Tell me about the MKE AT-43

[JackRydden224]

I just bought this on gunbroker but I don't really know much about it. The price was $815. Was that a good price to pay? I've heard good things about MKE made HK clones. How many of those are in the US? I want to know if I will be able recoup some cost if I decide to sell in the future.

What I do know is that they will not take standard HK93 type magazines. The adapter I just bought probably cannot be used. Is there a way to modify the rifle to take standard HK93 magazines?

[Varg Vikernes]

http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-clone-talk/150594-any-feedback-ati-mke-43-93-33-rifle.html

This thread makes it seem like a lot of work.

[ptoguy2002]

Good things about MKE, huh?
The welds are ugly, the sights are canted, and the mag catches creek and moan, among other goofy things. The really funny thing is that my MKE mags fit in my clone, my clone mags fit in my MKE, but my factory MKE mags won't fit in my factory MKE. Go figure that.
I de-sporterized my MKE, and it will now take all the HK and promag mags I've tried, but the MKE plastic ones require a hammer to seat. As stock, it will not take any mag except the 10 round mags it came with. There are two bars welded inside the mag well that prevent a standard HK double stack mag from going in. This and the goofy one piece stock/grip assembly are required to be able to import these. These bars need to be removed in order to get any 10+ mag to seat in. You also need to replace the stock cap and recoil rod with correct ones.
If you want a gun to work out of the box with no issues, the MKE isn't for you. Especially the MKE -43, because if you shoot the gun as stock, it WILL damage the receiver.
See my posts here:

http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-long-gun-talk/135711-mke-93-tactical.html

http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-clone-talk/150594-any-feedback-ati-mke-43-93-33-rifle.html

IMHO, the flip side and the bottom line is the MKE -43 guns makes the best available starting point for a custom build, as the only other option is the US made SW receiver, or cut up a German HK. The MKE's are after all a contract built HK, and not a reverse engineered "clone." Want MSG-93, HK13, or -53? IMHO, start with an MKE, because in the end it is a HK contract built gun, the receiver and internal parts will be correct, and your smith can fix the weld blobs or the canted sight if you were unlucky enough to get one (I was, on my 94K). To a lesser extent the 9mm guns too, but not as much as the -43's.
All that said, I have two MKE-43. One was gone over and completely by IGF, the second one is doing to be converted to an MSG-93.
If you have buyers remorse, I've been thinking about an HK13, I'll give what you've got into it. You didn't pay too much, about the going rate. Gordon Miller was blowing these out for $600 in December before the panic. I was about to buy two, just for the receivers, and didn't....

[jbatzmaru]

If you want a gun to work out of the box with no issues, the MKE isn't for you. Especially the MKE -43, because if you shoot the gun as stock, it WILL damage the receiver.

what is the point of buying this rifle??? sounds like you just bought a 75% complete rifle kit.

[JackRydden224]

what is the point of buying this rifle??? sounds like you just bought a 75% complete rifle kit.

That's what it sounds like. I might just pay the 3% restocking fee if getting the MKE to work right is that much trouble. It seems like the Vector will work right out of the box.

[Omega13device]

There's no purchase that's so critical that you should buy it with no idea what you're buying. Next time, get comfortable with what you're buying before you bid on it.

[JackRydden224]

There's no purchase that's so critical that you should buy it with no idea what you're buying. Next time, get comfortable with what you're buying before you bid on it.

Amen that advice.

[dkschin]

Before anyone purchases an MKE AT-43, be advised, this rifle contains a lot of issues. Unless you have a wild desire to spend a lot of money addressing them, I advise you purchase something else.

MKE drilled an additional hole and retaining pin to the cap that connects the receiver to the buttstock. When the bolt carriers travels back, it will hit the added retaining pin. This will damage the bolt carrier.

The trigger housing and stock cap is welded together. This makes replacing either part difficult.

The recoil spring is too short.

The magazine housing had two doles weld into it. That prevents you from using another HK Licensee's magazines.

The receiver also contained a small block welded into it. That prevented you from using another HK licensee's bolt carrier.

The muzzle is not treaded for a flash suppressor.

HK barrels are easy to remove by a experienced HK gunsmith. MKE AT-43 barrels are almost impossible to remove. A HK gunsmith I spoke to informed me, he made three unsuccessful attempt to remove one of these barrels.

The rifle comes with one special 10 round magazine only. It's made by MKE. Good luck trying to find another magazine. You lose it, your AT-43 is a expensive paper weight.

[Kwikvette]

On another note, congrats on your first post since joining over 8 years ago!