Smith & Wesson M&P15

About the Smith & Wesson M&P15

The Smith & Wesson M&P15 is a semi-automatic carbine built on the AR-15 platform, introduced by Smith & Wesson in 2006 as part of its Military & Police (M&P) line. Chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO (also accepting .223 Remington), it uses a direct-impingement gas system, a 16-inch chrome-lined barrel, a 7075-T6 aluminum flat-top receiver with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, and a collapsible stock. Marketed to law enforcement, sport shooters, and civilian defense users, it became one of the most widely sold modern sporting rifles in the United States.

Smith & Wesson, long known for revolvers and pistols, entered the modern sporting rifle market in 2006 with the M&P15, capitalizing on the surge in AR-15 popularity after the 2004 expiration of the U.S. federal Assault Weapons Ban.

Smith & Wesson M&P15 specifications

The M&P15 family spans many configurations including the cost-reduced Sport and Sport II models, the Optics Ready (OR) variants, and the .22 LR M&P15-22 rimfire trainer. Twist rate and barrel profile vary by configuration (commonly 1:8 or 1:9).