The Makasi MK-15NSR is the second version of the Brigade Makasi, the non-restricted 5.56 rifle Brigade Manufacturing brought to Canada this spring. Brigade kept what worked, the 18.6 inch barrel, the short-stroke piston and the folding stock, and fixed the one thing buyers asked for: a longer rail. It is on pre-order now at CANFIREARM in Black and FDE at $2,399.99, with $120 down. Here is what changed, the full specs, and how the pre-order works.
What changed from the MK-15 to the MK-15NSR
- 15 inch M-LOK handguard instead of 12. Three more inches for a light, a hand stop or a bipod, and a longer top rail for a scope plus a magnifier or backup irons.
- Billet aluminum upper and lower, machined for a tighter fit between the halves.
- Two colours. The MK-15 was black only. The NSR comes in Black, or FDE with tan receivers and rail over a black stock, grip and barrel.
Everything else carries over: 18.6 inch barrel, 5.56 NATO chamber, short-stroke gas piston, no buffer tube, non-reciprocating side charging handle, para-style folding stock and AR-15 magazines. The price is the same $2,399.99, so the only reason to pick the original MK-15 over the NSR is if you prefer the shorter rail.
Makasi MK-15NSR specs
- Calibre: 5.56x45mm NATO, also shoots .223 Rem
- Barrel: 18.6 inch, blued
- Action: Semi-automatic, short-stroke gas piston, bufferless
- Receivers: Billet aluminum upper and lower
- Handguard: 15 inch free-float M-LOK
- Stock: Para-style folding, black synthetic
- Charging handle: Side mounted, non-reciprocating
- Magazine: AR-15/M4 pattern, 5-round pinned in Canada
- Colours: Black, or FDE with black furniture
- Classification: Non-restricted, FRT 198428-4
- Price: $2,399.99, $120 deposit
Brigade has not listed the NSR’s muzzle thread yet. The MK-15 was 1/2×28 with a three-prong device, so check the product page before you buy a brake for it.
Why the Makasi is not just another AR alternative
Most of the non-restricted .223s that arrived after the bans are conventional rifles: fixed stock, rail on top, gas system tucked away. The Makasi is closer to what got banned. The layout is FAL-style, with the piston above the barrel and a charging handle on the side, but the controls and magazines are AR-15, so anyone who has run an AR is at home on it within a magazine or two. The piston keeps carbon out of the receiver, and because there is no buffer tube the stock folds flat, which makes the rifle a lot easier to case and carry in a truck.
That is what the money buys. An Akdas Alcor is $1,000 less and a fine rifle, but it does not fold, does not free-float and does not run a piston. If those three things matter to you, this is your rifle. If they do not, read our non-restricted 5.56 rifle comparison before you spend the extra. Weighing it against IWI’s piston rifle? See IWI Carmel vs Makasi.
Is the Makasi MK-15NSR non-restricted?
Yes. It is on the RCMP Firearms Reference Table as non-restricted, FRT 198428-4, and the 18.6 inch barrel is over the 470 mm minimum for a semi-auto centrefire rifle. You need a valid PAL, magazines are pinned to five rounds, and it ships to your door once we verify your licence. If you are new to the rules, our plain-language guide to what is legal in Canada covers them.
Black or FDE
Same rifle, same price. Black arrives first: the first batch is due mid-October, the rest by mid-November 2026. FDE follows about three weeks behind, first batch early November and the rest by late November. If you want it for this fall, take the Black. If you want the tan receivers, the FDE is a short wait.
How the pre-order works
- Put $120 down at checkout. That holds your rifle.
- The balance is due when our shipment lands, before it goes out to you.
- Import quantities are limited and not yet confirmed, so the dates can slip.
- If the Makasi is banned before it ships or you pick it up, every deposit and payment comes back in full.
What to buy with it
It takes AR-15 magazines, so the Magpul PMAG 5/30 pinned at $34.99 is the one to stock up on. For ammo, the PMC X-TAC 5.56 55 gr battle pack of 200 is $158.88, or the PMC Bronze .223 pack at the same price. Add an optic and a sling and you are set for the first range day.
The short answer
- Want a folding stock, a piston and a real rail in a non-restricted 5.56: Makasi MK-15NSR Black, $2,399.99, $120 down, October.
- Want it in tan: MK-15NSR FDE, same price, November.
- Prefer the 12 inch rail: the original MK-15 is still on pre-order at the same price.
More on the platform is in our Makasi MK-15 overview, and Brigade’s own specs are on the Brigade Manufacturing site.
Prices and delivery dates current as of September 2026. Check the product pages for updates. A non-restricted PAL is required.