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Posted: 3/21/2025 2:32:25 PM EDT
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What Mac is best between the M11/9, M11A1 or the M10, for pairing a couple Lage uppers with it in 9mm? From looking at the website he offers uppers for all three options in 9mm, and the guns are all mostly selling for the same price. The M10 looks a bit more bulky than the M11, being originally designed for 45 ACP. Is one better than the other? I'm thinking of picking one up in the next few months. Thanks! |
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Originally Posted By Greenspan: Honestly just get a FRT and drop it in your AR. Basically indistinguishable. There's a lot of truth in that. And I have several MGs -- that includes an M16 and a MAC plus a couple others. But if one's heart is set on getting an MG, I suggest going to Las Vegas and then going to one or more of the big MG rental places and trying out whatever candidates for purchase that are in mind to determine for yourself rather than getting the opinions of some anonymous posters on the internet. Doing that convinced me that an H & K MP5, which is a nice MG, was simply not worth the cost. MHO, YMMV, etc. |
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If you only want to shoot 9mm out of a Lage MAX upper, the M11/9 is the best choice. Compared with the M10, the bolt travels a little further before hitting the back of the receiver, the grip is smaller, and new-production magazines are readily available. If you want to shoot .45ACP and/or shoot the gun with the OEM upper, then the M10 is what you want. The M11A1 is a .380 and considerably rarer, and probably only makes sense if you want to use a MAX-31 upper. |
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Originally Posted By StealthyBlagga: If you only want to shoot 9mm out of a Lage MAX upper, the M11/9 is the best choice. Compared with the M10, the bolt travels a little further before hitting the back of the receiver, the grip is smaller, and new-production magazines are readily available. If you want to shoot .45ACP and/or shoot the gun with the OEM upper, then the M10 is shat you need. The M11A1 is a .380 and considerably rarer, and probably only makes sense if you want to use a MAX-31 upper. That's somewhat incorrect. About 38,000 total of all registered MAC's. There are about 17,000 registered M11/9 MGs. There are about 8,500 registered M10 MGs, and about 8,500 registered M11-380, about half "small magwell" and the half "large magwell" (so-called "A1"), but the magwells can be changed from small to large or large to small for a relatively low cost. Roughly 180,000 registered MGs of all types, including the newly allowed former post-sample MGs. And I have an M11-380 that I only use as a host for a Fleming .22LR upper. MHO, YMMV, etc. |
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Originally Posted By akethan: The M11 always gets the new stuff first. I have a couple M10/9s they aren't that much bigger. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/14209/20250102_211254-3423979.jpg Yes and no. I believe the new 22LR kit from PS will be M10 first and the Tenko will be M10 first. I don't really if the Max15 was M10 or M11 first. Probably both launched at the same time. I really don't think it matters which you go with. I have an M10/45. All the same stuff that is in current production is available for both. |
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Originally Posted By Deerhurst: Yes and no. I believe the new 22LR kit from PS will be M10 first and the Tenko will be M10 first. I don't really if the Max15 was M10 or M11 first. Probably both launched at the same time. I really don't think it matters which you go with. I have an M10/45. All the same stuff that is in current production is available for both. Lage is the thread title. The M11 is always first with Lage. |
"I miss the days of being able to shoot all commies" G.B.
Ive had an m10 and kept the m11a1…all models are accommodated these days it seems. I shoot 380 and 9mm so it works for me better. I like the compact size of the small frame gun the best as well. Im still awaiting my place in line with the Versa upper which they are currently building for all 3 types. The max11a1 380 is my favorite Lage upper.  |
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Originally Posted By akethan: Lage is the thread title. The M11 is always first with Lage. And the post I quoted says "M11 always get stuff first" which is not true. It is only true from one specific accessory maker. If that post had specified Lage they would be correct even though the title says Lage. As I also said at this point it doesn't matter. I believe the Versa was available for the M11 and M10 at the same time so it was not available from Lage for the M11 first. |
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Originally Posted By SecondAmend: That's somewhat incorrect. About 38,000 total of all registered MAC's. There are about 17,000 registered M11/9 MGs. There are about 8,500 registered M10 MGs, and about 8,500 registered M11-380, about half "small magwell" and the half "large magwell" (so-called "A1"), but the magwells can be changed from small to large or large to small for a relatively low cost. Roughly 180,000 registered MGs of all types, including the newly allowed former post-sample MGs. And I have an M11-380 that I only use as a host for a Fleming .22LR upper. MHO, YMMV, etc. Originally Posted By SecondAmend: Originally Posted By StealthyBlagga: If you only want to shoot 9mm out of a Lage MAX upper, the M11/9 is the best choice. Compared with the M10, the bolt travels a little further before hitting the back of the receiver, the grip is smaller, and new-production magazines are readily available. If you want to shoot .45ACP and/or shoot the gun with the OEM upper, then the M10 is shat you need. The M11A1 is a .380 and considerably rarer, and probably only makes sense if you want to use a MAX-31 upper. That's somewhat incorrect. About 38,000 total of all registered MAC's. There are about 17,000 registered M11/9 MGs. There are about 8,500 registered M10 MGs, and about 8,500 registered M11-380, about half "small magwell" and the half "large magwell" (so-called "A1"), but the magwells can be changed from small to large or large to small for a relatively low cost. Roughly 180,000 registered MGs of all types, including the newly allowed former post-sample MGs. And I have an M11-380 that I only use as a host for a Fleming .22LR upper. MHO, YMMV, etc. Frank Ianamico said it was about 17,793 or something like that... |
“Liberty and love
These two I must have.
For my love, I’ll sacrifice
My life.
For liberty, I’ll sacrifice
My love.”
Petofi Sándor
These two I must have.
For my love, I’ll sacrifice
My life.
For liberty, I’ll sacrifice
My love.”
Petofi Sándor
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Originally Posted By Greenspan: Honestly just get a FRT and drop it in your AR. Basically indistinguishable. I have an FNC with sear, and had been thinking really hard about buying an M16 lower and Fightlite upper. I've pretty much decided to get the Fightlite upper and throw a super safety in one of my AR lowers and go with it instead of paying $30K + for an M16. But I have also always wanted an open bolt subgun, hence this thread about picking up a Mac. |
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Originally Posted By Jozsi: Frank Ianamico said it was about 17,793 or something like that... Originally Posted By Jozsi: Originally Posted By SecondAmend: Originally Posted By StealthyBlagga: If you only want to shoot 9mm out of a Lage MAX upper, the M11/9 is the best choice. Compared with the M10, the bolt travels a little further before hitting the back of the receiver, the grip is smaller, and new-production magazines are readily available. If you want to shoot .45ACP and/or shoot the gun with the OEM upper, then the M10 is shat you need. The M11A1 is a .380 and considerably rarer, and probably only makes sense if you want to use a MAX-31 upper. That's somewhat incorrect. About 38,000 total of all registered MAC's. There are about 17,000 registered M11/9 MGs. There are about 8,500 registered M10 MGs, and about 8,500 registered M11-380, about half "small magwell" and the half "large magwell" (so-called "A1"), but the magwells can be changed from small to large or large to small for a relatively low cost. Roughly 180,000 registered MGs of all types, including the newly allowed former post-sample MGs. And I have an M11-380 that I only use as a host for a Fleming .22LR upper. MHO, YMMV, etc. Frank Ianamico said it was about 17,793 or something like that... IIRC, and I may well be wrong, Frank's numbers are for the corporate manufactured MACs. There were a whole lot of Form 1 MAC MGs made prior to the '86 cutoff. And, again, IIRC, in Frank's MAC MAN book Frank relates how SWD got slapped down by the AFT for making it so easy to put together a MAC. And there were bent flat kits with hole templates readily available from other sources in Machine Gun News ads - get a Form 1, drill the holes and weld on the magwell. And on the flip side, I don't believe that the number of MACs, or any other MGs, that have been confiscated and/or otherwise destroyed is known. So, the bottom line is, for MACs, the actual number of registered examples extant, is somewhat of a guess. MHO, YMMV, etc. ETA: IIRC, as well as making Form 1 MAC MGs from flats, prior to their ban (effective '82?), the open bolt semi MACs were also Form 1 converted to MGs. |
When I got my M11/9 over a decade ago the M11/9 had more options than the M10 or M11a1, so I went that route. Today I’d probably hunt down an M11a1 for a compact setup like the poster below, mine (albeit very controllable) is it a little big and heavy Originally Posted By 45pulse: Ive had an m10 and kept the m11a1…all models are accommodated these days it seems. I shoot 380 and 9mm so it works for me better. I like the compact size of the small frame gun the best as well. Im still awaiting my place in line with the Versa upper which they are currently building for all 3 types. The max11a1 380 is my favorite Lage upper. https://i.imgur.com/36Zv8lf.jpeg |
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I have a M10 and a M11A1. I have never had a M11/9. That said, the best deal on a gun in good condition is probably the way to go. Any of them are good for using Lage uppers, it just depends on what your specific interest is. If you want to shoot "through the magwell" the choices are different than if you want to use one (or more) of the multiple Lage uppers that have their own magwells. My M10 has an Uzi mag conversion. That is fantastic for 9mm, but not a good choice for shooting .45 ACP. Uzi factory .45 ACP mags only hold 16 rounds at best and they are very expensive. ProMags are available up to 22 rounds, but they are ProMags, so they are hit and miss. On the other hand, for 9mm, Uzi mags are better than any of the other "through the magwell" options out there. They are reliable, cheap, easily available, and still in production by IWI (the Uzi PRO mags are cheap and backwards compatible to the Uzi or Uzi griped MAC). My M10/9 is boringly reliable with Uzi mags. The M11A1 is really small. In stock form with the stock collapsed and either no mag or a 10 round mag it is about the size of a Glock 17. You can enjoy a fun 1 second experience with a 30 round magazine of .380 and a stock upper. Or, you can get one of the MAX-31 uppers or new VERSA-12 uppers and have a really handy gun that is easy to control, reliable, and a lot of fun. If I had to pick one of my two it would be the M11A1, but I am really pleased with both. |
"The Engine could still smile...it seemed to scare them." -Felix
| I have all three Mac variants (my M11a1 is a small mag well .380). I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them - Lage will have something to sort you out, plus Richard makes 5.56 uppers for all of them and new Versa uppers. My personal favorite is a unicorn now - the M11a1 with a Baby Ghost upper and a Tungsten bolt. It fits in a lunch box. With a low back pressure can, it cannot be beat. I’m getting my Versa for my M11 next week or so. |
| I use the M11 for the compact uppers (currently using the MAX-11K) and the M10 for the longer upper (10/31) and the .223 (currently using the MAX-10/15). I generally feel like the bigger receiver can handle the different calibers a little easier (nothing scientific, just thinking bigger/heavier was a better match). |
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If you’re planning on running a non-drum MK2 upper in 9mm, I’d suggest an M11/9 or M11A1 with the large mag well is you can use Shockwave mags. I prefer the latter because I think the shorter frame looks better with most of the uppers. If you are planning on the new VERSA upper, then I’d go M11A1 small mag well. The grip is noticeably smaller and feels great, especially when paired with a carbine configuration. |
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| I got my M11/9 with a Lage upper. I never shot it with the Lage. Since I already have an Uzi, I went a different direction. I sold the Lage upper and got a CF-W bolt. It’s a very manageable piece with the heavy bolt and, with a YHM R9 attached, it’s about the same OAL folded as the Uzi is folded. I added a PS mini Uzi stock for the M11A1, as I wanted the shorter LOP. No regrets. |
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