Makasi mk15 initial overview and issues

The charging handle is very stiff in the last mile with this system - I suspect when you did it slow you actually did not fully bottom out the BGC travel. If the rifle works properly: bolt locked back>insert mag>release, and it cycles fine, the rifle is working properly.

Think after some rounds down range,, the springs will wear in and it will be better.
 
greentips said:
The charging handle is very stiff in the last mile with this system - I suspect when you did it slow you actually did not fully bottom out the BGC travel. If the rifle works properly: bolt locked back>insert mag>release, and it cycles fine, the rifle is working properly.

Think after some rounds down range,, the springs will wear in and it will be better.
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Now that is something I'm quite confident of. I am definitely pulling the BGC as far back as possible. One time I used the picnic table I was shooting off of to assist me in pulling the charging handle back all the way.

If I use the bolt release it will light primer strike every time.

I also fully agree that this issue will go away after I put more rounds down range. Either the springs need to work in or something needs to wear down. I do see this as a relatively minor issue and am quite confident in a flawless range day soon enough.
 
greentips said:
This is the reason putting dual springs into an AR receiver envelope using chopped AR BGC and gas key dimension is not an optimal way for this and therefore no one did it until BA came along. SIG MCX runs twin rods to give the springs longer travel and full length guide rods.
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You are forgettin̈g that the original Para FN FAL ran on a single set of short, nested Recoil Springs identical to that of the Makasi. The Para FAL had the Recoil Spring set relocated from the Buttstock to underneath the Body Cover within the Upper Receiver....

Oddly enough, it seems that my brand new Para FAL Conversion could use some break-in of its nested recoil Spring just like the Makasi. Initially it was impossible to engage the bolt Catch due to the stiffness of the recoil Springs. After several efforts, the springs began to wear in and the Bolt Catch became possible to engage.... Sound familiar??
 
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Deathrawt said:
Is the charging handle bottoming out or binding on something preventing the bolt from going in that last tiny bit?
Maybe it just needs to wear in
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I highly doubt that the Charging Handle is the culprit here. Rather more likely is that the nested Recoil Springs simply require further break-in so as to smoothly and fully contract and re-expand while nested within one another. Just give it some time and decent-quality 5.56mm or .223 cal ammo....
 
Morc said:
You could be right on that with the charging handle. As mentioned, I'm not a gunsmith and haven't looked into it that deeply. What I noticed is that typically the charging handle isn't fully forward when I get light primer strikes and my impression is that pushing it forward helps. Just trying to provide the info as I see it.

Regarding the aggressiveness at charging the rifle, you are correct that pulling the charging handle to the rear and releasing is not aggressive. My earlier post tried to indicate that. I have to pull the charging handle back very quickly and release rapidly to avoid the light primer strikes. Almost like I'm trying to impart some extra momentum backwards on the bolt so it goes fully into battery.
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Sounds like it's bouncing. The bold carrier initially does shear the round, and forces into the chamber, but that impact causes a "bounce back" of the BCG causing it to be out of battery, and the light strike. Either the recoil spring is too weak, or too short.
 
Painkillers said:
Sounds like it's bouncing. The bold carrier initially does shear the round, and forces into the chamber, but that impact causes a "bounce back" of the BCG causing it to be out of battery, and the light strike. Either the recoil spring is too weak, or too short.
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Any idea why I never seem to get this bolt bounce issue when the rifle cycles itself after firing?
 
Morc said:
Any idea why I never seem to get this bolt bounce issue when the rifle cycles itself after firing?
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There is considerably more velocity (and therefore energy) behind the Bolt Carrier after a live round has been fired than there is when you manually pull the Charging Handle to the rear and let it fly forwards. Furthermore, Bolt bounce is reduced due to the increased resistance when the bolt must strip a live round from the Magazine and feed it into the Chamber during the final stage of the Bolt & Carrier's forwards movement.

The bottom line is that light primer strikes are apparently common to the early stages of the Makasi's break-in period. They typically subside after 50 rounds or so, and then disappear completely within 200 rounds (usually less). Light primer strikes are nothing to worry about with the Makasi unless they persist after the initial 200 rounds....
 
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Morc said:
You could be right on that with the charging handle. As mentioned, I'm not a gunsmith and haven't looked into it that deeply. What I noticed is that typically the charging handle isn't fully forward when I get light primer strikes and my impression is that pushing it forward helps. Just trying to provide the info as I see it.

Regarding the aggressiveness at charging the rifle, you are correct that pulling the charging handle to the rear and releasing is not aggressive. My earlier post tried to indicate that. I have to pull the charging handle back very quickly and release rapidly to avoid the light primer strikes. Almost like I'm trying to impart some extra momentum backwards on the bolt so it goes fully into battery.
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I am 100% right it doesn't work as a forward assist. It's physically impossible. Just look at your rifle. There is nothing for the charging handle to interface with to push the carrier forward.

The speed at which you pull the charging handle back has no affect on the bolts forward momentum. Spring force doesn't change based on the speed it is compressed.
 
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Throwing the thread off topic for a second.

Out of those who have received rifles, which retailer did you guys order through and were you all on pre-orders?

Learnt my lesson with pre-orders in the past over the last 10 years, this is one I kinda wish I went for..
 
KingCon said:
Hoping more of these rifles get out into peoples hands soon. Need more concrete evidence on QC fixes/problems
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Evidence of what specifically? Everything other than the Break-in period characterized by light primer strikes has now been addressed, from the Charging Handle impingement on the Handguard to the Handguard Rail's alignment with the Upper Receiver Rail. Everything other than the 200.rd Break-In appears to have been sorted out, so what exactly are you seeking evidence of?
 
Tvw said:
Throwing the thread off topic for a second.

Out of those who have received rifles, which retailer did you guys order through and were you all on pre-orders?

Learnt my lesson with pre-orders in the past over the last 10 years, this is one I kinda wish I went for..
Click to expand...

As far as I know only pre-orders from RDSC have been shipped out to people.
 
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You can use the thumb notch on the side of the bolt carrier to provide a limited measure of manual forward assist, as Stoner intended on the original AR-15 design, pre-mechancal forward assist. Apparently you can also use it to manually bring the bolt into battery if you want to ride the charging handle to limit noise when hunting, at least according to Google.
 
Tvw said:
Throwing the thread off topic for a second.

Out of those who have received rifles, which retailer did you guys order through and were you all on pre-orders?

Learnt my lesson with pre-orders in the past over the last 10 years, this is one I kinda wish I went for..
Click to expand...
RDSC got first crack because they paid in full upfront. They didn't do deposits. You paid full price and were told no refunds if the rifles didn't come in (banned or whatever). You'd get store credit but not a refund. I paid for mine back in May.
 
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