Smyth Busters: Does "Mil-Spec" Mean "Low Quality"?

"Your equipment was made by the lowest bidder." We've all heard that line, even folks who haven't served in the military. So that must mean "mil-spec" is the lowest quality, right? "Not so," say Brownells Gun Techs and Firearm Myth Super Sleuths Caleb and Steve. Actually, a mil-spec part is built to a standardized size and/or to very precise quality specifications. Think "mil-spec" AR-15 parts. Technically, "mil-spec" means a part manufactured FOR the military, TO the military's specifications, and inspected and documented BY the military to ensure it meets those specs. A civilian-market product described as "mil-spec" may be built to the same - or higher - standard than true mil-spec, but it hasn't been rigorously inspected by the military. AR-15 builders are familiar with "mil-spec" and "commercial" receiver extensions (buffer tubes). A mil-spec tube not only has a narrower diameter than a commercial one, it's machined from a block of 7075 T6 aluminum. Commercial tubes are usually extruded, often from a softer alloy, with a thicker tube wall, hence the larger diameter. How can you easily tell a mil-spec buffer tube from a commercial one? Steve shares the secret. Commercial-grade parts are just fine for the average shooter. If you're in law enforcement or a 3-gun competitor who puts thousands of rounds downrange every year, look for components that meet or exceed mil spec. So the myth is BUSTED. "Mil-spec" means good quality.