Ammunition

Why is surplus 5.56 and 7.62 ammo discolored around the neck? Is it bad?

I was asked this question just the other day and the short answer is no – it’s just fine. The reason it is discolored is that the brass is annealed in that area. This means the brass is heated and allowed to cool to remove stresses when it is being formed. If you’ve ever heated up a metal really hot with a blow torch, you may have seen it change color.

The brass is annealed right around where the neck is formed. The brass is discolored from the heat. This is 5.56 M855 ammo as I am sure some of you already know from the green tip.

Want to know the funny part? All ammo that is necked down is annealed in that area.

Commercial ammo is polished to be nice and shiny as buyers think that discoloration means it is defective or cheap. Military inspectors want the discoloration there so they know the cases were properly annealed during forming and aren’t going to crack.

Removing a process step should lower the cost and thus the price — but who knows how effective governments really are at negotiating pricing.

Summary

I shoot a lot of surplus 5.56 NATO ammo and find it just fine for my needs at the range. I don’t shoot it in my target rifles but it’s very cost effective otherwise.

If you’ve been on the fence because of that discoloration, don’t be. It’s just fine. The ammo is just fine — assuming it is a reputable brand and vendor of course.

I hope this helps you out.

Note, I have to buy all of my parts – nothing here was paid for by sponsors, etc. I do make a small amount if you click on an ad and buy something but that is it. You’re getting my real opinion on stuff.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Ammunition, Firearms

Winchester is buying the assets of Ammo Inc.

Olin Corporation, who owns Winchester, annoinced they are buying Ammo Inc for $75 million on 1/21/25. The assets will become part of Winchester.

Apparently it is the brass shell case capabilties and 185,000 square foot production facility in Manitowoc, WI constructued in 2022.

At any rate, the whole press, release is here. I shot a few cases of Ammo Inc’s 10mm TMC ammo some years back and found it decent. They own Gunbroker so maybe they are going to focus more on that now.

I did see one comment that Ammo Inc has to restate their financials due to some problems with the accounting. Click here.

Glocks

Installing a Overwatch Poly DAT Trigger and Vickers Tactical Slide Stop in My SCT17 Pistols

Well, I bought SCT17 frames to move my Polymer80 builds over to so they could have serial numbers and be tracked. The SCT 17 frames are nicely designed and molded so kudos there. I bought assembled/populated frames and wished I hadn’t. I have always changed the mag lock, slide stop and slide lock controls on a Glock because they are too small for me. The SCT triggers were pretty crude too – I did not like the feel of the shoe or the pull so I did some reading and changed the components out.

I found the SCT17 frames to be nicely done. I was surprised that even though they have the Glock grip angle I found them comfortable. One of my big reasons for using the Polymer80 frames was the angle felt better for me. It may be the straight wall design of the handle but the SCT17 feels good. I wear an XL glove and my pinky is right at the bottom of the grip so I knew I would need to add a flare both to have a shelf and to aid in mag feeding.
Glockish small slide lock, very flush slide lock, the mag catch barely sticks out, and the trigger shoe is rounded with a heavy long pull … they all needed to be replaced. If you like stock Glock stuff, great. I don’t.

Now, my original plan was to simply move the internals of my Polymer80s to the SCT frames. The problem I was running into was that none of my triggers just moved over – the slide was hanging up big time. I’m not a Glock guru and I read some about bending the cruciform at the back and finally decided screw it – I’d just buy new triggers.

I did some digging and guys reported the Overwatch Drop-In Poly-DAT triggers did just that – they went right in with no tweaking. Huh? Basically they designed an affordable trigger that should fit most Glocks based on their experience. It cuts pre-travel by about 20%, had their NP3 treated their Minus connector, and their exra power return spring but with an OEM trigger housing.

Okay, it was just before Christmas and I scored three of the Overwatch Precision Drop In PolyDAT triggers for $79.99/ea. I also picked up new Vickers Tactical Slide Stops for $21.56 and decided to also get new Strike Industries pins for $9.99 fom Primary Arms. My slide stops and pins were pretty beat up and I figured I’d go with new ones.

For the extended mag catches, I did just move the Vickers units over from the Polymer80s to the SCT17s.

Pics or it didn’t happen

Well, here are the controls so to speak. The SCT came populated because I got a great deal and figured I’d see if I liked them. I did not. The top is the SCT17 frame. The slide stop, lock and mag catch are all too short for me. The rounded trigger shoe and gritty trigger were pretty bad even by Glock-clone standards. The Polymer80 frame below has an extended slide lock, stop and magazine release plus a decent trigger. I don’t recall who now – Zev maybe. I had hope to move them all over but the trigger was a no-go.
This was a Zev G34 clone. Boy it shot nice but I wanted it on a serilized frame. (Note, I used a photo editor to remove the serial numbers from the paperwork.)
Another G34-ish clone with a Tyrant CNC compensator. The trigger might be an Overwatch Precision but no idea of the model.
Taking this Polymer80 apart made me sad. It was my last and the best one I made. It was their Compact Long model with a G17 slide on a G19 body. Boy, that was a smooth shooting pistol. I moved the upper over to a full size SCT17 frame. Pretty sure it was a Zev Fulcrum trigger.
This is the Overwatch Precision PolyDAT dropin trigger for Glocks. I wasn’t sure how I would like the polymer shoe but it feels just fine. The broad flat face of it makes for a nice feel.
Here’s the other side.
There are a boatload of videos and pages about how to change Glock triggers. I want to point out one one often overlooked relationship that causes guys to brake out a hammer and punch unnecessarily. The grooved pin at the top is the hammer pin. The thing at the bottom is the slide stop. The hammer pin is not pressed into the frame very hard at all yet guys go banging on it with a pin punch to get it out. That’s not remotely needed. What is happening is the slide stop does dual duty to hold the hammer pin in place.
That spring pushes againt the locking block pin and pushes the slide stop down. This photo doesn’t show it because the pin is resting in the slide stop on my bench but when installed, the top of the slide lock pin hole is pushed down into the groove in the hammer pin thus locking it in place. Want to remove your hammer pin super easy? Lift the slide stop with one hand and press the hammer pin out with what ever pin removal tool you use in the other hand – done.
SCT makes a mag well flare that is absolutely worth it. It just snaps in place. It’s polymer and I wish it was aluminum but it is what it is.
Here they are with the extended controls and new triggers plus the SCT 17 mag wells.

Trigger Results

Average trigger pull weights for each pistol were 3# 11.7 oz, 3# 13.7oz and 4# 8.5oz. The triggers were lubricated and tested maybe 10-20 times each max. Pull testing was done using five sample pulls from each with care taken to postion the Wheeler digital gauge in the same place each time. The pistols were on a bench also to try and aid consistency.

Overall, the they feel much, much better with the Overwatch triggers – less travel and not gritty. I’d give them a 7 out of 10 and have no hesitation recommending them to someone looking for a very cost effective trigger improvement. If you have an SCT17 and want something that literally drops in – try this. I had to do zero tuning and would do it again.

Summary

I’m happy with the results. I need to get them to the range but they all function test fine.

I hope this helps you out.

Note, I have to buy all of my parts – nothing here was paid for by sponsors, etc. I do make a small amount if you click on an ad and buy something but that is it. You’re getting my real opinion on stuff.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Air & C02 Rifles and Pistols

Bought A 1.1L/67 Cu ft 4500 PSI Carbon Fiber Tuxing Air Tank and Owfeel M18x1.5 Valve

In June 2024, I realized I needed another small tank to top off airguns. I’d sold my Omega to a friend because I had a big bottle and the problem was I had a big bottle (a 6.8L Air Marksman Tank) … It takes a lot more work to whip that out just to top something off. So, I did some digging and decided to buy a small 1.1L/67 Cu In carbon fiber Tuxing air tank off Amazon.

The Tuxing air tank is gorgeous. It has a dark rich glossy carbon fiber look to it. To be honest, it looks far better than I thought it would. My Air Marksman tank is butt ugly in comparison.

Tuxing is a brand made by the Chinese company Xiamen Subang Technology Co. Ltd., that makes a lot of different products for the High Pressure Air (HPA) and Precharged Pneumatic (PCP) airgun market.

I was a little leery of 4500 PSI in a tank that wasn’t US Department of Transportation (DOT) certified but did some digging and they are “CE” certified for use in the European Union (EU) and also “EN” certified as a storage tank for the EU.

From a safety perspective, the EU certification coupled with good reviews, made me feel safe enough to proceed. Note, since the Tuxing tanks are not DOT certified, I knew I would not be able to get them refilled commercially but since I fill my own tanks I wasn”t worried about it.

I do pay attention to service life though and replace tanks before 10 years pass. Technically, I am supposed to have tanks tested evey 3 years but haven’t been as diligent about that with my PCP tanks as I was with my old SCUBA tanks when I was a diver back in the ancient era of the 1980s and 90s.

Owfeel M18x1.5 DIN Valve

The Tuxing tank is just the bottle and it is threaded for a M18x1.5mm valve. I did some reading and decided to get an Owfeel unit, which is very affordable off Amazon.

Here is a close up of the Tuxing bottle and the Owfeel regulator.

Assembly of the Owfeel Valve and Tuxing Air Tank

To assembly, lightly coat threads and O-rings with silicone o-ring grease (never use a petroleum product). I use SuperLube’s O-Ring Silicone Grease. The valve is threaded down hand tight onto the tank. The whip for the fill hose can be threaded in and snugged with a wrench.

I put a thin film of SuperLube’s Silicone O-ring grease on the threads. NEVER use petroleum grease in high pressure air situations.
Next up was to do a test fill.

Testing

What I do is to put about 100-200 pounds of air in a tank. The exact amount depends on the lines on the pressure valve. I fill to that point and let it sit to see if the pressure holds.

Never run your fingers/hands over high pressure air lines directly touching them feeling for leaks. At high pressures, you risk injecting air into your blood and having an embolism. Instead, use your gauge and watch the pressure. If there is a leak, read more down below about testing. If the leak is in the wall of the tank or the valve body, it is defective and must be replaced.

Start incrementally increasing the air pressure 500 PSI at a time. At each stopping point, make note of where the indicator is on the gauge, wait 10-15 minutes and see if the pressure leaks down. Fill, wait and watch. Over and over until you reach the maximum pressure.

When you hit the maximum pressure, let it sit and check it at 30 minutes, 60 minutes and then at two hours. It should be holding pressure.

I filled my tank with my GX CS4 compressor and the pressure held. No problems at all. Just remember, the number one source of air leaks are the quick connects. Simply moving them to evenly distribute the load on the seal may fix the leak or you may need to replace the fitting. Any fitting that has problems I replace with an Air Venturi brand fitting. Why Air Venturi? Because they are who I picked years ago after doing some reading and I have never had a problem.

If you have a leak

If you detect a leak, spritz soapy water at the quick connects first – they are the most common leak. If leaking, try repositioning. If it is still leaking, drain the air and replace the fitting.

If still leaking, next check the o-rings where the hose goes into the valve and where the valve goes into the tank. If either leaks, let out the air, is one loose? Do you just need to snug it up? If the connections are solid, then the o-ring may be bad and need to be replaced, try that.

Storage Bag

I wanted a case to put the unit in a case and realized an oxygen bottle bag would work great. The one I bought is an iGuerburn size D oxygen tank backpack from Amazon.

This is my Tuxing 1.1L tank and Owfeel valve inside an iGuerburn Size D bag.

Summary

The Tuxing air tank and Owfeel valve make a good affordable compact combination. The unit is small, light and easily fit in the iGuerburn Size D oxygen tank bag I use to both store and move it around in.

I hope this helps you out.

Click here if you would like to visit the Tuxing store on Amazon.

Click here for their air tanks.

Note, I have to buy all of my parts – nothing here was paid for by sponsors, etc. I do make a small amount if you click on an ad and buy something but that is it. You’re getting my real opinion on stuff.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Firearms, Military

Sentiment Analysis of Palmetto State Armory

Okay, I am a fan of Palmetto State Armory (PSA) overall and have built a ton of kits and owned firearms made by them. I’ve had some bad or missing parts over the years and they made them right. I’ve also bought a ton of third party stuff off their website because they can have some amazing deals. So, that’s my take but I know people have had a variety of experiences. What does a sentiment analysis (SA) of social media excluding vendor posts tell us?

The following is output from the SA tool:

Sentiment Analysis of Palmetto State Armory (PSA) on Social Media

Overall Sentiment: Mixed, with a tendency towards positive.

Positive:

  • Affordability: Many users praise PSA for offering firearms and accessories at competitive prices, making them accessible to a wider range of customers.
  • Value for Money: The combination of price and perceived quality leads many to believe PSA products offer excellent value.
  • Customer Service: While there are negative experiences, a significant number of users report positive interactions with customer service, citing helpfulness and responsiveness.
  • Product Variety: PSA is recognized for its wide selection of firearms, parts, and accessories, catering to diverse needs and preferences.
  • Community Engagement: PSA actively engages with its online community through contests, giveaways, and responses to comments, fostering a sense of loyalty and connection.

Negative:

  • Quality Control: A recurring concern is inconsistent quality control, with some users reporting issues with their purchases, requiring returns or repairs.
  • Shipping Times: Occasional complaints about slow or delayed shipping, particularly during peak seasons or sales events.
  • Website Issues: Some users experience difficulties navigating the website or completing online orders.
  • Customer Service (Inconsistency): While some have positive experiences, others report difficulties reaching customer service or resolving issues effectively.
  • Negative Association: Due to the nature of the products, PSA sometimes attracts negative attention from individuals or groups opposed to firearms, which can influence the overall sentiment.

Key Insights:

  • Price-conscious gun owners: PSA’s strong appeal lies in its affordability, making it popular among budget-minded enthusiasts.
  • Active online community: PSA cultivates a loyal following through social media engagement and interaction.
  • Quality control perception: While many are satisfied, the issue of quality control remains a concern for some potential customers.
  • Customer service variability: Improving the consistency of customer service experiences could significantly enhance overall sentiment.

Overall:

Despite some negative feedback, the sentiment towards Palmetto State Armory on social media is generally positive, driven by affordability, value, and community engagement. Addressing concerns about quality control and customer service consistency could further improve their reputation and strengthen customer relationships.

Disclaimer: This sentiment analysis is based on a general assessment of publicly available social media posts and may not reflect the complete picture. Individual experiences and opinions can vary widely.

Summary

So now you have the sentiment analysis. My take is that I like Palmetto State Armory and recommend them to folks wanting to either build or buy firearms with an emphasis on affordability. Their quality is middle of the road or better and that’s what I expect. I don’t try to compare them to HK, Daniel Defense, LMT, etc. Those companies are tailoring their product offerings to different markets with deeper pockets.

I hope this helps you out.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Firearms

Sentiment Analysis of Zenith Firearms

Up until recently, if I wanted to tell you the general opinion of some company or product, I would either write about my own take, maybe factor in comments from a few friends, articles I have read or maybe even skim a few newsgroups. Well, there is another option now. There is a method known as “Sentiment Analysis” wherein you use a tool that can skim countless posts and return an overview of the “sentiment” or categorized opinions about a topic, product, company, etc. They are pretty cool and while I have access to them at work, I didn’t have one I could afford for the blog until now and guess what? I am a donkey on the edge and not afraid to use it and share the results.

So here is my first sentiment analysis of Zenith Firearms. The analysis looks at social media and excludes vendor posts. Here’s what we get:

You’re right, it’s important to look beyond curated marketing materials and see what real users are saying. Here’s a refined sentiment analysis of Zenith Firearms based on social media, excluding vendor posts:

Positive Sentiment:

  • Forums and Enthusiast Groups: Places like Reddit (r/MP5, r/GunPorn, r/NFA), AR15.com, and dedicated firearm forums show a strong positive sentiment. Users frequently praise Zenith’s:
    • Accuracy and Reliability: Many share their experiences with tight groupings and flawless operation, often comparing favorably to original HKs.
    • Authenticity: The “clone correct” aspect is a big plus for many, with detailed comparisons and appreciation for staying true to the MP5 design.
    • Customer Service: While less frequent, positive interactions with Zenith’s customer service are mentioned, especially regarding warranty issues or questions.
  • Social Media Platforms:
    • YouTube: Videos from independent reviewers and enthusiasts generally echo the forum sentiment. Accuracy tests, comparisons, and build quality overviews are common, usually with positive conclusions.
    • Instagram: Photos and short videos often showcase Zenith firearms in use, with comments reflecting pride of ownership and positive experiences.

Negative Sentiment:

While less prevalent, some criticisms do appear:

  • Price: This remains a common concern, especially compared to other clones or pistol caliber carbine (PCC) options.
  • Availability: Frustration with limited stock and long wait times is occasionally voiced.
  • Quality Control: While generally positive, isolated reports of minor issues (e.g., finish blemishes, canted sights) do exist. It’s important to note these seem infrequent compared to the volume of positive feedback.
  • “Elitism” perception: A small segment perceives Zenith owners as elitist or “fanboys” due to the brand’s premium pricing and association with the MP5 platform. This is more about brand perception than the firearms themselves.

Important Notes:

  • Filtering Vendor Posts: Identifying and excluding vendor-influenced posts (ads, sponsored content) is crucial for an unbiased view.
  • Subjectivity: Sentiment analysis on social media is inherently subjective. Enthusiast communities may have inherent biases.
  • Context Matters: Individual negative comments should be weighed against the overall volume of positive feedback and the specifics of the complaint.

Overall (this is from the tool):

Even after considering social media and filtering out vendor posts, the sentiment towards Zenith Firearms remains largely positive. They have a strong reputation for producing high-quality, accurate, and reliable firearms that appeal to MP5 enthusiasts and discerning gun owners. While price and availability are recurring concerns, the overall feedback suggests that many consider Zenith’s offerings worth the investment.

Summary

That is pretty impressive and it seems to generally agree with what I have read. I like Zenith Firearms in general but don’t consider myself a fanboy. For example, I was excited when I heard they were doing their own trigger packs with machined sidewalls vs. bent sheet metal because they said the resulting triggers would be so much better. The reality was a “meh” trigger that didn’t impress me and was replaced with a Timney. Other than that though, my Zenith ZF5-P is a nice weapon and has had great reliability so far.

At any rate, I will start sharing more of these so you can get more of an “overall view” of what folks are saying on forums, redit, etc.

I hope this helps you out.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Firearms

What is the history of Zenith Firearms – the makers of roller-lock firearms

Zenith Firearms was founded in Afton, Virginia by Hanri and Kutlay Kaya. Hanri is the CEO and was originally from South Africa, Hanri met her husband Kutlay in the US. Her background wasn’t initially in firearms, but in international trade, which proved crucial to Zenith’s success.

Kutlay Kaya: An engineer from Turkey, Kutlay brought his knowledge of Turkish manufacturing and his connections in Turkey to the business.

Here’s a breakdown of their history:

  • Zenith Quest International (ZQI) Ammunition was founded in 2010 – Zenith Firearms Inc (ZFI) was not their first business venture. The couple had been importing other products from Turkey and were approached by Walmart to import ammunition during the 2012 ammo shortage from MKEK (Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu – “Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation”), a Turkish government-owned defense company that became the joint stock company MKE in 2021. That’s why you might recall seeing “ZQI” ammunition at Walmart back in the day.
  • In 2014, they structured their entities such that Zenith Quest Corporation (ZQC) was the holding company for both ZQI and ZFI. ZNT is Zenith Global that operates in Turkey.

The MKE Partnership (2014-2017):

  • MKE (Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation): This Turkish state-owned arms manufacturer has a long history, dating back to the Ottoman Empire. They’re known for producing a wide range of military equipment, including licensed copies of Heckler & Koch firearms like the G3 rifle and the MP5 submachine gun. The key here is that they were licensed and had the tooling, plans, etc. MKE was trained by HK back in the day to make these weapons so they had, and continue to have, deep knowledge about the designs. I own an MKE AP5-P, which is an HK MP5K clone, and it is very nicely done for example.
  • Zenith’s Role: Zenith Firearms became the exclusive importer of MKE’s MP5 clones for the US civilian market. They offered several variants, including pistols, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), and full-sized rifles.
  • Why it Worked: This partnership was initially successful because:
    • High Quality: MKE’s MP5s were known for their quality and faithfulness to the original HK design. Again, they were a licensed manufacturer.
    • Affordability: They were significantly cheaper than genuine HK MP5s, which were often prohibitively expensive for many buyers.
    • Strong Demand: There was a large, untapped market of enthusiasts and shooters who wanted an MP5 but couldn’t afford an HK.

Zenith’s Pivot to US Manufacturing (2017-Present):

  • Reasons for the Change: Several factors likely contributed to Zenith’s decision to manufacture in the US:
    • Relationship Rift: Due to a variety of factors, MKE and Zenith grew apart. Repeated promises of firearms shipping were missed, monies owed were not paid and finally there was a suit by MKE alleging trade secret theft that they lost. MKE wound up moving to Century Firearms to import their firearms.
    • Increased Control: Domestic production gave Zenith greater control over quality, production timelines, and product development.
    • “Buy American” Sentiment: Appealing to customers who prefer American-made products. In the HK-community this can actually be a con as well as some die hard HK advocates argue that only HK can make an HK-type weapon.
    • Potential Trade Issues: Relying on imports can be risky due to changing trade policies and international relations. There were, and continue to be, issues between the US and Turkey when it comes to trade.
  • The ZF-5: Zenith’s American-made MP5. They invested in tooling and machinery to produce these firearms in-house. They even made some improvements to the design, such as using a proprietary heat-treated barrel steel.
  • Expanding Product Line: Zenith has also introduced other roller-delayed firearms, like the Z-5RS, inspired by the HK53.

Summary

Zenith Fireams has a relatively short but lively history with entrepreneurship, politics and a drive to succeed on the parts of the founders. I’ve ordered direct from them a number of times and have found them great to deal with as a consumer. If you are looking for a roller locked firearm, take a look at what they have to offer.

I hope you find this interesting.

For More Information

Note, I have to buy all of my parts – nothing here was paid for by sponsors, etc. I do make a small amount if you click on an ad and buy something but that is it. You’re getting my real opinion on stuff.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Firearms

Are the MAC MP5 clones made by the same company that made the iconic MAC-10 and MAC-11 SMGs?

When I saw a MAC MP5 clone listed on a firearm website it immediately caught my eye mainly because of three key letters – “MAC”. When many folks see “MAC”, including me, they think Military Armaments Corporation and the iconic MAC-10 and MAC-11 submachine guns. But where did “MAC” come from? Had someone bought the brand or what? In typical firearm industry fashion, the brands are related by name but not by birth … at least that’s how I’m going to put it and let me explain why.

The Original Military Armaments Corporation (MAC)

The original MAC was founded in 1970 by engineer Gordon Ingram and businessman Mitchell WerBell III. MAC is best known for its iconic submachine guns (SMGs): the MAC-10 and MAC-11 that were featured in countless movies, TV series and video games.

The MAC SMGs were designed for military and law enforcement, these compact firearms quickly gained a reputation for their high rate of fire, affordability, and ease of concealment. While originally intended for professional use, their popularity soon extended to the civilian market.

Let’s sketch out a timeline:

  • 1969: Gordon Ingram joins SIONICS as Chief Engineer.
  • 1970: Ingram designs the original MAC-10 prototype.
  • 1970s: MAC manufactures and markets the MAC-10 and MAC-11, primarily to the military and law enforcement.
  • 1973: Production stopped due to internal politics
  • 1975: Financial problems worsened including failure to pay creditors and filed for brankruptcy
  • 1976: Bankruptcy sale of MAC assets including weapon and parts inventories (with some ATF-prohibited exceptions) and tooling

After that, various companies, including RPB, SWD and Cobray, manufactured versions of the MAC-10 and MAC-11. The MAC brand name kind of faded away and maybe for many reasons despite the iconic SMGs – the company failed, association with criminals, relatively low quality firearms, …. probably some combination but the MAC brand did die.

The Current Fate of the MAC Brand

As I’ve mentioned before, companies come and go but well known brands live on. Now MAC is an interesting case so someone email me if I am wrong because I am trying to string together nuggets of what I can find.

Let’s start with some background on the current owner – SDS Arms was founded in 2017 and is located in Knoxville, TN, and helps bring foreign firearms to the US market. Until October 2024, most us knew them as “SDS Imports” and the name change, according to them, was to better connect with their customers.

SDS Arms has a bevy of brands they import. The list includes: Tisas USA, Tokarev USA, Spandau Arms, Inglis Manufacturing and now, MAC.

In 2017, SDS revived the MAC name. They didn’t buy it from another firm – it would seem the MAC brand had fallen between the cracks in the industry brand ownership fabric and so SDS scooped it up. Well played SDS.

SDS has begun importing a number of firearms under the MAC brand name. The ones that caught my eye and caused me to want to find out more were the MAC-5 (MP5-clone) and the MAC-5K (MP5K-clone).

A quick comment on those two HK clones – they are made in Turkey but I think they are made by Mertsav. Interestingly, Mertsav is a subcontractor to MKE where they probably learned what they needed to know to pull this off.

Now who makes all of the parts that Mertsav is assembling from, that I do not know. There’s a lot of conjecture and not many facts. People seem to think that at least some of the components are from MKE while Mertsav builds up its capabilties.

In terms of MAC overall, they are importing a number of firearms including double stack 1911s, shotguns that look like Benelli M4 clones and more.

Summary

So, the MAC brand lives having been resucitated by SDS Arms. The MP5 and MP5K clones are being made Mertsav in Turkey and imported here. MAC is also selling other firearms as well.

I hope this helps you out.

The MP5 icon was downloaded from Wikimedia.

Note, I have to buy all of my parts – nothing here was paid for by sponsors, etc. I do make a small amount if you click on an ad and buy something but that is it. You’re getting my real opinion on stuff.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

When Strength and Quality Matter Most