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Has anyone here tried to build airsoft guns out of real steel parts?

8K views 26 replies 11 participants last post by  Guges Mk3 
#1 ·
OK, so a couple of weeks ago, I played my first game of airsoft of this year, and I heard one of my fellow players talking about a Swedish guy going by the handle of "Real Fake Guns" (whom I'm sure some of you have heard of) who buys real steel parts kits and messes around with them to build airsoft guns. That makes me wonder: has anyone here ever tried to build airsoft guns using parts meant for real guns, and if so, what are some of the challenges you faced?

On a semi-related note, I read somewhere that Real Sword's Type 56 airsoft guns are made from actual demilled Type 56 rifles. Is this true or just some dumb airsoft urban legend?
 
#2 ·
There is no reason to take perfectly useable RS parts and make them unusable by turning it into an Airsoft gun.

It's like buy a new car and turning it into an EV.

Cost and purpose is not logical.

However, if it was made from scratch...based on RS parts, yes. The RS, E&L and Arcturus AEG's all have RS components in them. The AKM from E&L cosmetically is 96% RS parts. Only the receiver and grip is not RS spec. Back in 2015 a AK gun maker in MO, bought 200 folding stocks for their AK builds...as well as an Israeli gun maker in FL.

Just so that you know...most top brands of AR external components are not made in the US anymore, not since 2008...

Why pay a CnC shop to make rails for 102 each and sell then for 300.00 when you can have them made for 18.00 each and sell them for the same price...

And on that note...my Deer Pistol has a G&P MOTs rail on it.
 
#26 ·
Just so that you know...most top brands of AR external components are not made in the US anymore, not since 2008...

Why pay a CnC shop to make rails for 102 each and sell then for 300.00 when you can have them made for 18.00 each and sell them for the same price...
This is absolutely, 100% untrue.... unless we have VASTLY differing ideas of "top ar brands". Kac, geisselle, larue, are absolutely 100% made in the USA, and no one can argue they arent top tier. Daniel Defense, bcm, etc. Also 100% American made. Theres some very nice foreign weapon and parts makers, theres no doubt there, but your statement is laughably false. Sorry this is an old post, just got an email that this thread was revived.
 
#4 ·
I have been able to drop a series of AR uppers onto WE lowers without modification, as long as I removed the auto sear from the WE lower. Heck, you can take almost any AR15 external part and drop it on to a WE/WA platform (sans barrels and some recievers) with virtually no mods needed.

My M14 has a few real parts on it as well, as do some of the AEGs I build. Why pay the prices for crap airsoft parts when the real ones (most of the time) are often cheaper and of better quality?
 
#5 ·
I've just picked up my first WE AR from airsoftmarket, a 416 from a few years ago judging by the Marines trademarks printed on the lower, and it's nice to know I can just slap on a cheap real upper or fixed stock if I want to convert it over to a full length M16 or do up a PDW upper. Certainly be cheaper, and better quality, than paying for RA Tech, even if I can't go for something fancy like the Vltor without modifying the trigger group. Nothing wrong with plain jane.
 
#6 ·
You cannot modify the WE to take AR LPKs. The WE uses a different style trigger group and the pin holes wont line up, not to mention the hammer and sear are completely different.

However WA-style lowers can work with AR LPKs, albeit there may be some modifications needed depending on the make.
 
#7 ·
Along with early VFC's...that was demonstrated to the horror and CEO of Cybergun that the project he signed onto used a real AR type lower and was demonstrated by changing the hammer spring, and lighting a blank off in of him using a real upper.
 
#9 ·
Machine gun Air gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory


I built this systema PTW around a challenge kit and tackleberry motor.

Can you spot the repro stuff? If you answered fire selector, bolt stop, trigger, outer barrel, and lower receiver, you're correct. Everything else is real steel :).

It turns out real AR parts are as cheap or cheaper than airsoft parts for the PTW platform (and are a lot higher quality). I just think it's neat to know that every part you interface with on my bb pew pew is not just close to real steel, but IS real steel. I did the machining myself on the upper receiver, buffer tube, pmag, and MOE+ grip to get them to fit. I even reamed out the metric holes on the lower to fit real AR pins and detents. Most of it was nothing too fancy, just needed some calipers, patience, and a decent end mill bit. And a lot of weekends. It felt great torquing the Geissele barrel nut down to the actual barrel nut torque, since it's a real rainier arms forged 7075 upper on there :)

Most of the problems I ran into were with the PTW platform itself. It requires some INCREDIBLY tight tolerances on the internals for everything to work right. Once you get it dialed in, though, it's a tank: I haven't really serviced anything in 4 or 5 years.

Does it shoot better than any other tuned AEG? Nope. Could I have bought 2 or 3 normal AEG's for the price of this thing? Yup. Would I rather? Nope! My money, I do what I want with it. It's also nice to know the gun will probably survive being thrown down a mountain.

I was going to drill out a used 5.56mm barrel for this as well until I lifted it: steel barrels are friggin heavy. I'll stick with my wimpy aluminum repro, LOL. I'd also probably kill an end mill or two milling out hardened steel for the hop up unit.

If I feel cute later, I may mill out an 80% lower for the new systema infinity ptw gearbox. I dunno though, I'll have to find some more cash and a lot more time to attempt that project.

*EDIT: forgot to mention barrel in the top list as repro
 
#10 ·
View attachment 171407

I built this systema PTW around a challenge kit and tackleberry motor.

Can you spot the repro stuff? If you answered fire selector, bolt stop, trigger, outer barrel, and lower receiver, you're correct. Everything else is real steel :).

It turns out real AR parts are as cheap or cheaper than airsoft parts for the PTW platform (and are a lot higher quality). I just think it's neat to know that every part you interface with on my bb pew pew is not just close to real steel, but IS real steel. I did the machining myself on the upper receiver, buffer tube, pmag, and MOE+ grip to get them to fit. I even reamed out the metric holes on the lower to fit real AR pins and detents. Most of it was nothing too fancy, just needed some calipers, patience, and a decent end mill bit. And a lot of weekends. It felt great torquing the Geissele barrel nut down to the actual barrel nut torque, since it's a real rainier arms forged 7075 upper on there :)

Most of the problems I ran into were with the PTW platform itself. It requires some INCREDIBLY tight tolerances on the internals for everything to work right. Once you get it dialed in, though, it's a tank: I haven't really serviced anything in 4 or 5 years.

Does it shoot better than any other tuned AEG? Nope. Could I have bought 2 or 3 normal AEG's for the price of this thing? Yup. Would I rather? Nope! My money, I do what I want with it. It's also nice to know the gun will probably survive being thrown down a mountain.

I was going to drill out a used 5.56mm barrel for this as well until I lifted it: steel barrels are friggin heavy. I'll stick with my wimpy aluminum repro, LOL. I'd also probably kill an end mill or two milling out hardened steel for the hop up unit.

If I feel cute later, I may mill out an 80% lower for the new systema infinity ptw gearbox. I dunno though, I'll have to find some more cash and a lot more time to attempt that project.

*EDIT: forgot to mention barrel in the top list as repro
Why wouldn't you just buy a steel airsoft barrel
 
#11 ·
They don't make Steel (Outer) Airsoft Barrel, too expensive...heavy, costly to manufacture...
 
#13 ·
Custom...sure. Production...no.

And those are for PTW's, which means it will not fit on 98% of the other AEG's made.

And the price of those barrels is the cost of a good used AEG and some new starter AEG's.

They can push a whole AEG out the door for $29.00 factory cost. They are not going going to use Steel.

That is also why the Stamped Steel Receiver AEGs/GBB's are all near the 400.00 price point. For their production costs for those items is around 150.00 mark, factory cost.

However, the E&L are made from Real Steel AK parts from China. Gas tube, real stock, real, cosmetic bits and the receiver is made of the same gun alloy as the real AK, albeit 1cm longer.

And they sell for ~$90.00 factory cost for the small models 130.00 for a full AKM.

They just introduced their Essential line, where they are using lower grade materials and that took 40.00 off factory cost.
 
#14 ·
Does anyone remember that barrel kit that used a one piece inner and outer barrel that was steel? It required a custom hop up, it was quite expensive, and I don't believe it took off.



At most I've used a Magpul stock on my m4. Other than that I prefer my lightweight aluminum outer barrel.

And I'd be careful when it comes to mixing real steel parts with airsoft, last thing we need are more regulations against the sport, or even attention towards it by gun control freaks, airsoft isn't protected by the 2nd amendment either.

Especially the whole topic of some airsoft lowers working with RS uppers. Thats a touchy one.
 
#15 ·
Does anyone remember that barrel kit that used a one piece inner and outer barrel that was steel? It required a custom hop up, it was quite expensive, and I don't believe it took off.

At most I've used a Magpul stock on my m4. Other than that I prefer my lightweight aluminum outer barrel.

And I'd be careful when it comes to mixing real steel parts with airsoft, last thing we need are more regulations against the sport, or even attention towards it by gun control freaks, airsoft isn't protected by the 2nd amendment either.

Especially the whole topic of some airsoft lowers working with RS uppers. Thats a touchy one.
Yeah the Penn Yan barrels. Absolutely memes in that the surface finish was horrifically bad.
 
#21 ·
It was also a 1000.00+ AEG, I mean PTW...Professional Training Weapon.
 
#23 ·
However, if it was made from scratch...based on RS parts, yes. The RS, E&L and Arcturus AEG's all have RS components in them. The AKM from E&L cosmetically is 96% RS parts. Only the receiver and grip is not RS spec.
Which begs the question, if they are made on the same production line, then who is buying up the real AKMs they are making as well?
(Specifically E&L as I've heard they do make real AKs too?)
 
#24 ·
It cost pennies to make AK components.

There is a gun manufacturer here in MN and I was informed in a statement that they had to "dropship" 200 Polish AK's for a client. Cost per unit, ~$39.00 each, wholesale...not including shipping of course.

But, if the Chinese are making a "similar" AK...the parts to put together into that AEG is "cheap" to make. I one time assisted in importing certain E&L's for Palco (CYB) and our wholesale price was $79.40 for some models.

There is a market for AK's...both Domestic, China, and abroad...back in 2014 at Shotshow. An Isreali who makes AK's in Florida and a "Mom and Pop" shop in Missouri inquired about the E&L Metal Triangle - Stocks...let's just say...it wasn't for AEG's...

Some much of the American market place gun parts (especially the cosmetic pieces) are not made domestically...and haven't been for over 12 years...
 
#27 · (Edited)
Do you work in the firearm accessory industry?

By trade references.

A plastic lid made in Mexico, a paper cup made in Indonesia and coffee grown Ethiopia is all put together into a cup of coffee here at a local coffee shop. That item is technically Made 100% in the USA. Yet, none of the components is of Domestic origin.

And with that I got a VLTOR stock from an Asian Website when it "fell" off a truck. It had a warranty card that that was valid when registered on the VLTOR website...so...if you do work in the Accessory industry for RS. Please tell us how it's 100% false...
 
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