Mk15 or carmel

[u/Benefit_Waste]

Hey guys. Birthday is coming up soon. Looking to purchase myself a birthday gun. Im having a really hard decision whether to get the mk15 or carmel, i have been leaning towards the mk15 but i’ve also been liking the looks of the carmel. Please help!

[u/GFN_good_for_nothing]

Personally I feel like I’ve liked the reviews I’ve seen of the makasi just slightly more, and I know the AR15 and FAL platforms have both been exhaustively tested all over the world for decades. If you’re feeling indecisive it may be worth waiting to see some domestic reviews though, you don’t wanna blow a few grand on something you’re going to be anything less than completely satisfied with.

[u/BowFella → u/GFN_good_for_nothing]

Not sure about the Carmel. But the Makasi has been out in the states for a bit and has several reputable reviews on it already.

[u/Hot_Cheesecake_905]

Is anyone still taking pre-orders?

You may want to wait a few weeks after they arrive, I'm sure a lot of people will shoot them once or twice then sell it on GP.

[u/escv_69420 → u/Hot_Cheesecake_905]

yeah, sell them on GP for $4000 because "get it before it's gone!" and "I know what I have"

[u/Benefit_Waste → u/Hot_Cheesecake_905]

Im considering it. Just might as well pre order, would like to own it for long term for fun range use

[u/yummybunnybear]

Most people ditch the Carmel for the looks but if you actually like it then the Carmel has no downside for you. The Carmel is the better gun in my opinion.

[u/ExplorerEnjoyer → u/yummybunnybear]

Ugly guns are always cooler

[u/Dill_Pickle_Tears]

MK15 if you have to choose 1. Both seem accurate and decently reliable but the MK15 is the most modular and customizable

ETA: The most correct answer is both. Second my correct answer is the MK15 first, then the Carmel (that’s my plan for my own personal collection)

[u/mr-smitty81]

I went with the Carmel because I trust Iwi more than a small relatively unknown manufacturer in Florida. Though I do like the looks of the makasi. Being honest if we didn’t have the bans of 2020 and 2024 I wouldn’t touch either.

[u/K2LLswitch]

The correct answer is always both.

I think the MK15 edges it out slightly IMO, but maybe 51/49.

[u/Benefit_Waste → u/K2LLswitch]

If i had the money and if i were rich. Id get both, unfortunately im neither

[u/K2LLswitch → u/Benefit_Waste]

Yeah fair.

I like the look / size of the MK15 a bit better, especially with an after market stock (Magpul or B5)

[u/tim1447 → u/K2LLswitch]

I’ve got a magpul ctr and Midwest industries buffer tube with the pic mount waiting for it lol

[u/K2LLswitch → u/tim1447]

Nice!! I have a Magpul UCS on the way and tempted to get a B5 as well just to see what works.

[u/tim1447 → u/K2LLswitch]

I’m pretty pumped for it! Super pleased with the tube kit I found, wasn’t a fan of having exposed threads like I would’ve had if I just got a pic attachment and a separate buffer tube.. Midwest has one all attached as one piece though, looks super clean

[u/K2LLswitch → u/tim1447]

Man - that is sick! I like that better than the UCS. I guess I’ll try to get one of those as well and see what works better.

[u/tim1447 → u/K2LLswitch]

Only place I was able to find it at for a decent price was canadiansafetysource, they should have 1 left in stock, had 2 before I bought mine

[u/LumberjackCDN]

We have both on order, MK 15 should be arriving before the Carmel. I think both will be solid platforms. But the MK15 would be my choice simply because their importer is easier to deal with.

We also just ran some tests on the crusader arms backland hunter comp before selling one. It worked fine for us out of the box but our sample size is one so far so take that for what you will.

[u/Flashy_Inspector115]

I keep it kosher

[u/EnvironmentBright697]

I’d go with the Carmel personally. I trust an IWI product more than a smaller independent manufacturer. Carmel was made to compete for a military contract, so it should be well engineered. Seems to basically be an X95 reverted from a bullpup to standard configuration. From what I’ve seen on CGN makasi is already giving me WK-180 or BCL Siberian flashbacks.

[u/Even-Somewhere-9554]

I preordered Makasi first before switching to Carmel after seeing reviews on CGN

Tbh the quality of Maksi is wild. Paying 2k4 but they cannot do alignment of its handguard properly.

I will sure buy Makasi later if I have funds but if I need to choose 1, it will be Carmel

[u/jollygreengiant1655 → u/[deleted]]

That's not the point. Why are you having to fix anything on a brand new rifle that you just paid 2.5k for?

[u/GenuineSteak → u/[deleted]]

Better than nothing? so is a musket. but better than the Carmel? we'll see ig.

[u/Mysterious_Sleep7443 → u/Even-Somewhere-9554]

This is exactly what is did and exactly what I was going to type out

I was absolutely disgusted with the CGN review to be honest !!!

IWI does a 75,000 round test on all new platforms before they are allowed to be released for military or civilian use

Cheers 🍻

[u/GenuineSteak]

Carmel, mostly cuz it was actually designed as a military rifle, and by a company with a lotta experience and street cred making reliable, durable, military small arms. Meanwhile the Makasi was made as a civilian rifle from the ground up by a fairly new company with no military contracts.

Try not to be put off by how the Carmel looks largely polymer. Its metal underneath where it matters. the Tavor and Bren are also heavily polymer, well respected, and people were paying 3k+ for those.

edit: grammar

[u/Whispersfine]

A cope gun made by a small business with some CNC machines, many people have played this game with those w180 in the past. If you don’t hate the looks of Carmel. I can’t think of why you should choose the other. Most people have an issue with the looks of Carmel, aka fish gun.

[u/SirKickBan → u/Whispersfine]

How is the Makasi a cope gun?

[u/GodsGiftToWrenching → u/Whispersfine]

You see the difference between an american made gun and a Canadian made gun is that a canadian one will be absolute ass quality but what are you gonna do, buy a different 180 clone they're all ass. Vs an american gun where if a cheap shitty poverty pony or PSA ar can outperform it then the thing will get absolutely annihilated and be off the market in no time, the fact the Makasi is still around after several years in the states kinda proves it' a decent rifle

[u/Whispersfine → u/GodsGiftToWrenching]

Lol. Many shitty guns are around for quite a bit.

CGN has a good review done by greentips. It’s definitely a cope.

[u/Benefit_Waste → u/Whispersfine]

I think the carmel looks cool. Especially compared to the other semi autos we have available atm. I had purchased a svt40 to be mt semi auto for the range. But turns out i lost that in a boating accident 🤪

[u/GopherRebellion]

From what I've seen. Both are mediocre. Both are fine. Just order whichever one is available first.

[u/Ustauk]

If you get the Makasi, note the Unsuppresed setting has the adjustment slot perpendicular to the ground for the gas block adjustment knob; they still haven't fixed the damn manual! https://www.reddit.com/r/canadaguns/comments/1u488g7/makasi_gas_system_settings/

[u/PrestigiousStatus711 → u/[deleted]]

Take this advice if you're a fuckin' quitter.

[u/Benefit_Waste → u/[deleted]]

Not with that attitude!

[u/AssignmentPutrid3197 → u/[deleted]]

I still am not sure if we are losing the SKS, but I'd bet with fair certainty both of these will be banned within 5 years, and most likely with zero compensation.