Post by AKService on Oct 21, 2004 18:47:22 GMT -5
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE NFA FULL AUTO FIREARM, AND NOT THE SEMI-AUTO VARIENTS. It was placed in the handgun critique area due to its size and stature.
Par norm, lets begin with the pros and cons of this firearm.
Pros
1) High cyclic rate of fire
2) Plenty of accessories
3) Threaded to accept silencers or other devices
4) Folding stock fits neatly to frame for storage
5) Select fire
6) Easy to maintain and field strip
7) Original MAC guns are reliable
8) Takes reliable and easily converted grease gun magazines
Cons
1) High cyclic rate of fire (I will explain later why this is on both pros and cons)
2) With standard in the box accessories it not ergonomic to shoot
3) Large grip
You may have noticed that I have placed the high cyclic rate in both the pros and cons.... let me explain why. This gun is a firecracker with a cyclic rate of 1100 or so rounds per minute. With a rate that high, one can easily dump a 30 round clip in 2.3 seconds. There are several advantages and disadvantages to this ROF. With a higher cyclic rate, one has to reload more often, and this could be a problem in a combat type situation. Now, if you are room clearing you may find that a higher rate of fire will allow you a decisive advantage over any targets. Tit for tat so to speak, and I personally like the high cyclic rate as it really makes people turn when you fire it. The gun fires from an open bolt and is operated via blowback design which may contribute to the high ROF.
When Ingram first developed the MAC 10, he chambered it in the 9mm, then slighly later in the .45ACP. His original designs were very reliable and are easily dissasembled for maintenance by removing a pin. Ingram seems to have chosen the idealogy that simplicity equals reliabity. Upon inspecting the internals of the firearm you see that there really isn't a whole lot internally to clean. The firearm breaks down into a lower and upper reciever. The lower reciever contains the trigger group, stock, sear, and rear sight. The upper assembly holds the front sight, bolt with cocking knob and barrel. Within the frame and bolt of the gun there are plenty of purposely made dirt collection points so as add to the reliabilty of the gun.
The finish on the gun is parkerized, with the exception of the blued barrel. Parkerized finishes naturally hold oil better are quite durable. All markings are clear and well done.
Firing this gun with anything less than two hands is NOT advisable. The powerful .45 cartridge makes the rise uncontrollable without both hands. While you can shoot without the stock with the proper two handed accessories, you will find the gun much more controllable with it extended. The stock itself is nothing more than a steel wire that is bent and hinged to allow for concealment when collapsed. Some people do not like the original stock and replace it. I find that the stock serves its intended purpose well and is much easier to use manipulate than those found on Sterlings and such.
The gun has two safeties. One safety is located near the trigger and is pushed forward by the shooting finger while the other is used by turning the cocking handle in either direction. Let me state something about safety, especially since this is a FULL AUTO firearm that fires from an open bolt position. The safest way to keep this firearm safe is with the bolt closed, and a magazine out. With the bolt back, a simple press of the trigger the bolt moves forward and strikes the primer. The bolt of the gun has the firing pin forged into it so there is firing pin safety.
There are plenty of accessories available from companies such as Cobray to include barrel extensions(which help to extend the length and controllability), fake silencers, forward grips (better than the cloth swinging front grip), stocks, and upper recievers which change the cocking handle position and sight picture.
There are a plethora of magazines (50 rounders are out there..) available which are usually modified grease gun magazines. You can even convert your gun to accept unmodified magazines. With the addition of a silencer the firearm can be shot without hearing protection, and they are available from such companies as Gem-Tech, AAC, and Tactical Innovations. A recoil buffer (if one is not included with the firearm) is a wise investment and keeps the bolt from striking the back of the upper reciver, which is simply welded into place... NUFF' SAID!
To operate one has to simply insert a magazine, then pull the cocking handle backwards into its cocked and ready position. You can either select semi auto or full auto and a pull of the trigger releases the bolt. I don't mention accuracy much (which it actually is surprisingly accurate) due to the fact that sub machine guns have the intended purpose of suppression or room clearing. Accuracy isn't as crucial in these rolls as it is with other types of firearms.
All in all the Ingram MAC 10 is a wonderful first NFA firearm to own if you can afford the price. Simplicity and reliability are common throughout this firearm and make it a wonderful addition to any NFA collection.
Par norm, lets begin with the pros and cons of this firearm.
Pros
1) High cyclic rate of fire
2) Plenty of accessories
3) Threaded to accept silencers or other devices
4) Folding stock fits neatly to frame for storage
5) Select fire
6) Easy to maintain and field strip
7) Original MAC guns are reliable
8) Takes reliable and easily converted grease gun magazines
Cons
1) High cyclic rate of fire (I will explain later why this is on both pros and cons)
2) With standard in the box accessories it not ergonomic to shoot
3) Large grip
You may have noticed that I have placed the high cyclic rate in both the pros and cons.... let me explain why. This gun is a firecracker with a cyclic rate of 1100 or so rounds per minute. With a rate that high, one can easily dump a 30 round clip in 2.3 seconds. There are several advantages and disadvantages to this ROF. With a higher cyclic rate, one has to reload more often, and this could be a problem in a combat type situation. Now, if you are room clearing you may find that a higher rate of fire will allow you a decisive advantage over any targets. Tit for tat so to speak, and I personally like the high cyclic rate as it really makes people turn when you fire it. The gun fires from an open bolt and is operated via blowback design which may contribute to the high ROF.
When Ingram first developed the MAC 10, he chambered it in the 9mm, then slighly later in the .45ACP. His original designs were very reliable and are easily dissasembled for maintenance by removing a pin. Ingram seems to have chosen the idealogy that simplicity equals reliabity. Upon inspecting the internals of the firearm you see that there really isn't a whole lot internally to clean. The firearm breaks down into a lower and upper reciever. The lower reciever contains the trigger group, stock, sear, and rear sight. The upper assembly holds the front sight, bolt with cocking knob and barrel. Within the frame and bolt of the gun there are plenty of purposely made dirt collection points so as add to the reliabilty of the gun.
The finish on the gun is parkerized, with the exception of the blued barrel. Parkerized finishes naturally hold oil better are quite durable. All markings are clear and well done.
Firing this gun with anything less than two hands is NOT advisable. The powerful .45 cartridge makes the rise uncontrollable without both hands. While you can shoot without the stock with the proper two handed accessories, you will find the gun much more controllable with it extended. The stock itself is nothing more than a steel wire that is bent and hinged to allow for concealment when collapsed. Some people do not like the original stock and replace it. I find that the stock serves its intended purpose well and is much easier to use manipulate than those found on Sterlings and such.
The gun has two safeties. One safety is located near the trigger and is pushed forward by the shooting finger while the other is used by turning the cocking handle in either direction. Let me state something about safety, especially since this is a FULL AUTO firearm that fires from an open bolt position. The safest way to keep this firearm safe is with the bolt closed, and a magazine out. With the bolt back, a simple press of the trigger the bolt moves forward and strikes the primer. The bolt of the gun has the firing pin forged into it so there is firing pin safety.
There are plenty of accessories available from companies such as Cobray to include barrel extensions(which help to extend the length and controllability), fake silencers, forward grips (better than the cloth swinging front grip), stocks, and upper recievers which change the cocking handle position and sight picture.
There are a plethora of magazines (50 rounders are out there..) available which are usually modified grease gun magazines. You can even convert your gun to accept unmodified magazines. With the addition of a silencer the firearm can be shot without hearing protection, and they are available from such companies as Gem-Tech, AAC, and Tactical Innovations. A recoil buffer (if one is not included with the firearm) is a wise investment and keeps the bolt from striking the back of the upper reciver, which is simply welded into place... NUFF' SAID!
To operate one has to simply insert a magazine, then pull the cocking handle backwards into its cocked and ready position. You can either select semi auto or full auto and a pull of the trigger releases the bolt. I don't mention accuracy much (which it actually is surprisingly accurate) due to the fact that sub machine guns have the intended purpose of suppression or room clearing. Accuracy isn't as crucial in these rolls as it is with other types of firearms.
All in all the Ingram MAC 10 is a wonderful first NFA firearm to own if you can afford the price. Simplicity and reliability are common throughout this firearm and make it a wonderful addition to any NFA collection.
