Magpul PTS ACR Masada Review [discussion]

MerryDespot

As usual folks - post questions, random comments or personal abuse as you see fit...

Witcher

Noob:P

/Personal abuse

Like the review Despot, is the selector hard to change? I've seen it in other pics and it seems a little stubby:)

Can't wait to get mine:)

defenderdude

Thanks Kev.
Cant wait to see your takedown pics.
What's the rof like?
You shooting it at the weekend anywhere?:D;)

OddysAirsoft

Will it take a 9.6 battery?

Leftyflip

defenderdude wrote: »

Thanks Kev.
Cant wait to see your takedown pics.
What's the rof like?
You shooting it at the weekend anywhere?:D;)

Unless he bails, he'll be at HRTA on Sunday, can I shoot Kev, can I? Please?

Gatling

2 questions

is it value for money

is it worth the hype its receieved by some corners

(i had to ask ):D

MerryDespot

Blay - the selector is a bit stubby - you're right. But it moves between positions solidly and clicks into place without any play. That said, it's more like a g36 selector than the M4 selector so it's slightly diffferent. Solid is the best way to describe it.

Aido - I'll be at HRTA on Sunday afternoon (team game earlier at the Office) if you're about. Rate of fire is quick - haven't been able to get a read yet, but it's just below the Magpul M4 on a 9.6 mini to my ear - and remember that has a G&P M120 motor in it, so it's always going to be fast.

Lefty - you can of course chief.

Oddy - yes it will - but it's tight in the handguard. The trunnion for the barrel quick change takes up enough space to make it a close fit - but you can fit a nunchuck in.

Gatling - I'm not sure. It's a lot of cash for an aeg, but not much more than the magpul m4, which I have found to be an absolute demon. Of course these are both different OEMs as far as I know (G&P for the M4 and I stand to be corrected, but isn't it Ares for the Masada? Not a single clue to the OEM in the box or aeg). On the basis of the physical features of the aeg I have to say it is solid as a rock - not a damn wobble on the thing - including the mag in the mag well!
I withold judgement until after I get to skirmish it.

Things I like about it so far:
Quick spring change function - even a dunce like me can change out the spring in 30 seconds.
Quick barrel change - really like the fact that the hop bucking and inner barrel are contained in the barrel assembly - not sure that I'd ever feel the need to switch to a cqb/short front end - after all it's not exactly sniper rifle length - but some people will like this function.
Attention to detail - I like the trades - nice and low key, simply engraved in the receiver ('cal - multi' - I like that!).

sci-ops

Still trying to get over the fact that I let it go to ya Kevin...........I can see myself breaking out in a cold sweat later on...oh the horror of it:eek:

MerryDespot

It's the first time I've ever seen someone simultaneously trying to sell me something and not sell me something!

Gatling

i can imagine sci-ops now sitting alone humming the elton john and kiki dee tune
"dont go breaking my heart"

MerryDespot

It was funny - he had this sort of misty look in his eyes as he handed it over...

sci-ops

Gatling wrote: »

i can imagine sci-ops now sitting alone humming the elton john and kiki dee tune
"dont go breaking my heart"

Don't forget that classic "Don't break my heart"....from Billy Ray Cyrus....ah jesus....now that's going to be in my head all day

Beez

How much did it cost?

MerryDespot

Err, Beez I don't even want to think about that...
Unfortunately it's not up on Hobby's site - but here's it listed on Quality Airsoft's site (it's the same price):
http://tntquality.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67&products_id=242

It scares me to see the price written down - that's why I've gone the long way about answering the question!

MerryDespot

sci-ops wrote: »

Don't forget that classic "Don't break my heart"....from Billy Ray Cyrus....ah jesus....now that's going to be in my head all day

Marcus, I believe that song is called 'Achy Breaky Heart' - who could forget Billy Ray - the man who reignited the long dead love of the mullet.

The Mullet: Business at the front, party at the back...

Stealthirl

MerryDespot wrote: »

It was funny - he had this sort of misty look in his eyes as he handed it over...

a team mate got the last 1 today and Marcus looked like it was his owen child he was leting go
[i should stop going to shops with my friends as i endup talking them into buying stuff]

MerryDespot

Stealthirl wrote: »

a team mate got the last 1 today and Marcus looked like it was his owen child he was leting go
[i should stop going to shops with my friends as i endup talking them into buying stuff]

Don't worry - your team mate will be well and truly happy with it! He'll thank you ... honest.

Stealthirl

MerryDespot wrote: »

Don't worry - your team mate will be well and truly happy with it! He'll thank you ... honest.

he allready did.spent some time in his back garden with it today.
theres what looks like an adjustment bit on the end of the gas block.
anyone know if it dose anything ? it has 2 1/4 turns on it

SgtBob

Stealthirl wrote: »

a team mate got the last 1 today and Marcus looked like it was his owen child he was leting go
[i should stop going to shops with my friends as i endup talking them into buying stuff]

That's Me!!!

Don't worry, I had pretty much talked myself into it when I knew there was one over there, did you not wonder why I had my credit card with me???

MerryDespot wrote: »

Don't worry - your team mate will be well and truly happy with it! He'll thank you ... honest.

Love it, truly great piece of kit. Of course I am now broke for the next 2 months. :rolleyes:

I had to kind of wrestle it from Marcus' hands but it was worth the effort! (Sorry Marcus)

MerryDespot

Stealthirl wrote: »

he allready did.spent some time in his back garden with it today.
theres what looks like an adjustment bit on the end of the gas block.
anyone know if it dose anything ? it has 2 1/4 turns on it

Do you mean the dummy gas regulator above the barrel/flash hider assembly? If so then this doesn't do anything - it's just for show. It's connected to the dummy gas piston and spring above the barrel (if this is what you mean).

MerryDespot

SgtBob wrote: »

That's Me!!!

Don't worry, I had pretty much talked myself into it when I knew there was one over there, did you not wonder why I had my credit card with me???



Love it, truly great piece of kit. Of course I am now broke for the next 2 months. :rolleyes:

I had to kind of wrestle it from Marcus' hands but it was worth the effort! (Sorry Marcus)

Good luck with it SgtBob - it's a great piece of kit.

SgtBob

I took it out for skirmish in Oakridge today. Great games. Bloody knackered now.

But the ACR performed great. Extremely happy with it.

Now, if only I could perform as well as my ACR... :rolleyes:

Solid Snake

Great Post Merry,

I had the pleasure of testing one of these last week and have to say I loved it.
The Masada was rock solid, looks the part and had great performance.

I too have the Magpul M4 and have another one ordered for this week but a DB Custom, cannot wait!

The Masada is definitely on the the "me likey" list!:D

Best of luck with it.

MerryDespot

Cheers Solid Snake.
The MOE M4 is a fantastic bit of kit too - I have to say Im genuinely torn between the two.

SgtBob

I finally got around to measuring the area in my garden I use for testing my rifs, I comes in at 190ft.

On overage the masada is getting about 160-170ft.

And here I was thinking I was only getting about 120ft at most.

I'm gonna place some paper targets at various distances, 100ft, 120ft, 140ft, 160ft, 180ft, and see what the groupings are like at those distances.

I'll pop up the results once I get that done.

SgtBob

So, Apparently my aim sucks!!

I was only able to successfully hit the target at 100ft more than once.

So groupings on the others is unknown.

Even with my terrible aim, I had 5/5 bbs hitting the target, grouping wise it was across the entire sheet.

I will have to do up a rest, to retest more accurately, once I get a chance.

Airsofty1

Is there a Shorter barrel version in the works?... DE option?

SgtBob

According to the booklet that came with it, they are bringing out a 11.5 & 10.5 inch barrel, AK style lower, rail handguard and an adjustable stock. But they are extras. But who knows, in time they may release the short barrelled version as another model.

I got mine in dark earth (tan). The other option is black. Not sure about OD, but I don't think so.

MerryDespot

Not sure about OD, but they are available in puke green - I mean foliage green.

SgtBob

Hey Merry, was just wondering have you tried 7.4v lipos in yours?

MerryDespot

Nope - and I've no intention of trying lipos in it either. I'm not a r.o.f. junkie and mostly fire in semi, so I don't need the increase rof. That and I just prefer using NiMH batteries - especially where you've so much room in the battery space (handguard in this case).

SgtBob

MerryDespot wrote: »

Nope - and I've no intention of trying lipos in it either. I'm not a r.o.f. junkie and mostly fire in semi, so I don't need the increase rof. That and I just prefer using NiMH batteries - especially where you've so much room in the battery space (handguard in this case).

Thats fair, I'm not a big r.o.f person myself, was more thinking of the extended battery life.

But will prob just stick to NiMH myself.

MerryDespot

I always carry spares - but to be honest I've never had a battery die on me over the course of a day since I've started using Intellect or Firefox batteries. I prefer Intellect - never had one die on me. If you're having issues mate try getting a micro processor controlled charger - these wil do a fast charge until fully charged then trickle charge the battery after that - most also have a discharge function as well.

SgtBob

I have only being doing half day gaming so far, so wasn't sure whether I would get a day. I have a micro processor controlled charger and am also using intellect batteries, i'm sure I'll be fine.

The first day out with the Masada was spot on, didn't need to change batteries. Just seeing what opinions are out there.

OddysAirsoft

Kev....Mark was talking to Marcus in Hobby and Marcus was saying that he felt the DE was the wrong colour and that it was in fact more like a Tan and that Magpul have got their colouring wrong, what's your opinion on this?

MerryDespot

Hmmm ... not sure Oddy. I think that the DE colour is actually quite dark. Under camera flash or lights it seems light, but no lighter than my magpul pts m4. I was only thinking the other day that the m4 has started to 'die down' from the new/bright DE colour that it was when new. Even though it's kept clean and is well looked after, the colour has started to darken slightly with wear and use. This is happening on both the polymer parts and the painted metal parts - though it's more evident on the metal.

If the masada reacts the same way it'll 'bed in' nicely.

Every time I take the masada out of the box (yeah, I know, I'm one of those freaks that keeps stuff clean and boxed when not in use) I always think coyote brown when I look at it...

For example - here's the magpul M4 next to other stuff:

And here's the masada again:

If anything Oddy, I think the Masada is darker.

But ... it does look nice next to babypuke multicam - so it'll look good for your Rats camo loadout!

MerryDespot

Ok lads - these have been around for a few weeks now and a few people seem to have picked them up. Question is - has anyone had any issues with them?

Mine has got heavy use on a few weekends and it has yet to deviate from the long ranging awesome aeg that it was on it's first skirmish. I had one issue with the battery connection, where it was slightly loose and easily solved by duct tape - but otherwise it's been solid as a rock.

Has anyone else had issues?

SgtBob

I was talking to Marcus myself yesterday about the color, I had picked up a Magpul MVG foregrip for the Masada, and colour wise that is almost dead on.

Although I can see the difference in your pics above.

I had an issue with mine, started about 1 or so weeks after I got it.

In full auto it started randomly burst firing. I would pull the trigger and in would fire maybe 2, 3, 4... bb's then stop. Were as with a half pull of the trigger, it would happily fire in full auto.

In a funny coincidence, Masada from Eirsoft knew exactly what was causing the issue and had it fixed up very quickly for me

I believe, but am not 100%, that it was to do with the lever that acts on the microswitch in the trigger assembly. Apparently it is the same set up as the Tar-21 and the lever is slightly too big for the cage it sits in and gets stuck. So it needs to be removed and filed down a small bit to allow it to move freely.

Have her back now and still delighted with it. It rocks.

As a warning to everyone.
I have read on a couple of forums that it is a very bad idea to put 11.1v lipo's in as stock, basically heard of a couple of people destroying their gearboxes with one mag. It is definitely not designed for 11.1v lipo out of the box. But for me thats not an issue, I don't need that kind of ROF.

Blazer

Just got a promotion and a payrise at work so I'll think I'll treat myself in the next few weeks...

Where's the best place to buy this...I got the M4 MOE from Tony at eirsoft but don't see the ACR on his site anymore.

SgtBob

Sc@recrow wrote: »

Just got a promotion and a payrise at work so I'll think I'll treat myself in the next few weeks...

Where's the best place to buy this...I got the M4 MOE from Tony at eirsoft but don't see the ACR on his site anymore.

Congrats

Wouldn't mind getting an aul payrise myself

Tony will get one in for you if you ask him. He just doesn't keep them in stock.

Hobby have one in Black in stock as of yesterday, and they are getting them in DE in the next few weeks. As far as I know.

MerryDespot

Hobby Airsoft - as of yesterday they had a black one in stock. If only I'd waited for the black - looks much better in my opinion.

SgtBob

MerryDespot wrote: »

Hobby Airsoft - as of yesterday they had a black one in stock. If only I'd waited for the black - looks much better in my opinion.

I actually wanted it in DE, so I was blessed when I went over to get mine, that it was DE that they had gotten in

I'm not too fond of the Black. I find it to be a bit grey. But to each to their own.

I just think the DE makes it stand out a bit.

TorqueIrl

Only problem ive had with mine was the l/h/s selector switch came a little loose, meaning i had to push the switch in, then turn to select. Marcus had it sorted for me in a day though, ta very much again mate! Overall i absolutely love it still - best way of describing the masada in my opinion is that when you shoot it, everything else you shoot sfterwards suddenly feels fisher-price

darman28

hi lads thinking of of getting a magpul masada or m4 myself.Which to go for the masada or m4 what is recomended.Was wondering where do u get ur magpul m4s from and the price it cost ya please if thats cool.
Also do the masadas come with tight bore barrels and good hopup rubbers.Did anybody get to open it up to have a look at the internals and the gear box to see the quality of the gears, piston, springs,wiring etc thanks.:)

thermo

darman28 wrote: »

hi lads thinking of of getting a magpul masada or m4 myself.Which to go for the masada or m4 what is recomended.Was wondering where do u get ur magpul m4s from and the price it cost ya please if thats cool.
Also do the masadas come with tight bore barrels and good hopup rubbers.Did anybody get to open it up to have a look at the internals and the gear box to see the quality of the gears, piston, springs,wiring etc thanks.:)

there is an in depth reveiw of the masada in this months airsoft international.

i don't know if the inner barrel is a tightbore but i would imagine it is as my fagpul masada is seriously accurate at good range, the stock rubber i found was a little "hard" so i had it changed to a promethes purple hop up rubber and the range is very good.

SgtBob

I can't speak to the Magpul M4, but I love my Masada. As far as I am aware, it doesn't come with a tightbore, but like thermo said, very accurate. I popped a guarder in mine and it fires nice and consistent.

I'm sure there is a review of the M4 somewhere here on boards.

Hobby does both the Masada and the M4, but I'm sure most shops will be able to get them in for you.

darman28

Cheers sgtbob do u know how much the masadas cost at hobby

SgtBob

I think it cost me 550. If I remember correctly.

thermo

SgtBob wrote: »

I think it cost me 550. If I remember correctly.

the same in qas

darman28

cheers seems to be the standard, might wait till the new year to see how much money i have left after xmas.What all did u get with the masada and cant find out what battery it takes:D

thermo

darman28 wrote: »

cheers seems to be the standard, might wait till the new year to see how much money i have left after xmas.What all did u get with the masada and cant find out what battery it takes:D

i use a 9.6v nun-chuck style in mine. which i also got in qas.