Am I being a cheapskate with my M&P Sport 15?

[TeddyBallgame]

Long story short, bought my first AR a few months ago, the M&P Sport 15...I've kept it basically in stock condition since I bought it, never really wanted to add a bunch of stuff to it

I do have an interest in adding a fore grip, having arthritis in my shoulder, I'm thinking the fore grip might help me keep a steadier aim at the range...I really don't want to add a quad rail, I'd be happy with a picatinny rail that I could mount on the bottom of the stock handrail, then I could add the grip

doing some research, I found that Midwest Industries has a rail, specifically for the M&P Sport 15...only problem is, it's made of light metal and will add some front weight to the rifle, probably not much, but, for a person with arthritis, something I need to consider

I found a Magpul L3 rail section, with 7 slots, made of the hard Map plastic, seems durable enough, not very expensive...not sure if the L3 is compatible with my stock handrails though...my last option is to buy another hand guard, with it's own rails...magpul has those too

for wanting to add just a fore grip, I really don't want to have more rails than I need...I did mount a dot sight on the top rail, changed out the stock pistol grip with a nice AG43 Mako grip, and bought a few Magpul 10/30 magazines...also, even though it is just the stock hand guard, I kind of like them just me, I guess

what may be my best route for doing this without a major change-out of my AR?

[Zartan]

Mount a section of rail to your stock hand guard and attach your fore grip to that. Voila

Link

[Bobby Ricigliano]

You can add a small section of rail to a standard handguard. It attaches by mounting the rail to the handguard and feeding the screws through the vents to the underside of the rail and the washers hold it in place.

However, this probably won't work with the M&P Sport because it comes with a super cheap, thin handguard that has no heatshield underneath it. You will probably need to swap out the handguard, so you can put a milspec handguard or better yet a Magpul handguard and you are all set.

[static808]

...better yet a Magpul handguard and you are all set.

i recommend this. a set of magpul handguards and a magpul MVG (vertical grip) to go right underneath it. this should be about as inexpensive and light as it gets.

[diverwcw]

I believe less is more. I have the same rifle and I keep it stock.

[kdruff2]

If you are going to get a forward grip, don't get the vertical but the triangle grip (functionally superior IMHO). Magpul makes those as well.

[BigPun762]

I had my AR all decked out with a quad rail, KAC vertical grip, surefire light and such and I took it all off for a stock hand guard that comes with your M&P. Honestly, don't do it. It's just a waste of money. Keep it as is, I prefer it original and simple.

[TeddyBallgame]

better yet a Magpul handguard and you are all set.

those Magpul MOE handguards do look pretty nice...I'm just not into all those rails on my M&P...this could do the trick

thanks for the 411

[TeddyBallgame]

I had my AR all decked out with a quad rail, KAC vertical grip, surefire light and such and I took it all off for a stock hand guard that comes with your M&P. Honestly, don't do it. It's just a waste of money. Keep it as is, I prefer it original and simple.

not looking to deck it out, my thinking is that using a fore grip creates a different type of hold with my left arm, seems like it would take less support from my shoulder to hold the M&P

maybe I'm wrong, but, if a $50.00 investment can help me a bit, i'll just have to go a day without the hookers and blow to cover it

[BakoJ]

How do you like the Sport? I want one and I've held one but never shot one.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

not looking to deck it out, my thinking is that using a fore grip creates a different type of hold with my left arm, seems like it would take less support from my shoulder to hold the M&P

maybe I'm wrong, but, if a $50.00 investment can help me a bit, i'll just have to go a day without the hookers and blow to cover it

My previous post was to answer your question; however I am not a fan at all of any VFG. All of my rifles have either milspec or Magpul handguards. I became a convert to the 'thumb over top' of the handguard shooting style a while back.

My personal opinion is that the majority of sales of the various VFG devices are to people who are more concerned about how their rifles look cosmetically than how they perform and shoot. A basic light weight AR with no bells and whistles is your best bet if you want something not heavy.

[tacticalcity]

i recommend this. a set of magpul handguards and a magpul MVG (vertical grip) to go right underneath it. this should be about as inexpensive and light as it gets.

This is an excellent setup.

FYI, the stock tube on your M&P Sport 15 is milspec diamater. That info will come in handy when you finally give in an upgrade your stock.

[TeddyBallgame]

How do you like the Sport? I want one and I've held one but never shot one.

I'm happy with it, but, in all fairness, I've never fired another AR model, so, I have nothing to compare it with

Seems to do everything it's supposed to do

[nastyhabts26]

Duct tape the forward grip on.
Duct tape is cheap and light.

[LBDamned]

not looking to deck it out, my thinking is that using a fore grip creates a different type of hold with my left arm, seems like it would take less support from my shoulder to hold the M&P

maybe I'm wrong, but, if a $50.00 investment can help me a bit, i'll just have to go a day without the hookers and blow to cover it

lay off the hookers and blow and your arthritis might go away

On a serious note - there are many plain tube hand-guards (free float rails) that are light-weight and you can add small rail sections wherever you want... it's a more expensive option - but the circumference will be smaller and you might find it easier to handle with your condition?... the versatile rail sections will also allow you to use a bipod (which would alleviate the strain as well)...