Info on Marui Famas

NMC

just a general query for anyone. I'm thinking of getting a TM famas and was just wondering if anyone here has one and could give me a short review of it.

extremetaz

awesome unit but not for the regular reasons.

the FAMAS has a lot of respect for it's accuracy, it's ROF and it's range as well as it's reliability.

think it fires at about 280fps, so not earth shattering but because it's bullpup it has a huge barrel so the range and accuracy are well above par.

build wise, it's "old" tm and it is a little creaky with a pretty plastic feel to it.

it's a unit that will serve you *very* well to start with.

newbies love it because it's cheap, reliable and has a MONSTER rate of fire - you'll tire of it quickly though as you'll prob be lusting after the latest all metal M4 or similar.

regulars love it because despite the older build quality and "less than granite" feel of it - it's still AWESOME.

another "characteristic" of the FAMAS (niether good nor bad) is that it can't really be upgraded - there's just nothing there for it.

the gearbox is unconventional, bigger motors won't fit and the standard motor would die against a bigger spring...

however, it really doesn't need to be upgraded...

the other thing then is that mags can be hard to get.

ED E

Just like to Point Out that the moderator of THIS forum uses a Fa-Mas.

My Brother just got one and its great! He tripped and pile-drived it into the ground! The Grip came off but 0% damage incurred except a scratched flash-hider.


I give it 8.5/10! And very cheap ($180).

Dave!

I've got one, I did a review a few months ago if you wanna have a look for it.

In general, great gun, very reliable, ridiculous rate of fire, very long barrel. If you're getting one, buy at least 1 high-cap magazine for it too.

o1s1n

Lethal_Bullet wrote:

Just like to Point Out that the moderator of THIS forum uses a Fa-Mas.

I do indeed!

I really can't say enough good things about this AEG. Price wise it's one of the best deals you can get.

The ROF is probably it's greatest asset. It fires about 1000rpm. To churn them out at this speed, the motor is very fast and loud. One of the loudest you'll hear on the field. People tend to put their head down when it's being fired Also because it's a bullpup, the motor is in the butt stock beside your head..so you really get the full effect of the sound.

Mine Chronoed in at 276fps or thereabouts. It actually came out higher then some of the other more expensive Marui's. Which was nice.

I've had no problem getting magazines for it. Ehobbyasia sells them for a pretty decent price. Due to the mad rate of fire, you'd be best off going with 300 round high caps. It pisses through the 60 round mid caps faster then you would want.

As extremetaz said, it's one of Marui's first AEGs, so its more or less 100% plastic construction. The top feel quite hollow. Apart from that though, it's a very solid design. There are a couple of creaky parts, namely in the battery compartment and the pistol grip. This can be fixed easily with a bit of tape. However, apart from this it really does feel solid. I've dropped mine several times and it still fires perfectly.

People say there are no upgrades but I'm pretty sure it's possible to put a spring in to bring it up to the 1j mark. I wouldn't fancy trying it though.

Actually the bull pup design needs more mentioning. It makes it almost as maneuverable as a SMG. If you're playing in woodland this really comes in handy. Not to mention indoors too actually. I ran at someone with it at my last game holding it one handed like a pistol.

It comes in two versions. The F1 and the SV. I bought the SV myself. The added hand guard comes in quite useful as it acts like a foregrip.

ALSO, I just remembered. It takes a large battery. LARGE. Most AEGs don't. This is a huge advantage as the thing just never runs out of power. I have yet to have mine run out on me.

All and all a great starter AEG. You will want something fancier eventually. However, I always plan on hanging onto my Famas as a backup in case my main AEG goes on the fritz. It's more or less guaranteed to work all of the time.

Dave!

The F1 comes with a bipod

Oh the two main complaints I have about the FAMAS are that the selector switch (for full/semi auto) is at the back, under your arm. Makes it very clumsy when you want to change between the two in a battle. The other thing is that if you want to change the hop-up, then you've gotta take off the chin guard and twist a little thing with your fingernails. It's very awkward, especially compared for eg. the AK47, which has the hopup underneath the decorative cocking mechanism (lol), and it's one that you push forward or back rather than twist.

An unusual positive aspect of the FAMAS is that it has a little button at the back, near the selector, which you press in and it decompresses the spring. eg., if you've been firing on fully-auto, you don't know when you're finished if the spring is compressed or not. Leaving it compressed will shorten its life expectancy (and weaken its power) in the long-run, so on most guns you fire a single shot to make sure it's not compressed. On the FAMAS, you press this little button and it decompresses it. Neat little feature.

o1s1n

DaveMcG wrote:

The F1 comes with a bipod

Yes, a lump of dead weight you'll never use

Oh the two main complaints I have about the FAMAS are that the selector switch (for full/semi auto) is at the back, under your arm. Makes it very clumsy when you want to change between the two in a battle.

Bah, I knew I'd forget something!. It's annoying alright. However the best thing about the AEG is the rate of fire. So I really don't think there'd be any need to be putting it on semi.

The other thing is that if you want to change the hop-up, then you've gotta take off the chin guard and twist a little thing with your fingernails. It's very awkward, especially compared for eg. the AK47, which has the hopup underneath the decorative cocking mechanism (lol), and it's one that you push forward or back rather than twist.

Not that awkward really? Well I don't think so myself...? Maybe yours just needs some lube

An unusual positive aspect of the FAMAS is that it has a little button at the back, near the selector, which you press in and it decompresses the spring. eg., if you've been firing on fully-auto, you don't know when you're finished if the spring is compressed or not. Leaving it compressed will shorten its life expectancy (and weaken its power) in the long-run, so on most guns you fire a single shot to make sure it's not compressed. On the FAMAS, you press this little button and it decompresses it. Neat little feature.

I love this button. Havent a clue why they didn't include it on anything else.
Its a shame really.

I just remembered another annoying point. One that has caught me out a couple of times. Because of where the mag release is, you can actually accidentally clip it with your hand, making the magazine drop out. Not something you need happening. You can fix this by filing some of the point down on the release. Seems to do the trick.

extremetaz

oh yeah - there's two more point i failed to mention as well.

that little spring release button on the back - the reason it's not on most other aeg's it that most other aeg's don't cock the mechanism after every shot --> when you pull on the FAMAS, it fires instantly, no wind up delay - not that that's every much, but it gives a nice instant feel to it.

the other thing comes back to what o1s1n was saying about how it handles - couldn't agree more.

you don't so much aim the FAMAS as look at what you want to hit and let it do the rest - whatever it is about it, for me anyways, it just lines itself up on its own... you don't even have to think about aiming it!

fletch...

excellent! ive been planning on getting a TM Famas Sv for ages, cant stop drooling over them, good to hear its such a good airsoft for that price

ED E

Get a 3600mah battery and a Famas and I'd say at least 2 Hi-caps and thats all you need.

extremetaz

Lethal_Bullet wrote:

at least 2 Hi-caps

the "least" part of this should be in bold, in large font!

the rate this thing throws them out at is astonishing!!

CrazyRabbit

Lethal_Bullet wrote:

Get a 3600mah battery and a Famas and I'd say at least 2 Hi-caps and thats all you need.

As suggested by Extremetaz...and I thought the red text added a little extra.

Wossack

just while we're sorta on the subject - during a typical game at hrta, how many shots do you guys reckon you fire off?

CrazyRabbit

Wossack wrote:

just while we're sorta on the subject - during a typical game at hrta, how many shots do you guys reckon you fire off?

Depends on the game. For some games you can only use semi-automatic which greatly reduces the ammo usage.

Least I've ever used was about 1000 rounds. (in HRTA a few weeks back)

Most I used was 5500-6000 rounds (in Predator on Saturday)

kdouglas

5500-6000? holy crap!

two times ive been to hrta i think i used around 1500 rounds in a day

Hivemind187

CrazyRabbit wrote:

Depends on the game. For some games you can only use semi-automatic which greatly reduces the ammo usage.

Least I've ever used was about 1000 rounds. (in HRTA a few weeks back)

Most I used was 5500-6000 rounds (in Predator on Saturday)

The American shooting style, fire enough rounds and you are bound to hit something!

I had a go with Oisin's FA-MAs and I was doing a little research myself.

Its upgrade options are extremly limited in that there really are no extrenal parts for it. however, it is actually possible to raise its RoF through some internal upgrades (polycarbonate firing bolts, metal gears, special motors etc). Raising its fps however is slightly more tricky due to the nature of the construction materials but it can be done (springs, re-inforcing etc).

At least thats the general gist of what I have been able to find out.

I have to ask though, other than sheer "hose-factor" and the major chubby you get from a high Rof, is there any real point in these upgrades? Its an orgasm to fire as it is

Pity its so butt-ugly.

Captain Chaos

I don't think this is possible with the airsoft version.
One question is, where has the cocking lever been moved to?

o1s1n

Hivemind187 wrote:

Its upgrade options are extremly limited in that there really are no extrenal parts for it.

If you really wanted to, you could drill a couple of screw holes into the battery cover and mount a rail on the bottom. You can take the whole front off with the flash hider and put on a little satellite screw which enables the attachment of all sorts of silencers. A scope rail can be fitted to the top.
I think that's about it. Any further and you'd have to start hacking the thing apart.

Hivemind187 wrote:

Pity its so butt-ugly.

Hey now! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
I'm sure this girlfriend of yours agrees

liamo333

It might be the lever above the mag beside the ejection port.

o1s1n

Captain Chaos wrote:

I don't think this is possible with the airsoft version.
One question is, where has the cocking lever been moved to?

That IS the airsoft version. Cocking leaver has just been removed along with the hacked off carry handle.

Captain Chaos

That would make sense alright.:o

The FAMAS just looked a little too real in build quality to be an airsoft, to me. Seeing as some people were sayinging its not tip top in the finish being a 1st gen AEG and all.

o1s1n

Captain Chaos wrote:

That would make sense alright.:o

The FAMAS just looked a little too real in build quality to be an airsoft, to me. Seeing as some people were sayinging its not tip top in the finish being a 1st gen AEG and all.

Well it is made by Marui after all...It's no m14 but the finish is still decent enough to look pretty untoylike.

extremetaz

wooooo there - stall the ball... that's an airsoft model??...

that has to be the sexiest FAMAS i've ever seen.... wasn't aware you could get a silenced barrel unit for it!!

that looks AWESOME!!

as for the FAMAS looking ugly - wash your mouth out!!

and wrt 5000rounds!! WTF - you do know you can take your finger *off* the trigger every now and then.... lol!

think i just found our new team SAW man!

don't think i've ever used more than 2500 in a day at predator and that would be a seriously trigger happy day...

in HRTA i'd usually use about 700-1000 i suppose... guess it all depends on how brave/stupid the opposite team are...

CrazyRabbit

extremetaz wrote:

and wrt 5000rounds!! WTF - you do know you can take your finger *off* the trigger every now and then.... lol!

think i just found our new team SAW man!

I don't know how I went through so many rounds. I managed to deplete my 1300 & 3800 8.4v batteries as well. The village defense/assault game at the end of the day was very intense. I think I used most of the bb's then. Attackers coming from 4 directions makes you a bit paranoid and trigger happy...