My nephew wants to buy an AR as an graduation gift for his fiance', who is graduating from the Police Academy in Maryland shortly. He wants me to find him one, and said to make sure it is "Mil Spec". I'm not as "up on" ARs as I am hunting rifles. I know that there are ARs chambered in 5.56, and those in .223. Is that the primary difference? I imagine it is so she can use police-issue ammunition, and qualify with the weapon.

It basically refers to the difference in measurements between commercial parts and mil spec parts. When I bought a new butt stock for my AR, I had to measure the diameter of the buffer tube to determine whether it was commercial diameter or mil spec diameter.

Ed, are the Colt rifles mil spec?

some colt rifles are some are not. it depends on when they were made. some have larger than mil spec hammer, trigger, and pivot pins.

The current Colts are pretty much considered the gold standard of the over-the-counter AR's. I would make sure that whatever you end up with has the Nato chamber and twist so that you can run true Nato spec ammo.
C.G.B.

Biebs-- I'm no expert on AR15's by any means. I have several and only my gunsmith knows which are mil spec and which are commercial. I just tell him what upgrade, etc I want and tell him to figure it out. Max is probably right "It just depends".

You can't go wrong with a Colt. You can wade through 51 pages of discussions and photos here: www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

Or, take a look at the chart.

As of 1 October 2013, Maryland residents are prohibited from buying AR15 rifles.

Rainier Arms makes theRainier Arms RUC rifle, which is a damn sight better than a standard rifle, and they'll customize them for you. Better trigger, barrel, the forend on this one is ultralight and tough. I have a similar rifle made of parts I got from Rainier, it's awesome.

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As of 1 October 2013, Maryland residents are prohibited from buying AR15 rifles.

Doc, she'll be a police officer in 2 weeks, but I'll pass that on...thanks.

I'd look for labeling of "mil spec plus" if it was me and it was going to be a working rifle. You do run into parts fit issues when trying to upgrade guns that are not mil spec to start with. Guns sold referred to as "mil spec plus" are often built on billet uppers and lowers with better QC on the builds and the quality of the parts.

$1500 and under I would look at the S&W M&P. Anymore than that and I'd go custom.

Biebs, I don't know if LEO's are exempt or not.

The original design of the M-16 is a military qualified (tested) and accepted design.

All the design drawings specify the materials, dimensions, heat treatment, surface treatments, surface textures, tolerances and testing methods.

By definition a semi-auto version cannot be 100% mil spec. All parts that meet the exact drawing requirements could be considered mil-spec but the entire rifle cannot be.

"Mil-spec" labeling on commercial rifles, especially from some of the parts sellers, can be as legally meaningless as "New and Improved" on dish soap. I see the term used all the time on parts that are not made from the same steel or aluminum alloys as U.S. Military, yet they claim it is "Mil spec". Let the buyer beware! True Mil spec means that during proofing, every bolt and barrel are magnetic particle inspected(M.P.I.) and are stamped accordingly. Most commercial rifles are Batch Tested. Colt MPI's every bolt and barrel on their commercial and military rifles and so do some of the "Boutique"(expensive) makers. A true mil spec will also have a hard chrome lined chamber and barrel and will be advertised as such, not a "Chrome-Moly" misleading label like some of the makers advertise. Do your homework and you can get a well built rifle, I always recommend Colt for an out of the box rifle and they are generally not that much more than a S&W or Bushmaster.

Yes, looks like Colt is a pretty safe bet.

I have a 6921 and I would highly recommend it.

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I have a 6921

Had to look that one up. That'll work, but need one with a fixed stock.

Biebs

Not sure why you need a fixed stock--if she is LE then you need adjustable stock depending on the thickness of the Bullet resistant vest you are wearing or none at all--LOP changes drastically in many instances

This may sound funny, but check wally world first when and if you decide on a Colt LE6920. The price difference may suprise you. Mine was made by Colt Defense and sold for $1050 before taxes.
Hope this helps. Frank

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True Mil spec means that during proofing, every bolt and barrel are magnetic particle inspected(M.P.I.) and are stamped accordingly.

Yes. Ditto here in the UK in World War I when civilian contractors supplied weapons off their production lines to the UK War Office.

Well a gauge inspection at that time of courese not MPI.

In fact the daybooks of Webley often have against certain Mk VI .455 revolvers the note "rejected at inspection...sold as commercial".

So in other words parts or entire revolvers that failed this inspection were sold on to the (then unaware of the practice) civilian market!

I'm not an AR fan but I do own a RRA 20" Coyote that came with a 3/4 moa guarantee which it beats with ease & if top quality thru out. Also Walmart will never see a dime of mine. When they were waving flags about saving US jobs they were building their own plants in china. Save your dime at wally world & cost our country $1 by doing so.