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Mack Bros Experience

warnera1102

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 25, 2020
325
160
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.
 
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.
 
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I didn't think Mack had a lefty version yet
 
@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.
 
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.
 
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I appreacite the information. I think the Criterion will treat me well and NSS has a 6GT barrel so thats even better.
 
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.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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!
 
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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?
 
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!
 
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