MAKuick One-piece Mount, Merkel KR1, Picatinny rail

Introduction

MAK is a German company, specialized in mounting solutions for optics. Their offer also includes riflescopes and red dot sights. MAK's products, made with topmost precision, are known for their high quality. To appease every need when it comes to mounting solutions, MAK has many series of mounts in their offer.

Merkel is a firearms manufacturer from Germany. Thuringia, Suhl. They manufacture bolt-action rifles, double rifles, drillings, and shotguns. During World War 1 many of the company's markets were lost, and they didn't recover until 1924. After the outbreak of World War 2, the company started producing carbines, engines and equipment parts. Soon after the war ended, they started producing hunting rifles. In 1990, Merkel underwent some modernization and innovation, when Germany reunified. Today, Merkel company is parented by the United Arab Emirates company, Caracal International.  

MAKuick one-piece

MAKuick mounts are robust and reliable. They offer a 100 % repeatability, meaning that the user can remove them and put them back onto the rifle without the need to re-zero. MAKuick mounts are designed so that they can withstand the recoil of even the most powerful calibers out there. They are lightweight because both the base and the rings are made from aluminum. The whole system that is in contact with the rifle (the clamping assembly) is made from steel. MAKuick is a versatile series of mounts – it allows mounting of all sorts of rings, all sorts of mounting rails (LM, ZM/VM, SR, Convex), different adapters that allow mounting of other devices such as ATN X-Sight; Pulsar Digisight, Apex, Trail; Fortuna devices etc. MAKuick mounts made for the mounting of riflescopes with a rail underneath are made of one part. Because of this, they are more robust, durable and reliable. For digital and thermal optical devices, the buyer has to pick a MAKuick base with four holes on which rings are usually put. Instead of the rings, the user mounts an adapter on top that works as a connector between the thermal optics and the MAKuick base. MAK makes one-piece MAKuick bases for the following rifles: CZ 527, CZ 550, Merkel KR 1, Merkel RX Helix – also fits on all Picatinny rails, Sauer 303, Sako 75, Sako 85 S, Sako 85 M, Tikka T3 and Blaser rifles. They also make a MAKuick base for break barrel rifles with a 12 mm dovetail and for break barrel rifles with a 14.5 mm dovetail (usually found on Czech break barrel rifles).

KR 1 is a straight-pull bolt action rifle made by Merkel. Compared to Blaser straight-pull rifles, the KR1 has a more traditional turn-bolt system. The bolt is enclosed in the casing of the receiver, adding to the strength of the design. There are six locking lugs on the bolt which lock directly in the barrel. Merkel manufactured this rifle in .223 Rem., .243 Win., 6.5x55, 7mm-08 Rem., .308 Win., .270 Win., .30-06 Sprg., 9.3x62, 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 Win. Mag., .270 WSM, .300 WSM and .338 Win. Mag. It features a three-position safety and comes with a single-set trigger as standard. KR 1 rifles are takedown rifles, meaning that the barrel can be changed to the one chambered for a different caliber.

Merkel KR1 features Merkel's unique mounting system. There are four notches on the barrel for mounting purposes.

Picatinny rails

Picatinny is a big step forward from the Weaver standard. Weaver has a few predesignated slots while Picatinny has slots all over its surface, allowing the device to be mounted wherever the user finds it fitting. Weaver's slot is 3.8 mm wide, which is why ring mounts made for a Weaver rail will also fit on a Picatinny rail while ring mounts made specifically for a Picatinny rail will not fit on a Weaver rail. This is one of the main reasons why Picatinny is a far better mounting solution.

MAK is one of the biggest mount manufacturers in Germany. All of their Picatinny rails are manufactured from high-quality steel and are known for their mat finish that does not reflect light. The edges of the rails are wavy, adding to the high-quality appearance. MAK Picatinny rails lack a slot that would allow the user to use the Picatinny rail with sights. 

Mounting instructions

First, the user has to make sure that the rifle is fixed (it is advised that the rifle is put into a rifle holder). Once the mount is put into the four notches on the Merkel rifle's barrel and fixed by rotating the levers for 180°, the lock screws have to be unscrewed. The user then adjusts the clamping force of the adjustment screws with a hex key so that they are tightened but not too tightened. The lock screws have to be re-tightened to complete the mounting procedure. The recommended tightening torque is 4–5 Nm.

Warranty

The product has a warranty period of 10 years.