What Brand AEG and Why?

[mattaddiction]

Corona Virus boredom question, sitting here browsing AEG's and wondering what differentiates one brand from the next these days, are they all TM clones or are there some inventive features out there?

Q. So what brand (and model) have you gone for and why for your AEG (main one you use, not the 10's of others under the bed)? 

(Or more simply, what AEG are you using and why as your main go to one)

Personally I'm using an ICS M4, main reason been I like the split gearbox design for ease of maintenance/fixing/tinkering. 

Matt

 

[Adolf Hamster]

as a general rule a lot of the attempts to break away from the standard tm pattern box have had problems, and personally i like sticking to ol' reliable.

take kwa's blowback mechanism, an absolute nightmare of proprietary parts and extra fiddly bits with springs all for the sake of a rumble pack and stop on empty.

or systema's with their extremely limited market, whilst they do perform very well they suffer from the massive diminishing return curve you get in airsoft.

mostly what i look for in a gun is external quality, because for the basic tm pattern boxes it might take some work but you can get a pretty even playing field of performance out of them. for example a cyma or jg ak with a bit of tinkering will shoot just as well as an e&l or lct but the latter will "feel" more solid and look nicer doing it.

 

[BigStew]

model of gun and build quality are my main concern when looking for a gun then price( not too expensive  not too cheap).

 

[Skara]

I go for whatever is easy to work on and has a decent amount of easy to source spares/upgrades.

Currently E&L 74u, G&G ARP-9 are my main AEGs, with an Ares Amoeba Honey Badger thrown in that will be replaced soon with something less annoying (Double Eagle Honey Badger if it ever comes back in stock at TaiwanGun)

 

[mintsauce5]

I used to be all tm recoil , 416 and scar as they used the same mags , but as I’m getting older I wanted something a bit Lighter so now my main two go to guns are either my little scorpion evo or the bet , both nice and light and reliable , I do also have an hk416(vfc lovely externals) hkm4d and two g&p M4’s , and far to many tm pistols , good job my man cave is in the loft and the wife doesn’t like going up there !

 

[Davegolf]

I used to be all tm recoil , 416 and scar as they used the same mags , but as I’m getting older I wanted something a bit Lighter so now my main two go to guns are either my little scorpion evo or the bet , both nice and light and reliable , I do also have an hk416(vfc lovely externals) hkm4d and two g&p M4’s , and far to many tm pistols , good job my man cave is in the loft and the wife doesn’t like going up there !

Too many spiders? ?

Had many makes over the yaaars.

Spent silly hours making RIFs work to my 'standard'.

My main gun / most usage is always a TM base.

Why, because accuracy and range are all about hop unit design and gearbox/hop unit/barrel alignment.

For an AEG I think its nigh on impossible to get a better hop unit than the ones fitted to TM Recoil M4s & 416s..

Mainly with AEGs it comes down to a preference - externals or performance.

The only unicorns that achieve both are GasGuns.

I appreciate that's a broad sweeping statement, there are a few AEGs that come close, Realsword for one

My main gun is currently a TM Recoil G36 or TM MWS depending on the field type/opponent pleb level.

If the game is honourable then the MWS gets the greatest play satisfaction, if not the G36 always gets the job done

 

[Shamal]

My main go to is the ares amoeba 013. I have stuck with it over the years because I know what It is capable of and it does it very well.

Good solid design(you could put it in a dulux paint mixing maching and it wouldn't rattle)!and everything falls nicely to hand. Plus by taking front pin out and splitting upper and lower it fits perfectly in my 511 range bag.?

Regards

 

[AlphaBear]

I've always run with TM from day one.... Never wanted any other brand...I'm happy taking the gearbox apart and tinkering if needed (and yes I've killed a few TM fairies over the years)... but you know what they are just fun to use... My only other brand of gun is my  Systema PTW... Bought way back in 2010/11 and she's still going strong... A pain in the arse to maintain if you need parts as there's no one mainstream to get parts from other than a very few select places... but you know what she's a keeper!

 

[mattaddiction]

Probably badly asked, but my questing posed is about what you are using now and why, not what you would go for.

(And not a what first AEG to get question,  just curious what rocks your world and why).

m

 

[Iceni]

Depends on what you want, and what you want to spend to get there. Brand is generally the least important thing. Especially since so much or airsoft revolves about rebranding it's difficult to tell one brand from another at certain price points and models, since so many come from the same place and have the same internals.

Personally I would never buy a gun based on the gearbox or gearbox features. Gearboxes are simple things, making them more complicated or more accessible isn't worth investing in. A bog standard JG gearbox can have far more done to it, and for far less money than something that has unique parts that are required to make that gearbox work. EBB, QC springs, Split uppers, HC gearboxes are all nice features to have, but they shouldn't bump a gun price by a lot. If you are paying £100+ for those features then mistakes were made IMO.

Externals are far more important, of my 4 main guns 2 are unique. The Augs are externally stock, The M4 is a full magnesium upper and lower and of a design that is not common at all (gr300 shorty). The G3 goes even further than that with real parts and pushes what is possible with airsoft. Don't think that makes me an externals snob, I'll happily play with a £100 gun if it shoots and feels right. Both of my Augs are cheap variants.

 

[Sitting Duck]

Probably badly asked, but my questing posed is about what you are using now and why, not what you would go for.

(And not a what first AEG to get question,  just curious what rocks your world and why).

m

Like asking the same question about what car or GF/Wife

Simple answer - what one you get on with - they all need maintaining or they get a bit cranky & stop working

 

[Rogerborg]

or systema's with their extremely limited market, whilst they do perform very well they suffer from the massive diminishing return curve you get in airsoft.

A very cromulent point.  Airsoft isn't a huge market to begin with, and already saturated with brands at many price points. Breaking into it with something new at this point requires some really unique selling points (which Systemas have) but even then you've got the problem that you don't get economies of scale until you're selling loads, and you won't sell loads until you're cheap.  Getting out of a niche is a big ask.

So, me: CYMA, JG and Galaxy, because they're cheap.

I'd highlight CYMA in particular as epitomising the principle of economies of scale.  My M4 cost £75 (with battery and charger) and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it out of the box.  Sure, cheap, nasty plastic, and pretty much every part could be better.  But pretty much every part could be worse too (Jesus, Nuprol what the actual...), and they all function with no unpleasant surprises.

They can sell so many at this price because they sell so many at this price.

 

[AlphaBear]

This whole topic is interesting to say the least from the perspective of what people play with.. I've always believed you get what you pay for, but at the end of the day our hobby is governed by the laws pf physics. A bb of the same weight and pushed out with the same power should in theory if all things being equal travel the same distance that a Cyma will shoot at or at the extreme end a Systema will shoot at. Of course range and accuracy will vary depending upon the brand of gun or the upgrades done to it to achieve the perfect air seal with each shot and to attain almost zero friction down the barrel.. Of course external factors like wind, humidity, indoor vs outdoor all play a key part... Will all these big buck guns make me a better player.... hell no! Does it make me smile each time I use them.... absolutely! Rock with what you're happy with....

 

[mattaddiction]

Like asking the same question about what car or GF/Wife

Simple answer - what one you get on with - they all need maintaining or they get a bit cranky & stop working

Car yes, but this is an Airsfot forum...   GF hardly  ( you only have to put up with an AEG on a Sunday and it's a dam sight easier to change it,  if it gets cranky on you... : o p )

m

 

[Sitting Duck]

Car yes, but this is an Airsfot forum...   GF hardly  ( you only have to put up with an AEG on a Sunday and it's a dam sight easier to change it,  if it gets cranky on you... : o p )

m

Think you missed the point...

Many people have sunk money into cars, toy guns & perhaps women/relationships and got little to show for it

After say 6~10 various versions you come to realise there are flaws in everything (inc ourselves)

So armed with that knowledge/experience perhaps wisdom you adjust your high level of expectations perhaps

and appreciate the item's good points/features and perhaps focus a little less on its flaws

If I was asked which gun....

G&G FireHawk (launch TopTech ver) as it is much snappier than std FH, perfect for cqb

G&G CM18 - just coz it looks nice

or

Some old cheap Cyma 517/515 M4 or AK 28a

or

perhaps a JG something

ICS are ok, their basic motors have a bit more zest than cyma stock G&G or Cyma's, perhaps JG too

But there M4 nozzles are shorter than most other M4's and the hop, especially plastic M4 hop is prone to breaking

(on the arm that applies the pressure to nub), if you have a plastic hop unit replace with a metal version

A std M4 hop needs modding to fit but do-able, though might need to replace the nozzle to a reg M4 one

Both G&G & ICS have stopped making their SIG 552 range - basically a tarted up G36 mostly

with most guns being nigh on much the same meat different gravy/receiver/body

The small number of unique/bespoke ones are maybe for real enthusiasts perhaps

or people who seek something different to play peew peew with

Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one

& taste or some person's taste in something is subjective as they say

I go with the more budget to lower mid range stuff - say £100 to £150

if something is really good I'll praise it, if something is really shit I'll crucify it

There are flaws in everything, especially at my price range - but also at double my budget too

Overall, I think the TT FH's has been used the most

other than that whatever I had been tinkering with truth be told

 

[Nick G]

I've got some JG ones I use fairly often, couple of MP5 's and an AUG all are great and do the job very well. All had replacement hop rubbers and the AUG got a tight bore barrel but that's it. Love my E&L AK but only use it occasionally, same with Minimi and sniper. The ones I use most often by far are ones that I've built from scratch though. No base gun so no manufacturer as such. Most of my pistols are WE , maple leaf hop and crazy jet and they just work so well.

 

[mattaddiction]

Think you missed the point...

Many people have sunk money into cars, toy guns & perhaps women/relationships and got little to show for it

After say 6~10 various versions you come to realise there are flaws in everything (inc ourselves)

So armed with that knowledge/experience perhaps wisdom you adjust your high level of expectations perhaps

and appreciate the item's good points/features and perhaps focus a little less on its flaws

Em,  I think it's you missing the point of this thread by a country mile with most of that....    And what has that ^^^^ got to do with the question I asked?!  

If an answer is 'it's my first AEG, and cost was the sole driving factor or it  was the only one in the shop I could afford' that's just as valid and interesting response as 'it's my 110th one and X Y & Z feature made it my choice',  What has a lecture on adjusting expectations and focusing less on flaws got to do with that??

Question asked was: What AEG do you use NOW and why, not what would you go for..... (obviously that assumes most people have the one 'go to' AEG they use most often for the one type of game site, be it woodland, or CQB etc).

We are all a weird and diverse bunch with vastly differing requirements and I was hoping for some good and interesting thoughts and the reasons behind them from personal perspectives, maybe a bit of discussion and maybe a bit of insight into some of the newer unique features that help differentiate brands off the back of that.  Should I have just asked 'Which is da best gat to buy first' and left it at that (btw I'm not looking  to buy anything, unless the new WE Hi-Power comes out any time soon, just to avoid confusion) ??

Thanks to those reply's that are actually on the mark with the question  I asked !

m

 

[Davegolf]

TBH the only 'recent' feature of merit is mag empty / firing stops.

Precocking is good but not a standard feature.

Split boxes and quick change springs are useful, especially for storage / spring decocking.

 

[Skara]

TBH the only 'recent' feature of merit is mag empty / firing stops.

Which is something that would scare the fuck out of me.

And another thing that can go wrong.

 

[mattaddiction]

Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one

& taste or some person's taste in something is subjective as they say

I go with the more budget to lower mid range stuff - say £100 to £150

if something is really good I'll praise it, if something is really shit I'll crucify it

There are flaws in everything, especially at my price range - but also at double my budget too

Overall, I think the TT FH's has been used the most

other than that whatever I had been tinkering with truth be told

Almost missed this which is closer the mark, almost.. 

Indeed they are and that is what I was hoping would give some interesting points of view (Subjective personal taste, not a$$ holes..).  What's the draw (for you, from your pov) with the Firehawk for regular use?

as a general rule a lot of the attempts to break away from the standard tm pattern box have had problems, and personally i like sticking to ol' reliable.

take kwa's blowback mechanism, an absolute nightmare of proprietary parts and extra fiddly bits with springs all for the sake of a rumble pack and stop on empty.

or systema's with their extremely limited market, whilst they do perform very well they suffer from the massive diminishing return curve you get in airsoft.

mostly what i look for in a gun is external quality, because for the basic tm pattern boxes it might take some work but you can get a pretty even playing field of performance out of them. for example a cyma or jg ak with a bit of tinkering will shoot just as well as an e&l or lct but the latter will "feel" more solid and look nicer doing it.

I've not actually come across the KWA Blowback's, beside the nightmare of proprietary parts, do they offer anything new that Bolt or a TM Recoil doesn't offer? 

Systema is a bit of a red herring/oddity in that they are not really an Airsoft brand imo, they just happen to use the plastic pea popping tech, they are marketed at government bodies and the like that have decent budgets and are used to the cost of real steel?? So they can develop proprietary tech cost effectively within that market.  If I had the money down the back of the sofa i'd certainly get one, but not to use in a muddy forest..

Is that external quality in terms of build quality or quality of the 'look' / ascetics (/trades) i'm guessing the former? You go for?

m