Magpul Moe Stock

cathntr

New member
Im thinking about buying some new furniture for my ar and was looking at the Magpul Moe line. I noticed there is some that say mil-spec and others say commercial. I have not owned an ar for very long at all and wondering which one I need to buy. Im thinking commercial but just want to make sure. Thanks in advance. Josh
 
I have one coming that's the mil-spec. Which is what u want if you go with a polymer lower. I will post a report when I get mine.
 
I have the New Frontier Armory lower so I will need to get mil-spec for that one im thinking and anything I get for my upper will need to be commercial being that its a DPMS? Is this correct?
 
I am going to say yes. If I am wrong I'm sure someone will correct me. I am using a omni lower which is also polymer. So I am using mil-spec tube, buffer and spring, and mil-spec lower parts. My upper is going to be a 20 tactical DTech. I and hoping to be inbetween 8-9 lbs.
 
Originally Posted By: cathntrIm thinking about buying some new furniture for my ar and was looking at the Magpul Moe line. I noticed there is some that say mil-spec and others say commercial. I have not owned an ar for very long at all and wondering which one I need to buy. Im thinking commercial but just want to make sure. Thanks in advance. Josh

Josh - it is immaterial which diameter tube have on your rifle so long as you buy the corresponding stock. Commercial tube - commercial stock, mil tube - mil-stock. Also what other parts besides the stock make a reference to mil-spec vs comm-spec?

Originally Posted By: BOBTAILSI have one coming that's the mil-spec. Which is what u want if you go with a polymer lower. I will post a report when I get mine.

I have one polymer NFA lower with a standard LPK and commercial tube/stock. Why would I want to use mil-spec vs. commercial for a polymer lower? I have several billet and forged lowers with either comm or mil-spec tubes/stocks. They all function the same. Can you please elaborate on your statement and provide supporting references? Or is this your opinion?
 
Originally Posted By: cathntrI have the New Frontier Armory lower so I will need to get mil-spec for that one im thinking and anything I get for my upper will need to be commercial being that its a DPMS? Is this correct?

What parts are designated commerical spec for your upper? What parts do you believe come in either flavor for your upper?

If you purchased your NFA lower complete with stock, then the answer is this: Remove the stock and if the back of the buffer tube is at an angle, then it is a commercial tube, if the back of the tube is flat, (perpendicular) to the long side of the tube, then it is mil-spec. Buy accordingly. You have a 99.999% chance that the buffer tube NFA uses is mil-spec.
 
the only thing I do not like about my magpul moe stock is that my wiskers get in between the buffer tube and sliding portion of the stock, when I lift my cheek it pulls my wiskers out

kinda sucks
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Heretic if you read this stuff enough it says specifically that for polymer lowers that mil-spec parts are needed for correct fit and performance. I'm no expert only experience I have is my BIL had 2 NFA lowers break on him using commercial buffers/ tubes. One of the NFA lowers split after only 3 shots. My omni lower has a paper in the box with it that states mil-spec is supposed to be used not commercial.
 
Bobtails - thanks for the response. I did not know that omni includes information in the box with the parts. If the manufacturer recommends mil-spec (smaller diameter tube) I would think it's wise to follow that advice. They are the folks that will warranty it if something happens.

Were your BIL's warrantied by NFA? I'm going to swing by and talk to them (they're local) and find out their recommendations if I should replace my buffer tube.

Thanks again for new info!
 
Difference between Mil-spec and commercial tubes

Pay close attention to these paragraphs.


Mil-Spec: On the mil-spec buffer tube… the threads at the front are actually a larger diameter than the rest of the tube itself. In manufacturing, a large tube is used and threads lathed as normal. Next, the rest of the tube must be milled down to the military specified diameter. I’m guessing this step requires more work / precision… and costs more.

Commercial-Spec: In manufacturing, you begin with a tube that matches the final tube diameter. The threads are cut into the front end with a lathe just like any other threaded pipe. I imagine this to be just like the copper water pipe used in my house. Cheap & simple
 
Good link, the picture is very helpful for the new AR owners.

I would imagine that producing the mil-spec tube would be in a manner other than described by that author. It might be substantially cheaper to expand the diameter of the mil-spec tube much like the muffler shops expand exhaust pipes for fitting, then thread that end. The tubes aren't round so I don't see how a lathe would work.
 
I stand corrected. NFA uses commercial size tubes on their completed lowers according the person I just spoke with.

My apologies for the misinformation. I didn't ask why, just what size tubes they use.

Flaming starts in 3...2...1
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Guy's I have been a toolmaker/machinist for over 25 years. I have machined many parts to mill spec. This thing about "mil spec" stuff being better, stronger etc is not always so. "Mil spec" only means that the part meets the tolerances set and approved by the military. So the parts will fit together with other parts made by any other manufacture to mil spec. That's all.

Now I just went down and pulled out my AR. It has a ATI commercial buffer tube. The major diameter of the threads mic 1.185" and the tube is 1.168". So much for all commercial buffer tubes have a major thread diameter of 1.170".
 
According to the New Frontier website the complete lower will accept any brand, mil-spec upgrade so I would take this as needing the mil-spec stock but if they told heretic they use the commercial tube it dont make much sence to me.
 
I built my NFA polymer lower and had a commercial tube laying around. Bobtails mentions paperwork that came with his poly lower stating use Mil-spec and NFA says they use commercial. Bobtails's BIL had issues with commercial tubes. I haven't had any.

It's a roll of the dice.
 


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