Makasi or Carmel?

Which one did you order (for people who put in pre-orders) - Carmel or Makasi

  • Brigade Manufacturing Makasi

    Votes: 53 36.8%

  • IWI Carmel

    Votes: 68 47.2%

  • Originally pre-ordered one, then switched to the other, or cancelled altogether

    Votes: 12 8.3%

  • BOTH!

    Votes: 18 12.5%
  • Total voters
    144
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thegazelle

thegazelle

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Hi, I have seen long threads on both. Looks like some models have arrived in the country, but I pre-ordered my Makasi on the second wave arrivals.

Trying to convince myself to throw down a deposit on the Carmel. I so miss my X95 and while the Akdas is nice, just doesn't scratch the sporting 5.56 rifle itch.

I know the easy answer is get both. Not sure my risk tolerance, not to mention, my pocketbook will agree. Like many here, multiple times bitten by bans creates some slight hesitation. Getting the Makasi for sure as I put down a large deposit on it.

Waffling over putting a deposit down on the Carmel. I now regret not going to the East Hill Outdoors Carmel tryout a few months back.

Has anyone here been able to shoot them both and can contrast and compare? There is a fellow on YouTube from Canada who did do a short comparison for six minutes but it was all talking and in the end he picked the Makasi.

Thoughts?

EDIT: I added a poll to this thread. For people who actually pre-ordered one, the other, or both. Not necessarily for people who may WANT one...but it is for people who have actually put in a pre-order
 
Last edited:
thegazelle said:
Hi, I have seen long threads on both. Looks like some models have arrived in the country, but I pre-ordered my Makasi on the second wave arrivals.

Trying to convince myself to throw down a deposit on the Carmel. I so miss my X95 and while the Akdas is nice, just doesn't scratch the sporting 5.56 rifle itch.

I know the easy answer is get both. Not sure my risk tolerance, not to mention, my pocketbook will agree. Like many here, multiple times bitten by bans creates some slight hesitation. Getting the Makasi for sure as I put down a large deposit on it.

Waffling over putting a deposit down on the Carmel. I now regret not going to the East Hill Outdoors Carmel tryout a few months back.

Has anyone here been able to shoot them both and can contrast and compare? There is a fellow on YouTube from Canada who did do a short comparison for six minutes but it was all talking and in the end he picked the Makasi.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
makasi. i try my best not to support companies from israel.
 
Both rifles appear to be a solid choice, so it is really apples to oranges in terms of which you prefer based on their respective strengths and weaknesses as detailed in existing and forthcoming reviews and reports. The Brigade Manufacturing Makasi may require a 200-round break-in period before its Bolt Catch retains the Bolt on the last round. It may also suffer from minor QC issues depending on whether or not the Handguard misalignment and Charging Handle impingement have been addressed prior to the 18.5" Barreled models hitting Canadian shelves. The IWI Carmel will offer reliable operation from the outset, however this rifle's excessive weight, tall height over bore, bulky polymer form-factor, all-proprietary parts and lack of appealing aesthetics must also be taken into full account when deciding between the two rifles.

Both platforms will ultimately deliver reliable performance with acceptable utility rifle accuracy, however those less familiar with the rifles' respective operating systems should perhaps gravitate towards the "out of the box" ready Carmel. The Makasi on the other hand, ought appeal to the more advanced "tinkerers" who will best appreciate its AR15-compatible Trigger Mechanism, Safety, complete Bolt and the rifle's Picatinny Buttstock attachment system. The Makasi is by far the more upgradable rifle, whereas the high proprietary parts-count on the Carmel seriously limits what one can do to tweak that rifle and make it "their own". That said, the Carmel's proprietary Trigger is apparently quite good and unlike the Makasi's mil-spec unit should require no immediate upgrade from the factory.

In many cases, the decision will boil down to which "look" the prospective owner prefers. The appearance of the Makasi seems to appeal to the most potential owners, but there is nothing particularly horrible about the Carmel if you don't mind the somewhat bulky form factor. Either way, both rifles ought to please their new owners when they arrive. Semi-auto, 5.56mm "utility rifles" will once again hit the ranges and crown land, where they rightfully belong. In the end that is what truly matters!

FWIW, I will be going with the Makasi. I am prone to "tinkering" with my rifles and the Makasi looks like the perfect platform for incessant upgraders such as myself....
 
I'd originally planned to wait until next year to see how each rifle was working and and make my decision then. But after some thought I decided that there was too much uncertainty in, well, everything to do with semi-auto rifles in Canada so I decided to get one this summer. And, for me, the Carmel was a lower-risk choice than the Makasi, and I'm happy with that decision. The added weight is not bad—I'd prefer lighter of course—but it's fine. I'm used to shooting my CTAR and FS2000 so the Carmel feels pretty good to me—I've added a BCM foregrip and swapped on the B5 pistol grip for a Magpul MOE and both those changes have improved the feel a lot for me.

Ideally, the Makasi ends up doing really well and becomes a great success, too. I really missing having a short, handy semiauto, and would love to get one with, say, a 11.5" barrel...maybe in .300 Blackout.
 
Bartok5 said:
Both rifles appear to be a solid choice, so it is really apples to oranges in terms of which you prefer based on their respective strengths and weaknesses as detailed in existing and forthcoming reviews and reports. The Brigade Manufacturing Makasi may require a 200-round break-in period before its Bolt Catch retains the Bolt on the last round. It may also suffer from minor QC issues depending on whether or not the Handguard misalignment and Charging Handle impingement have been addressed prior to the 18.5" Barreled models hitting Canadian shelves. The IWI Carmel will offer reliable operation from the outset, however this rifle's excessive weight, tall height over bore, bulky polymer form-factor, all-proprietary parts and lack of appealing aesthetics must also be taken into full account when deciding between the two rifles.

Both platforms will ultimately deliver reliable performance with acceptable utility rifle accuracy, however those less familiar with the rifles' respective operating systems should perhaps gravitate towards the "out of the box" ready Carmel. The Makasi on the other hand, ought appeal to the more advanced "tinkerers" who will best appreciate its AR15-compatible Trigger Mechanism, Safety, complete Bolt and the rifle's Picatinny Buttstock attachment system. The Makasi is by far the more upgradable rifle, whereas the high proprietary parts-count on the Carmel seriously limits what one can do to tweak that rifle and make it "their own". That said, the Carmel's proprietary Trigger is apparently quite good and unlike the Makasi's mil-spec unit should require no immediate upgrade from the factory.

In many cases, the decision will boil down to which "look" the prospective owner prefers. The appearance of the Makasi seems to appeal to the most potential owners, but there is nothing particularly horrible about the Carmel if you don't mind the somewhat bulky form factor. Either way, both rifles ought to please their new owners when they arrive. Semi-auto, 5.56mm "utility rifles" will once again hit the ranges and crown land, where they rightfully belong. In the end that is what truly matters!

FWIW, I will be going with the Makasi. I am prone to "tinkering" with my rifles and the Makasi looks like the perfect platform for incessant upgraders such as myself....
Click to expand...

Quick Summary = IWI is made perfectly and Brigade can't even run a CNC machine properly.

Shop accordingly.
 
waybetter said:
makasi. i try my best not to support companies from israel.
Click to expand...
so not big on medication for multiple sclerosis or parkinsons, compression bandage, endoscopy (cant blame you for that one, im on the same boat, but would hate to think how big that lens had to be if not for "them" israelis), microprocessors, VoIP,

thing is you already do, without knowing it, support many many many companies that reap the results of israel's inventions
 
canadaguns1991 said:
If you want pure reliability chose the iwi Carmel. If you want something to customize chose the Makasi. Or get both
Click to expand...

This.

waybetter said:
makasi. i try my best not to support companies from israel.
Click to expand...

The OP obviously doesn't seem to have a problem with it, but your virtue signaling is appreciated as a crucial component of his decision making I'm sure.

themacguy said:
IWI for me.
Click to expand...

Me too.

calmcat said:
IWI have a really great track of the products.
Click to expand...

Yes. One very good reason to consider the Carmel. When considering IWI, I expect their products to just work.

rugbydave said:
Carmel if you want a rifle that should just run, problem free, right off the hop. Makasi if you want (some of) the modularity of an AR and are ok with tinkering, break in period, etc.
Click to expand...

Exactly.
 
Once you get your Makasi and have used it a bit see if someone at your range will let you try out a Carmel and then see which you like better
If you like the Carmel better then sell your Makasi and buy a Carmel
 
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