BigStew

Have you spent time on the range to set the hop and actually check the range? If not do that. Then leave it alone until the hop rubber wears out and just change it. TMs are designed to do what they do very well and consistently. You are going to spend a lot of money to get your extra distance and will most likely loose the reliability of the gun. You may never sell the gun but unmodified TMs hold their value upgraded TMs don't.

Don't keep the gun gased between games and lube the seals regularly and you should be fine.

Do not buy asg or Kwa mags as they are based on KSC system 7 mags which have different feed lips and knocker valves. HFC and Well mags are based on the KSC version 1 mags

Being Airsoft there is no guarantee that mags will be cross brand compatible. I just bought a battle axe ak drum mag and I needed to sand the back of it to get it to locked in place on a cyma ak. So you should where possible stick to same brand as your gun and expect to have to modify if they are not the same brand.

Almost as much as the gun but it needs it https://www.octagonairsoft.com/product-page/spas-12-folding-stock

There is a model gun forum for blank fire replicas

Other than their old armalites (plastic body cause barrel wobble) TM are a safe bet in terms of they will work out the box with out modification and their lemon rate is significantly lower than Chinese/Tiawanise made guns. They are however exspensive compared to other brands but that's down to country of origin and QC. There are now many manufacturers that do more for less but if you search these forums you'll see posts about essential mods/repairs needed for most brands. My team currently runs stock G&G ARP9s great guns but out of 5 bought 3 are broken in less than a year, with out heavy use also one drum mag failure out the box for the team mate with the still functioning gun. I had a TM scar which I had for 2 years before I got bored never missed a beat before I sold it( I have now been shot several times by the mate I sold it to). Most Airsoft manufacturers especially lower/ mid tier offer more for your money but (personal opinion) none of them match TM reliability. So if you want gun that you are prepared to do work if/when it needs it go for pretty much and manufacture. If you want a gun that you are 97% sure it will work every time get a TM.

Before you spend the money I would check the site you want to play at allows strobe lights.

going to 7.4v lipo won't be an issue. its a case of battery physical size and connectors. you either need to rewire your gun or get a AEP lipo converter (like this https://www.airsoftworld.net/new-tokyo-marui-micro-aep-to-smg-7-skorpion-mac10-battery-adaptor-for-li-po-lipo-7-4v-550mah.html )

Best I can find is 2.5 inch https://www.moaitoys.com/shop/index.php/tokyo-marui-python-357-2-5-inch-revolver-stainless-silver.html. you'll probably have to go to a Japanese shop and odds of them shipping is not high.

CYMA AK. the launcher makes the thing ridiculously heavy.

krytacs don't do anything over anyone else to justify their higher price

They are proprietary parts which is never good. ICS had a massive clear out of management/designers a few years ago and the replacements weren't players so products that came later weren't well thought out and quality took a sip. I had a mp5 where the tappet broke after 3 game days. Before I had ICS mp5s ran for years.

Honestly not seen one of those for sale in years new or second hand. pretty sure VFC made one.

Maybe take what is put up on an ICS produced video with a grain of salt. ICS has been going down hill for a few years now and not heard of or seen a good performing ICS gbb

You need to put this in the wanted section of the sales forum's

They do appear to be showing up on sales threads in increasing numbers not really a good sign.

It's a personal choice up to yourself the only issue is weathering either looks fantastic or crap. How confident are you doing it and living with the results. I personally just let use weather my metal guns it can happen pretty quickly. You can always go with you were issued with a refinished gun which was a labour of love for the armourer.

That mag is a version 1 KSC copy which is what Well copy so odds are your gun Is a rebranded Well but can't guarantee.

I just use Abby silicon spray.

You are too old when you are dead

are you chronoing with the suppressor on the gun? unless you have an extended inner barrel to the front of the suppressor the bb will be losing FPS travelling through the suppressor. chrono the gun with out the suppressor 1st. also 250 with 0.25 is equivalent to 280fps with 0.2 bbs not sure you have actually lost any fps at the point. please clarify how you chronoed your gun?

wouldn't surprise me most GBB pistols are TM clones

barely cycled and could have spat the bbs further. possibly a duff gun but not heard any glowing reviews for any ICS pistols

it protects the knocker valve it also looks like it stops the mag going to far up the frame. I would sand down the break so it don't catch on the slide. it should still work. its not a part you can replace you would need a complete chassis. currently hard to come by a TM one in the current climate and expect an after market one to be expensive. I am curious on how it broke can only think the mag got rammed up with a fair bit of force.