r/canadaguns • u/Dill_Pickle_Tears • May 30 '26
Misc New Semi-Auto’s: Customizability
With the release of the Backland Hunter Elite, MK-15, and Carmel, I wanted to talk parts.
I haven’t pre-ordered but decided the Makasi will be my next buy, dropping the M1 Garand to second place in my buy queue. I’ve been watching reviews and a currently planning a build. While the Makasi is NOT AT ALL LIKE THE AR-15 IN FORM OR FUNCTION, I wanted to see if anyone more savvy than I can comment on the handguard compatibility and overall potential parts market for new semi-autos hitting stores?
I’ve seen reviews comparing aspects of thethe handguard hardware to geissele offerings and there’s a photo from a SIG forum where an American swapped the handguard on the pistol variant of the Makasi (makes me interested in the restricted models IRG is importing). How difficult would this sort of swap be?
What about the BH or Carmel? Hoping we continue to get new and fun firearms that we can actually use spare parts on or upgrade.
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u/OniDelta al May 30 '26
The pictured handguard looks like a VLTOR CASV-EL from the early 2000s. This was made because rail systems on ARs at the time weren't as easy or common as they are today. The CASV mounts to the pic rail on the receiver and then cantilevers out into a 2 piece clam shell type handguard where you can mount more pic rails if needed. The downside of this is it raises the top rail by about a half inch which these days isn't a problem but back then that was kinda taboo and you need low mounts for optics to cowitness. It was also kinda heavy when fully kitted out at least compared to typical builds at the time. The bottom section being removable also let you mount a 40mm launcher while still giving you 3oc and 9oc pic rails.
But if you can find a CASV system these days it should work on any rifle as long as you can fit the barrel and gas system inside and a pic rail on the top of the receiver. It's literally just a matter of removing the OEM handguard/rail and then bolting one of these on. But VLTOR hasn't made these for a long time now afaik.
Here's some ancient info on the CASV: (pic login is "mm" for both user and password)
https://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.uppers.html#casv
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 May 30 '26
Just don't buy Tommy Enterprise parts. They're poorly designed 3D-printed parts that will shatter, perhaps even before the gun is shot!
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May 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 May 30 '26
I know he's a very fair and helpful guy.
I don't think there is a need to defend the guy. His parts are breaking left and right; he really shouldn't continue to sell defective goods to the community when it's been happening for years. Tommy should sell his designs to a competent fabricator.
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u/gspotcowboy May 31 '26
he used to be very active on this sub and I think that's what irks me the most. I haven't seen a comment from him since people started complaining about his merch
I don't think the guy is all bad but if he's going to sell cheap parts he has to own it.
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u/Plasma_48 May 30 '26
I believe the problem is the technology/resin he is using. Resin printing can be pretty fickle, especially large and functional parts. If he printed them with a filament printer, they would probably be a lot tougher, but they wouldn’t feel as premium.
0
u/Q-Ball7 In the end, it's taxes all the way down May 31 '26
Counterpoint: I think his designs are perfect for the kind of gun owner who buys things just because they look cool on the Internet and then never actually go out and shoot them beyond a couple boxes of ammunition here and there.
There's clearly a market niche for that; Kodiak fulfilled that very well with their shitty AR-180Bs (that would inevitably break, but for the 90% of people who don't shoot enough to notice, that was fine), and to that end so does Tommy
built.4
u/Diligent_Studio6763 May 30 '26
I’ve heard his parts are good if you’re putting them on a 22 but not so great on other things.
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u/randomnewguy9595 May 31 '26
Wrong. I've had his .22 parts shatter by just racking the bolt. I have his mag sleeves now, hoping they hold as they do not take any pressure or heat
1
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u/Benefit_Waste May 30 '26
If we can change the handguard and buttstock of the mk15 that’d be cool
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u/Dill_Pickle_Tears May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
You can absolutely change the stock. It’s just a 1913/picatinny mount. I’ve seen some photos from the same forum where they put an FDE ACR stock on the Makasi and it looked gorgeous.
Handguard is the one I’m not sure about. It seems like you’d need to know your stuff to find one that is compatible.
2
u/Whispersfine May 31 '26
Hangguard is proprietary, stock can be changed for sure.
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u/JaxIsLoud May 31 '26
Yes the few videos on it it's definitely proprietary. Wonder if someone could make a barrel nut that would make it so you can run standard handgaurds. Iirc that's where it differs from a standard.
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u/escv_69420 May 30 '26
I really hope BLKLBL does a bipod handguard thing for the Makasi. Those HGs are so cool.
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u/Smart_Letter366 May 31 '26
If they do, it will need to be a piston-driven model over DI: that might be the only way to mount one on the Makasi. Oval over Round, like the Sig Virtus.
3
u/some_guy2024 May 31 '26
I like modding guns as much as, if not more than, the next guy but at this point all I want is a not-banned, NR .223/5.56 carbine that is reliable, runs on stanag mags, easily accepts optics and enablers (wml, lam) and can keep 10 rnds of match ammo inside 2moa.
If/when I get a Carmel all I expect to add are said optics and enablers as well as a small chunk of pic rail (for bipod) and arca (for tripod). I really don’t care what it looks and 99% chance it will get rattle-canned.
Same for the Makasi plus probably changing the stock to something with adjustable lop and better cheek weld. If they avoid getting banned for a while I’ll probably get a custom barrel done for it as well and build a precision upper (if we can get uppers).
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u/Dill_Pickle_Tears May 31 '26
Stock and grip swaps on the Makasi look pretty nice alone, and I agree. At this point we just need the market to stabilize lol.
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u/raging_wolf98 May 31 '26
Been eyeing the makasi... Anyone know if theres anyway to be able to run a BAD lever on it? Looks like the bolt release paddle aint your run of the mill AR ones.
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u/IProfessorOakI May 31 '26
Just bought an M1 garand, but am still planning on buying one of the two. But still trying to decide which one to buy first.
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u/lunchbawkz Pineapple is the best pizza topping fight me May 31 '26
There's a post on CGN from someone:
"Just got off the phone with Brigade. Lovely people. They said that the handguard is proprietary, and that there aren’t any other AR handguards that will work with the rifle, just because of the anti rotation tab systems for the handguard. He did also mention that if there are ever any issues with our handguards or there’s a need for spares, that Brigade will be able to replace them.
So now we know for sure, the handguard is proprietary and no other AR handguards will fit the Makasi."
Apparently even that VLOTR handguard you posted took some modifications. Personally, I'm wondering how an HK416 Handguard would fit it.
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u/Dill_Pickle_Tears May 31 '26
I see - so really, it’s gonna be a mod job no matter what. Luckily the factory handguard looks nice enough and a brake or reverse faux suppressor would look nice enough without a new handguard
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u/JaxIsLoud May 31 '26
I got a buffer tube from SBI, Magpul buttstock, Magpul grip, a hand stop, a bunch of crossmags and I'll be getting a vortex viper 1-6 lpvo as the base build.
After that it'll be looking into upgraded triggers. Can't tell if the safety is ambi out of the box if not one of those
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u/HappyCan7250 Jun 01 '26
Didn't read all the comments, but i was digging through forums on the Mk15 and the barrel is AR compatible as best I can tell.
Glad I picked the Mk15 since it comes with a government profile barrel, which looks significantly heavier than the Carmel barrel. The government profile though is thicker and the front though so it not an ideal profile, but it should hold up to heat a bit better than the pencil profile of the Carmel.
Im a bit concerned with the confiscation going on for businesses, and parts being eligible, that we may seem some AR parts dry up. MRA at least obviously will keep selling AR compatible barrels, but there's do not have a gas port drilled. Hoping we still are able to get some parts for the new rifles.
Mk15 also uses AR bolts and firing pin, but propietary BCG. Uses a standard mil spec trigger as well so that is easily upgradeable (if these parts stay on the market up here - hopefully).
I believe the handguard should be swappable on them if it's a standard AR barrel and nut. It looks like it is, from what I can see in photos. Not sure on the gas block length though, someone was asking a while ago on here and I seem to recall hearing it was a carbine length for gas block positioning on the barrel, but I'd probably hold off until having one in my hands to verify any parts fitment outside of basic stuff like the grip and maybe trigger group.
I believe in the US the Mk15 was advertised as caliber swappable too? I believe they make them in x39 and 556 at least. Seems like we are only getting the 556 models though for now.
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u/AssignmentPutrid3197 May 30 '26
No offense, but I cant imagine spending 3-5 thousand dollars on a bad canadian AR wannabe, that will almost certainly be banned and without compensation within a year.
If I wanted a cool gun so bad I'd rather just move to USA and spend $500 on a PSA AR15 clone that is innumerably better than any canadian wannabe gun
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u/Dill_Pickle_Tears May 30 '26
None taken. Though, note that the hype surrounding the Makasi and the Carmel are partly due to good reviews and the presence of these rifles in the American market.
Also, I’m patriotic. So I won’t be moving to the US.
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u/AssignmentPutrid3197 May 30 '26
Fair enough. 10 years ago I'd be doing the same as you saving up way too much money for a cool black rifle. I just have seen the ban after ban after ban. I have 0 faith in the government doing better this time than last
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u/Mysterious_Sleep7443 May 31 '26
You should just relinquish your PAL and turn all your firearms over to the CFO with that train of thought
What a sad life people live because they wont purchase something because it might be banned
Are you the same guy who didnt purchase a Henry Homesteader
Ive been shooting mine for over 3 years while others are still talking about that they "might" be banned
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u/AssignmentPutrid3197 May 31 '26
Hey if you want to create a record online of your plans to committ indictable crimes, thats on you.
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u/Medical_Bluejay_7506 May 30 '26
That’s some “I complied with the gun confiscation” mentality you got there.
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u/Wiggum13 May 30 '26
I literally flipped a coin between the Makasi and Caramel. First ever pre order on a firearm for me. Makasi won the flip. I’m excited to see how they compare with eachother once everyone gets theirs later this year.