Smith & Wesson M&P15 300 Whisper

Smith & Wesson, Inc. · Rifle · Discontinued · 2011

Also known as: M&P15 .300 Whisper, M&P-15 300 Whisper

Overview

The Smith & Wesson M&P15 300 Whisper is a gas-operated, semi-automatic AR-15 pattern rifle chambered in .300 AAC Blackout (also marked .300 Whisper). Built on the company's M&P15 platform, it pairs a 16-inch Melonite-finished barrel with a 1-in-7.5-inch 5R twist that stabilizes bullets from 110 to 220+ grains, allowing both supersonic and subsonic loads. A 5/8-24 threaded muzzle with an A2-style flash hider makes it suppressor-ready, and it ships on a six-position collapsible CAR stock.

Specifications

Weight (empty)2894 g (102.1 oz)
Overall Length889 mm (35.00")
Folded Length813 mm (32.01")
Barrel Length406 mm (15.98")
Action TypeGas Operated
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity10 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity660 m/s (2165 fps)
Muzzle Energy1550 J (1143 ft·lbf)
Effective Range400 m (437 yd)
Maximum Range1500 m (1640 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist190 mm (7.48")
Number of Grooves5
Frame MaterialAluminum
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialPolymer
FinishMelonite

Calibers

Features

Base model

Smith-And-Wesson-Mandp15

Production

Production years: 2011-2010s

Commercial and law-enforcement AR-15 variant; exact production figures not published

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: Smith & Wesson

Notes

Marketed under the dual .300 Whisper/.300 AAC Blackout designation. Offered in black anodized and Realtree APG camouflage finishes. Later superseded in the S&W catalog by the M&P15 300 in .300 Blackout.

Background

The .300 Whisper/.300 Blackout chambering lets an AR-15 fire heavy subsonic bullets that stay quiet under a suppressor while feeding from standard 5.56 magazines, and the M&P15 300 Whisper was one of the first mainstream factory rifles to embrace that role.