Mil-Spec vs Commercial AR-15: What’s the Difference?
What mil-spec actually means for AR-15 parts, when it matters for compatibility, and when aftermarket parts deliberately exceed military specifications.
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Top Gun Deals
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33% OFFShotgunCz
CZ 06585 All American 12 Gauge 30 2 3 Gloss Blued Fixed w/Adjustable Comb Stock Turkish Walnut Right Hand
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34% OFFHandgunFnh
FN 509 COMPACT 9MM 3.7" 15 ROUNDS NMS
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at Discount Enterprise Guns
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30% OFFRifleChristensen Arms
Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT 300 Win Mag with 22 Carbon Fiber Wrapped Barrel and Black and Gray Stock Bolt-Action Rifle
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![RUGER 10/22 CARBINE (MAGPUL X-22 SERIES) [SILVER]](https://www.usa-gun-shop.com/wp-content/uploads/ugs/img-cache/d12535d359c2e4d6b81f1a522ca378b2.webp)
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31% OFFHandgunFnh
FN 509C 9mm Pistol 3.7" 15rd, FDE - 66-100818
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22% OFFShotgunBenelli
Benelli LUPO 308 Winchester Blued/Black Bolt Action Rifle - 22in - Black
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25% OFFRifleSig Sauer
Sig Sauer MCX 5.56 Nato 11.5" 30rd Stabilizing Brace Rifle
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18% OFFRifleWinchester
Winchester Model 70 Extreme Tungsten Bolt Action Rifle 300 Winchester Magnum 26" Fluted Tungsten Threaded Barrel Tungsten Frame Black Field Stock
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at Midway USA
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18% OFFRifleBrowning
Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Bolt Action Rifle 7mm PRC 24" Fluted Tungsten Cerakote Threaded Barrel Tungsten Cerakote Frame Dark Maple Field Stock
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at Midway USA
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Best-priced ammunition across 80+ retailers · Updated every 4 hours
48% OFFRifleWinchester · 0.1¢/rd
Wildcat 22 Long Rifle Ammo - 22 Long Rifle 40gr Lead Round Nose 100/Box
$5.74$10.99
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43% OFFPistolWinchester · 0.4¢/rd
Winchester USA Handgun .40 S&W 165 grain Full Metal Jacket Brass Centerfire Pistol Ammo 100 Rounds
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at Optics Planet
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59% OFFRifleRemington · 2.8¢/rd
Remington Ammunition R300WB1 Core-Lokt 300 Wthby Mag 180 gr Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point (PSPCL) 20 Rd Box
$56.18$137.99
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59% OFFRimfireFederal Champion BYOB .22 LR 36 Grain Rimfire Ammo
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at Bass Pro Shops
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42% OFFShotshellWinchester · 0.4¢/rd
Winchester Super Target Xtra-Lite Target Load 12 Gauge 2.75in 1oz 8 Shot Centerfire Shotgun Ammo 100 Rounds
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29% OFFRifleCci · 0.1¢/rd
CCI High Velocity 22 Long 29 Gr Copper Round Nose 100rds
$11.29$15.99
at Battlehawk Armory
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24% OFFRifleHornady · 0.6¢/rd
Hornady Frontier 5.56mm NATO 55 Grain Full Metal Jacket Brass Cased Rifle Ammo 500 Rounds
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46% OFFRifleHornady · 5.2¢/rd
Hornady Match .338 Lapua Magnum 250 grain Boat-Tail Hollow Point Match Brass Cased Centerfire Rifle Ammo 20 Rounds
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at Optics Planet
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47% OFFRifleWinchester Repeating Arms · 0.5¢/rd
WIN SERVICE GRADE 223REM 55GR FMJ 20rd BOX
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46% OFFRimfireCci · 0.1¢/rd
CCI Quiet-22 Subsonic 22 LR 40 gr Segmented Hollow Point Rimfire Ammunition 50 rd Box
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28% OFFPistolRemington · 0.3¢/rd
Remington UMC 9mm Ammo 115 Grain FMJ 1000rds - L9MM3BP
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26% OFFPistolSpeer · 0.6¢/rd
Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124 Gr JHP Battle Pack - Up To 75 Years Shelf Life! (250 Rounds)
$151.09$204.49
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10% OFFPistolFederal · 0.7¢/rd
Federal Premium HST 9mm 124 Gr +P JHP 100 Rounds in Heavy Duty Ammo Can
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10% OFFPistolRemington · 0.3¢/rd
Remington UMC 9mm Bulk Ammo 115 Grain FMJ, 250rds - 23777
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Speer .54 Black Powder 223 gr Lead Round Ball, 100/box - 5142
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11% OFFPistolRattlesnake Tactical · 0.4¢/rd
RTAC Medium Range Bag Bundle w/Winchester Service Grade 9mm 115 Gr FMJ (200 Rounds) + PMC Bronze 9mm 115 Gr JHP (50 Rounds)
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28% OFFPistolSpeer · 1.7¢/rd
Speer Gold Dot .45 ACP +P 230 gr G2 Personal Protection 20 Rounds Ammunition - 24256
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11% OFFPistolUs Cartridge · 0.4¢/rd
US Cartridge 9mm 124 Gr +P Nosler JHP (200 Round)
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19% OFFRifleHornady · 0.4¢/rd
Frontier(R) 223 Remington Full Metal Jacket Rifle Ammo - Frontier 223 Remington 55gr Full Metal Jacket 150/Box
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at Brownells
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18% OFFShotshellFederal · 0.4¢/rd
Top Gun 12 Gauge 2-3/4'''' #7.5 Shot Shotgun Ammo - Top Gun 12 Gauge 2-3/4'''' 1oz #7.5 Shot 25/Box
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59% OFFLights & LasersStreamlight · Flashlights
Streamlight ProTac 1L-1, Black, EDC Flashlight
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38% OFFSafetyPelican · Ear Protection
Pelican Peltor Sport Tactical 300 Electronic Hearing Protector Black 24dB
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40% OFFNight VisionSig Sauer · Rangefinders
Sig Sauer KILO2200 Ballistic Rangefinder
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40% OFFMagazinesSig Sauer · Pistol Magazines
Sig Sauer P320 Magazines 9MM Coyote Brown Extended Magazine 30-Round
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Caldwell Steel Target Stand with XL Strap Plate Hanger Set Black
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Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 1x Red Dot - 2.5 MOA Dot - Black
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33% OFFSafetyLeupold · Eye Protection
Tracer Shooting Glasses
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42% OFFOpticsVortex · Prism Sights
Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II Prism Scope 5x25mm AR-BDC4 Reticle Black 3.6in 10.8oz
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29% OFFSafes & StoragePelican · Rifle Cases
Pelican Vault Takedown Rifle Case 39
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21% OFFOpticsAimpoint Inc · Red Dots
Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic, 2MOA, QRP2 Mount, Red Dot Reflex Sight
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Model 7371 7TS ALS Concealment Paddle Holster - Springfield Hellcat
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HORNADY 290032 POWDER THROUGH EXPANDER .400
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50% OFFGunsmithing · Armorer Tools
Creedmoor Sports AR-15 A2 Front Sight Bench Block
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10% OFFLights & LasersSurefire · Weapon Lights
Surefire Scout Light Pro 1000 Lumen Pic Rail Weapon Light, Tan - M640U-TN-PRO
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Night VisionEotech · Night Vision
Eotech EXPS30 EXPS3 Holographic Weapon Sight 1x 68 MOA Ring/1 MOA Red Dot Black CR123A Lithium (1) Night Vision
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15% OFFMagazinesMagpul · Rifle Magazines
Magpul PMAG D-60 Drum AR-15 Magazine 223 Remington, 5.56x45mm 60-Round Polymer Black
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14% OFFSlings & BipodsMagpul · Bipods
Magpul 933 Bipod 1913 Picatinny Rail Mount 6.3" to 10.3" Flat Dark Earth
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Top Gun Parts Deals
Best-scored parts across 80+ retailers · Updated every 4 hours
56% OFFUniversalSig Sauer, Inc. · Springs
Recoil Spring Guide, Blue, Two Tone - Sp2009/2340 Recoil Spring Guide, Blue, Two Tone
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Geissele Maritime Bolt Catch Black
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Midwest Industries Mi Muzzle Device Collar Sig Mcx .300 Aac Models
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Ed Brown Products Extractor 1911 70 Series .45 ACP Blue
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Wilson Combat Sig Sauer WCP320 Compact Polymer Grip Module Black
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Wilson Combat Flat-Wire Recoil Spring EDC X9 Chrome Silicon 13 Lb.
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Sig Sauer P365 Slide Completion Kit
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Timney Triggers Glock Alpha Competition Trigger Straight 3lb Pull Gen 3-4 Silver Alpha Glock 3-4 - Large-Silver
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24% OFFAR-15Larue Tactical · Barrels
LaRue Tactical Stealth M4 5.56 20in Non-Threaded Barrel 1-8 Twist Black Fits AR-15
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CMC Triggers AR-15 Drop-In Single Stage Trigger Curved 5-5.5LB .154 Inch Small Pin Black
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Vism AK KeyMod Handguard - Extended Length Black
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Poly Technologies SKS Hammer Spring Black
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USED Glock OEM Glock 21 Threaded Barrel 45 ACP M16X1LH Thread Pitch GLSP
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XS Sight Systems Big Dot Tritium Front for AK
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CMC Triggers AR-15/AR-10 Trigger Group Single Stage Small Pin Curved 6.5lb Pull Red
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ShotgunMesa Tactical · Stocks
Mesa Tactical Benelli SuperNova Urbino Shotgun Stock Standard Butt 12 Gauge Black
$129.99$134.95
at Optics Planet
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