First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P10 Sport

For AR enthusiasts searching for an affordable, well-built AR-10 from a trusted brand, look no further. The Smith & Wesson M&P10 Sport introduced in late 2017 is offered to consumers as a way to enter into the often high-priced AR-10 market.

“In 2013, Smith & Wesson introduced the award-winning M&P10 rifle, which quickly became a popular choice with consumers," said Jan Mladek, general manager of Smith & Wesson and M&P brands. "Today, we’re proud to expand the M&P10 line of modern sporting rifles with the release of the M&P10 Sport rifle in .308 Win. The M&P10 Sport rifle offers consumers a top performing modern sporting rifle at a competitive price, and is well suited for target, hunting and competitive sport shooting.”

The Smith & Wesson M&P10 Sport is chambered in .308 Win. and can also fire 7.62 NATO ammunition that's a popular plinking option on the market. The rifle is equipped with a 16-inch, 4140-steel barrel with a medium-contour profile that features accuracy-enhancing 5R rifling. The barrel is coated with the company's trademarked Armornite nitride finish on both the inside and outside and is topped off with a standard A2-style flash suppressor. The barrel features a standard 1:10-inch rate of twist for maximum compatibility with a variety of different ammunition options on the market.

The rifle features standard AR-style controls and is fully ambidextrous for both left- and right-handed shooters. The flattop receiver features a built-in Picatinny rail that allows users to add on an optic of their choice. The rifle is equipped with a mid-length gas system and features a Picatinny-railed gas block that allows users to attach a front-post iron sight, if desired. The gas block also features a standard sling swivel, allowing for the easy addition of a sling. The gas system is covered with a standard mid-length handguard.

Furniture-wise, the rifle ships with a standard Smith & Wesson-branded six-position telescoping stock that's also equipped with an integrated sling swivel. The pistol grip is a mil-spec A2-style grip. The rifle feeds from all standard AR-10 magazines and ships with a 20-round Magpul Pmag.

The Smith & Wesson M&P10 Sport weighs in at 8 pounds unloaded and measures 34 inches long. The suggested retail price on the rifle is $1,049.