Has anyone done a Max-31 vs Max-31 mk 2 comparison?

[sillycon]

I realize I'm a bit late to the party on this, but I haven't been around for a while.

Anyhow, I spent the better part of an hour using Google to search the forum here, but I haven't been able to find any threads comparing the Max-31 to the Max-31 mk II (maybe I'm just not using the right combination of keywords?).

That said, I'd appreciate it if someone could give me a rundown of the differences. I've seen comments about the MK II being lighter, but are we talking ounces or pounds? I also see on the Lage site that the ROF's are different.

I ask as I've got a Max-31 currently and I'm wondering if it's worth "upgrading" to the latest and greatest. Any input from those who've got both would be appreciated!

 

[chili17]

i have both a MK1 and MK2. The MK2 we got was an early one so their might be some small differrences. From what I remember:

MKII is over a pound lighter
MKII has a slower ROF (think this might have changed as Lage went to a lighter bolt on the MKII)
MKII has integral forearm and the tolerances seem a little tighter

That's all the big stuff. The MKII does feel smaller to me, if that makes any sense. Also the MKII seems to shoot a little smoother. With about 10K through ours the only real downside to the MKII (that we have noticed)is the Al. forearm gets hot after a few drums shot in rapid succesion. A glove or VFG negates this though.

 

[THM7]

Thé -31 also gets beat up alittle at the rear of the ejection port. Thé MkII has a small shell deflector.The obvious diff is ones steel and the other 6061 alum. Both are very good. Oh rail is full length on the top of the MkII.

 

[sillycon]

Thanks for the comparison/info Chili and THM.

The pound of weight savings would be nice when getting to the end of a long match/course of fire but from the sound of it, the differences really aren't worth fretting over.

Now if I can just bump my 1st gen -31's ROF 100rpm or so I'll be set!

 

[Garrett]

...the only real downside to the MKII (that we have noticed)is the Al. forearm gets hot after a few drums shot in rapid succesion. A glove or VFG negates this though.

I noticed that at the subgun match last weekend. I have really only played with the MK I version, and forend heat has never been an issue. I ran multiple drums through mine with no heat issues. (the odd drum malfunction was another story, though). But then I was handed a MK II just after someone finished their run, and the front end was really hot. Enough so that you wouldn't want to be holding it.

I'm thinking you would want some kind of front grip and a glove if you're running the MK II very hard.

But I can see where if you are on a very long course, the weight savings of the MK II would come in handy.

 

[sillycon]

The only mag issue I've had with my mk1 is that some of the Suomi drum catches are cut with a really deep 45* angle so they won't stay seated and sometimes fall out in the middle of a string of fire.

:bang

 

[sillycon]

Bringing this back up, are the bolt assemblies compatible between the two? I ask as I recently encountered runaways due to mushrooming/wear on both the sear and bolt, however looking on the lage site the mk1 bolt assembly is discontinued. Ive since welded material back onto the bolt and recut it square, as well as replaced the sear with a NOS one, but spare parts would be nice and the lage site does not indicate any compatibility between parts/versions. I keep meaning to call lage and ask directly but I never manage to find time at work to make that happen.

 

[Garrett]

Bringing this back up, are the bolt assemblies compatible between the two?

I was told that they are. I've got the speed bolt in my MK1, and I had called about a standard bolt. Jackie had told me they did not have any of the old bolts, but that the MK2 bolt would work in my upper.

Now I just need to remember to order the bolt. Been busy with other projects.

 

[Anders1]

Bringing this back up, are the bolt assemblies compatible between the two? I ask as I recently encountered runaways due to mushrooming/wear on both the sear and bolt, however looking on the lage site the mk1 bolt assembly is discontinued. Ive since welded material back onto the bolt and recut it square, as well as replaced the sear with a NOS one, but spare parts would be nice and the lage site does not indicate any compatibility between parts/versions. I keep meaning to call lage and ask directly but I never manage to find time at work to make that happen.

I had the same issue with my mk I. After about 3k rounds I started getting runaways also. I did alittle research and discovered my sear was sitting too low. If you look at your lower from the side without the upper installed you should be able to see the top of the sear. I think I read it should sit above the side rails about the thickness of a dime. I ended up taking a little material off the bottom of the sear legs with a dremel to make the sear sit higher. It did make the trigger pull a hair longer but the wear on the sear and bolt catch was greatly reduced. Hope this helps