Have you heard of the MCK Conversion Kit before? Some of you may be familiar with the MCK, and some of you may be wondering what the heck is that?
This cool little device was created by CAA (Commander Arms Accessories) and has been around for a while. It allows you to quickly transform your handgun into a sub-gun style firearm or SBR depending on which option you choose.
I first used an MCK Conversion Kit several years ago when a buddy of mine brought one to the range. At first, I thought it was a cool range toy, but nothing more.
Of course, my opinion changed once I ran a few drills.
We will go over the specifics of the MCK and how to use it shortly. But what I really want to focus on first is the question most people are probably asking: What’s the point of a conversion kit?
For me, there are three main benefits you get from using the MCK Conversion Kit. I’m sure others will have different reasons to like or not like it, but that’s ok. Sharing ideas, opinions, and experiences is how we all learn, right?
So, here are the three things I’ve found to be helpful when utilizing the MCK Conversion Kit.
Three Benefits of the MCK Conversion Kit
As I mentioned above, there are probably many benefits for the MCK that I have not mentioned in this article.
As I’ve used the MCK over the past few years, I’ve found three things that stood out to me. They are: better accuracy, extra ammo, and accessories you may not have on your handgun.
1. Better accuracy
The never-ending problem with self-defense firearms is accuracy vs convenience & practicality. Rifles are more accurate, but handguns are easier to carry and conceal. It’s just not practical to carry around a rifle, at least most of the time.
One of my instructors back in the police academy was a tough old man who reminded you of a drill sergeant. He was a use of force instructor with real-world experience, not something you always get.
One thing he always used to say was, “Take a handgun to a knife fight, take a rifle to a gun fight.” This is because a rifle is much more accurate, more controllable, and holds more ammo.
We carry handguns because they are convenient, but a rifle will outshoot a handgun any day of the week. And I’m not just talking about caliber and ballistics. I’m talking about speed, accuracy, and control.
When you combine your handgun with the MCK conversion kit, you gain those three things.
All it took was one day at the range to get my attention. I’m not saying it’s a replacement for a rifle, but it’s a great upgrade from a pistol. And the MCK conversion kit is easier to carry around than a rifle in some cases. This allows me to carry my Glock handgun concealed, while keeping the MCK close by in case I need it.
On the range, I was able to shoot more accurately and faster, at further distances (more about that below). Because the MCK has a full Picatinny rail on top, you can also use any type of optic you want.
Vortex provided their new 2 MOA Green Dot for the review, so a shout out to them for the great optic. It turned out to be a great combination with the MCK conversion kit.
2. Extra ammo`
Opinions will vary on how much ammo you should carry and how to carry it. It’s true that most self-defense shootings do not involve a reload. But it’s also easy for the opinion warriors to give advice from their mom’s basement. In the real world, you do what makes sense and is practical for you.
I like the idea of having extra ammo for that “just in case” moment I hope never comes. Sometimes I can get away with an extra mag holder (or two) on my belt. And other times, I must carry one in my pocket or none. It all depends on what I can make work at the time.
One thing I like about the MCK conversion kit is that it carries an extra mag. At home, you can keep your Glock 19 or 17 in the MCK, and you have an extra mag just by picking up your gun. If you choose to keep the MCK in your vehicle or backpack, it’s at stand-by mode when needed.
To switch magazines from the MCK to the Glock is simple and fast. As you dump your empty mag, the next one is inches away from your mag well instead of down on your belt. This doesn’t mean I’ll stop carrying an extra mag on me, but having a high-capacity mag in the MCK is still pretty cool.
3. Accessories
When it comes to accessories, we all have our preferences. Some like to add as much stuff as humanly possible to their handgun, and others like to keep it simple.
I often carry a handgun with a light and optic mounted to it. One drawback of using the MCK is that your handgun cannot have either attached to the gun itself.
But, when I use a light and optic on a concealed carry gun, it’s usually a smaller compact gun. Carrying a Glock 19 or 17 concealed isn’t hard, but it gets too bulky for me when you add a light and laser. I prefer this set-up for OWB carry.
When carrying a Glock 17 or 19 without those accessories, the MCK is a perfect choice for those who still want a second option quickly. Within seconds, you can transform your Glock into a larger platform with any accessories desired.
This means you can quickly convert to a sub-gun size platform with an optic, light, laser, and other accessories ready to go.
Besides the Picatinny rail that runs on top of the MCK, there is a short Picatinny rail on each side as well.
How does the MCK work?
The MCK Gen 2 is designed for your gun to lock into place in a matter of seconds. I was curious to see how long it takes, so I timed myself. Once the MCK was in my hands, it took me about 8 or 9 seconds to get it ready. And this includes unfolding the arm brace and racking the slide of the gun using the charging handle.
When you insert the gun into the MCK, the top, back portion of the slide fits into a sliding piece that acts as the charging hand. Simply push the gun forward until it locks in place, and then close the rear locking lever to secure the gun. At this point, the gun is ready to use.
When you fire the gun, the external charging handle is reciprocating since it’s attached directly to the slide of the gun. CAA kept the ambidextrous charging slim, with just enough sticking out to easily rack the slide.
To switch mags, the mag-well in the MCK is the same as any handgun. Simply push on the mag release, and the magazine will come out.
My favorite ways to use the MCK
The MCK is a tool, like anything else, which means each person can decide how and when to use a conversion kit like the MCK. Here are a few ways the MCK can be incorporated into your self-defense routine.
Home defense
I think this is a great home defense system because you can grab your gun and have a light, optic, and extra ammo all at once. I have some other great home defense guns, but they don’t hold an extra mag on them. If there is one place I normally do not carry a magazine on me, it’s at my home.
Waking up to the sound of an intruder is stressful enough. Trying to remember to grab your gun, an extra mag, and whatever else you may need is difficult. This is a one-stop shop with everything you need in one package.
Rapid deployment kit
There are some really nice sub-gun size firearms out there, but they’re not cheap. Shelling out the money for another gun is not something everyone wants to do. The MCK provides a great alternative by allowing you to use the handgun you already have.
CAA offers the Rapid Deployment bag that allows you to carry a hard or soft plate in the bag and keeps the MCK ready. The single strap bag is made specifically to work with the MCK. A hook on the inside allows you to connect the MCK to the bag, so when you rip the bag open, the bag works as a sling and vest.
Vehicle deployment
I have always carried something larger than a handgun in my vehicles. My handgun stays on me everywhere I go. But if something happens and I have enough reaction time to get to a larger gun, I will.
One great thing about the MCK is you don’t have to worry about leaving a firearm in your car. If there are children in it, or if you’re afraid of it being broken into, the gun is on you, not in your car. And again, if you have enough reaction time, you can grab the MCK and have a larger platform to use.
On the range with the MCK
Regardless of each person’s opinions on when or how the MCK can be used, those are moot points if it doesn’t work, right?
When I test out a handgun, I like to put a minimum of 300 rounds through it, but 500 or more is much better. Thanks to AmmoToGo.com, we were able to put 500 rounds of Federal American Eagle 115gr. FMJ through it.
Instead of just shooting a bunch of ammo through it, I did a lot of setup drills. By this, I mean I took the Glock out of the MCK and put it back in before shooting a mag.
I also changed mags throughout the day using the extra mag holder in the MCK. The only issue I found was with one specific Amend2 17-round mag. For whatever reason, this one would fail to feed every few shots.
Nothing else gave me any issues, however. I used Glock, Magpul, SGM, and a few other Amend2 mags. Besides the one mag issue, it cycled flawlessly.
When switching from the Glock to MCK + Glock, the biggest thing you notice is accuracy and speed. There is almost no recoil, and you feel like you’re shooting a rifle. With the Crossfire Green Dot from Vortex, it was easy to hit targets quickly from various distances. Most of the time, we set our targets at 25-50 yards, which is a struggle for me with a handgun when shooting fast.
I’ll admit, I could never get a grouping at 50 yards with my Glock only, like I did with the MCK.
Another tool for the arsenal
As I said in the beginning, this is simply another tool to provide you with more options. It may not be for everyone, but I think it provides some great benefits and options. Especially for those who own a handgun only. It provides a stable platform that makes your handgun as accurate as a short rifle.
You can use a sling for tension when making those longer shots. And for those who want to really go all out, you can register the MCK and Glock combo as an SBR if you want a full stock instead of an arm brace.
For the price, I think these are pretty cool and a great accessory to own. CAA makes the MCK for various other models and also offers accessories like slings, lights, sights, etc.
If you can’t make up your mind about the MCK, at least try one out on the range before you decide. That’s what changed my mind, and it could be the deciding factor for you as well.
