Why Pay For Brand Name Stock Mounting Kit...???

I find it highly unlikely you would ever find a buffer tube made from 'pot-metal'. And if you do, it won't be anodized, it will be painted.

Most of the no-name and even some name-brand buffer tubes (even ones marketed as 'mil-spec') are going to be made from 6061 aluminum as opposed to 7075. Some companies will use 6061 but machine them to 'mil-spec' sizes. How will you know the difference for sure? Easy, you won't, not unless you have a lab or a fancy handheld laser device (the actual name escapes me at the moment), and even then, you'd have to remove the anodizing to check for sure.

Why do some companies use 6061 as opposed to 7075? 6061 is half to two-thirds the cost and slightly easier on tooling.

Is 7075 better? Of course, it has a much higher tensile strength and if you were going to use your rifle as a baseball bat or a pry bar somewhere in Afghanistan, I would say go with the name brand 7075 tube. If it's a range gun, the cheaper 6061 'no-name' stock is going to be just fine.

I have both types, a mil-spec 7075 extension and a 6061 Questar 'no-name' (Korean I believe). I highly doubt that you'd ever have to worry about the threads failing on either.

At the end of the day, you buy what you want. If you have no problem paying a little bit more, pay it. It's your money. But just because something doesn't say 'mil-spec' doesn't mean it's crap.
 
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The problem is you don't know what your getting. You can assume all you want but you will find out once you get it. There is a difference between no name and a number of the brand names. It is obvious when you change them around. But, some people put a $20 scope on a $2000 rifle so at the end, it is your money.
 
extrusion tube welded shut at the end
Click to expand...

I've yet to see these ones. No doubt, I'm sure they do exist, but to date I've only ever seen forged or solid extrusion that was then drilled/bored out.
If anyone has one or has seen one: Can you see the welding through the anodizing? Any time we make anything from aluminum that gets welded, you can see the welding through the anodizing like a sore thumb regardless of colour or type of anodizing.

Another thing to remember is that extruding is a form of forging. Although 'forging' usually refers to heating the part and stamping it to shape in a die. Extrusion, they force it through a die more along the lines of a 'play-doh fun factory'.
Extruding then welding the end on is definitely an inferior method of construction and I wouldn't use one. Extruding or forging then drilling/boring out the tube is the correct way.

Different companies make the threads in different ways as well. Some roll form them and some turn the threads. Which of those is better? ;) Whichever one you want it to be.
 
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