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Best full-metal M4 under $1,750: AEG, GGB.

6K views 85 replies 9 participants last post by  modularvideo 
#1 ·
What's the best goddamned M4 you can buy under $1,750 in both flavors? Not sure if I want RIS or traditional handguard since I may want to fit the M203 grenade-launcher which looks better with the traditional rail-covers.
 
#2 ·
If your 1750 is in USD you can buy basically any goddamn thing, I suggest getting a G&G then modifying the **** out of it with things like titan MOSFET and Top tier inner barrel, you can even HPA tap it if that is your thing, you can pay a gunsmith to do the work if you are annoyed, 1750 can get you a really nice rifle with top of the market upgrades and services with it, performance wise I suggest a Aeg with ****load of modifications, if your best means realistic, a VFC GBBR will fulfill it, full markings and a realistic fire control group, I suggest you putting off the launcher though, those thing are top tier unintended teamkilling tool and very situational
 
#3 · (Edited)
Awesome! Thanks, man! Yes, USD. I don't play—this is just for personal shooting. Yeah, I would definitely like a top-tier GBBR. What exactly is the VFC and the actual manufacturer name? Still on the fence whether I want an AEG too (probably both).

Okay, so for the AEG, a G&G with custom work then? Yes, I would like a MOSFET-circuit. But I don't want to click the trigger to program if I can avoid it (not sure about Bluetooth either).

I would just like three fire-modes: Semi-auto, three-shot burst, and full-auto (i.e., I don't need a ton of custom fire-modes). I guess that's four modes including safe? Either hard-EEPROM'd, or hard-wired. Or I guess I can just program it once the way I want it and forget it.

Also, any Asian dealers you recommend? Where do people find G&Gs for sale? (I'm in the US.) Thanks again for the recommendations!
 
#5 ·
Awesome! Thanks, man! Yes, USD. I don't play-this is just for personal shooting. Yeah, I would definitely like a top-tier GBBR. What exactly is the VFC and the actual manufacturer name? Still on the fence whether I want an AEG too (probably both).

Okay, so for the AEG, a G&G with custom work then? Yes, I would like a MOSFET-circuit. But I don't want to click the trigger to program if I can avoid it (not sure about Bluetooth either).

I would just like three fire-modes: Semi-auto, three-shot burst, and full-auto (i.e., I don't need a ton of custom fire-modes). I guess that's four modes including safe? Either hard-EEPROM'd, or hard-wired. Or I guess I can just program it once the way I want it and forget it.

Also, any Asian dealers you recommend? Where do people find G&Gs for sale? (I'm in the US.) Thanks again for the recommendations!
If you don't actually play Airsoft and only do target shooting or have it for personal enjoyment, GBB is your best friend, and they usually cost between 320-400 depending on which one you are looking at, if you can get the specific model I can tell you the Asia price, I am not in the US so I can't tell you which US dealer to deal, I can tell you Hong Kong online dealers though, as I have been to almost all of their base stores in Hong Kong, an Aeg really is all about performance, if you love realistic but may want to game sometimes, a Marui Mws is a good alternative to VFC, VFC newer guns are reliable but Marui is even more robust, so they will work nice, with loads of aftermarket part support, We also works but unless you are willing to pay for extra expensive Ratech parts and time for gunsmithing, just go marui, if you heavily focus on personal shooting and just personal enjoyment, a VFC, you may need to modify it a bit though, and DO NOT get their first generation guns, they always **** their first generation up and only got it right in the second
 
#4 · (Edited)
Found it! Vega Force Company. They have the VR M4A1 and the VR M4 RIS GBBRs. Both look badass—want both. Found some pricing info (e.g., $358USD for an MK18 AEG) at ampedairsoft.com. Not bad. The problem is of course availability. Seems like these are hard to come by.
 
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#6 ·
Okay...need to clarify things from a bigger perspective. You two do not realize there is more to it than American Consumerism....

You can't buy VFC Gen 1 GBBR's. They have been off the market since 2014. Since you are talking new items. All you are going to get is the "new" stuff. So mentioning old stuff is a moot point.

Currently VFC is only MAKING BCM style GBBR's. Like this:

Air gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory Machine gun


On that note. Logistics is a mess right now. Shipping items into the US is no longer an easy feat. UPS was the last express carrier to send Airsoft "props" with express options. It seems UPS is joining the DHL and FEDEX in not allowing Airsoft Guns to fly on their planes. This is happening in real time...and it may be official starting very soon.

So that means your only Express shipment option is EMS - National Mail Systems.

Of which there is an issue. If the package is sent directly to CA. It must have SB99 "markings"...if it doesn't and it's inspected. You will essentially lose the item. If it's not sent directly to CA, it passes through Chicago for anything West of the Mississippi. CHI is a Effing mess right now with Air Express. Imagine the "reduced" staff of 5 warehouses handling EMS packages. Now....change that to 27 warehouse and cutting that staff by another 60%. Yes, that is Chicago right now. A small parcel nightmare. You "may" get your EMS package from Chicago in 27 days...if you are lucky. I had items "stuck" there for over 37 days.

And the squeeky wheel gets ignored and your package gets delayed even more...

Just a larger perspective on the Airsoft logistic world for your view....
 

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#9 · (Edited)
Currently VFC is only MAKING BCM style GBBR's. Like this:

Air gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory Machine gun
That looks f'ing dope! The same idiosyncratic production schedules occur in my other hobbies as well, so I know what you're saying. If you didn't buy Kato CalTrain model train passenger car in 2010, or a Cwejman synth-module in 2020 (the maker died), you'll never get one unless you pay a 2,000% mark-up on eBay if you can find one.

I can't recall when exactly (the last two years are a blur), but I've ordered a lot of stuff from Asia via EMS without issue. Yeah, must've been pre-pandemic, because I recall things coming no later than four weeks (sometimes two). Now, the import marking thing is news. Is that specific to California? Since EGC accepts PayPal, I think I should be covered for any potential loss.
 

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#8 ·
Ummm...you can't get the two models listed.

VR M4A1 GBBR
VR M4RIS GBBR

They haven't been in the production queue at VFC for over 17 months.
 
#10 ·
Ummm...you can't get the two models listed.

VR M4A1 GBBR
VR M4RIS GBBR

They haven't been in the production queue at VFC for over 17 months.
Yeah, I was afraid of that. Yes, very similar to modular synth gear. People have pre-orders for stuff going two years now for some items (and they are waiting!). I'll mosey along over to WGCshop and see what I can find. I'll also be getting the pistols from them. Thanks for all your help!
 
#11 ·
Money doesn't always buy the highest quality performance but it does help.

If I had that much cash I'd get a cnced upper and lower, brushless motor, 10:1 gears, aluminum shell, gate titan, lonex compression kit, lapped laylex barrel, and a nicer hop up unit then r hop it. Then a nice rail, carbon fiber outer barrel and a holographic optic with from and back plastic protection lenses fitted to it by hand. That should land the bill pretty close while still keeping a realistic look.

Or hpa the thing.

It's basically a Lego build at that price.

However I wouldn't dump big bucks into a gbb rifle because your investment will likely fall short of what you expect in the long run. Too much proprietary stuff and it will likely die long before the round count of an aeg.
 
#12 ·
Interesting comments, Ben, thanks! But aren't the GBBR components relatively few and simple and inexpensive; e.g., O-rings? Again, I'm not a player, so my monthly round-count should be relatively low compared to others.

Yeah, I'm not so into the hobby that I would go though all that trouble on a custom Lego-build, not to mention the learning curve. I have a sh*t-ton of DC (analog) model train locos I've yet to convert to DCC (digital), and that only costs about $50 each and a 10-minute install! (I'm a pretty lazy hobbyist.)
 
#13 ·
Well the irritating thing about gbb stuff is the crappy pot metal used on proprietary parts and cheap nozzles. Which from use and shock tend to fail over time.
If decent aluminum and steel parts are used in a build it tends to run quite a bit longer before something wears out of tolerance, and then it starts acting up. Silicone oil in green gas tends to wreck seals and such by swelling them. But proper thick lubrication once in awhile really helps, just not liquid Silicone junk.

There's also always user error, such as loading a gbb mag all the way to the very top then slamming it into the magwell will damage the nozzle feeding ramp push rod, or even break it off.

I have a buddy who has religiously been running ghk stuff for years, his biggest issue was when he loaned it to friends it would come back with the nozzle ruined or dirt in the mag.

In my opinion a aeg should last 30k rounds before any maintenance is necessary, such as relube and visual check, 50 to 70k would be a gamble. Hpa can go for over a million in a controlled test, on the field however wiring and the hop up must be cared for.
A gbb can't really hit those round counts without relube and replacement of worn parts.
 
#15 ·
You know with that much cash he can fetch a good GBBR and slam all those top tier good stuff like whole set of Ratech and Crusader stuff in and have it last basically forever, and if he don't know how, he can even have a proper gunsmith do it so it is installed properly and properly adjusted, and given how he isn't really into this sport, might use this chance to have the gunsmith teach him the basics,
 
#16 · (Edited)
Change of plan!

Hey, thanks for all the great replies here-much appreciated! I've now switched to shopping for rifles in AEG exclusively (gas is too hard to load). I'll still be buying Tokyo Marui GBB pistols, but only Glocks. I guess I'll be shopping for a G&G or WE-Tech M4A1 plus an M4 RIS, both in AEG. Other brands to consider? I guess I'll need to, since M4A1s and RIS' are pretty scarce from many suppliers.

So back to the original question, sans GBBRs, and with a lower price-range: Best damned AEGs for under $750? Thanks in advance!
 
#18 · (Edited)
Change of plan!

Hey, thanks for all the great replies here-much appreciated! I've now switched to shopping for rifles in AEG exclusively (gas is too hard to load). I'll still be buying Tokyo Marui GBB pistols, but only Glocks. I guess I'll be shopping for a G&G or WA-Tech M4A1 plus an M4 RIS, both in AEG. Other brands to consider? I guess I'll need to, since M4A1s and RIS' are pretty scarce from many suppliers.

So back to the original question, sans GBBRs, and with a lower price-range: Best damned AEGs for under $750? Thanks in advance!
There are speedloaders for loading GBB mag with ease, loading midcaps for Aeg is basically the same if not even more annoying then a GBBR, so unless you only run Hi cap aeg mags and have the patience to not go mad from the stupid rattling, loading it isn't a problem, and if you still really want a good Aeg, I would recommend something like a Krytac, their rifles are pretty lovely, I love the LCT AK12 and RPK16 but have mo experience with their M4 line, assuming you still only want it for their looks and not using them for a game, VFC Aeg M4 are still an option, their self shimming gearbox don't work but for just some target plinking it works, Western arms M4 are best known for their M4 Gbb system, not Aeg, so I recommend not going there, E&C east crane guns are also solid, but need more fine tuning then most, however the silver E&C gearbox it comes with is spectacular, excellent for teching, Bolt Aep rifles is also VEFY SOLID, a good balance between performance and realism from the Recoil, it is the best on the Aep market, Marui NGRS aeg rifles will also work, although their aftermarket support is VERY poor, so I would recommend a Bolt or a Krytac, they should do the job
 
#23 ·
Thanks! I would love a KWA M4. Out of stock, though. Disappointing to hear your take on the G&Gs. I guess I could wire in a third party MOSFET-circuit; though I would love the gun to be decent enough out-of-the-box.
 
#22 · (Edited)
KYairsoft:

Good selection of high quality brands and models. But everything is suspiciously "in-stock." Some unscrupulous music dealers do this-they say it's in-stock, but you're really paying for a pre-order, and if and when the manufacturer completes its next production run, that's when they'll ship your item (but of course, they'll charge your credit card immediately upon ordering). Anyone know if this sales tactic is used by KY?

They have a WE M4 400FPS RIS (no markings) for $287 plus $68 shipping ($353 total). Their prices seem to be about 15% higher than WGC's.

WGCshop:


Okay, I've been browsing WGCshop.com's site for M4 AEGs. I see a ton of brands:

• KSC
• ICS
• APS
• Ares
• Modify
• G&P
• VFC
• E&C

Update: I found this helpful guide here: Airsoft AEG Brands- A Rundown

Of those, I've only heard KSC and VFC mentioned here. I've got my eye on the KSC M4A1 carbine ERG for $303, linked here. It's backordered, but WGC claims, "the re-stock period [is] one to two weeks." This is also suspect since every backordered item has the same re-stock period.

AEG rifles tend to be actually about the same price for same rifle at Evike (slightly more, which is about the same as the shipping would cost). You pay for international shipping (which can be amortized when buying multiple items), but I pay 9.5% sales tax at Evike on every item I purchase.

Evike Los Angeles:

Now also checking locally at Evike. Apparently the Krytacs are solid platforms, acclaimed for their quality builds and components. I read that their Trident-series has the 30K motors and the Alpha-series has the 20K motors.

Although the guns at WGCshop and KYairsoft have really appealing prices (neither of which carries Krytac), I feel a bit more comfortable buying locally, especially since I can drive to Evike to resolve any customer service issues (which I've done in the past).

Evike has an Alpha CRB Epic Deal bundle on sale right now for $299, but I think I'll wait for a deal on the Trident:

Krytac full-metal Trident MKII CRB AEG ($369, regular price).
 
#24 ·
Have a broker get the items for you for less...
 
#25 ·
Honestly the switch life extender is probably enough. It either a schottky diode or a capacitor, both which handle the voltage surge. In my opinion it is more reliable than a cheapo mosfet that comes with lower end guns. A lot of aftermarket trigger contacts are a bit thicker than some stock ones too. This connection is stronger than many cheap motor connectors. As long as the contacts are cleaned every once in awhile and paired with a schottky diode they will work fine for many builds.

Mosfets have their place in high amp setups or for other features.

When I tech a basic aeg, I tend to use a schottky diode on the motor rather than a simple mosfet.
This is because I don't want to see the aeg back in a few months with a burned out mosfet.
You can do both as long as the AB feature of a mosfet is turned off. It will help some mosfets actually live longer if I'm not mistaken.

I've replaced more toasted mosfets than melted trigger contacts. The melting temp for the plastic around trigger contacts isn't really that low with shs or lonex it seems.

It all comes down to what is needed to achieve the performance desired reliably. Mosfets also aren't water resistant. In fact it can cause the mosfet to switch on and stay on until dry. Which means full auto fun for everyone till you unplug the battery.
 
#26 · (Edited)
EMG UDR-15:

Well, I spent all night trying to decide whether to return the EMG UDR-15 or not to put the money into a better gun. Everyone on the planet seems to hate APS, but it's a high-FPS shooter which seems pretty accurate, so I'm inclined to keep it. It's just not quite my cup of tea aesthetically, even though initially I thought it was pretty slick. There's nothing wrong with it, so I would take a minimum 15% hit on a re-stocking fee ($43). However, maybe if it's for store credit they'll be more lenient.

There's a sweet full-metal M4A1 at Evike for $199 (regular price) with like 70 five-star reviews. Not that I want a sub-$200 AEG, it's just one of the few available.

Tokyo Marui NGRS:

Then I found out that Tokyo Marui next-generation (NGRS) rifles are full-metal. I can buy an NGRS M4A1 locally with about a $100 mark-up, or buy from WGC with $64 international shipping and wait perhaps, what? Four to eight weeks? The Tokyo Marui NGRS HK416s also look wicked-cool, but aren't available for import into the US.

Anywho, the Next Gen guns use that proprietary battery which I think is the best improvement in airsoft ever-this is the main annoyance for me with AEGs-trying to fit batteries into not-quite-right-sized cavities. So when I learned Tokyo Marui developed an integrated, slide-in battery system for their guns, I was all for it.

I don't care that they're proprietary or expensive, or that they're only 8.4V NiMH (NiMH has a higher number of charge-cycles and requires less maintenance than lithium anyway). I'm just glad someone finally made an easy-to-use battery system, custom-fitted for the gun.

I was all set to order the M4A1 until I reconsidered the FPS. I know FPS isn't everything, and that the TMs are renowned for their build-quality and superior hop-up, all kind of making-up for the low FPS, but still; I think I'm going to prefer the sheer 400FPS+ projectile-to-target speed of my EMG F-1.
 
#27 ·
Take all the reviews on Evike and ignore them. Most are kids who rates the product well, "because they own it"...what I buy is bestest...woot.

Notice there are no "negative" reviews...Red Flag there.

Most American Market AEG's are 400fps if not a tad greater...and some models...it's very easy to get it to 400fps.
 
#30 ·
Most American Market AEG's are 400fps if not a tad greater . . .
Right! Hell or high water, the F-1 is going back tomorrow, re-stocking fee or no.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Well, I'm gathering up all of my returns to go to Evike tomorrow, and if all goes well, I should come home with a brand new Tokyo Marui NGRS M4 SOPMOD and a Tokyo Marui FN handgun. Their slide-in battery system was really the clincher—this resolves my number-one annoyance with airsoft.

Had I bought the F-1 AR15 with a non-skeletonontized receiver, I probably would've kept it (actually, still no). The skeletontinzation on this gun has really begun to annoy me.

Other M4A1 contenders for tomorrow's store-credit buys:

• G&G TR16 R4 Carbine Airsoft AEG ($360).
• LCT Airsoft L4-A1 Airsoft Electric Blowback AEG ($339).
• Cybergun Colt Licensed XM177E2 Airsoft AEG Rifle by G&P ($320).

The Cybergun seems really nice, but oddly, it has 14mm positive-threads. Another one that caught my eye was this completely rigged-out M4; though, unfortunately, it's currently out-of-stock:

• Matrix Sportsline M4 RIS Airsoft AEG Rifle w/ G3 Micro-Switch Gearbox ($276).

Above comes with M203 grenade-launcher already installed. I couldn't get my S&T grenade-launcher installed onto my S&T rifle—it simply won't fit (which doesn't work anyway), so I'd like to buy one already factory-assembled.
 
#33 ·
#34 · (Edited)
How? I thought they didn't have a license to sell H&K in the US? WGC says they won't export those to the US market.

I'm about to go to Evike today to return a pile of crap and may apply store credit toward the Tokyo Marui SOPCOM and their HK pistol both of which they have in stock. Would prefer the M1A1, but that's out of stock there. So if you know of any significantly better deals, let me know (Evike's Tokyo Marui mark-up is pretty steep). However, I don't think I have the patience for EMS delivery. Thanks!
 
#35 ·
You know the M1A1 is the Thompson right?

"American Consumerism" does not apply. If you want the Asia stuff...you can get it.
 
#36 ·
Haha! I keep mistyping that! M4A1. What do you think the shipping time is from WGC to Los Angeles via EMS now?
 
#38 ·
Please read this, I hope it may contribute to your decision making process.

Firstly, I have been in the airsoft world for around 14 years. First off, Guges is an awesome dude to buy from - he is always able to get the stuff for really good prices.

Since I was also facing the same dilemma as you, think about what features you want in an AEG first.

***After owning a ton of AEG's, I really hate it when the bb's drop from the mag well when reloading standard AEG's. Although just inserting a mag and shooting right after may be nice, i like extra realism. I also have a Marui MWS (gbb), but it is a hassle to load (I truly do recommend that platform, it is very reliable and can be had below $750 - mags are expensive though at $50 a pop).

Personally, there are several features I look for when purchasing an AEG

1. mag cutoff (so a follower inside the magazine to ensure the last round feeds).

2. functional bolt release

--if used outdoors:

3. Ability to accept RHOP (thus, must use heavier bb's)

4. FPS - this is important, in that if the FPS is too low (sub 300), Rhopping the gun is pointless since the heavy bb's will travel pretty slow.

After all these features are met, I look at reliability. This is because, there are many more options for reliable guns that don't have these features. In addition, there are guns which are just full of gimmicks in my humble opinion, such as the BOLT guns - I heard performance wise they really aren't that great, but I don't own one so take it with a grain of salt.

So, the guns that fit my criteria are Systema PTW, Marui Next Generation, KWA ERG series (VM4, RM4), Marui Recoil Shocks, G&G G2 (no "functional" bolt release but has round cutoff).

_______________________________

Now a little more about these options:

Systema PTW
The most expensive option as you can buy any of the other options plus upgrades plus mags and more for the price of 1 new PTW. Was popular back in the day due to its realism and consistency (functional bolt lock, mag cutoff, electronic fire control unit) before many of the other options came out. Features I like about it are the great trigger response, consistent performance, and quick cylinder change (easy to swap FPS for indoor/outdoor play). However, it is quite hard to get a new one if you don't know where to look, not to mention the hefty price. Also, the community is rather much smaller in comparison to the other available options, so it may be difficult to find tech's/info to modify your own Systema correctly. The hop up is different than AEG hop, so cannot really RHop conventionally (I may be wrong but I couldn't find anything about it).

KWA/KSC ERG:
The KWA/KSC ERG are the same guns as far as I know. They got some proprietary parts, but those can is easy enough to acquire in my opinion. Hop up is proprietary (can use regular ones if you switch the gearbox nozzle), but there are rhop arms available for the hop up, so that is not a problem. Earlier gen ERG's were not great in performance/reliability, but the newer KWA's (VM4, RM4) have good performance. Personally I was considering a KWA VM4 as I don't care about the recoil feature, but still has the empty mag cut off and functional bolt catch to reactivate the gun after reloading. RM4 series is all that plus recoil. In addition, these are compatible with regular AEG magazines without modification (but will lose the empty mag cutoff feature). Some other quirks about them:

  • adjustable FPS (+-50)
  • Quick change spring
Drawbacks about this for me really are the laser etched trademarks, unless you get the KSC ERG with the colt engravings.

Tokyo Marui Next Gen recoil shock:
Tokyo Marui things are great - I stand by the brand. It has proprietary magazines, though can be modified with an adapter to take regular AEG magazines. Stock, these are the most reliable (can run for many years), consistent, have good range (so do not need to touch the hop up) and are a great choice for many players. However, these are really meant to be used as out of the box guns. The one drawback for me is that these guns come out of the box shooting ~280 fps. Although the range is great, personally I am not a fan of my bb's traveling so slow. In addition, all the M4/416 Recoil shocks (anything with buffer tube) will have to be modified to use Tamiya/Deans batteries (except for SCARs, and the new Next Gen MP5, which come with Tamiya connectors). However, these drawbacks may not weigh on you so much if you are comfortable with doing some tech work yourself or finding a tech.

G&G G2
Their new G2 line is basically a standard AEG, but can also have empty mag cutoff if using the G2 magazines (also compatible with regular aeg mags). However, bolt catch does not reactivate the gun - it is just to release the mock bolt after pulling back the charging handle to reveal the hop up unit. These are probably the simplest option with the most compatibility with aftermarket parts (since the AEG parts options are pretty expansive). Note that I heard their MOSFETs are finicky, so it is recommended to drop in a Perun ETU (simply plug it in, super easy). Also, they don't have a standard M4a1 look that you were looking for - they have SR30's and SR15's though, with really nice engraved trademarks!

_______________________________

hope this was at least somewhat helpful and gives you some more options on what to look at!
 
#41 · (Edited)
Please read this, I hope it may contribute to your decision making process . . . hope this was at least somewhat helpful and gives you some more options on what to look at!
Wow, Jonny! Thanks for posting that ultra-detailed analysis! Really appreciate you taking the time and effort to write all that up! I'm using this as my buying guide going forward. Based on your recommendations, I looked for the KWA M4s today at Evike, but they were all sold out. I am definitely a more of an out-of-the-box kind of guy and don't, at this point, plan on performing any upgrades myself. Thanks again!
 
#39 ·
The newer g&g mosfets require two new parts to swap out as well. The trigger, is proprietary to the mosfet, and they took a chunk out of the selector plate so that it doesn't interact with the cutoff lever, it has a microswitch under the contact board to detect the selector. The biggest issue is the fact they didnt make the mosfet internal, and decided to attempt to run all the control wires through the gearbox. Which can snag on the motor pinion sometimes. Which ruins the wiring. Their internals aren't very good either. For the price, it's not worth it.
 
#42 · (Edited)
Evike HQ Superstore: Field trip!

Finally made it to Evike's Alhambra store today, located on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County. Only 30 miles away, but through the worst traffic in L.A. Good news-Evike took everything back without any re-stocking fees!

• Tokyo Marui M4 SOPMOD (RIS) NGRS:

I finally got to hold this in my hot little hands-wow! What an awesome replica. You have to actually hold this to appreciate the quality feel of the gun. But I wasn't quite sure I wanted to pay Evike's 30% mark-up over Hong Kong pricing ($570 vs. $437). Also, I wanted to get the M4A1 first and possibly add the RIS-version later. In any case, I'm definitely sold on the quality of Tokyo Marui rifles. I just have to decide if I'm okay with a sub-300FPS rifle as my main shooter.

The KWA RM-M4 Jonny recommends is also very appealing, possessing all three of his must-have features. The follower is a neat, nice-to-have feature, but not necessarily a deal-breaker for me. In fact, I'm willing to give that up should I decide to go with Tokyo Marui rifles exclusively, so that I can use the higher-capacity, 520-round NextGen magazines (really hate re-loading), rather than the stock 82-round NextGen mags with followers.

So as it stands now, it's between these two (or one A1 and one RIS):

• Tokyo Marui M4A1 SOCOM Next Generation NGRS AEG ($437).
• KWA full-metal RM4-A1 AEG3 M4 carbine AEG ($330).

Though, unfortunately, as I mentioned, the KWA is out-of-stock at Evike. I originally planned on getting two Tokyo Marui NGRS rifles (one for me and one for my GF), so we could shoot together and so that she would be able to change her own batteries more easily.

• Rifles I have:

I kept my flash-sale A&K full-metal M4 RIS. Externals appear excellent. I just packed it with a new 11.1V LiPo, and this thing rocks [edit: exchanging 11.1V LiPos for 9.6V or 10.8V NiMH]. I chose the CYMA M4A1 since it's one of very few in-stock. My desert-colored SCAR I bought for my GF to wear in my short film and looks great. The Umarex MP5 I bought in 2007, my very first AEG.

• A&K full-metal M4 RIS AEG.
• CYMA full-metal M4A1 AEG.
• Cybergun full-metal FN SCAR-L (tan).
• Umarex full-metal H&K MP5A5 AEG.

The A&K and CYMA M4s can stunt-double for my precious Tokyo Marui M4A1 and M4 SOPCOM NextGens if and when I get them. Both stand-ins' V2 metal gearboxes are upgradable so may be serviceable platforms for later improvement.
 
#44 ·
Evike HQ Superstore: Field trip!

Finally made it to Evike's Alhambra store today, located on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County. Only 30 miles away, but through the worst traffic in L.A. Good news-Evike took everything back without any re-stocking fees! Learned a few things:

• In-person retail shopping is hard to beat.

I was finally able to demo a Tokyo Marui G17 . . . and, it just felt far too light. And even though it's a replica of ceramic gun, its light-as-a-feather feel made it seem a bit too toy-like for me. On the upside, it's slightly thicker than the Umarex Glock (the Umarex feels too skinny), and fits in the Kydex holster a bit more snuggly, but still rattles around a tiny bit (the Umarex is very loose in the holster and rattles a lot).

Also, for whatever reason, Kydex' thumb-release is completely non-functional with either manufacturer's Glock (i.e., instead, you have to pull on the front cover to release the gun-extremely awkward and time-consuming-an issue I consider a non-starter for this combo).

So I searched the counter for larger ceramic-gun replicas and noticed the Salient Arms' "BLU" by EMG. The gun is visibly larger and has an aluminum-slide and polymer frame which felt much more solid than the Glocks. It also felt more to scale. Of all the ceramic-pistol replicas Evike had on display, this is the one I liked the most for weight, feel, and build.

So I bought the BLU on-the-spot and just brought it home-too bad it doesn't work! Oh, and the mag constantly falls out of the gun-really embarrassing.

• Tokyo Marui M4 SOPMOD (RIS) NGRS:

I finally got to hold this in my hot little hands-wow! What an awesome replica. You have to actually hold this to appreciate the quality feel of the gun. But I wasn't quite sure I wanted to pay Evike's 30% mark-up over Hong Kong pricing ($570 vs. $437). Also, I wanted to get the M4A1 first and possibly add the RIS-version later. In any case, I'm definitely sold on the quality of Tokyo Marui rifles. I just have to decide if I'm okay with a sub-300FPS rifle as my main shooter.

The KWA RM-M4 Jonny recommends is also very appealing, possessing all three of his must-have features. The follower is a neat, nice-to-have feature, but not necessarily a deal-breaker for me. In fact, I'm willing to give that up should I decide to go with Tokyo Marui rifles exclusively, so that I can use the higher-capacity, 520-round NextGen magazines (really hate loading).

So as it stands now, it's between these two (or one A1 and one RIS):

• Tokyo Marui M4A1 SOCOM Next Generation NGRS AEG ($437).
• KWA full-metal RM4-A1 AEG3 M4 carbine AEG ($330).

Though, unfortunately, as I mentioned, the KWA is out-of-stock at Evike. I originally planned on getting two Tokyo Marui NGRS rifles (one for me and one for my GF), so we could shoot together and so that she would be able to change her own batteries more easily.

• Batteries + chargers:

So I loaded up on new 11.1V, 1.450mA LiPos and a new NiMH for my MP5. Test-fitted each one at Evike today to make sure they all fit. Got a pair of Titan $32 lithium smart-chargers with digital displays and a cheap 8.4V NiMH-charger for my MP5 since I don't know what its internals are rated for.

• Rifles I have:

Recall that I kept my A&K full-metal M4 RIS, 'cause it looks cool and was only $139. The SCAR was only $159, so keeping that too. Don't know how robust their internals are, so I guess I'll just shoot them to death until they break. The A&K M4 will be my "thrasher" gun. The SCAR I bought for my GF to wear in my short film (may buy a Tokyo Marui NGRS SCAR in black later). The Umarex MP5 I bought in 2007, my very first AEG.

• A&K full-metal M4 RIS AEG.
• Cybergun FN SCAR-L (tan) AEG.
• Umarex H&K MP5A5 AEG.
If your Glock is malfunctioning bring it back to Evike, you shoukd have requested a test firing before buying all the guns, the support should have this type of mag release problem covered, and while the Marui Glock is plastic it can be very easily modded to have a metal slide
 
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