I was on another site and someone posted about buying a High Standard AR 15, to which he was bashed about owning a hobby rifle, commercial rifle, plinker, paper punching rifle. I really want to understand what is going to happen to a "non-fighting" rifle such as a M&P15, Bushmaster, DPMS (anything thats not Colt, DD, Larue, etc)that is pushed to its limits. Is mil-spec really all that. It seems to some that is if you don't own a mil-spec AR it's not gonna go bang when you need it the most. All opinions are welcome.
This is a common question I see on every forum. What I ask my customers to do is to be honest about how they are going to use their AR's. Some examples are:
1. Target/plinking
2. Varmint/hunting
3. Defense/Training
4. Competition
5. Safe queen
There AR's for all the above areas and of course some overlap. With some of the above categories, "Mil-Spec" or following the TDP really doesn't matter. Get a gun that is in your price and accuracy range and drive on. Still others aren't going to shoot their gun at ALL so get whatever you like.
Mil-Spec and TDP (technical data package) are two different things. The worst AR on the planet could be "mil-spec" simply because parts of it could interchange with a real M16 or M4. Doesn't means that those parts are quality, but that they "fit" together. So it is important to realize that just because something is dimensionally accurate that it doesn't mean that it is actually a quality part.
The TDP defines everything about the M16 or M4. Pin size, length, chrome thickness, anodizing color, gas port size, hardness of certain parts, chamber dims, what kind of high pressure rounds you can use for testing and protocols for MPI. The list goes on and on. As an example, I once got a bolt catch pin that I felt was undersized. So I called my buddy at Colt and verified the specs for that part. Sure enough it was out of spec.
So is what the TDP calls for important to you? Well that depends on what you want to do with your AR. For many, they will never fire more than 100rds a year. While I will (as a firearms instructor), will shoot 5,000rds or more via teaching or attending training. So for me, I want the company I buy a gun or parts from to follow a standard (not just make up their own). From my personal experience, companies that follow the TDP (or have the TDP) are going to produce the more reliable AR's.
Since Colt has been brought up in this thread, I will share what I know (as I have many inside contacts within this company). First, the MAJORITY of parts used in the US Military issued M4A1 are also found in the LE6920, 6720, 6940, 6933 and 6921. That means that the barrel material, entire BCG, gas port size, chamber, anodizing, receiver extension, buffer, stock, charging handle, carry handle, flash hider, FSB, castle nut, receiver plate, buffer spring, HPT, MPI, upper receiver, HG's, etc, etc are the EXACT same and are made on the SAME assembly line as the M4A1.
Where there are differences is in the FCG (fire control group) as the M4A1 has an auto sear and an extra hole drilled into the lower receiver. The lower receiver also has the hard stops for the selector (which is of the FA variety).
FN (the only other TDP holder) is not allowed to use their TDP to produce the M16A2/A4 so that is why we do not see any semi-auto guns out of them in the M16 family.
For me personally, I don't own a single factory built AR (from any manufacturer) as I prefer to build my own. So do your own research, talk to people that work in the AR world and decide what is important to you in an AR. After that, just go shoot the gun and get some training!
C4
