Choosing My First Rifle

[Z Day Resistance]

Hey guys, I know there's been many posts just like this but reading back through the forums, you guys really helped out beginners like me with advice and opinions, so here goes.

Like everyone who gets the airsoft bug I've spent hours on websites obsessing over which rifle to get, and I get my UKARA soon so they'll be no awful two toning involved

I wanted an L85 but the lack of rails and lack of mods to make it 'different' and 'my own' put me off. I didn't want an M4/M16 variant because everyone in my club has them. So I've got my eye on this:

http://www.fire-support.co.uk/product/ics-sig-552-mrs-airsoft-gun-aeg

I've seen/heard nothing but good news about ICS and the Sig itself, but any new opinions and advice would be much appreciated,

Thanks, Ben

 

[hprentice]

I don't know much about the ICs version but the sig 552 is a great gun. I had the Swiss arms version(Low end cheap thing) and it was great, they feel great to hold and look awesome haha after watching a couple reviews it seems good. No one can really tell you what to buy, so if its what you want, go for it

 

[bigshep]

Good solid gun, make sure you get some extra mags with it though as they are not as common as m4/ak mags. Good solid manufacturer as well. So if you like it go for it.

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?cPath=139_24_83&products_id=4759

a few US opinions ont he rifle

 

[Z Day Resistance]

Cheers for the feedback guys, and yeh fire-support do spare mags. Any opinions on full metal? The G36s and M4s I've rented at sites have been semi-plastic.

 

[iAcorn]

Most people like realism here. Metal where metal is on the real steal, so that usually means a metal upper receiver/barrel and handrail with a polymer lower. But those things can get heavy. M4s have quite a heft to them because it's a considerable amount of metal. More modern weapons however are mostly plastic anyway, like the G36 and F2000 so thats not an issue. It's all down to personal preference. Metal = realism, durability and weight. Plastic = lightness and cheaper (unless you buy a TM).

You also can buy metal magazines too, but they are expensive and also weighty. Plus sometimes the temperature can make them expand or contract so they dont fit perfectly a fraction of the time. Or maybe it's only me that's had that problem.

 

[Tariq]

G36s will always be plastic since the real ones are made from a carbon fibre / plastic compound. Metal replicas would just be weird

Full metal usually shows better quality, although some cheaper companies do make "metal" guns that are probably weaker than the plastic alternatives. ICS should be fine though.

One thing to look out for is that the magazines are slightly larger than your standard M4/AK magazine, and if you buy a cheaper assault vest the pouches will be made for M4 mags. Gets a little annoying as the clips on the side of the guns will catch on things. Not a huge issue if you're using hicaps but i got a little fussed with running mid/low caps and having to reload every 5 mins, only for the reloading to take another minute trying to get the magazine out of the vest XD Gave in and bought specialist G36 pouches that would prob be great with the 552 aswell.

 

[Darkstar]

There are some nice extras available for the sig, and since they have such a small battery compartment they are a great excuse to start using Lipos (I will never look back). The sig is a nice choice, a guy at my site has the 550, 551 and 552 and they're all pretty nice guns, though the 550 is too long for my taste. It's got surprising accuracy for such a short barrel but with those rails you get a nice few attachments on such as a PEQ if you want to run bigger batteries. As to the mag pouches, I run M14 mags in British issue webbing and they fit perfectly as well as the whole kit not being too expensive. My mate can quite happily run G36 mags in there as well and from what I understand they are marginally thicker than SIG mags.

Plus it has a folding stock. And folding stocks are sexy .

 

[Alexb111]

http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/11381-ics-l85a2/

Have to disagree on customisation of L85 but from what I read the Sig is not a bad choice either (no personal experience).