Many of us like to maximize our firearms’ versatility. After all, the more your guns can do, the more you can do without buying extra blasters. The industry produces many accessories that add versatility and act as force multipliers. One of the coolest that I’ve run across is the Command Arms Accessories (CAA) Gen 2 Micro Conversion Kit (MCK).

What is the CAA Micro Conversion Kit?

The MCK is a chassis system that essentially turns your pistol into a small carbine. Cool features abound, and after initially thinking it was a gimmick, I’ve come to really like my MCK. It’s certainly fun, but it has some practical applications, too. I find myself using it more than I thought I would.

So, let’s see what makes the MCK tick and discuss what I think it’s good for.

How Does the MCK Work?

It’s really very simple. Open the trapdoor on the MCK’s bottom, match your pistol’s rear cocking serrations to the ambidextrous charging handle, and push down until the charging handle locks in place. Then, slide the pistol forward to the matching grooves, close the trapdoor, and lock it.

You’re now good to go. Use the charging handle to rack the slide. Aim and shoot. It only takes a couple of minutes and does not require tools.

My MCK is compatible with the Sig Sauer P365, P365X, P365XL, and P365SAS. However, CAA makes them for many brands and models. I can access every control on my gun except for the manual safety, which isn’t a big deal for me. It even fires with the brace folded.

My P365XL has an aftermarket Meprolight FT-Bullseye front sight. But that’s no problem since the MCK’s front sight channel runs the whole length of the chassis forward of the breech. There even appears to be room for a suppressor-height front sight.

As I noted, the MCK essentially makes your pistol into a carbine. But I need to clarify that statement. “Carbine” implies a longer barrel, with its requisite higher velocity and better terminal ballistics.

The MCK does not lengthen your pistol’s barrel. It has a barrel shroud, not a barrel extension. So, the bullet’s performance stays the same. My Gen 2 model is incompatible with threaded barrels or suppressors, though CAA’s website says some models are.

My carbine comparison comes from the improved handling characteristics the MCK provides. Most people can shoot a rifle or carbine more accurately than a pistol. The MCK’s stabilizing brace, forward grip, and better sights make that happen. They did for me, anyhow. So, I feel like I’m shooting a carbine, though the range and bullet performance are not enhanced.

CAA Micro Conversion Kit Features

The MCK consists of a polymer chassis with an integral barrel shroud, floating polymer charging handle, and an attached folding pistol brace. Stocked versions are available, but I didn’t want to go through the ATF hassle for an SBR. So, the brace works for me. Honestly, since I’m only firing my P365XL, the brace—attached to my forearm—makes for a very stable shooting platform.

A full-length Picatinny rail adorns the MCK’s top. This pairs perfectly with the included flip-up iron sights with large and small rear apertures. Or you can add an optic. I did both. Because why not?

Small Pic rail sections ride on each side, just below the vent ports over the barrel. You can attach the included thumb rests, as I did, or add whatever accessory you like. I’d normally mount a light in that position. However, my MCK came with an integral light that protrudes right below the barrel shroud. A switch on the side ignites the light.

The angled foregrip includes finger grooves and a secondary mag well-type slot for an extra mag. It’s a handy place to stash a reload.

Finally, my MCK shipped with a single-point sling which attaches just below the pistol brace interface. This thing is ready to go out of the box. I simply added the pistol and the optic, and the optic wasn’t strictly necessary. It’s a great little package.

Running the MCK

First, the MCK is fun. Lots of fun. It’s compact, ergonomic, and handles superbly. My co-tester and I took it to our pistol range, where we spent several afternoons and a couple hundred rounds knocking over steel plates and running the dueling tree. The 9mm ammo was generously provided by Ammo-to-Go.

I installed a Holosun AEMS Core enclosed emitter red dot, but the flip-up sights are co-witnessed, so we used both. You’ll need a riser for your red dot if you plan to install the flip-up sights since their bases sit fairly high.

The rear sight lets you transition between a large and small aperture, depending on how you use it. The small one is obviously more accurate, while the larger one makes for faster target acquisition.

The MCK allowed me to shoot my P365XL very accurately and more quickly than just using the pistol. That was no surprise. And it was very comfortable. The recoil was slight, and the MCK’s ergonomic features made for superior control.

We fired one-handed, both with the brace folded and with it strapped to our forearms. The latter was far easier since the whole rig gets heavy for one arm with the supporting brace. Using both hands with the folded brace was easier, but shooting accurately was more challenging. Extending the single-point sling for extra stabilization helped.

Operating the Conversion Kit’s Controls

The controls are easily reached, and the ambidextrous charging handle works great and is very positive. The light switch is perfectly placed for operation by the support hand. However, the only control I don’t like is the release button for the extra magazine.

I like having the extra mag there because it’s handy and provides an extra control surface. But the release button hardly works at all, at least on my MCK. Neither my co-tester nor I could drop the extra mag without considerable effort, often including pulling the mag out with our other hand.

Going forward, I either won’t place an extra mag there or, more likely, will just have one for extra control and general ammo storage. However, I won’t rely on it for a fast reload option. It might work better with a longer, heavier mag, but I haven’t run one of those, so I can’t say. I do plan to grab some extended 21-round P365 mags, so I’ll try it then.

I want those extended mags because the MCK makes my pistol more capable. So, more ammo, please. I can see myself making the MCK part of my home or vehicle defense system, but I need more capacity.

What is the CAA Micro Conversion Kit Good For?

Lots of things, actually. As I said before, I initially thought the MCK was basically a gimmick. But upon learning that it doesn’t affect my pistol’s operation in any way, other than being unable to reach the manual safety, I think there’s more to it.

An MCK-equipped pistol can be unobtrusively stored by your bed, your desk, or in your vehicle.

I quickly learned that the MCK improves my shooting performance if not the projectile’s capabilities. There’s an awful lot to like about this supposed gimmick. Now, you could certainly go buy a true pistol caliber carbine to fill that role while also getting better velocity and terminal ballistics. But guns ain’t cheap.

Honestly, the MCK isn’t either, but it costs considerably less than a PCC. That’s your choice, of course, but the MCK might be an option if you’re looking to save a little money.

Many accessories end up in my closet. They’re fun but ultimately not especially useful. But this “gimmick” has unexpectedly turned into a legit accessory that may well end up as part of my system.

Why not? It’s simple to use, effective, and improves my shooting capabilities. Chucking it in a closet would be dumb. If that sounds good to you, maybe check out the MCK for yourself. It might be the accessory you didn’t know you were looking for.