Want a new rifle - recommendations please

it's all fine and well saying "I want top of the line", but the most salient first question is: what's your general budget?

The G&P AR15 range is very nice, might be worth looking into.

VFC HK 416 or if you fancy spending a bit more get the 417 http://www.mainirishairsoft.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1145
http://www.mainirishairsoft.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1143
WE Raptor Katana's look nice http://www.sgairsoft.biz/dublin/index.php/component/virtuemart/electric-airsoft-gun-aeg/m4/we-aeg/katana-raptor-with-blue-cylinder-detail?Itemid=0
Couple of retailers had some G&D "training weapons" in which would be the other next logical step up the ladder for some http://www.s-t-t-s.com/15-gd while your there sure check out the entry level Celcius http://www.s-t-t-s.com/home/16-celcius-dtw-m4a1-training-weapon.html
Finally have to say I quite like the LMT Defender series by ASG http://www.sgairsoft.biz/dublin/index.php/component/virtuemart/electric-airsoft-gun-aeg/m4/other-brand/lmt-defender-cqc-m95-vers-detail?Itemid=0

I own a VFC Scar-L and I'm very pleased with it. Externally, VFC are lovely, lovely guns. Internally they're not bad and I have few complaints personally although others can advise better. I'm also quite partial to G&P guns.


The next bit I say is going to be controversial in some people's eyes ...

Classic Army.

I own a CA m15A4 tactical carbine variant (so m4 front end, but fixed stock back-end with battery compartment). Granted I own a pre-sportsline era beast but I will say this - of all my guns, it's the one that has been loaned out, used, abused, covered in crap, and never once ever failed to perform. And you'll get change out of you €400 if you decide to get one; but do make sure it's not a sportsline model you buy. Granted, for your budget I would probably look at something higher up the food chain than a Classic Army offering, but just putting it out there considering some G&P guns can be had for the same general price bracket.

If you can wait a few months G&G will be replacing there TopTech range with a new versions with a very interesting Modular gearbox M.A.R.S

They are to be priced the same as current Top Techs. So current Ver3 top Techs price will go down ( great guns I have a TR418) and you can get one cheaper or get the MARS version.

Quick change Spring , Quick change motor , built in Mosfet and micro chip trigger switch, gun stops firing when mag empty.

Hi Luk,

Ya that's the one , although mine looks quite different now.

When I started out I was always messing with gears / springs and internals on my other guns. I got the 418 and said right leave the gearbox alone ,I have and this guns works perfectly everything I take it out ,which is usually once every 2 weeks. Its great straight outa the box.
As for Mags I find "Mag" brand plastic midcaps the best. It'll take just about any standard M4/16 mag ,P-mags can be sticky.

If ya drop or ding metal mags sometimes they have feeding/loading probs after , the plastic ones just bounce back.

Luk2502 wrote: »

I'm also looking for a decent weapon. I've only started playing a couple months ago and my current JG Aug A2 is .. well let's just say it doesn't live up to the standards anymore (shoots at 250fps, tends to get stuck firing, had it fixed at the cost of sacrificing semi-auto)...

I'd maybe consider getting your AUG looked at by a second mechanic because having to sacrifice semi-auto seems extreme to say the least. Without knowing the full details, that to me says either the gearbox was falling apart or the mechanic did not know/understand how AUG trigger selectors are wired up, given that they use a two-stage pull to select fire.

For the cost of a repair, a tightbore barrel and a new hop/rubber it would most likely work out much, much cheaper than buying a new AEG. But if you are wanting a new gun anyway, well then it's a moot point.

I'm willing to go up to ~400 euro for a new gun. Looking at something like an M4 or similar AEG.
From this thread I managed to find this http://www.hobbyairsoft.ie/index.php?route=product/product&keyword=t4-18&category_id=0&product_id=652 which I think is very appealing, although I cannot find any mags for it which got me a little worried.

Now that you guys know what "looks" I want, here's a little more details
- As realistic replica as it can get within that budget (if necessary I 'can' go higher than 400, but would prefer not to)
- Reliability, consistency, no fps-loss over time
- Good 'out-of-the-box' with little to no upgrades needed to start with, but still having the possibility to improve if I choose to later on (I'm still a complete noob and know nothing of the interior parts, would rather not fiddle around internally just yet). Which brings me to my last point
- Popular AEG. With as much information as possible regarding upgrades/maintenance. Spare parts, compatibility etc etc

The new AEG will be mainly used at Sim-Tac Airsoft, so don't want it too long to keep it viable in CQB for those buildings
I very much prefer buying from a walk-in shop. Would like to 'feel' the AEG before I buy it (I live in Meath, but can travel if necessary)

The HK 416 takes standard (STANAG) m4/m16 magazines, so you should be fine with the MAG offering you've linked to. They're good magazines and I've rarely had issues with them myself over several years of use.

For the budget you have available, €400 gets you a wide offering to choose from and some pretty decent and competent airsoft guns included, with good out of the box performance. From your requirement for lots of after-market options, the biggest candidate is an Armalite variant; so m4/m16/scar/hk416/any other type I can't remember. Reliability and consistency you can get too for that budget, although there's always the risk of getting a lemon - but that's life in general.

The one thing you wont get - and you really need to accept this now - is no loss in FPS. Two things to bear in mind;

• Every airsoft gun ever made suffers from this over time & use; just get them tuned up again.
• More FPS does not equal more range. A tight-bore barrel & hob rubber will take care of that for you.

If you're concerned about length of your AEG in a CQB environment, then you are picking from carbine variants; or expanding your list to include bull-pup rifles and SMGs. To be perfectly honest (and having done an awful lot of CQB), your play-style will determine the length of rifle best suited to you far more than the environment will so it's not as limiting a factor as you might think.