Mack Bros Experience

[warnera1102]

I have looked around regarding the options on the Mack Bros action but I have not seen any real work experience from people in a PRS environment.
I am looking to build a 6GT to shoot at local club matches and was wondering what experience people have had with the Mack Bros. I do not mind the remage barrel setup and I already have a criterion on a blueprinted 700 that does great so i have all the tools for this from NSS. Most of the reviews I have seen are more hunting rigs and they seem to be fine. I guess I am weighing the option of the Mack Bros vs a Origin or ARC. Outside the benefit of prefits for the Origin/ARC whats the benefit? I was hoping someone has had thier hands on this action and could compare it to others based on experience.

 

[rothgyr]

I had a GAP tempest a while ago, it's made by them and is basically a 3 lug Mack Bros action. It was very slick running the bolt back and forth, but has a lot of "cock on close". What this means is that if you like to run a bolt slowly/smoothly with a thumb on the back of the bolt it won't serve you well. Example of what I'm talking about, bolt manipulation wise:


If you like to grab the bolt knob with your whole hand, Mack Bros will serve you just fine. Actual example of a Mack Bros-made GAP Tempest action in use:


I did have an issue with my tempest where the firing pin assembly came loose from the bolt shroud. I think it's rare, and it was taken care of almost immediately by GA Precision's customer service. I see no reason not to go with a Mack Bros action, unless you care about bragging rights and gun fashion, in which case, get an AI, Fuzion, Zeus, or Ruckus.

 

[LuvDog]

I didn't think Mack had a lefty version yet

 

[warnera1102]

@rothgyr
I typically use my whole hand, I think that is due to me being used to a regular old 700 LA. I assume the action fits any 700 chassis.

 

[rothgyr]

My Tempest had a trigger hanger, and required some inletting, similar to a Kelblys and a few other actions. Easy to work a dremel and open it up a bit for the hanger. If you're a whole hand user, I see no issue with a Mack Bros for your use.

 

[warnera1102]

I appreacite the information. I think the Criterion will treat me well and NSS has a 6GT barrel so thats even better.

 

[Birch7]

My post from the evo ss thread “I have a few thousand rounds between my 3 origins and an evo ss build in process. The evo bolt is very slick with less slop than the origin. For now, Bolt lift seems comparable. Big pluses IMO on the Origin are widespread prefit availability, controlled feed, swappable bolt faces, savage threads (for some people-more cheap barrels off the shelf), availabilty (including spares), and a company that picks up the phone. That being said, the evo is a great value, and I am looking forward to picking up a few more evos if they can sell me a spare fire control group along with them.”
I now have 3 origins, an evo1, a nosler 21, and 2 evo2s. I have a arc nuke, but with only about 100 rounds thru it. My evos are remages, with zermatt nuts. I have been able to eventually get in contact with Mack for spares, but Zermatt has been way better for service when I needed to order.

I haven’t fondled a gap tempest, but I wouldn’t want to compare a 2 to 3 lug just because they are made in the same shop. Short story long, get the mack unless you envision going to a different bolt face.

 

[warnera1102]

My post from the evo ss thread “I have a few thousand rounds between my 3 origins and an evo ss build in process. The evo bolt is very slick with less slop than the origin. For now, Bolt lift seems comparable. Big pluses IMO on the Origin are widespread prefit availability, controlled feed, swappable bolt faces, savage threads (for some people-more cheap barrels off the shelf), availabilty (including spares), and a company that picks up the phone. That being said, the evo is a great value, and I am looking forward to picking up a few more evos if they can sell me a spare fire control group along with them.”
I now have 3 origins, an evo1, a nosler 21, and 2 evo2s. I have a arc nuke, but with only about 100 rounds thru it. My evos are remages, with zermatt nuts. I have been able to eventually get in contact with Mack for spares, but Zermatt has been way better for service when I needed to order.

I haven’t fondled a gap tempest, but I wouldn’t want to compare a 2 to 3 lug just because they are made in the same shop. Short story long, get the mack unless you envision going to a different bolt face.

This!
I really appreciate it. I feel like once I build that gun that's all it will stay so I don't see me doing a lot of caliber swapping.

 

[RFutch]

I thought about buying and Evo once. But after having several Origins I don’t think I’ll ever have another action without a mechanical ejector.

 

[Dough300]

I was going to get one, because I have only heard positive stuff about them. Cyber Monday hit and they had a Slingshot TI for 50% off so I jumped on it. I had already ordered a Mack Bros 762L .30 cal can though. Again only positive reviews. I would jump on the Vapor. The 762L has went up in price since I ordered and isn’t bin stock. Word is out on the Mack Bros and their products are leaving shelves from my observations. I would get the Vapor personally before that price rises too.

 

[Shoots 700's]

I would go Origin over the evo. I tried a friends evo and found it was really hard bolt lift and not as smooth as what i had heard. Wasn’t impressed

 

[Thesepaperwings]

So I've been running a Evo longer than most people and specifically in PRS. I've had absolutely no issues with it and it's definitely smoother than it was when I got it. I'm right at 2k and will absolutely be putting another barrel on it. I would recommend it over pretty much anything in the price range. Although I think the origin is a fantastic action, I think there are some other companies offering a more robust setup for similar pricing.

 

[RobertB]

I’ve got 22 of them! I am a fan! They have served me well. I’ve got a dozen defiances and a few others as well. I don’t see them holding you back at all. And you can do prefits for them as well!

 

[warnera1102]

I’ve got 22 of them! I am a fan! They have served me well. I’ve got a dozen defiances and a few others as well. I don’t see them holding you back at all. And you can do prefits for them as well!

Awesome
Who makes the prefits?

 

[doninreno]

Was looking for a Rem footprint action and then talked to the people at LRI in Sturgis (I have had probably 5 rifles done by them and have had NO ISUUES at all, so I trust what they say)... so wanted to put together another rifle and they suggested I try a MACK BROTHERS action and I bit! I ordered an Evo II Stainless .308 bolt face. It should be done in the next week or so and hand carried over to LRI (they are neighbors) for them to put a 7mm-08 Bartlein barrel that they re-chambered for me from a .284. ( I got tired of the LARGE gulps of powder that caliber used and also got tired of the recoil...not to mention that this barrel only had about 35 rounds through it as I had only recently done a barrel change) I'm looking forward to playing with that combination when I consider that BARTLEIN is pretty much a known quantity and I really want to see what I think of the MACK Brothers action. I know that they have been in business for a couple of decades producing stuff for a lot of well known brands, but they have "gone out on their own" in the last few years. I hear good stuff abut them and think that maybe they'll be like PORSCHE is right now some day, but are currently where Porsche was back in the day when they were building tractors! Fingers crossed!

 

[stello1001]

Bringing this thread back up. Now that Mack bros has been out and about for a few years, how are they holding up and how is everybody liking them?

I know at first, they were regarded as a decent prs budget entry option. Anybody have anything to share after having used a Mack brow for a while?

 

[Rocketmandb]

Bringing this thread back up. Now that Mack bros has been out and about for a few years, how are they holding up and how is everybody liking them?

I know at first, they were regarded as a decent prs budget entry option. Anybody have anything to share after having used a Mack brow for a while?

I know that my smith (Spartan Precision) is very high on them at the price point.

 

[Rio Precision Gunworks]

Very hard to beat them for the price.

 

[Shoots 700's]

I’m not going to get one With the coup de grace at 899.00,

 

[Terry Cross]

Don't be tempted to think this action is sub-par compared to others due to the low price point.
I think it is the most under-rated action in our market space.

I have about 10 in customer circulation with at least 7 of those being shot quite a bit.
They have been impressive and are showing no signs of trouble from any of the components.
It is honestly equaling or outperforming more popular and well known actions of a few fronts.

They run very smooth. MacBros has a good ration of bolt/receiver clearance dialed in.

Tool-less take down of the firing pin assembly with a bayonet style shroud release.

Very cool and novel design on locking the recoil lug rotation without pins.

True R700 footprint.

Utilizes a trigger hangar with good design.

AW cut in bottom of receiver.

Even though the receiver does not have an integrated recoil lug, the amount of tenon thread is on par with Surgeon/Defiance due to the design.

The absolute best extractor design in the market.

They are keeping headspace consistent enough to accommodate Pre-Fit support.

I keep seeing other people say they would prefer brand X over the Evo but I have not heard of or personally seen any issues at all from them so far.

.

 

[Supersubes]

Don't be tempted to think this action is sub-par compared to others due to the low price point.
I think it is the most under-rated action in our market space.

I have about 10 in customer circulation with at least 7 of those being shot quite a bit.
They have been impressive and are showing no signs of trouble from any of the components.
It is honestly equaling or outperforming more popular and well known actions of a few fronts.

They run very smooth. MacBros has a good ration of bolt/receiver clearance dialed in.

Tool-less take down of the firing pin assembly with a bayonet style shroud release.

Very cool and novel design on locking the recoil lug rotation without pins.

True R700 footprint.

Utilizes a trigger hangar with good design.

AW cut in bottom of receiver.

Even though the receiver does not have an integrated recoil lug, the amount of tenon thread is on par with Surgeon/Defiance due to the design.

The absolute best extractor design in the market.

They are keeping headspace consistent enough to accommodate Pre-Fit support.

I keep seeing other people say they would prefer brand X over the Evo but I have not heard of or personally seen any issues at all from them so far.

.

Couldn't have said it better. I dont hear the extractor design talked about enough either. I have a small handful of customer builds out there and they're loving them.

Some arent aware that they sell a range of hangars to tune the trigger to the action. Not as cool as the CDG, but cooler than no adjustment at all.

They also just released the Element, which sets the benchmark for economically priced ultra-light steel actions. I just got one in and its bitchin!

They seem to be doing a better job with production as well, ive been snagging them with ease.

Lastly, they’ll build complete rifles or barreled actions in house using in stock carbon or steel barrels or a barrel you send them.

 

[ohiofarmer]

@Terry Cross and @Supersubes , for those of us who haven’t used or had a Mack Bros in hand, what sets their M16-style apart from other M16-style ones in the market? I‘m thinking specifically Bat’s as I have a couple. Thanks

 

[Supersubes]

@Terry Cross and @Supersubes , for those of us who haven’t used or had a Mack Bros in hand, what sets their M16-style apart from other M16-style ones in the market? I‘m thinking specifically Bat’s as I have a couple. Thanks

Its really not an M16 style as most people know them. Straight up Accuracy international design. No pins, no springs, burly as shit, works flawlessly. Disassembles with a medium flat blade screwdriver. Im sure its happened, but ive never seen one fail. Perhaps Terry has.

AI bolt and extractor on the bottom, Mack Element on top

 

[ohiofarmer]

Thanks, @Supersubes. That explains it. Much appreciated and you can’t argue with the simplicity!

 

[stello1001]

So if talking budget builds, specifically to try and spec out a prs rifle, how would this compare to the other affordable lower cost options such as an aero, or maybe a CDG?

I'm starting to think about either buying a custom or just rebarreling my current Howa. I've only done 2 prs matches and know that I like it. But idk if I want to already go the custom route or keep using what I have for now. If I go custom, I'm looking at these budget friendly actions.

 

[shadydiesel]

A couple weeks ago I stopped in Mackbros to drop off parts for a buddy’s build and ended up hauling home a rifle to try out. Super good dudes, just finishing up barrel break in but so far so good!

 

[PRSDietitian]

So if talking budget builds, specifically to try and spec out a prs rifle, how would this compare to the other affordable lower cost options such as an aero, or maybe a CDG?

I'm starting to think about either buying a custom or just rebarreling my current Howa. I've only done 2 prs matches and know that I like it. But idk if I want to already go the custom route or keep using what I have for now. If I go custom, I'm looking at these budget friendly actions.

I want to know this too

 

[Ledzep]

I haven't had a stainless Evo yet but I had a titanium and it's the best Ti action I've personally seen so far. The Mack brothers are good people and run a top notch operation. The action is an extremely well-executed M700+ and worth every penny.

 

[LuvDog]

I keep thinking about buying one for my son (since they don't make al lefty version yet), but then he'll have a nicer rifle than me. LOL

 

[5RWill]

Terry pretty much summed it up. I haven’t used one but have owned a tempest since its origin and have never had an issue. But i got to fondle an evo at DST years ago and it is one of the smoothest 700 clones I’ve ever laid hands on. Much like my tempest. I should have at the time built my hunting rifle on one instead of an impact. My cousin is guiding a 7prc on one. I wouldn’t hesitate to go with anything machined by Mac bros. They’re top notch. The price is only a huge added bonus to their actions.

 

[Hunt]

It'd be great if they offered them in left-hand config.

 

[LuvDog]

It'd be great if they offered them in left-hand config.

I've emailed them about it before.

A couple of years ago, they thought they were going to be able to introduce a lefty version, but then the world went crazy so it got delayed.

I emailed them again last week and they said to check back again in 6 months. Demand is so high right now that they just want to keep quality up and keep up with demand

 

[Hunt]

I've emailed them about it before.

A couple of years ago, they thought they were going to be able to introduce a lefty version, but then the world went crazy so it got delayed.

I emailed them again last week and they said to check back again in 6 months. Demand is so high right now that they just want to keep quality up and keep up with demand

Thanks for this. If they had 'em, I'd order one.