On one hand, milspec is something that's passed stringent testing and made to a very tight tolerance.
On the other, should a genuine improvement in process or material or dimension come along; mil-spec is an inflexible barrier to change.
One need not look farther for an example than the extractor spring on the M16 series. Colt had identified a solution to the problems encountered on many rifles but the DoD determined that it wasn't happening on enough rifles to justify making a change to the supply chain. At least not for a very long time. Even so, further improvement has been made in the civilian sector, and is not (officially) allowed on the mil's guns.
It's especially amusing to watch someone extoll the virtues of mil-spec on their rifle while shunning the very much mil-spec USGI 30-round magazine.
On the other, should a genuine improvement in process or material or dimension come along; mil-spec is an inflexible barrier to change.
One need not look farther for an example than the extractor spring on the M16 series. Colt had identified a solution to the problems encountered on many rifles but the DoD determined that it wasn't happening on enough rifles to justify making a change to the supply chain. At least not for a very long time. Even so, further improvement has been made in the civilian sector, and is not (officially) allowed on the mil's guns.
It's especially amusing to watch someone extoll the virtues of mil-spec on their rifle while shunning the very much mil-spec USGI 30-round magazine.