Military vs Civilian "durability"

C

checkmyswag

New member
I've been searching for one or two do it all rifles. I was starting to feel equally settled with an M1A or a Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. But then I read the commercial M1A isn't as good as the ones w GI surplus parts in them and Ruger bolt actions are made to civilian standards and not meant for hard use. Is this just folks believing if its made for the military its indestructible and if its made for the civilian market its fragile or is there validity to this. I'm asking about the overall topic not just rifles so that's why its in the general discussion forum.
 
The durability of a firearm is based on its owner's ability to maintain it.

The M1a will last as long as an M-14 if you take care of it as well as an experienced military rifleman.

The exception is that a rifle used by the military might get blown up, shot up, or get some other nasty trauma. Your rifle probably won't.
 
It just strikes me oddly that people believe milspec means it will last forever. I suppose military arms are built ruggedly but that doesn't make the opposite true by default.
 
Eventually.

If you're pressed for time, remove the marine...and replace with a sailor.
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If he has a bottle of ketchup or hot sauce with him, . . . don't even bother to close the door, . . . you should only hear the following:

"squirt", . . . "crunch", . . . "burrrrrrrrpppppppp"

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Then, seriously, . . . in answer to the OP, . . . GI parts or MisSpec parts are touted by some to be better than the parts in a Springfield.

It's kind of like saying that a diamond from Jared's is harder and sharper than s diamond from Kaye's Jewelers. Yeah, . . . maybe so, . . . but unless you plan on putting multiple thousands of rounds through your rifle, . . . standard parts generally will serve you as well.

As one of the other posters mentioned, . . . longevity of life is directly correlated with proper maintenance.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
My 1911 was manufactured in 1913, fought in three wars, and spent 15 years as my duty weapon. It still shoots better than I do and holds in the 10 ring at 50 yards from a rest.

When your high dollar SIGs Barrettes and other plastic guns match that, then you can talk about tough.
 
My 1918 manufactured Colt 1911 with all 1918 parts save the front sight is still very accurate and works like new. I use 50 yard small bore rifle targets. I won't say I ten ring them, but I hold 2" groups on the one time each year I fire it

But respectfully, I own a SIG as well as three old Colt automatics from 1918, 1920, and 1978. The Colts, especially the two older ones, are very well made.

However there's no 'plastic' parts on my SIG except for the grip panels, which a 1943 1911A1 would have too. My SIG is an accurate and durable weapon in its own right. This whole disdain for "plastic guns" thing has to be re-examined by people who are supposedly enthusiasts. Ignorance doesn't equal correctness and devotion to a fine platform doesn't mean other platforms are garbage. I'd sell my '88 P226 before any of my Colts but that P226 is a fine pistol all the same
 
The durability of a firearm is based on its owner's ability to maintain it.
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I don't think so!!!

NO amount of maintenence is going to overcome poor quality materials or a poor design.

I have no experience with with M1's so I'll defer to others more experience as to which of those is better. But if you go with a bolt action the Ruger is about as bullet proof as you're going to get
 
If you use it, it will wear...

That is the nature of mechanical things. Accept it and move on.

How much wear, and how fast depends on the quality of the origninal maunfacture, and the class/type of use.

Military designs are intended for hard use, little care, and repeated disassembly and reassembly by the most fumble fingered idiots imaginable, and still perform.

Mostly, they will do that. Mostly. "Civilian" guns are not intended to survive the same rigors. "Civilian" versions of military guns should be no different than military versions (laws permitting).

As to durability of "civilian" guns, with a properly made, and properly cared for one, you will buy the gun many, many times over in ammo costs before it wears out. Nothing lasts forever (unless unused and stored correctly) even milspec guns will wear out eventually. How you treat it goes a long, long way towards how long it lasts.

Do some research on different designs, and their general life expectancy. Parts, including barrels are replaceable. By the time you wear out the reciever, if you can, odds are it will have been a long lifetime(s) service. And that includes "civilian" standards guns.
 
Ruger bolt actions are made to civilian standards and not meant for hard use.
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:confused:

From what I read the Rugers stand up quite well to hard use and mine appears quite well built. Of all the criticisms of the current Ruger bolt guns, durability was never one of them thatI have seen. It's been the Savage and Remington Guns that have problems with heavy use, extractor related mostly, though the bolt-head pin on the Savage guns used to be a problem as well.
 
I don't think so!!!

NO amount of maintenence is going to overcome poor quality materials or a poor design.

I have no experience with with M1's so I'll defer to others more experience as to which of those is better. But if you go with a bolt action the Ruger is about as bullet proof as you're going to get
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jmr40: The OP was talking about the difference between a Rifle made for the military as opposed to the exact same rifle made for the civilian market.

So we're discussing the difference between the Remington M-24 rifle sold to the military and the same Remington sold commercially.
 
Just briefly, I have a gunsite scout, would carry that rifle into combat if called to. Great gun, good accuracy, I have a leopold 2 power long eye relief scope on it. It shoots great.
Ps yes I have been in combat before.
 
I study firearm design and routinely completely disassembe a gun and study every screw. I know little to nothing concerning the M14's but have extensively studied the Ruger 77's. While I dont personally own but one, I much prefer old Mausers and old Winchesters, I have to admit the Ruger 77's are dang near bulletproof. If I was required to buy a new bolt gun the Ruger would top the list for me.
 
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