11-16-2011, 12:36 PM
pinzgauer Wrote:Not to slam spikes, but they got caught claiming milspec, then could not back it. They have since revised their wording very carefully, and on a few items now offer a full milspec variant.
Lot's of people love spikes, like the imagery. And are happy with their products.
But the hard use guys on various forums consider them questionable, and sometimes you pay a premium for a "sort of milspec". And based on some of the details debated, I sort of understand the concern.
I think people should build what they want, but be informed about what they are getting. Many AR parts labeled milspec just meet dimensional specs. Or made similarly. Others it means meets the Colt TDP, or does to the best of the open information available. So now people are getting more picky about that milspec label. I know I am, because I personally have found two items claiming to be milspec, one was, one was just milspec'ish. At the same price.
On bolts that means MPI & HPT. Similar things on barrels. Specific alloys, not just good ones. Specific treatments to specific hardness.
For 99% of US AR shooters it largely will not matter. For Grendels, It can't matter as there are virtually no HPT/MPI bolts, etc. But even out of spec stuff works.... There are many bad clones that shoot just fine. Bad gas key staking, wrong alloy, commercial extension tube, cheaper lighter bolt carrier, etc.
For me it's a value & reliability thing. If I can get a higher quality product (spec wise) for the same price, or a small uplift, I want to do so.
Spot on here... I hadn't heard about spikes mil-spec issues... but to your point its probably pretty irrelevant to me... i just want something that works and is a good value, and I know if I have a problem with a spikes product they will warranty and replace... I'm sure other companys like BCM will do the same and I'm certainly not ruling them out for anything...