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Tech Note |
December 23, 1998
TECHNICAL NOTE 1: MILSPEC RIFLES
The purpose of this Technical Note is to explain ArmaLite's
conformance to MIL-R-63997, the MILSPEC for the M16A2 Rifle.
- All claims from any manufacturer that they produce commercial
rifles fully in conformance with the MILSPEC are false. Only M16A2 rifles produced by Colt
or FNMI, and accepted by the Army’s Tank automotive and Armaments Command fully meet
the requirements of the MILSPEC, and they are not legally producible for sale to the
public. Even Colt brand commercial rifles are not in conformance with the drawing portion
of the MILSPEC. In fact, ArmaLite’s rifles are closer to the government designs than
Colt’s.
- The M16A2 Rifle is manufactured in accordance with MILSPEC
MIL-R-63997. A MILSPEC (military specification) describes a product. There are two key
elements to a MILSPEC; a verbal description of what the product is and does, and a list of
reference documents governing production of the product. In the case of the M16A2 Rifle,
the key document is Drawing 9349000, which is a package of drawings setting forth the
dimensions and tolerances for the M16A2 Rifle.
- No commercial, semiautomatic rifle from ANY manufacturer meets
both the verbal descriptions of the M16A2 and the technical drawing package.
- ArmaLite does not claim that its rifles are made to the full
provisions of MIL-R-63997. All ArmaLite/Eagle Arms rifles, however, are manufactured to
the written requirements set forth by MIL-R-63997.
- ArmaLite and Eagle Arms rifle parts feature excellent
interchangeability with MILSPEC M16A1 and M16A2 parts. With the exception of parts
designed for semiautomatic use only, no known incompatibilities exist.
CONCLUSION: Claims to production of fully MILSPEC
rifles are untrue, and should be regarded with considerable suspicion.
MAW
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