True to the military and police designation that gives the M&P line its name, Smith & Wesson manufacturers some of its popular models to include a special law-enforcement version. These are offered to individuals such as first responders, military personnel, and even court judges, among others, to help support them in their mission to serve and protect. The M&P15 Patrol rifle is just such a firearm, and it has become increasingly popular due to its price point and the upgraded features and furniture that come with it. 

When looking at the entry-level category of AR-15s, it can be hard to find many distinguishable differences that really set one apart from the other. So, let’s take a look at the Patrol to see if it has any of those “stand-out” features. 

Table of Contents

First Impressions
Specs & Features
Range Time
Conclusion
Unboxing Video

First Impressions
 

Right as I opened the box, the Magpul furniture slapped me in the face. Now, that’s not a bad thing, but the Magpul theme is definitely evident. While the Patrol is not an extremely lightweight gun, the polymer furniture helps to keep the weight down.
 

It feels nice and sturdy in the hand. Since I have an M&P15 Sport II already, this seemed extremely familiar, and I could see the similarities right away. The main difference, however, is the upgraded furniture on the Patrol.

RELATED: M&P15 Rifles Are Best-Selling AR-15s for a Good Reason
 

Specs & Features
 

Like I just mentioned, it’s Magpul city here. The stock, grip, handguard, rear sight, and magazine are all Magpul. That’s actually a nice touch given how popular and respected Magpul is, and it gives you tons of aftermarket options. The handguard has plenty of M-LOK slots to mount your favorite lights, slings, or grips. Not as noticeable is the threaded barrel that comes with the Patrol, which is a nice feature to have just in case you wind up wanting to add a suppressor. 

I’ve dropped the main specs down below:

Caliber: 5.56 NATO/.223
Capacity: 30 rounds
Sights: A2 post and Magpul MBUS rear sight
Length: 36.3 inches
Barrel Length: 16 inches
Barrel Twist: 1:8
Weight: 6.95 pounds 

To help with durability, the 4140 barrel has an Armornite finish on the inside and outside. The receiver is 7075 aluminum, and S&W included a forged, integral trigger guard. 
 

Many of these features aren’t going to blow away any AR snobs, but if you take into account the price, you should be a happy camper. 
 

Range Time

You need to be able to count on your AR to “go bang,” especially if you are using it in a defensive scenario, which it likely would be if it’s being deployed by first responders. All but one of my rounds while testing went bang. Oddly enough, it was the very first round that I attempted to shoot that had the issue. Many guns have a break-in period, so always get them on the range to make sure they are ready to run when you really need them.

After I loaded the magazine, pulled my charging handle back, and let go, something didn’t feel right. I dropped my mag out, went to pull the charging handle back to eject the round, but couldn’t. It was completely stuck and jammed with no wiggle room. I eventually got it cleared, and after that I didn’t have a single issue. I put 55-grain Winchester White Box .223 rounds, 55-grain Buffalo Cartridge Adrenaline 5.56 rounds, and even some steel case 55-grain Wolf .223 rounds through it and saw no other failures. 
 

Since I have an M&P Sport II that shares the same Magpul flip-up rear and front A2 post, the Patrol’s setup was already familiar to me. Accuracy was no issue, even without any sight adjustments. My local indoor range is 25 yards, and I was able to place 3-inch groupings out to 60 feet right out of the box with the first magazine. After a few magazines, I was able to shrink those groupings even tighter. I didn’t get to push it out further than 25 yards yet, but I’m confident the accuracy would hold true. 
 

Conclusion: Is It Patrol Worthy?

If this M&P Patrol continues the trend of reliability that it has shown so far, I would definitely consider this for a primary self-defense firearm, just like I do my M&P15 Sport II. Granted, I would need to put more rounds through it to confidently make that decision, but I don’t see any substantial issues or failures arising. 

At this price point, with the upgraded furniture and solid reliability and accuracy, the value is very high with the Patrol. If you’re in the market for an affordable and reliable AR-15, do yourself a favor and check out the M&P15 Patrol. 
 

Unboxing Video

To give you an even better look at the M&P15 Patrol, John Grüner pulled one out at the Guns.com warehouse to create a quick unboxing video for you. Suffice it to say that he has gotten his hands on a ton of AR rifles over the years. Here’s his take on the M&P15 Patrol and the extra Magpul furniture and sights that come with the gun.