Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III 5.56 NATO
Model: 13807
Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III 5.56 NATO
Model: 13807
Full Specifications
Threaded 1/2x28 barrel: compare 5.56 / .223 suppressor prices.
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III is an entry-level semi-automatic AR-15 in 5.56 NATO built for range shooting and home defense. It has an MSRP of $799. Unlike the Sport II it replaced, it has a free-floating M-LOK handguard, so a light, a bipod or a tight sling doesn't press on the barrel.
A Picatinny-style rail runs the full length of the receiver and handguard, so an optic and a magnifier both have room, and one 30-round magazine is in the box. No sights are fitted at all, and the stock adjusts through six positions. Measure the thread under the A2 flash suppressor before ordering a mount, and gauge the trigger with the rifle in hand.
If you're cross-shopping, the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II it replaced is a used buy at 6.45 lbs that came with an A2 front post and a folding MBUS rear, so it can be shot on day one. A Sig Sauer M400 Tread V2 has an MSRP of $1,099.99 at 6.50 lbs, and the extra money buys a two-stage Matchlite Duo trigger, an ambidextrous selector and a muzzle Sig states as 1/2x28, leaving the Sport III's trigger and thread to the owner.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Both receivers are forged 7075-T6 aluminum and the rifle is made in the USA.
- The trigger guard is forged as part of the lower, so there is no separate guard held in by a roll pin and no gap behind it for a gloved finger to catch.
- The firing pin is chromed, and the upper has both a forward assist and a dust cover.
- An optic has to be bought before the first range trip.
- One magazine comes with the rifle, so a second and a third are on the owner, and a 5.56 carbine gets through more than one of them in a range session.
Category Rankings
How the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport III 5.56 NATO ranks among full-size 5.56 NATO rifles.
Compatible Ammunition
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the barrel chrome lined?
No. It is 4140 chrome moly steel with an Armornite finish, which is a surface treatment and not a chrome-lined bore.
What changed from the Sport II besides the handguard?
The twist went from 1:9 to 1:8 and the gas system from carbine length to mid-length. The Sport II's barrel also sat inside a two-piece polymer handguard that rested on it.
What safety does it have?
A thumb safety in the standard AR-15 position on the left of the receiver, where a right-handed shooter reaches it without taking the firing hand off the grip.
