Mil-Spec vs. Non- Mil-Spec

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tmilburn

member
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
50
Location
Palm Coast, FL
I am new to the world of AR's and decided to go buy a bushmaster carbon 15 as my first ar (well second but never got to shoot the first). So I came home after getting my gun at gander mountain and began reading how they are not mil-spec. Now I know the basic meaning of mil spec is the metal that parts are made of, staking of gas key, staking of castle nut and such but my question is can I still use aftermarket parts to swap the factory ones on this gun? Such as BCG, Trigger assembly, charging handle and so on. All (helpful) replies welcome. Bushy basher are not however. I dont want to know how poor my gun is and such, just some facts on the topic at hand.
 
You bought a plastic AR and you are worried about mil-spec? Enjoy your gun for what it is and shoot the hell out of it. If you are worried about mil-spec you need a whole new rifle with metal receivers to start.

I have a Bushmaster XM15 that has an aluminum receiver that I replaced the BCG, buffer, and CH with mil-spec or better parts. Is the gun 100 percent mil spec now? No but it is reliable and shoots well.
 
As I said im not worried about it being made to those specification I am wondering if it NOT being made to those specs will cause me to not be able to use standard AR parts. And again I have said this in a few threads it is as stated by bushmaster a carbon blend NOT plastic. Legos are plastic not the carbon 15
 
The only part that will not fit will be mil spec stocks. Yoiu need commercial sized stocks unless you change out the buffer tube. Again unless you change out receivers it does not matter, you can paint a turd but it's still a turd. BTW plastic is plastic no matter what kind of plastic is used. Now since your gun is plastic I don't know if a spec FCG or carrier will damage the plastic or not.

Again I'm not bashing Bushmaster I have owned 2 and still own 1, I just can't understand why you want to invest the money in a gun that is the complete opposite of mil spec to bring it up to spec. After all that money is invested you could've bought a Spikes or even a BCM.
 
some years ago, there were several parts that were not interchangeable on the complete gun they made. my memory recall is failing at the moment but i may think of them sooner or later. however, the carbon fiber stripped upper/lower they made were completely interchangeable. i do not know if the modern c15 is the same as the old one or improved. hopefully, the latter.
 
Well seems as though we already have conflicting awnsers. As I said for the 3rd time im not neccesarily trying to bring it to mil-spec... just wondering if my bolt breaks and I replace the BCG if I were to need a special one or not. Or if my charging handle breaks if I would need a special one or not. And im not going to debate plastic or no plastic like I said im not on here to debate wether or not the gun is a "turd".It cost me 550 show me another ar Carbon, plastic or paper for that price brand new.
 
And a few hundred dollars to have a professional gunsmith assemble it and the FFL transfer fee and shipping which brings you somewhere around 800. Not a bad price for a Del-Ton.
 
I don't think you are going to shoot it enough to break something major and for the minor stuff just call Bushmaster.
 
Thats what I figured on I was just considering doing some things for my comfort like the bcmgunfighter charging handle with the larger latch since I am 6'8" and have huge mitts.
 
And a few hundred dollars to have a professional gunsmith assemble it
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous. The only assembly needed with a Delton kit is the lower. The uppers are assembled.

Not promoting, or bashing, Delton. :D

I took a stripped lower to a recent gun show, and found a dealer that only charged me $20 to install a RRA LPK, and walked me through the install. ;)
 
I personally know a local gunsmith and to the average person he charges 2-300 for a complete lower assembly and to check headspacing and such and test fire and function check. He may have lowered his prices with the economy but thats what it was about a year or so ago. Who knows havent heard alot about deltons. I was basically proving a point that 550 complete and ready to shoot with red dot (BUSHNELL TRS-25) is still a good deal.
 
Tmilburn said:
I personally know a local gunsmith and to the average person he charges 2-300 for a complete lower assembly and to check headspacing and such and test fire and function check.
Click to expand...

That is called rape.
 
Some "mil spec" features are worth paying for chrome bolt carrier, chromed barrel, properly staked gas key, but others are of dubious value -- Parkerizing under the front sight base.

Blind obedience to "mil spec" is how the taxpayers end up buying $400 toilet seats and $600 hammers.
 
If my mechanically declined butt can put together a stripped lower by myself with only a hammer and roll punch and have it work no problem, then anyone can. 200-300 is called what was said above for the same task.
 
Not sure but I would bet that most of the small parts EXCEPT the barrel nut and possibly the handguards will interchange with standard "mil spec" parts (most of which are merely the same size and design, not necessarily truly up to mil-spec).

There's probably a FAQ about this on the Bushmaster website.
 
Thanks Michigan actually the aftermarket Larue Handguards I ordered fit like a glove..... thats why I was wondering if i would have such luck with the other parts.
 
I personally know a local gunsmith and to the average person he charges 2-300 for a complete lower assembly and to check headspacing and such and test fire and function check. He may have lowered his prices with the economy but thats what it was about a year or so ago. Who knows havent heard alot about deltons. I was basically proving a point that 550 complete and ready to shoot with red dot (BUSHNELL TRS-25) is still a good deal.


Tmilburn
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Tmilburn
Find More Posts by Tmilburn
Add Tmilburn to Your Contacts

Today, 09:22 PM #14
FC
Member



Join Date: February 8, 2011
Location: Wa
Posts: 127 Quote:
Originally Posted by Tmilburn
I personally know a local gunsmith and to the average person he charges 2-300 for a complete lower assembly and to check headspacing and such and test fire and function check.

That is called rape.
Click to expand...


well palm coast is kind of a small place with alot of gun nuts and only one gunsmith in town.
Click to expand...


Just because he has nice green eyes and told you you were pretty doesn't make it any less of a raping.


Why would he charge you for a function check? He's charging you money so he can see if he put together a very simple firearm properly? I wish I could get away with paid self-inspections. Check headspacing? What does he think an AR is, a Century monkey CETME?
 
Oh yeah- Your Bushmaster should be fine, shoot it till you run out of money and don't worry, if something breaks call Bushmaster and just ask them if the rifle is compatible with ordinary AR parts, I'm betting it is. Just compare your BCG to an ordinary BCG and see if it's any different.
 
Thanks Guys, much appreciated the bushmaster faq section was pretty useless..... However, looked at my bolt vs. a regular bolt.... seems the same. I took my stock off and tried a friend and fit fine..... so im fairly sure that I will be okay with using standard AR aftermarket parts. Thank You guys.
 
2-300 for assembling an AR lower is beyond ridiculous.

I took a stripped upper and lower to my gunsmith and told him "Make me something magical" He built the entire thing up and while the total cost was high, the assembly charge for the entire rifle, including upper was less than $50.

That aside you could build the lower in about 20 minutes in your living room.

I guess I just don't understand this mindset. You saved at best a hundred bucks or so over a cheap AR and only a couple hundred over a quality one. And you got a non standard gun of questionable quality. Not trying to run down your choice. But I just can't get my head around the thought process.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Mil-Spec Parts
Replies
9
Views
708
gotigers
G
S
  • Locked
AR Commercial Spec vs. Mil Spec
Replies
2
Views
1K
Glockman17366
G
H
  • Locked
Commercial or Mil-spec AR?
Replies
9
Views
571
hawkeye10
H
H
  • Locked
Replacing commercial buffer tube with Mil-Spec
Replies
1
Views
584
Z-Michigan
Z
H
  • Locked
Bushmaster - Commercial or Mil-Spec Buffer Tube
Replies
20
Views
22K
kwelz
K
Back
Top