Colt AR-15 vs Smith & Wesson M&P15
Data coverage: Based on 510 agencies in the Duty Arms Index with a current, sourced rifle entry. Generations and optic-cut variants are combined per model family. Counts include only current entries with a public source; agencies not yet in the index, or without a sourced entry for this item, are not counted, so treat shares as a picture of the Duty Arms Index, not of every U.S. agency. Data last updated Oct 10, 2026.

Colt AR-15
5.56x45mm / .223
- Agencies (any current entry)
- 75
- As primary issue
- 61
14.7% of 510 agencies with a sourced entry in this category.
Colt AR-15 Sporter SP1 Carbine shown. Photo: M62, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Model photo, not the agency's own firearm.

Smith & Wesson M&P15
5.56x45mm / .223
- Agencies (any current entry)
- 25
- As primary issue
- 18
4.9% of 510 agencies with a sourced entry in this category.
Photo: danphamcdp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Model photo, not the agency's own firearm.