AKA and Macdev, is there a connection?

Terrorfakt · 09-07-2008, 01:27 AM

Hey, I have been using my droid for two weeks now and have been thinking, did some of AKA move to Macdev after they couldn't make guns anymore? I know this sounds ridiculous, but there are some things....

-I have heard the Cyborg frequently described as a single bottom tube Viking, and from what I know it's design is very similar and it shoots much the same.

-Some design choices are similar to AKA, as in, functionality and reliability over looks and "bells and whistles" features (chameleon LED over an OLED display, microswitch over an optical trigger, spring instead of magnetic trigger return, and until recently, a very "plain" looking milling job on stock markers).

-I have also noticed that there is a lot of crossover between the two communities ( a lot of Macdev owners have AKA guns and vice-versa)

After Smart Parts screwed over AKA did some of the AKA guys move to Macdev or something? Did AKA sell technology Macdev ? Just wondering if anyone knows anything about the history of both companies...

eddahenry · 09-07-2008, 02:11 AM

you have pretty much answered your own question
When AKA stoped making guns people moved to macdev
As there
Quality, Effecency, and build quality are right up there
So thats it really
There is no connection with the 2
Well cyborgs do have AKA threaded feednecks LOL

**sumorai** · 09-07-2008, 06:24 AM

"single bottom tube Viking" hehe... first time i've heard that.

AKA & MacDev are two totally different companies. Lots of people who used to shoot AKA switched to MacDev once AKA stopped producing guns. MacDev, like AKA, makes some of the most efficient high performance paintball guns out there, and is a great family-owned and operated business.

thatdoolinkid · 09-07-2008, 09:18 AM

The only reason for the similarities in threads (AKA and MacDev use the same feedneck, lpr, etc. threads) is because they use the same extrusion which is set up that way. I don't think there was a crossover since MacDev is family owned and operated.

trumpdabeast · 09-07-2008, 10:30 AM

The people who were smart enough to know that AKA guns were good are also smart enough to figure out that MacDev guns are good

M3frontman · 09-07-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatdoolinkid

The only reason for the similarities in threads (AKA and MacDev use the same feedneck, lpr, etc. threads) is because they use the same extrusion which is set up that way.

careful. james will have your nuts for that.

Terrorfakt · 09-07-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpdabeast

The people who were smart enough to know that AKA guns were good are also smart enough to figure out that MacDev guns are good

Yay for us

Wenuliveudie · 09-07-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddahenry

There is no connection with the 2
Well cyborgs do have AKA threaded feednecks LOL

Which are actually properly sized "cocker" threads...

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatdoolinkid

The only reason for the similarities in threads (AKA and MacDev use the same feedneck, lpr, etc. threads) is because they use the same extrusion which is set up that way. I don't think there was a crossover since MacDev is family owned and operated.

Actually, the extrusion used for Cyborgs is a bit longer than the traditional Merlin extrusions you are thinking of. However, Air Soldier does offer, if memory serves me correctly, 5' lengths of the extrusion.

thatdoolinkid · 09-07-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Which are actually properly sized "cocker" threads...

Wrong. Cocker threads are 15/16-20 (.9375-20). AKA threads are .910-20 i.e. they are not the same.

Quote:

Actually, the extrusion used for Cyborgs is a bit longer than the traditional Merlin extrusions you are thinking of. However, Air Soldier does offer, if memory serves me correctly, 5' lengths of the extrusion.

Wrong again. The extrusion isn't a specific length. AKA just had a humongous section made. Airsoldier just cut it to 8" lengths for convenience.

M3frontman · 09-07-2008, 04:25 PM

even still, macdev and aka do not use the same extrusions.

Wenuliveudie · 09-07-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatdoolinkid

Wrong. Cocker threads are 15/16-20 (.9375-20). AKA threads are .910-20 i.e. they are not the same.

All the charts I had seen indicated the feedneck threads were extremely similar, if not just the proper size (e.g. cocker threads are oversized).

I believe there is a picture floating around of an AKA/MD threaded feedneck threaded into the barrel section of a Viking or Cyborg.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatdoolinkid

Wrong again. The extrusion isn't a specific length. AKA just had a humongous section made. Airsoldier just cut it to 8" lengths for convenience.

That's cool, but I am not sure it makes economical sense from a production stand point. Considering MacDev is a company that has been operating for quite a long time, one would assume they can either produce their own extrusions (although, this is unlikely) or have a local supplier. Why pay extra shipping and duty charges to purchase the extrusion from an American company?

Granted, it is all speculation. It could have been cheaper than going through an Australian based manufacturer. Just playing devil's advocate...sort of.

undrdg · 09-07-2008, 07:10 PM

I moved over from AKA to Macdev because of the quality products, but more importantly because of the people behind macdev. I met Kai at a Naughty Dogs practice and we compared our guns. I had a featherlite Bonebrake viking and he had a rangers cyborg.

After that season, i took a trip to NC to meet Jim at PBK and Bourke from Macdev. It was a great experience and I felt at home with them since.
Then I met juan and peter from MacdevUSA and that further cemented my choice to represent MD at the national tournament level.

But the absolute best experience was at world cup last year where everyone associated with Macdev where together in the same place. Meet James and Diane and seeing the Droid just burst into the scene was probably the best experience at a patinball event short of winning one i have ever had.

eddahenry · 09-07-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undrdg

and seeing the Droid just burst into the scene was probably the best experience at a patinball event short of winning one i have ever had.

wait till this cup if the droid Burst into the scene
The new Borg is gunna Leave the poor scene in a post nuclear holocaust state

e_friccero · 09-07-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddahenry

wait till this cup if the droid Burst into the scene
The new Borg is gunna Leave the poor scene in a post nuclear holocaust state

hehehe

trumpdabeast · 09-07-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddahenry

wait till this cup if the droid Burst into the scene
The new Borg is gunna Leave the poor scene in a post nuclear holocaust state

Stop saying stuff like that.... I'm trying to quit paintball lol

thatdoolinkid · 09-07-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

I believe there is a picture floating around of an AKA/MD threaded feedneck threaded into the barrel section of a Viking or Cyborg.

It works one way, but not the other. Cocker threads won't thread into AKA feedneck threads (I have the tap; I've tried). However, AKA feednecks will thread into cocker barrels (I've done it as well).

DeathOfAllThings · 09-07-2008, 10:13 PM

Yeah, you'll notice that a AKA feedneck going into a cocker barrel threads feels very loose, because they're not exactly the same size, very close, but not the same. If you were to put any kind of torque on it, you'd most likely destroy the threads. Also, merlins and borgs are made from the same extrusions, while they might not be from the same supplier or whatever, they are the exact same specs.

yuik (Banned) · 09-08-2008, 12:07 AM

no way you mean they havent changed the extrusion since 2004? see i always thought that the evil m was going to be akas version of the 2 tube poppet.

and when the austrialian company that made the tribals started to sell them i guessed they got a hold of the merlin extrusion and said **** the tribal and made a new company making borgs.

i own an excal and xfighter and i must say both are nice but aka is where its at imop. they did it just as well as macdev but 2 years sooner. i find it funny that my 02 excal shoots as nice as guns made 6 years later.

thatdoolinkid · 09-08-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

i find it funny that my 02 excal shoots as nice as guns made 6 years later.

Except the Excalibur has been made since 2000 i.e. your Excal shoots as nice as guns made almost 9 years later.

rkjunior · 09-08-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3frontman

even still, macdev and aka do not use the same extrusions.

So Macdev milled a pump arm slot into the borg for asthetics?

thatdoolinkid · 09-08-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

even still, macdev and aka do not use the same extrusions.

No, they are the same extrusion. At best they had an Australian company produce the same extrusion that AKA used in America. Just hold a chunk of the stuff up next to a Merlin, Revenge, Evil-M, Cyborg, Tribal, etc. They are all made from the same stuff.