WHAT DOES MIL-SPEC MEAN?

I am a die-hard fan of weapons. Searching for new technologies in the gun world is my hobby. Every term related to weapons excites me. I am sure you are also here because of this passion.  The weapon world is rapidly changing day by day. But still, some old-school terms are governing this world. 

I remember when I started learning about weapons about twelve years ago. I came to know about many associations related to the gun world. So, one day my trainer asked all of us about mil-spec. I thought I had heard this before. So, I proudly chanted, yes, it is an organization. My trainer giggles and asks me where I have heard about this organization. I replied that many people told me that their gun is mil-spec approved. Then my trainer corrected me that mil-spec is not an organization. It is a military-based standard. I learned this term by heart to avoid any confusion in the future. Now, I am here to guide you people about this. Thanks to the internet world, it is easy to learn everything with a click.

So, what does the military standard mean? Why is it used? Why do people sell their weapons by mentioning this term? All this and much more will be highlighted in this article. Move the cursor below and find out everything you need to know about this.

What does mil-spec mean?

As I have mentioned above, mil-spec is a military specification. Any gun made for the U.S military is mil-spec. Or you can say that firearms that are mil-spec are in use by the U.S military. If the weapon is mil-spec, you can expect that it is made of specific material. It has passed a government check. It is made to a particular tolerance.

Moreover, the mil-spec firearm comes with a certificate to approve it is mil-spec. However, if you want a clear picture of Mil-spec weapons, search it out on YouTube. The channel Springfield armory explicitly explains about mil-spec. Check out this video:

Can a civilian own a mil-spec gun?

It is challenging to own a mil-spec AR-15 as it belongs to the U.S military. But you can purchase a gun with a mil-spec part.

 You can purchase an AR-15 with mil-spec parts. The common mil-spec parts available are:

• Buffer tube:

Expect a mil-spec buffer tube of a different dimension than a regular commercial buffer tube. The mil-spec buffer tube diameter is 1.148,” and it is 0.020” less than the commercial buffer tube of 1.168″. The mil-spec extension tube is a one-piece tube. At the same time, the commercial tube is made from extruded tubing to design a low-cost product.

• Barrel:

Mil-spec chamber size for AR-15 is 5.56*45mm. The allowable barrel length in the U. S is 16 inches, but the mil-spec barrel length is 14.5”. The regular M16A2 rifle does not consist of mil-spec M4 feed ramps.

Why use mil-spec firearms?

Mil-spec firearms are popular because of their excellent technical design. When you choose a mil-spec barrel, expect a chrome lining. This chrome lining will bind the chrome to the interior barrel bore. Thus, this firearm barrel will be cost-efficient because of its durability and corrosion resistance. 

Why should you be careful before buying mil-spec products?

 Before buying mil-spec products, always investigate first. The market is full of fake companies declaring gun parts mil-spec without any evidence. Mil-spec is a quality standard. But some companies use it as a marketing strategy.

What are the features of mil-spec AR-15?

Mil-spec semi-auto AR-15 is the favorite choice of people because of:

-Steel-stocked machined bolt with high-pressure testing is the essential feature of mil-spec AR-15.

-The CMV steel barrel with a hard chromed chamber helps to increase durability. 

-The upper and lower receiver is machined from 7075-T6 alloy.

Is Mil-spec considered best?

Though mil-spec components passed many testing procedures to ensure whether or not they were working fine, still, one can find some problems in it because of varying supply companies. Best is not a term to be used for mil-spec products. Instead, you can use quality efficiency. 

Bottom line

When asked, many people reply that military-specific products are reliable. The reliability gives confidence to people for choosing mil-spec guns. Many friends of mine have the hobby of collecting mil-spec parts guns to check how the quality varies with commercial part guns. 

When my trainer explains mil-spec, I purchase many gun parts labeled with mil-spec. Not everything I bought because of this label was exceptional. But, some of them are actually of the best quality. Have you ever bought something labeled mil-spec? Is it worth it? Comment down below. 

Furthermore, it is impossible to cover all the technical details related to mil-spec in a single article. So, hit me up if you need any other information about this.