Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II 5.56 NATO
Model: 10202
Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II 5.56 NATO
Model: 10202
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
Smith & Wesson's M&P 15 Sport II has been a default recommendation for first-time AR buyers since its introduction. At 103.2 oz with a 16-inch 4140 chrome-moly barrel in Armornite finish, the rifle ships with both an adjustable A2 front sight post and Magpul MBUS folding rear sight, so it is ready to shoot without buying additional iron sights. The 7075-T6 aluminum receivers get a hardcoat anodize treatment, and the Picatinny flat-top upper accepts optics directly.
The Sport II uses a 1:9 twist rate, which stabilizes 55gr and 62gr ammunition well but may struggle with heavier projectiles above 70 grains. Owners on AR15.com and Reddit consistently report reliable function out of the box with minimal break-in, and the forward assist and dust cover (absent on the original Sport) address the two most common complaints about earlier models. Smith & Wesson entered the AR market in 2006 and the M&P 15 line now accounts for a significant share of entry-level AR sales in the U.S.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Includes A2 front sight and Magpul MBUS rear sight out of the box, while the Ruger AR-556 ships with a proprietary Rapid Deploy rear that some shooters find less precise
- At 103.2 oz, it is one of the lighter budget ARs, beating the Anderson AM-15 by nearly 9 oz and the PSA PA-15 by over 5 oz
- The 4140 chrome-moly barrel with Armornite (Melonite/nitride) finish resists corrosion better than the manganese phosphate finish on the Del-Ton Sierra 316
- The 1:9 twist rate limits bullet weight options to roughly 55-69 grains, while the Sport III's 1:8 twist handles 77gr match loads for longer-range shooting
- Picatinny-only handguard with no M-LOK slots means adding a light or foregrip requires a rail section adapter, unlike the M-LOK-equipped Sport III and Anderson AM-15
Category Rankings
How the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II 5.56 NATO ranks among full-size 5.56 NATO rifles.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What changed between the original M&P 15 Sport and the Sport II?
Smith & Wesson added a forward assist and dust cover, which the original Sport omitted to hit a lower price point. Both are standard mil-spec features on every other AR in this price range, including the Ruger AR-556 and PSA PA-15. The barrel, receivers, and internals are otherwise the same between the two versions.
Can the Sport II shoot .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO interchangeably?
Yes. The chamber is cut to 5.56 NATO specifications, which safely fires both 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington ammunition. The reverse is not always true for .223-only chambers, but the Sport II has no such restriction.
Is the 1:9 twist rate a problem?
For most shooters, no. A 1:9 twist stabilizes 55gr FMJ range ammo and 62gr M855 without issue. It becomes a limitation only if you want to shoot 77gr or heavier match loads for precision work at distance. If that matters to you, the Sport III's 1:8 twist is the better pick from the same product line.