RostokMcSpoons

I play every couple of weeks because that's the cadence at Spec Ops... I tried another site nearby, it didn't go so well, so I've decided I'm best off sticking with what I know for the moment - and spending some of the savings on the usual consumables for the next one, and for back garden plinking (though even that's limited due to our house cat who would happily try to make a run for it when the patio door is open, and m'wife insisting our neighbours will hate the sound of my guns and will therefore cause armed police to descend upon us!) Unfortunately(?) I've missed a recent game for a spa trip, and I'm missing the next as I'll be traveling back from a holiday. The good news for me is that Carlos reckons the CQB site is on the cusp of opening, so I'll be able to get my 'fix' even if I miss a woodland game day. And there are actually some well-regarded sites nearby (around MK and Northampton) that I should have tried by now - with my job situation looking a bit happier, I might get to try 'em out soon. Where is it you live, @DanBow?

I have had another go at fettling my Tippmann sort-of-recently, and it's still not right. 1) The TDC hop is ... Yes. Proper. It's spinning right round like a record, baby. Not engaging with a thread to actually apply any downward pressure. Either the thread the hop screw has stripped, or it's gone walkies altogether... I'm sure it used to be fine, but it ain't now! Edit: Oh dear, I think I was being a noob. I just found a video explaining how the TDC hop works. I may have a loose grub screw preventing it from working properly. I'll go check! 2) The Rate Of Fire is a bit pants. It must be chugging along at 10-12rps or something. I've seen videos of Tippmanns ripping along very nicely at above 15rps. Maybe I need a different bolt or recoil spring to achieve that, but I suspect it's more the set up or a problem...? 3) Semi Auto doesn't work properly. If I have the full auto working, then the semi auto tends to occasionally spit out 2 or 3 BBs. If I turn the RoF down to the point that semi is reliable, then I basically end up with full auto also working as semi! I have already contacted Dave Sutton at Kore Outdoor UK, who I believe are the UK distributor for Tippmann parts? He suggested some lubrication which I did already... so looking for any other hints or tips!

There's usually not much teamwork at Spec Ops, so I either pair up with Dan, or one of the other regulars I know, who actually push the objective - and then provide them with spotting info / covering fire / try a suicidal rush to find the entrenched opponent. That keeps me happy that I'm trying to do something useful*. If there are no friends around I just often ask anybody wandering around spawn what they think is the best place to go... if they give a sensible answer I tag along with them, and provide covering fire or ask them to cover me as I advance (for the first move or two at least). I've seen people try to organise bigger squads with some more strategic teamwork (beyond the initial rush, which is of course very important). It usually doesn't last beyond the first sighting of a BB in mid-flight, sadly. * Either that I or I go on a long solo flanking run so I can bag a couple of easy-ish kills, and to find any blind spots in the defence.

... you do have to be lucky with your timing! Good stuff doesn't tend to be there for long

Action Hobbies often have gun bags in the boneyard section. I got a few of them, made by different manufacturers, decent bags for £10-15 each

If you want a budget riser for a budget sight, Ant-supplies were always worth a look... https://www.ant-supplies.uk/rails-and-adapters/

Cheers @Krisz Looks like I got my numbers muddled a bit, seems most of the regs do output pressure ~200psi, and with an input pressure ~800psi (so presumably that's the 'raw' output from the air tank, even though the contents are at higher pressures???) Ahhhh, anyway the Balystik 800 I've seen knocking around on the classifieds (I think there's one there now), so glad to hear it's a good choice!

I'm looking at buying an Airtac adapter for my VFC HK416 A5... like this 'ere device Now I've already got a small air bottle for my Tippmann, but that gun has a built-in regulator so the air bottle just has an open/close valve on the top. I believe I need a regulator. I have questions: 1) The airtac page says the PSI setting is required for the amount of recoil - the joule output will still be controlled by the gun's NPAS. The page recommends a starting setting of 100PSI Presumably I can therefore select a regulator designed for 0-200PSI rather than one of them that goes to much higher figures? Should I still choose one that goes to 800 for future compatibility? 2) The product page mentions 'US Style Fitting as standard' - is this something that might trip me up? 3) Talking to one of the HPA users yesterday, he said he's been using a chinese clone regulator, and it's been fine. Presumably that open the choice to an AliExpress / Amazon special? 4) ... so any strong recommendations for a good budget regulator? 5) And... have I missed any questions? (Airtac sell a 0-200psi reg with US fitting for £70. I could add that in to my purchase, if it's a good choice)

Good day out at Spec Ops yesterday. I'll probably leave Dan to review the games, but basically after worrying at the outset that the teams looked unbalanced with more regular/experienced/sniper/HPA players on the other team, it actually turned out to be reasonably well balanced. (Though we did lose most of the time in the end!) Decided to travel light again for this event, so went Double Double Eagle + gas gun * Double Eagle M906C (approving comments on the new paint job were much appreciated) * Double Eagle M904G (backup) * VFC HK416 A5 GBBR This was my first chance to test the two DEs at range after swapping gearboxes and barrels + hop units between the two. All worked fine. Ran the 906C with an 11.1v battery and it didn't get hot. Good result! I chose the HK416 for the first games, but having only three working mags, and then seemingly having a problem with another, I switched back to the 906C. Some very pleasing long range hits, but the best moments were (as always) sneaky flanking attacks where I got nice and close before 'unleashing hell' (or indeed a few small bits of plastic) A bit of crap hit taking from the kids .. mostly people getting shot in the feet and ignoring it, because they no doubt thought no one could see it happening. It got called out by the marshals, seemed ok after that. Great to see lots of friends, weather was good, burger and chicken was tasty, a decent day ?

Thanks @CrackCommandoUnit1972, I think the gasket in the pic was quite loose on the valve, but seemed to be correctly positioned when assembled. I'll take it all apart and check for any damage, evidence of it being nipped when in position. And check the gaskets again too. I had another mag that I thought had lost its ability to hold gas yesterday at my skirmish. Luckily it turned out it hadn't quite seated properly - a 'sturdier' approach to getting it in the mag well was all it needed. However, all of this is making me think I'll just take advantage of my existing HPA equipment (that doesn't get used, because of my Tippmann issues), get an Airtac adaptor and side-step most of these glitches! I talked to a couple of people running with them on their gats yesterday, and they seemed very pleased with them. So... I can order the new M4 adapter from Airtac for £130, I'll have to sacrifice components from one gas mag to complete it, and then I need to buy a regulator for my air tank. I need some advice on that, I'll start a thread in the HPA section.

Noob

Re: VFC M249 I guess the full weight version would add raw material cost AND delivery costs that sellers might not fancy. So somewhat-sensible business decision not to go the chonky-boi route?

Well well well, looks like I actually got close, if not right! Wonders will never cease ? Total disclosure, mine read at 25.7 the first time I re-checked, the second time at 25.8. I guess 25.7 or 25.8 depending on which might be an actual recognised standard thread size?

Easy mistake to make - most people are only ever interested in 14 or 16mm threads and whether they're CW or CCW. Interesting point though - I measured the external diameter as 25.8mm. (Just re-checked it too) Change of design? Or am I just shit at using measuring devices?

I did do some similar stuff when I was trying to make a Battlefield 4 style F2000 stubby grip fitment...

There's an external thread on the 904g flash hider (which I'd not noticed before), it's that which Xyniro wants the specs for

Bah humbug. I'm having problems with one of my gas mags. I had broken the fill valve by over-tightening it. Luckily Fire Support sell compatible Guarder valves at two for a tenner (which makes the fiver postage feel a bit steep, but hey ho) Anyway, I've just fitted that and tried out the mag again. It's leaking 'bigly' I've narrowed the problem down to two options: 1) I'm an idiot or 2) I'm definitely an idiot It's not the gentle leak of bad gasket or o-ring, it's the 'whoosh' of something missing entirely, or installed incorrectly. I've watched the YT video about servicing this particular magazine, and I seem to have everything in place though. The one area that seemed most likely is the knocker valve. If it's screwed in tightly it seems like the o-ring is exposed and it might not block the gas escaping. Not screwing it fully in didn't help though. I've also tested filling it with it without the spring + follower and top cover in place. The gas comes out of both the top gas hole and seemingly also the BB stack... which can't be right - it must be the gasket...? Any thoughts as to how I've fecked it up are most welcome! A - the BB stack, gas seemed to vent from here, but surely it was actually coming from 'B' C - the main gas route, also venting whether the knocker valve is screwed tightly in, or wound out (as per second pic) Closeup with it screwed completely in... o-ring visible, is it only the hidden / lower side that needs to block the gas? Assorted pics of the valve screwed out, then in...

Everything I've seen and read so far about this has impressed me, and as I can definitely see an M4 GBBR in my future collection. This overtakes the MWS as the likely candidate - because it's such a good value proposition. But... I have seen a video or two where the full-auto mag dumps aren't as good as the TM. Now I know from my experience with my '416 that they're not a thing done during actual skirmishing, but it'd be nice to understand if the apparent shortfall in ultimate 'at the limit' use is real or not, and how it'll affect cold-weather performance or fast semi-auto spamming. I'd also like to see some long-range testing, to see if that short barrel affects accuracy unduly... and also which gases can be used, and how they affect the joule output. Any likelihood Mr @Bada Bing will be purchasing and reviewing one? I fully trust his in-depth examinations of gas gats, and I'm sure it'd help many prospective purchasers enormously. (I can see MiddleAgedGamerUk has done an unboxing video, so he'll likely have a review up soon, but his test shooting tends to get done at rather short range, IIRC)

I can use my cheapo micrometer to measure the external dimension of the thread (it's 25.8mm) but I won't be able to tell you the thread pitch which is the other thing you'll need. Looks very fine to me though

The more I think about it, the more I want a VN-era M16 too. Solid carry handles FTW!

What is the obsession with the solid carry handles on M16s? The removable ones are surely good enough, plus give the option of a modern optic if needed? Having said that, I'll put up with one on an XM-177. But that's because I really like the super-long flash hider aesthetic Or the full-monty M16A1, as I had a toy one when I was a kid and loved it. (Embarrassingly, I outgrew the damn thing but still ran around with it in my garden, to the point I made a wooden stock extension for it to increase the length of pull!)

Of course DE now have a GBBR of their very own, which seems to be being very well received... I'm sure something will happen in the future...

Blimey, it's bad enough when the person does know about airsoft guns... you must be one of them high-flying risk-taking go-getter types to let a noob loose on the complicated internals of your gat!

VFC / Umarex AEGs don't have the best reputation - Luke @ Negative Airsoft has a hatred it seems! (Their gas blow-backs are much better). Cyma would get my vote. Bad linky

A gas blow back Bren would be pretty damn awesome A gas F2000 would be super cool As would a Sterling SMG Otherwise I share a couple of the usual suspects already mentioned... and some others - all gas blow back because of the real steel feels Browning Hi Power L1A1 SLR HK G3 HK MP5 (original style hand guard) L85, or even better an XL60