r/canadaguns • u/Dill_Pickle_Tears • May 30 '26

Misc New Semi-Auto’s: Customizability

Post image

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.

235 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

View all comments

15

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