We’ve published before about what makes the Gen 2 micro conversion kit (MCK) better than the Gen 1.
But now that CAA has come out with the third iteration, the Gen 3 MCK, what makes it better? The original plan for the Gen 3 MCK was too big, so they went back to the drawing board. The MCK Gen 2 was bigger than the Gen 1 and the folks at CAA didn’t want to go overboard.
So they redesigned it once again.
This short post will break down the details so you can get back to shooting.
Here’s what to know.
Red Dot Capable
One of the big limitations of the Gen 1 and Gen 2 MCKs was that it wasn’t possible to use a red dot sight directly on the slide of the handgun.
The problem was that the original plan was to put a cover on the MCK to which you could mount the optic; but that made it bigger and bulkier.
So instead the engineers did the exact opposite. They cut back the platform, exposing the slide of the gun inside of it.
This means you can run your slide mounted optic while the gun is installed in the micro conversion kit. This makes the MCK Gen 3 lighter and slimmer, and it also means the red dot won’t need to be re-zeroed, since it’s already attached to the slide.
Left and Right-Folding Stock
The design of the Gen 3 micro conversion kit’s folding stock has also been revamped. It folds to the left and right, the benefit of which is that it’s friendly to both right and left-handed shooters.
The height of the stock has also been reimagined to ensure the proper “comb height” for lack of a better word, as well as better eye relief.
A Newly Repurposed “Self-Cleaning System”
Back in the day, one of the most important aspects of running your pistol in an MCK was keeping the thing clean, particularly around the barrel shroud and muzzle.
If you didn’t, fouling would accumulate inside of the micro conversion kit and get plastered all over the slide. After a while, it would be pretty hard to clean it all off.
Well, the newly designed Gen 3 micro conversion kit has changed that dynamic, with a brush system near the muzzle which is removable from the platform.
As the slide moves backwards and forwards through the inherent cycling action, it cleans itself off on the brush. The whole insert is removable and can easily be rinsed and cleaned as well
Superior Manual Cycling (See Above Image)
Another issue that users have had with respect to their Gen 1 and Gen 2 micro conversion kits has been cycling via the (or lack of a) charging handle.
For those that would upgrade their Glock pistols with an MCK, the people at CAA have come up with a replacement slide place that integrates with an extended charging handle that can be switched to either the left or right side as needed.
Now the cool thing about these new charging handles is not just that they afford faster, surer manual cycling (and that they’re ambidextrous) but they also are backwards compatible with both Gen 2 and Gen 1 micro conversion kits.
So if you want to upgrade cycling, you don’t need to buy a whole new MCK to reap that benefit.
Why a Micro Conversion Kit in the First Place?
If you haven’t bought a micro conversion kit yet and you’re just looking around for reasons to justify the purchase, here are some of the big ones:
- They can significantly improve handling and proficiency, especially in tight quarters.
- They are larger, heavier, and configurable with stocks, helping to rein in recoil.
- They have numerous attachment points for expanding with shooting accessories.
- They require no modifications at all (not even temporary ones) to accept the handguns with which they are compatible.
- They can improve accuracy at extended ranges, even those in excess of 100 yards.
- They are configurable with a wide range of specialized MCK accessories.
These are only a few of the main benefits of upgrading your handgun with a micro conversion kit. There are others, but these make a strong case nonetheless.
Here for MCK Accessories?
One of the great selling points of micro conversion kits is that they are configurable and expandable with so many specially designed MCK accessories, including but not limited to slings, thumb rests, charging handles, brass catchers, optics, bipods, stocks, and tons of other cool shooting accessories.
We carry many of these micro conversion kit accessories in our online catalog. Take a look through what we have in stock and then start reimagining your MCK today. If you have any questions about model specifics, handgun compatibility, or specific MCK accessories, get in touch with us at Sales@MCSGearup.com.