Exactly what does Mil Spec mean to you concerning guns?

[Don P]

Can we toss the term "Mil-Spec" into the same barrel as "Tactical"

[StrongSideArmsInc]

Peetzakilla, it is spelled Killer.
I wasn't explaining what the term MIL-SPEC, in relation to any company that comes out with some cool ninja tactical gadget. The OP wanted to know what the tern Mil-Spec meant, in relation to the military, and if it offered any greater advantage over non Mil-Spec item.

Predictably similar to so many other industry terms and phrases, MIL-SPEC and its numerous synonyms are amorphous. Tasking a targeted explanation is not a simple achievement. Though it lacks that one clear-cut definition -- for you, dear readers, we'll try anyway.

MIL-SPEC, i.e., military specification, aka military standard (MIL-STD), is typically considered a United States Defense standard used to describe an item that can meet standardization objectives determined by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Also referred to as MIL-STD, this defense standard aims to ensure products meet very specific requirements, commonality, reliability, compatibility with logistics systems, total cost of ownership (TCO) and similar defense-related objectives.

Additional users of defense standards include other non-defense government organizations, technical organizations and industry.

But what, exactly, are military specifications, and how are they different from military standards, and does "defense standard" encompass both terms or is it synonymous with both?

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) (pg. 4), "'military specifications' describe the physical and/or operational characteristics of a product, and 'military standards' detail the processes and materials to be used to make the product." The standards, as further noted, can also describe how to manage the manufacturing and testing of a part. Further noted the GAO, some principal purposes for MIL-SPECs: to ensure interoperability between products; to provide products that can perform in extreme conditions; to protect against contractor fraud; and to promote greater opportunities for competition among contractors.

Defense standards originate from the necessary ensuring of military equipment's proper performance, and from there they evolved. Despite the benefits of these standards' compatibility, reliability and commonality, the proliferation of standards had a number of drawbacks. There were so many standards — nearly 30,000 by 1990, according to Wikipedia — there then came considered-unnecessary restrictions, increased cost to contractors, and an impediment of the incorporation of the latest technology. A memorandum in 1994 was issued by the then Secretary of Defense in response to growing criticism, effectively eliminating the use of most defense standards. (This has become known as the "Perry memo.") As such, many defense standards were cancelled, and the DoD encouraged the use of industry standards in their place. (See previous article on industry standards.)

Earlier this year, however, the DoD partially reversed its previous proclamation, issuing a new memorandum that permits use of defense standards without obtaining a waiver; though it did not reinstate any cancelled defense standards.

A MIL-STD/MIL-SPEC/defense standard can also mean the actual documentation that lists, explains and altogether establishes the standard or specification itself, a compilation of prerequisites than an item must meet for DoD acceptance; whether for uniform engineering or technical requirements for processes, procedures, practices or methods.

There are considered five types of defense standards: manufacturing process; interface; design criteria; test method; and standard practices.

"According to a 2003 issue of Gateway, published by the Human Systems Information Analysis Center, the number of defense standards and specifications have been reduced from 45,500 to 28,300," Wikipedia noted. "However, other sources noted that the number of standards just before the Perry memorandum was issued was less than 30,000, and that thousands have been cancelled since then. This may be due to differences in what is counted as a 'military standard.'"

A good reference point is the following:

ACQUISITION REFORM DOD Begins Program to Reform Specifications and Standards
General Accounting Office (GAO) Report to Congressional Committees
October 1995
http://www.gao.gov/archive/1995/ns95014.pdf

[ClydeFrog]

I define the phrase or term "milspec" to be any product or weapon built to military specifications. To be brief, US military products, tools, equipment, weapons, uniforms, etc are made or produced to procurement/contract standards.
If a tested or T&Eed item is not up to these standards it is NOT milspec.
The term could also apply to other NATO or foreign military units too.
The quality or design of the item is up to the end user or customer.
For example; I bought a black nylon "milspec" duffle bag from an online retail store in northwest Florida. It was not the exact same as a OD 1000D nylon GI issue bag but had the same design specs. The quality of the black bag was lower than a NSN #/GI offical issue duffle bag but could still be called milspec.

Clyde

[radom]

I tend to not look any anything as "mil-spec" on the public market unless its surplus or a mil contract over run. I tend to be a bit finicky on this being a contract specialist for the govt. If it has not passed inspection and been accecpted its really not to spec. As a term in the real world it means totaly nothing at all.

[Eagle0711]

I'm probably wrong, but to me it means: As in my Bushmaster Ar-15, the trigger is heavy with creep, .154" freebore to handle the 5.56 Nato. and a parkerized finnish. This of course would not apply to sniper rifles for example.

Can't be mil spec. because it has no full auto switch. Seem like a contradiction.

[Brian Pfleuger]

Originally Posted by StrongSideArmsInc

Peetzakilla, it is spelled Killer.
I wasn't explaining what the term MIL-SPEC, in relation to any company that comes out with some cool ninja tactical gadget. The OP wanted to know what the tern Mil-Spec meant, in relation to the military, and if it offered any greater advantage over non Mil-Spec item.

No, he didn't. The OP asked:

Originally Posted by BGutzman

In the case of firearms what does mil spec mean to you? Crap, middle of the road or tougher than nails?

To which you replied:

Originally Posted by StrongSideArmsInc

When a firearm manufacture claims that there firearm is Mil Spec, they are stating there firearm is on line with military specifications....If any company is found violating these specs they are subject to punishment as outlined in the UCMJ. You can research any military specification online.

What you say here may be true about a firearm being sold to the military but it has no bearing on civilian life. The question was in regards to what Mil-Spec means to us. In that context, your answer implies that someone using the term "Mil-Spec" in their (their, not there, BTW) marketing is held to some sort of military standard, which is complete nonsense.

[Locoweed]

Mil-Spec lays out the requirements for materials, fit, finish, etc, etc, and the specs may be found in military procurement manuals. All the services are (usually) in agreement on the spec so the USMC can use a mil-spec M4 that the Army is using and they are both the same. I have used mil-spec toilet paper... a certain diameter for the cardboard tube, a specified number of sheets of paper and their dimensions, single or double ply, etc. Grocery store branded Charmin toilet paper could be marked mil-spec if it met the standards. The term is way overused in the market place. Mil-spec -- well, so what?

[BGutzman]

Mil spec toilet paper is called John Wayne paper because it doesnt take any crap off anybody....

For most military weapon, mil spec means little if anything at all, to me....

[AK103K]

The old "ham and lima" C Rats were called a lot of things too, but Im pretty sure mil spec wasnt one of them, even if they were.

[TXAZ]

One area not really discussed here is the documentation and individual unit testing that follows MilSpec components, systems or items. This drives the cost way up, vs. an online manual and a statement saying something is 'designed' to a particular specification, vs. MilSpec where virtually every one of those specs is tested individually per unit.

For a particular computer we've provided (as specified by DoD), DoD wanted, and received paperwork that weighed (literally) more than the computer, and was provided for each computer. While very similar to a commercial product, the MilSpec version was individually tested and deemed good from -40 - +125C, and various humidity and leakage testing.

There are some environments such as "Harsh" (commonly misnomered "Nuclear Proof") where mission critical computing or communications are imperative and MilSpec / MilSpec like is needed. These are pretty few and far between.

For many operational environments such as an office environment, it's a paper generators' jobs program. Not unheard of, but not common there.

[Uncle Buck]

I could sell Mil-Spec pizza if I wanted to.

I laughed my but off at that, because there is actually a mil-spec for food delivered to the military. (I should know, I finished my career as Chief Cook and Head Bottle Washer in the finest dining facilities the U.S. Air Force could supply. )

As far as what happened when the supplies did not meet the contract terms (mil-Spec), the contractor was given the chance to replace the product with a suitable one, fined or the contract was terminated. Because they were civilians, they were not subject to the UCMJ.

Honestly, Mil-Spec to me means absolutely nothing when it comes to me buying a firearm or any other product.

Like others have said, Mil-Spec is so over used by companies to sell crap.