Anyone regretted moving to a GBBR?

[Reef]

I’ve been playing for over a year now and am looking to move on from my starter G&G CM16. I do like the rifle but find the range and accuracy a bit frustrating sometimes. I find I have to fire a lot of BB’s to get the hit and although I’ve got used to this style of play I’d like to step it up.

I went to my local store and had a EMG Noveske N4 suggested to me as an option. I have to say it felt really nice but never fired or played with a GBBR. I don’t mind spending £500 (gun, mags, acc, etc) but as my main weapon, I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing going to gas.

I love using my gas 1911 pistol for its realism and am hoping GBBR gives me the same feeling. My main worry is having a mag with only 35 shots. I’m currently using high caps and hearing the rate of fire of some of the other players, makes my nervous about being outgunned.

 

Any thoughts?

[concretesnail]

I've never regretted going gbbr, I love it, but it can be a very different play style to the majority that aren't on low caps and I've seen many a player unable to adjust and give up.

The other than issue I've seen often and is quite surprising for players moving to gas  is the weight of the mags. They can add up quickly and ill fitting gear that doesn't spread the load can cause back ache really quickly.

Regards being our gunned,

something to try before taking the expensive jump is to try playing with low caps, or just popping 40 bbs into the mags you have and see of you can adjust to the play style. If you do then id highly recommend a gbbr as something to enjoy.

Edited yesterday at 19:29 by concretesnail

[ButcherBill]

Only due to the mags...

 

They're all 30ish bb's so either need more mags which weigh a tonne or you refil midway through a game, I opted for the more mags option, managed to pick up extra's at decent prices but I'm a fat lad carrying a damned sight more than just extra mags.

 

Not managed to complete a game properly using gas but not the GBBR's fault, I put it down to midcap syndrom mainly but zero regrets buying GBBR's. I do take an AEG as a plan B tho.

 

Currently have 3 GBBR's & would happily buy more in the future.

[Austeyr]

[Cannonfodder]

As posted by @concretesnail try loading less bbs into your mags to see how you get on. This way if you enjoy it then great, crack on. If not then you won't have wasted money on a gun you don't like. Just remember that you'll also need to change how you play. Pick your shots and only fire when you're sure you can hit the target, switching to semi auto also helps conserve ammo.

 

33 minutes ago, Reef said:

I do like the rifle but find the range and accuracy a bit frustrating sometimes.

An alternative is to upgrade the G&G if its performance issues that are bothering you 

[Hudson]

Also, you're not going to magically get better range or Accuracy just be switching to a gas gun.

 

What ammo do you use currently?

 

Have a look at switching to heavier ammo to start with, as well as maybe cleaning or even replacing your barrel & bucking.

 

If you're struggling with having to fire excessively to get a hit now, then switching to a GBBR is only going to exacerbate this, but with a reduced magazine capacity.

[EDcase]

GBBRs are definitely more challenging and expensive to use on game days.

GBBRs are NOT definitively more accurate or have longer range.

I saw a video (cant remember name) of a US player who found the best compromise for ammo was to take 4 or 5 mags and refill them with BBs and gas in the field.

 

As Hudson said above, start by using heavier BBs and only use single shot.

Only consider changing to GBBR when you're getting bored and need more of a challenge 😉

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by EDcase

[Reef]

Thanks for the swift reply’s. Really good points for me to think about.

 

I’m using 0.20 at the moment but did try 0.25 towards the end of the last game. I think I noticed an improvement but will try again when gaming next week. I’ll check the barrel and bucking. I’ll try loading less BB’s also and see how I get on.

weight is something I didn’t think of, are gas mags really that much heavier? As it is I carry all the mags and grenades, not just for me but for my two kids….

 

I might as well ask while I’ve got you guys, if I do decide to stick with an AEG, what’s a good next step to the CM16?

 

keep the thoughts coming please….

 

[DerDer]

Try using 0.28g next time you play. Made a big difference when I switched.

[Enid_Puceflange]

TBH, I got into gbbr’s by accident

 

I always run a gbbr when the temp allows me to, but take an ngrs along for just in case…….

At the start, I just couldn’t deal with the low ammo count, then one playing day it clicked and all came together, 6 mags saw me through to respawn quite happily and I would just bomb up before heading back out

Changing my play style to semi only has also carried on to my ngrs playing too

(but using midcaps)

 

I would see if one of your playing buddies would let you try a game or two with a gbbr before you jump in!
 

Ive easily now spent about £800 on mags, for just two gbbr’s so that gets expensive.

Then, they do like to run on heavier ammo ( 0.36’s + heavier) so that adds to the cost too, but you are only pulling the trigger when you are almost guaranteed a hit!

 

The immersion is totally different, and well worth it!

A bit of extra maintenance, but it’s hardly ball busting and I find it quite therapeutic 

But it’s definitely worth trying 

 

Good luck 👍

Edited 22 hours ago by Enid_Puceflange

[Chev Chelios]

I love me a GBB. Pistol is still a GBB but after finding a good deal on here moved over to the DAS GDR15. Picked up two more since. Light magazines with up to 120 rounds all the fun of a GBB without the cool down or gas faff. Trigger took some time to get used to and mags are still a ball bag to fill but love it to death. 

 

Can get adapters that let you run off air tanks and whatever magazines you like (even shot shells) https://airtac.me/ my non gay life partner runs his this way and has loads of fun on walk on days.  I think it takes all the fun manual of arms away but no denying it, mag dumping a 300 high cap gives one a semi. 

56 minutes ago, Reef said:

I might as well ask while I’ve got you guys, if I do decide to stick with an AEG, what’s a good next step to the CM16?

 

 

 

Tokyo Marui NGRS systems are really good. They have slight recoil and empty magazine detection so using them is fun. Really good hop and very reliable.  

[Impulse]

All of my AEGs are in boxes since I moved to GBBRs; if I'm not using a bolt action, I'm using a GBBR. Never regretted the move myself as I love the realism and manual of arms. Then again, I am the type of player who puts weighted plates in their plate carrier because immersion (my weighted plates weigh roughly mid way between level III and IV UHMWPE plates at 2.1kg each) and then also sticks heavy GBBR mags into said carrier. I have 3x MWSs, 2x KWA mp9s, a TM AKM and a KWA mac11 and they're all fantastic.

 

Moving to a GBBR you will be outgunned because a 300rd high cap in a full auto AEG is a lot more pew than a 35rd GBBR magazine that weighs a lot more and gets very inconsistent with too much fun switch, especially in winter. You will run out of ammo and have to reload mid firefight. People will push you while you're reloading. However, this is all part of the reason why I enjoy it so much. It's an added challenge, but it's that similar feeling as when I'm using a bolt action; every hit you get feels so much more fulfilling than with an AEG because of these limitations you're dealing with, and the recoil does feel fun and always makes me smile. Also, hitting a "switching to your pistol is faster than reloading" kill when you're being pushed during a rifle reload feels great and makes you feel like you're the main character of an action film.

 

I am biased. Embrace GBBR.

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

GBBR is the future. I always let people with AEGs have a few shots with mine just to see their faces light up when they feel that sweet recoil action.

 

I love mine and it shoots great on 0.3g bbs. I always run six 30 round mags and a few speed loaders, so I can reload really quickly in the field. Breaks between games then gives me a chance to gas my mags and fill my speed loaders so I rarely find myself running out of ammo.

 

Don't worry about being outgunned. Once you have adjusted your game to semi auto only, you will find that 30 bbs can actually go a long way. Doing the basics of actually aiming and trying to pick your shots before you pull the trigger with increase the odds of hitting the target and reduce how many shots you need to take. . 

[MrTea]

I'd say the main 'gatekeeping' factor for people moving into any kind of 'primary' GBB RIF is the cost of magazines. Most M4 gas mags are ~£50 per mag and some specialised mags like the MP7 can be listed for £70+ at UK retailers which can scare off a lot of people from going to gas (yes I know you can get them from retailers in Asia for a fraction but that's besides the point).

Personally, i've only ever ran my gas MP9 & MP7 at my CQB place as it's semi-only and levels the playing field in terms of ammo count and rate of fire. For outdoors, i've always used an AEG however i'm starting to move into a VSR for bigger sites and a different style of play.

I have recently stumbled into owning a GBBR M4 and like my other gas 'primary' RIFs, I like being able to manipulate a weapon that's capapble outside 30m - I just need to find mags on the cheap(ish)

Edited 19 hours ago by MrTea

[Reef]

9 hours ago, Impulse said:

Also, hitting a "switching to your pistol is faster than reloading" kill when you're being pushed during a rifle reload feels great and makes you feel like you're the main character of an action film.

 

I am biased. Embrace GBBR.

Thanks for the reply’s. I think my favourite moments so far are switching to my side arm when out of amo and being overrun by enemy 😀. 
 

This cold factor is starting to play on my mind, I play all year round and spending £500 on a set up that I can’t use all the time seems a bit off. I need to do more thinking…

[Emergencychimps]

Yes and No. 

 

I have had a GHK v2 M4, a TM MP7 and a TM MWS and now I don't own any of them. I still have TM recoils that I bought around 10+ years ago.

 

The GHK, I just had regular misfeed and issues with and it ruined at least 3 day games, games are precious for me, I am a dad to young kids and I don't get to go often, so I couldn't stick with it. I am sure with some fettling it could have been great, but I didn't have the time or the will. 

 

The TM MP7 was awesome, I wish I still had this, I had no issues whatsoever and 40 round mags and size meant carrying a few extra was easy. It also convinced me that the GHK problems were that it was a GHK issue, not a GBBR issue. 

 

As such I sold that and got a TM MWS, put around £1000 into it (mags, rail, hob nub etc, nothing to change anything significant) and again, had problem after problem with it so I gave up on gas guns. The nozzle arm thing got bent, mis feeds, gas mags venting, mags not taking gas properly due to metal nozzles on gas cans. Again, with some fettling or knowledge, this is probably easy enough to overcome. Having the knowledge and spares available to make adjustments on the day is key too. I was too hot to run on some days, even with the weakest gas. 

 

I have just picked up a GBLS DAS (not used yet). The mag capacity was never the issue, I currently run a ngrs with the 82 round mags and will be running 60 rounders next. 

 

The tactile nature, feedback, fun when shooting etc of a gbbr is awesome but I just found the inconsistency when actually pulling the trigger, the percentage of times it didn't work was too high for me. 

 

 

[Enid_Puceflange]

@Emergencychimps

Yeah, I know where you are coming from

I had similar issues when I started off with my ghk m4, I had to learn the hard way and also read up loads regarding tweaks and fixes.

(it was actually sold to me as boneyard, but just hadn’t been cleaned or maintained)

Feedlip issues, small bits off bb’s smashed into where the bolt rest in battery

Loads of things can affect a gbbr’s operation, and if you don’t really know what’s going on and the small issues that occur, it does lead to frustration.

More than a few times I had threatened to sell it and get a nice aeg due to issues.

 

Once I had learned my way around it, and the snags, replaced a few parts including discovering micro cracked feedlips (which were replaced with aluminium ones ) I got it running flawlessly.

To the extent that I was able to get a game out of it in almost freezing conditions.

My Ghk 553 has run flawlessly 

Fitting an npas allowed me to run it at indoor velocities, this was in January in an indoor unheated warehouse, with snow outside.

 

I think if the OP is willing to put the time in to learn the platform they are wanting to use, and iron out the “quirks”  They will have an enjoyable ownership experience 

Probably like owning a TVR and expecting to just daily drive it

 

But to answer @Reef

No, I don’t regret using gbbr’s 😄

Edited 8 hours ago by Enid_Puceflange

[LMKipper]

I'd agree with @Enid_Puceflange. I adore my GBBRs, I just find them so much more satisfying to use. I had a day at UCAP earlier this year when I peaked a few corners with one shot, one hits. However you do really have to keep on top of maintenance otherwise they can be a nightmare.

 

I'd say if you're not comfortable 'teching' on them yourself, then be prepared for them to be pretty expensive ownership experiences.

[Enid_Puceflange]

For maintenance, all I need to do is clean and relube the bcg

Clean the barrel properly

And use a silicone free gas, just making sure I lube the seals every now and again

 

I find them a lot less fiddly than aeg’s to work on

Gearboxes scare the living shecht out of me

(probably why I’m still sitting on a spring that I want to upgrade on my only aeg)

Edited 7 hours ago by Enid_Puceflange

[Anonymoose]

I bought a couple GBBRs first, then a couple Marui NGRSs after. You can't beat a GBBR for the realism, the "feel" and recoil, the noise.

 

If you want even more, fit a muzzle flash simulator and in the dark it'll light up the gas cloud coming out the barrel like a muzzle Flash.

 

I've not had mine long enough to comment on the maintenance aspect, but the cost difference is significant. The gas mags are 2-3x the cost of AEG ones, with very limited capacity. (30 for my 553, 20 for my G3.) Then the cost of gas itself. The guns are heavier and the mags are heavier too.

 

I did buy a set of CO2 mags for my 553, which makes it fine in cold weather. And as per a suggestion from @Enid_Puceflange i got an NPAS for it too, as on the standard nozzle it'd put out 0.4s @ over 4J! With that turned down to 1.1J, the extra gas goes into the recoil. (I think.)

 

But despite all of that, they're still great fun and very satisfying. 

 

The NGRSs are a great compromise, all the ease of an AEG without the running cost or limited ammo capacity of a GBB. The recoil is obviously limited, but still good.

 

I run both, and switch between them on game days. 

[Jez_Armstrong]

100% nope