DIY downgrading job

The_ChiefDUB

I've been out of the country for a few months and collected a bit of airsoft kit on my travels. Now I'll be heading back to Ireland soon but am worried about an AEG that I have being over the 1j limit. I don't have a chrono to test it for sure so I guess I need to err on the side of caution. The AEG in questions is this: http://shop.ehobbyasia.com/aeg/china-aegs/d-boy/d-boys-aks-74-wood-full-steel-airsoft-aeg-rk03.html

Which eHobby tells me fires at 400fps out of the box. What's the best way to make sure I won't have problems with customs - I'll be getting it downgraded properly with one of the shops as soon as I get home. Can I just completely remove the spring and make it legal? And if so - does anyone have any pointers on how this is done considering I've never taken one of these things apart before. If all else fails I guess I can find a shop to do the job over here for me (I'm in Spain) but the nearest airsoft shop is an hour away and opening hours are far from regular in Spain so most times I try going to the place it is actually closed - therefore a DIY job would be the best bet right now.

Apart from that I'll have a solid, lockable case and I'll be flying Aer Lingus so I'm not anticipating any further problems.

Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

Hande hoche!

Your best bet would be probably to switch out the spring for a lowered powered one, something similar to ms90 spring. Here is a video on the V3 gearbox. It can look daunting at first but it's not so bad once you get started. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSTQ3awxJVs

DeBurca

Remove the hop-up bucking and reassamble the barrel in the hop-up unit the clip and brass ring will still hold the barrel in place
Without the bucking you will have a large air leak, which will cause a major drop in FPS so you will be well down on power
I found a vid on Youtube for you its not the best but it shows you how to dissamble a DBoys AK

The_ChiefDUB

Good stuff folks. Thanks a million for the help. I was going to be changing put the hop up rubber anyway so I guess that would make a lot of sense. If I can find a replacement spring though Im as well off having it all up and running and legal when I'm heading home.

SNAKEDOC

take the gear box assembly out of the reciever and hay presto no longer an airsoft gun as the law is concerned. and when you get back to ireland reassemble it and get it downgraded. also pack it separately ie in your hand luggage, so they don't put it back together if they take it for testing. just tell them you bought it to upgrade an airsoft gun you have already. rather than messing with the spring or barrel or hop up which could damage the workings of the gun if your unsure about what your doing.

The_ChiefDUB

Now that idea certainly appeals to my laziness and common sense since I'm pretty clueless about the inner workings of an AEG at this point. Thanks for the suggestion.

Gatling

you could always separate the mech box from the aeg ,and pack them separately that way the aeg is non functioning when you return saves, messing about with the internals of the gear box