SW M&P15FT and M&P15ORC Differences/Advantages?

[schmitty]

Been casually looking at the M&P15FT and ORC models. What is the advantage of the FT's longer rail; the ORC has an upper rail and the gas block rail, the FT rail full over the hand guard? Any other differences or advantages from one to the other? Trying to understand the $700 difference between them.

Apologies if my terminology is incorrect...still learning, please feel free to correct me!

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Urj]

The Troy railed handguard and the Troy back up iron sight set are the differences. There shouldn't be a $700 price difference at the dealer, unless the dealer is gouging the FT should only be $300-$400 more.

The price difference is more than worth the additional cost unless you don't want a Troy rail or BUIS. The ORC doesn't come with sights of any kind so that's an additional expense before you can shoot it. Just depends on how you ultimately want the rifle to end up.

I have the FT and love it, it's definitely the better buy in my opinion.

 

[schmitty]

Thanks for the response Urj.

The price difference comes from the SW website. What's special about the Troy railed handguard, what's the benefit to something like that?

Will a rear iron site and an optic such as an Aimpoint or EOTech fit on an upper rail, or is that where the railed handguard is useful to provide more real estate for mounting? I saw front and rear Troy sights on the Larue website for $250 together, was thinking that route plus an optic on the ORC model would be less expensive than the FT, and accomplish the same...unless there isn't enough space to do so?

Thanks again.

 

[Urj]

I paid under $1300 for my FT. Prices have gone up but I seem to remember someone from NES buying an FT for $13__.00 last month from the factory in Springfield. The prices on the website are MSRP and even with the "panic buying" are not what you'll pay at any decent dealer.

I have the Troy sights on mine with an Eotech 512 on the upper receiver's rail. So yes you can fit both a sight and red dot on the rifle itself without a railed handguard. The benefit to a railed handguard like the Troy is that you can mount accessories like verticle foregrips, lights, lasers, front sights, night vision, optics, slings, etc. infinitely more easily than with standard handguards. Plus they dissipate heat from extended firing much better and keep your hand from getting burned. They also *theoretically* help with accuracy as the handguard is free floating from the barrel instead of clamped to it.

Ultimately it's up to you. If you don't like the rail or absolutely can't swing the money to buy the FT then get the ORC. If you can afford the FT and want a rail get the FT. The Troy stuff is going to be very difficult to get right now so it's nice that it comes with the rifle.

Magpul just released their MBUS back up sights that are supposed to be real nice for little dough, if you get the ORC I'd check those out.

Also - Look in the firearm photo forum at the bottom of the main page and you'll find a "show me your AR" thread with tons of pictures of different set ups and reviews.

 

[schmitty]

Urj - Thanks much for the info, appreciate the details. Now I understand.

 

[servette]

FWIW, I noticed that Troy has come out with tritium-flavored front and rear folding sights (not that I expect to do much if any low-light shooting with iron sights, but I'm a real sucker for 'tacticool' stuff). AFAIK, the M&P15FT is not available with the tritium sights.

I do own a new M&P15ORC and have been considering getting the set of tritium BUIS as well as some kind of glass for it - but right now I'm spending my $$ on rifles and ammo, with the thought that since the sights are much less of an endangered species, I can afford to wait a bit before making the purchase - but without any sights, I haven't actually fired the ORC yet(!).

I am still in the market for an M&P15FT, and once I find one at a decent price, I'll have a pair of M&P15's to shoot... I had thought of outfitting the ORC with the Troy rail, but I'd rather have one that says Smith & Wesson on it rather than the generic one (as I mentioned before, I'm a real sucker for 'tacticool' stuff).