What does it mean to be "properly staked," and what is "hammer forged" ?
The properly staked is referring to the staking of the gas key on the bolt carrier. Sometimes if the key bolts are not staked they can loosen up in service causing a gas leak that makes the gun short stroke.
Some people place incredible importance on this,others don't. My experience tells me if you have quality key bolts properly torqued to spec staking is not absolutely required. Young's Manufacturing makes one of the best BCG's on the market, they are
un-staked and if the end user stakes them the life time warranty is void. Many apply the same thinking about castle nuts, they have to be staked or the rifle WELL fail, total BS.
"Hammer forged" is just a method of manufacturing a barrel, one of many, no better no worse than other methods. It is a low cost way of manufacturing a barrel.
Given a choice of barrels I would always take a PacNor from John Noveske.
Quote:
That being said, where does a Spike's Tactical lower/Adams Arms upper fall?
Quote:
Where would a Spikes Tactical rate on said scale?
Never tried one never will.. they look like they have been finished by a 3rd grader with a box of crayolas. I guess they have found their niche with all the cool kids who want zombies and pirates, etc. JMHO.
I'm not a fan of "color filling" on any fire arm unless it's gold or silver on a antique. Lot of guys like the Spikes logo and like to do the color fill. It's really no different than a collector that spends big bucks just to get a specific roll mark on a Mauser or Enfield.
The Spikes upper/lowers are mil-spec 7075 typeII coating, the roll mark isn't mil-spec, who cares.