recent introduction of the Model M&P15 line of 5.56mm (.223 Remington) AR15 rifles are probably unaware that the company has actually been in the "black rifle" business several times before--most recently with its highly regarded Model 76 9mm military/police submachinegun, which was produced from 1966 through 1974, and before that with the 9mm S&W Light Rifle of the 1940s. The "M&P" designation in these new rifles stands for "Military & Police," which continues a Smith & Wesson tradition for duty-oriented guns that dates all the way back to 1899 and the world's first .38 Special revolver.

Three production-grade versions of the M&P15 are currently available, termed the M&P15 (standard model), the M&P15A, and the M&P15T (Tactical model). There is also a newly announced Model M&P15PC from the S&W Performance Center with premium features that include a two-stage match trigger and a 20-inch free-floated match-grade barrel. It is designed for competition, varmint shooting, and long-range tactical applications.

The marketplace is filled with AR-type rifles, so why has Smith & Wesson decided to move in this particular direction? S&W long gun Product Manager Steve Skrubis says, "Our goal is to be a full-service supplier of law-enforcement and personal-defense firearms and to offer a full-service array of firearms tools.

The AR15 platform is the Model 1911 of service/duty rifles. It's been battle-proven worldwide for over 40 years. We joined the Model 1911 business about four years ago, and we believe our Model SW1911 is the best featured, most reliable 1911 pistol in the world. We also believe our new polymer-frame M&P 40 pistols are the best of their type. Now we are offering the best, most reliable AR15 rifle in the world as well."

SPECIFICATIONS
	S&W M&P15A	S&W M&P15	S&W M&P15T
MANUFACTURER:	S&W	S&W	S&W
MODEL:	M&P15A	M&P15	M&P15T
OPERATION:	Gas-operated autoloader	Gas-operated autoloader	Gas-operated autoloader
CALIBER:	5.56mm NATO	5.56mm NATO	5.56mm NATO
BARREL LENGTH:	16 inches	16 inches	16 inches
OVERALL LENGTH:	35 inches (stock extended)	35 inches (stock extended)	35 inches (stock extended)
WEIGHT, EMPTY:	7.1 pounds	7.1 pounds	7.5 pounds
SAFETY:	Two position	Two position	Two position
SIGHTS:	Troy industries flip-up rear; post front	Adjustable rear; post front	Troy industries flip-up rear; Troy Industries flip-up front.
STOCK:	6-position collapsible	6-position collapsible	6-position collapsible
RIFLING:	1:9-inch twist	1:9-inch twist	1:9-inch twist
MAGAZINE CAPACITY:	30 rounds	30 rounds	30 rounds
FINISH:	Black anodized	Black anodized	Black anodized
PRICE:	$1300	$1200	$1700

Well, that's a strong claim. But Skrubis refuses to back off. "Hey," he says, "we're not trying to reinvent the wheel. The AR15 is a proven design, familiar to everybody. All we intend is to produce the absolute most reliable and duty-ready AR15 you can find, right out of the box, with all the best features and accessories already in the package. We examined and tested literally every AR15 component in existence before selecting what we were going to

put in these guns. We're building them right here, under a very close eye, with all the craftsmanship that more than 150 years of Smith & Wesson gunmaker experience can muster."

Or as S&W Vice President Tom Taylor puts it: "These guns just run and run and run and run...."

Okay, I agree. For a duty and defense tool, absolute reliability is the most important thing. So let's run a few thousand rounds through the M&P15s and see if Smith & Wesson's words hold up.

The M&P15s Up Close
First, let's take a closer look at the M&P15 specification sets. Mechanically, all three of the standard-production versions are typical-format gas-operated semiautomatic .223/5.56mm AR15A2 designs. All feature 16-inch barrels with chrome-lined bores, chambers, bolt carriers, and gas keys. The chamber specification is 5.56mm NATO dimension, and the rifling twist is 1:9.

The flash suppressor is the A2 military style. The upper and lower receivers are fabricated from 7071 T6 aluminum, manufactured in the U.S. by an independent contractor to Smith & Wesson's specifications. The machining, assembly, and final-fit matching of the parts are done by hand in S&W's plant. The single-stage trigger is factory set for a maximum break weight of seven pounds. All three versions feature standard sling swivels plus an additional side-mount front sling swivel for two-position sling option (swappable to left-side or right-side).