The following review is an excerpt from my report on the Brigade Mfg. Makasi MK-15. This post highlights the most concerning aspects of the design and performance that I have experienced. Please find the complete report with photos here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11YDbqxH2p0BJLQTxt_2dmiVq34_S1OQD?usp=sharing or the CGN forum here: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/brigade-mfg-makasi-mk-15-construction-and-accuracy-review.2590733/

Construction

The gas adjustment valve is secured in place with a hairpin clip which was inappropriately oversized. The clip fell off easily when the handguard was removed, but the user can pinch the clip together to improve securement.

The clearance slots in the barrel nut and the location of the handguard's steel cross bolts interfere with each other such that the cross bolts are partially threaded into the barrel nut. The steel cross bolts are also threaded directly into the aluminum handguard which will degrade over time from disassembly and reassembly when cleaning the gas system. There was no thread locking compound used by the manufacturer to secure the cross bolts to the handguard. Metal dust was found when removing the handguard indicating the steel or aluminum materials have been degraded by the cross bolt assembly process.

The Picatinny and M-LOK rails are dimensionally out of spec which causes issues with mounting certain attachments to the handguard. The Picatinny slots are cut too shallow, and the M-LOK slots are too narrow. There is also insufficient width on the backside of the M-LOK slots to allow the T-nuts to fully lock into place. Additionally, the Picatinny rail does not align with the rail of the upper receiver.

Pulling back the charging handle and releasing causes the charging handle slide to wedge itself under the handguard. In addition to the metal chipping and peening, the charging handle can be wedged so tightly that the rifle must be mortared or slammed into a barrier to operate again. This is a significant and repeatable failure of the rifle during normal operation that cannot be neglected, though it may wear in through use.

The bolt catch is a proprietary design to provide clearance between the upper and lower receivers. The bolt release button is angled outwards from the rifle and requires excessive force to activate. This was determined to be due in part to sloppy tolerances which pinch the bolt catch into the lower receiver, though this may wear in and improve through use.

Reliability

For this range trip, 281 rounds were fired through the Makasi. The firing schedule began with 90 rounds of PMC X-TAC M193 ammunition to break-in the rifle while zeroing the optic. This ammunition was selected because it is considered “hotter” than typical loads. The first shot did not cycle the rifle – the casing extracted but the bolt did not pick up the next round in the magazine. The gas system adjustment valve was then switched to the suppressed setting to ensure that there was no user error in selecting the gas setting. Firing the next round did not extract the casing so the gas system was switched back to the unsuppressed setting. For the rest of these break-in rounds, the rifle operated identically to a straight-pull action rifle as the bolt always failed to pick up the next round. The variety of magazines had no difference in reliability.

13 cartridge loadings were tested for accuracy. Groups were shot over a period of 2 hours to allow the barrel to cool. In total, 131 rounds were shot during this period. Throughout the accuracy evaluation, the rifle continued to fail picking up the next round about 75% of the time with many failures to feed and jams regardless of the ammunition used. By the end of the accuracy evaluation, the rifle may fire up to 7 rounds at a time without jamming.

Accuracy

10 round groups were measured with various ammunition types at a range of 100 yards. Environmental conditions were cloudy with a high of 20°C and low to no wind. Groups were measured with all 10 rounds (100%), the tightest 9 rounds (90%), and the tightest 8 rounds (80%) to account for any fouling shots or shooter-induced error.

Observations

The most concerning issue found during the construction review seems to correct itself through wear. The charging handle slide impacting the handguard removed enough material that there is now clearance between the components and it no longer becomes stuck. There is a significant amount of metal shavings where the material was forcibly removed.

While shooting, one of the gas block screws fell out. Notably, there is no thread locking compound to retain the screw. However, this may be inconsequential as the gas block is primarily retained by the coiled spring pin on the top of the barrel. Furthermore, after a full disassembly, it was discovered that the factory did not use any grease for the barrel extension or barrel nut, and there was no thread locking compound for the flash hider.

Warnings and Cautions

Given that the serial number is less than 500, I do not take seriously the argument that this rifle might be good because it has been on the American market for over 3 years. Low rate production may have allowed Brigade Mfg. to focus on their quality control. This substantially changes when you consider they must exponentially ramp up production in a short period of time to fulfill their orders for the Canadian market.

A huge red flag is that many of the issues highlighted in this report have been problems from the very beginning of production. It has been over 3 years and the manufacturer has put no effort into even touching the digital user manual, design, dimensions, or manufacturing processes of this rifle. With production suddenly ramped up, I highly doubt they will address any of these issues before the rifles arrive in Canada.

What may redeem the design is that many parts are compatible with the AR15 so higher quality parts can be substituted to keep the rifle running reliably and more accurately. Considering its only real competition is the IWI Carmel which also has minimal civilian adoption in the American market, both platforms will have to be proven over time.

In a bit of a unique situation, I ended up with two of these guns, which allowed me to compare them. And wow are there quality control differences.

I actually think this would be an incredible design, if they put more money into QC and materials. Make this a $500-600 gun with aluminum receivers and it would likely be a lot better.

Bottom to top:
- Bastardized late Yugo chromed
- Early Yugo no night sights
- Late Yugo with all the goodies

Working on a grenade that can launch next

Hey guys! I just bought a Huntshield 24-30 Gun Fully Assembled Cabinet from Canadian Tire.

I took it out of the box and lugged it to the basement with a buddy of mine.

Personally I LOVE IT. But there’s already a problem.

The key will NOT come out of the lock if the door is closed and in the lock position. The key will ONLY come out of the door if the door is OPEN and in the lock position.

Why? I really truly don’t want to waste my time returning it. Also because I preemptively threw out the box…

Please tell me there a solution.

*EDIT: I completely took off the locking cam bolt then reinstalled it and tightened the HELL out of it. Now it opens and closes and locks and unlocks like butter.

There are still a few places to get out to try a pistol. These are a few I got the pleasure to try out today.

Been considering a 590 Retrograde for funsies, but saw the Maverick 88 with two barrels advertised which is cheaper but would fit my use case a bit better.

Is the 88 fairly reliable?

Also, are there any suppliers of wood furniture for the 88?

I signed up for the "buyback" (misnoner) because I didn't see a better path forward:
All of my guns are registered, so they already knew what I had. Changing my mind and withdrawing was explicitly presented as an option. Not obeying the law is not an option (no "boating accident"s), nor is receiving nothing for my guns if they're confiscated (I know some of you are willing to forego that as a matter of principle.. I'm not in that financial position where that'd be prudent or advisable).

The time has come to make a final decision, it seems. Received this (aggressively worded) e-mail:

Further to the previous message sent, this is a reminder notice that, should you wish to receive compensation under the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) for your prohibited firearm(s), please accept your funding agreement and book your appointment for collection for compensation of your firearms as soon as possible and no later than 7 calendar days from receipt of this message. Collection for compensation will be available only for a limited period of time in your area on August 12-16 and 18-20 2026.

If you have already accepted your funding agreement and booked your appointment, please disregard this message. Please contact the ASFCP Contact Centre at 1-833-759-4551 should you need assistance.

Participants who withdraw from the Program or do not proceed as instructed, including missing an agreed appointment time without valid reason, will not be able to continue and obtain compensation. While the Program is voluntary, compliance with the law is mandatory. Impacted firearms and devices must be disposed of by the end of the amnesty period on 90 days after the Supreme Court of Canada renders its decision. For information on other disposal options, visit www.canada.ca/firearms-compensation.

Thank you for your interest and participation in the program.

Public Safety Canada
Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP)

They're really trying to create false time pressure (never mind when it comes to actually getting paid? It'll happen whenever they fucking feel like getting around to it..)

So.. my question is this: Is there a better path forward?

I'm sure this has been discussed to death, but this is where the shit is really hitting the fan.

Waiting until the SCOC makes its decision would be the most prudent path.. but I can't risk being forced to turn in my rifles for nothing. The proposed compensation is actually.. alright.. it covers my out of pocket expenses in acquiring these rifles and a couple of needed accessories (opportunity cost, etc.. no.. not at all.. but..).

Is this the end for my rifles?

I was recently watching the Garand Thumb video on the Vang Comp 870 in which he compared it to the 590A1. The results found in his tests were that the 590A1 was actually slightly more accurate both with federal flight control and bad sterling buckshot.

Of course this is one test with 1 gun so results would likely not be the same from person to person, but does anyone actually have experience with the Vang comp?

In the video he mentions the 590s excellent barrel harmonics which is why accuracy difference is negligible. Does anyone know this to be particularly true in their experience?

shout to True North Arms for the excellent customer service and Rob for the machining

just waiting on picatinny rail over the action and red dot

2 months with a PAL

I was scrolling through Reddit earlier and came across a historical post featuring a Boys anti-tank rifle. It got me wondering:
What's the largest caliber rifle you personally own?
And out of curiosity, what's the largest caliber rifle that's currently available on the market?
Looking forward to seeing everyone's answers and maybe a few pictures too.

Cheers

What is this little lever for ?

Bought a SBI 597 magazine adapter for my 10/22 and a few 22rnd pro mags plastic mags, I cannot get the bolt closed with the 22rnd mags, anyone run in to this issue?

Gun names insert here xD But 1 full year of my pal.

Get/make ammo and get out there!

Hello all. Im trying to find out where i could go shoot on Macolm island which is across from port mcniel off vancouver island in BC.

What is/are your trusted websites to purchase guns and accessories ?

Belt is a cheap one from Amazon

The mag pouches are 3d printed, 2 different designs put together. The part that attaches to the belt from one model for a different style of mag, and then the 10/22 mag part from a different model with a smaller belt attachment that didn't fit.

Did my course with just regular mags stock rifle. A little awkward to get the mags out.

So for the first match I added an extended release, and designed some extensions for the mags.

The extensions have a little clip that screws into the extension, and holds onto the little finger divot on the mag, then I also just glued them to the bottom. Much easier to manipulate, and the finger hole makes it pretty nice to pull out of the holder. The extra weight makes them drop nice with the extended release.

Only used them on grass, they held up fine there. I think if you were dropping them on harder surfaces they'll eventually get beat up. I played around with a rubber sleeve over it, probably try them when we move indoors for the winter. Seemed like they help up OK but only tested those in the garage.

I know little about shotguns but have been thinking of making what is basically my Homesteader adapter but for the Mossberg Shockwave (and fits Mossberg Mavericks and 500s? I believe the rears are the same), but was wondering if there would be any interest in one.

I believe a folding stock is not possible on the current Shockwave offerings we currently have because they do not meet OAL requirements, correct? So this would be a custom piece that would fit OAL while folded.

Just asking if this is a niche that needs to be filled, as I'm not very informed about what options we have here.

Long shot, but I figure I would post up here and try to get some momentum behind getting the Rossi 7122M Delta in Canada by making a dedicated post. It already has an NR classification on the FRT and would be a small but nice change from all the .22LR semis we have now.

I have already tried to contact North Sylva (via CGN) and Gravel Agency but neither have replied, so I am wondering if anyone out there has contacts or influence that could get the ball rolling on this.

Consumers; Ask your retailers to inquire about these and stir up some interest

Retailers; If you could call in and ask why these haven't been brought in yet as customers are asking for it, it might get some more interest from importers drummed up..

I know there has been a number of comments and posts mentioning these between here and CGN as well as other groups, so let's see if we can't get them here.

I took apart my Charles Daly m4 clone today to deep clean it and inspect components. As this shotgun has had a history of light striking from day 1. Upon inspection I noticed my firing pin has a bend in it. I want to know options for replacement.

A where-to-shoot map and an aggregator.

Have fun!

Guns.Rip

and

GunsOnline.ca

I'm still entering gun ranges and no-shoot zones. I made an automated pin drop feature to edit/add crown sites/ranges and pics on the map.

The aggregator took a long time to train, but still might have the odd listing straggler. I'm making a dedicated CRON box to soft scrape all known sites. I made a built-in FRT checker (why not) so you can get more info on the gun you're looking at. The FRT is checked daily and I posted a searchable page for it. I might be adding pictures to it eventually.

I originally made these sites for myself so keep that in mind if you have "complaints". Suggestions and feedback are welcome!

backcountry pack gun what’s a better option, I know there not the best choices but out of the two what do you guys recon will be a better choice for wilderness protection.

In my mind there’s three possibilities with supreme court case that impact value of Makasi. If government cancels oics and pre ban firearms are back that would make Makasi a joke. I am a big fan of eastern bloc firearms, so if i can pick up a t81 or svt i wouldnt even ever touch an AR, let alone this thing.

If government loses the case but maintain status quo by neither lifting previous oic nor issuing new oic, makasi could be worth it. If government wins and double down by banning makasi then you just bought yourself a 2700 dollar toy.

Probably better to hold money before scc decision comes out.