Brigade Mfg. Makasi MK-15 Construction and Accuracy Review
- Thread starter Sma the Average
- Start date
Getting tired of waiting for the Makasi and Carmel. Being in Edmonton going to have to get rounds on them in -30 soon or risk never shooting them at all when they're inevitably banned. Made peace with shooting them for a couple months in decent weather before Liberal ####ery but that window is closing fast with the delays.
Painkillers
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Interesting development...
https://liangjian.ca/shop/ols/produ...stock-sporting-rifle-ns-exclusive-15-rail-fde
15" handguard version apparently exists
https://liangjian.ca/shop/ols/produ...stock-sporting-rifle-ns-exclusive-15-rail-fde
15" handguard version apparently exists
I'm sure everyone is excited for the first batch of NR Makasi to arrive in Canada despite the delays and unclear timelines. I won't be getting a second rifle but would like to hear if the rifles arriving later this year rectify the QC issues that were identified. Here's a complete list of deficiencies that we hope Brigade Mfg. has corrected in the "upgraded" Makasi rifles:
As a quick update, the threads for my handguard's crossbolts are very close to completely being stripped after mounting and unmounting the handguard less than 10 times. This is despite being highly aware of this issue and careful during installation. Now I hope Brigade Mfg. also delivers spare parts to the Canadian market.
| Issue | Correction | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gas adjustment valve hairpin clip is oversized and falls off easily when the handguard is removed. | Use a properly sized hairpin clip. | Low |
| 2. Gas block screws do not have any thread locking compound. | Use a thread locking compound, preferably Loctite 272 (high temperature, red). | Low |
| 3. Barrel nut was not greased during assembly. | Use grease on the barrel extension, barrel nut threads, and barrel shoulder, preferably Aeroshell 64 (formerly 33Ms). | Medium |
| 4. Barrel lacks dimpling for one of the two gas block screws. | Dimple the barrel. | Low |
| 5. Picatinny slots are out of spec on the handguard, upper receiver, and lower receiver. | Update the CNC machining program. | Medium |
| 6. Picatinny slots on the handguard are not aligned with the upper receiver. | Update the CNC machining program. | Low |
| 7. M-LOK slots are out of spec on the handguard. | License the free MAGPUL M-LOK design and update the machining program. | Low |
| 8. Clearance on the backside of the M-LOK slots is too narrow and will not allow the T-nuts to fully lock in place. | Update the CNC machining program or update the aluminum handguard extrusion. | Low |
| 9. Handguard cross bolts partially thread into the barrel nut. | Update CNC machining program for the location of the cross bolt screws or update dimensions of the barrel nut. | Medium |
| 10. Handguard steel cross bolts tighten into the aluminum handguard. | Add steel threads to the handguard for the handguard cross bolts to screw into. Potentially use a thread locking compound, preferably Loctite 243 (oil-tolerant, blue). | Medium |
| 11. Charging handle becomes wedged under the handguard. | Design clearance in the handguard or prevent the charging handle slide from overtravelling forward into the handguard. | High |
| 12. Lower receiver lacks M4 feedramps. | Update the CNC machining program to add M4 feedramps. | Low |
| 13. Bolt carrier piston strike face (gas key replacement) screws are not secured in place. | Use a thread locking compound, preferably Loctite 272 (high temperature, red) or stake the screws. | High |
| 14. Rifle did not cycle from the factory. | Verify rifle function with test firing from the factory. | High |
As a quick update, the threads for my handguard's crossbolts are very close to completely being stripped after mounting and unmounting the handguard less than 10 times. This is despite being highly aware of this issue and careful during installation. Now I hope Brigade Mfg. also delivers spare parts to the Canadian market.
Additionally, the Makasi demo rifle at TACCOM this year doesn't inspire confidence with Brigade Mfg.'s updated design. From Canadian Caliber's Youtube video, you can clearly see that the Picatinny rail on the updated 15" handguard does not align with the Picatinny rail on the upper receiver.
The serial number is also #817 which may indicate they have produced maybe 300 more rifles since my rifle was manufactured? I have low confidence with this assessment and ultimately, everyone with pre-orders will find out quickly (or in actuality, quite slowly,) Brigade Mfg.'s production capacity.
The serial number is also #817 which may indicate they have produced maybe 300 more rifles since my rifle was manufactured? I have low confidence with this assessment and ultimately, everyone with pre-orders will find out quickly (or in actuality, quite slowly,) Brigade Mfg.'s production capacity.
That’s a big list of things to fix …
IchBinEinSniper
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brockvegas
No kidding…beta testing rifle?
They never got the list. Some importers listened to feedback from Sma the Average and greentips passed some of it. And some of has been addressed. I would never believe ALL of it was communicated and addressed.
And thank you guys for doing this, BTW.
And thank you guys for doing this, BTW.
In all honesty, if they've managed to fix the Picatinny and MLOC dimensions, addressed the Charging Handle sticking under the Handguard, added Loctite to fasteners as appropriate, switched out the Handguard Fasteners and Barrel Nuts for steel parts, and Test-Fired at the factory to ensure basic function? Those fixes would resolve all of the important QC issues noted to date and would elevate the Makasi to "ready for prime-time" service as a reliable, durable and reasonably accurate utility carbine. Those fixes are certainly not too much to ask, nor to expect from a responsive manufacturer who cares about customer support and continual product quality improvement. I expect that the Canadian Makasis of both Handguard lengths will have those issues addressed. We shall soon see if that is the case. Nothing prevents us from hammering Brigade Manufacturing with e-mail complaints if they have not addressed the critical shortcomings previously identified with the Makasi platform.....
Their number 1 issue is to make sure the rifles work without break-ins.
That will be their number one return issue and will frustrate many less experienced owners. that will be the thing that eats into distributor margin and make the retailer counter staffs spin.
The handguard / barrel nut alignment issue can be fixed with the depth of the barrel nut or the barrel nut extension of the receiver. That is actually an easy fix I think.
The top rail alignment issue maybe trickier than it looks. The extrusion tube needs to fit over the barrel nut - moving that opening for the barrel nut may mean the opening is off centre from the extrusion tube, that may introduce other 2nd order issue like thickness of the hanguard in certain areas and also the barrel nut / handguard cross bolt positioning. If that doesn't work the extrusion tube may need a new die.....that's not fun anymore because it needs an external contractor involvement.
In all honesty, that top rail alignment doesn't bother me at much these days. In 2010 I would have gone nuts over this sort of thing but realistically is anyone mounting clip on thermal? And 99.99% of the optic for this sort of rifle doesn't need that rail space in between.
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Brigade hasn't changed anything in over 3 years of producing these specific firearms so set your expectations accordingly.
Your own lack of use for the top rail is one thing but it does not excuse careless and sloppy production which has gone unchecked for YEARS.
Why accept garbage instead of reject the offering and force the manufacturer to do better?
Awarding failure is not a sustainable long term course of action.
The Canadian market is likely the biggest customer that Brigade has going
You need to remember that most people in the US that want this kind of firearm are 99% of the time going to go buy an AR15 and not this one
Brigade fixing these issues could make or break their market up here so they prob think it be best to cater to our picky asses
You need to remember that most people in the US that want this kind of firearm are 99% of the time going to go buy an AR15 and not this one
Brigade fixing these issues could make or break their market up here so they prob think it be best to cater to our picky asses
I've seen some pretty bubba'd up SKS's being sold without issues. With the limited selection of semi auto .223 up here I think they are well aware of our "captive audience" status.
These will sell well regardless of any issues. And, as usual, we will be the ones to fix most of them.
I have a thermal clip on and IR and I don’t care about top rail alignment … it really doesn’t matter the way people think …
For sure, the bar is very low for Brigade Mfg. to meet. However, when they say "all QC issues have been addressed," I expect them to mean it. Of course Canadians will continue to spend their hard earned money on the rifle regardless, but I would hope they have the integrity to deliver a quality product.
