I just got word from my contact at RAtech that the steel trigger kit for WE AK will be released tomorrow.

They're far more reliable and require a lot less maintenance and repairs than a GBBR. Read the point he said, GBBR break more often which is why he thinks noobs are recommended to buy AEGs first. The problem may be the gun but the user has to fix it. Beginners and Veterans a like still have gun problems.

I can empty a mag on one pull of the trigger , ROF is constant.. but SLOW, 450 RPM

Mag has a large volume.. so cool-down does not seem to be too much an issue above 15c

I think a progressive spring, soft to start and stiffer at the end with more return "oomph" may speed the return to battery.. but it would reduce the bolt travel in fire and felt recoil would be reduced.

Why the hell should I not expect a 600 dollar gun to be built with quality materials. The same real steel gun is very similar in price and I would be a little wary shooting live rounds with a gun made with crap. That is not an acceptable line of thought...thats why they sell it....we accept it. There is absolutely NO reason why they can't be made for that price. The problem is they would not wear out and sales would go down fast..No more busted guns.

Problem is that's the inflated Canadian price.

If the same applied to the real AK you'd probably have grounds to complain that, for $1200, it should shoot like a KAC -built gun.

That being said, I think this is more of a growing pain. WE is putting out some affordable products which are generally good. No doubt a Gen 2 AK will remedy these issues. If their M4 line is any indicator, they at least recognize problems and fix them.

If these GBBR are upgraded with all the necessary aftermarket parts, will it be reliable for thousands and thousands of shots up against the AEG's and yet still have the GBBR realism fun factor?

GBBRs are more like the real steel cousins than most people realize. It's not just the blowback action, the realistic takedown or the limitation to realcap capacities. It's also the maintenance. You have to keep all moving parts well lubed and the internals need to be cleaned out often. Just like the real thing.

If you are disciplined enough to keep up with the maintenance (mags included) the gun should offer you many years of service.

http://en.ratech.com.tw/product/html...detail_080.php

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../rag_we080.jpg

You're looking for a short near-sighted answer...and so the best you'll get is..."maybe".

1. In the longer term all of the "defects" of a model will come out...and there'll be fixes for them (or there won't be and the model will just fade away).

2. "Necessary" is the key word...see the above point...you won't know what is "necessary" until the platform is proven out. That takes time, that takes guys using/beating on it, that takes stress testing. Anyone who runs a couple of mags through it in their basement and then posts up, "Yeah! It's great...you buy now!!!" is not helping you. Initial impressions from guys who have a history of experience is great though...but it should be filed away as "initial impression".

3. The ultimate answer to your question is Yes....with a realistic No. If you take ANY model and tweak it with the "necessary" parts...YES, it's likely to run for a long, long time. But even the most uber built AEG/GBBR/GBB/etc...can suddenly/spectacularly fail. That is the nature of the beast. The only difference may be that you have a $900 broken mostly steel upgraded gun vs. a $400 broken stock gun. ...but it should last longer...and AEGs sometimes barf really quickly too.

This is quite true...and a large part of the appeal of GBBRs. Many a person has looked into one and said, "Oh, I get it"...while they look at AEGs and say, "Dunno...must be magic gremlins in there".

See pivot/wear/contact point...lube pivot/wear/contact point. See dirt/dust/bits of crap....remove dirt/dust/bits of crap.

And a "real" trigger break....for that reason alone GBBRs are worth it. No more "toy space zapper" trigger :)

This is the kicker for me.. and why I rarely pick up an AEG anymore..
the GBBR is a far better simulator.. and get us pretty much as close as we can to the handle and feel of a firearm.. and still be able to shoot our friends with it.

I fully expect each and every one to eventually fail, and need parts swapped out.. I DON'T CARE .. for me it's worth it .

All hammer and other internal issues aside.....

WE's site shows an official (i.e. not a home-made mode) short-stroker for the AK bolt, presumably for those that are interested in quicker action and better gas efficiency

+1

I agree here with Brian,I like my INO's for their feel and mechanical working
similar characteristics to their RS cousins. Once you understand their limitations,
they are incredible guns.Each one has its weak spot,having a supply of those
parts in the field is just a minute or so to fix.:cool:

Ok. I'm lovin the AK again now that I got another one. This time, I also bought the RA-Tech CNC steel trigger set. Quality of the parts look top notch. Will install on the weekend.

Like the WE M4 variants, the trigger box is easy to access. It's held in place at three points: one pin, the trigger handle and the fire selector. Removal of these items is a very simple matter and the trigger box containing the components easily slides out. It's a big box so easier to work with than the M4 trigger box.

Anyhow, I'll let you guys know how the upgrade goes but for now it looks very straight forward.

Oh, by the way, don't bother with WE's new rate of fire upgrade part. It's the yellow large brass looking part that slides into the rear of the steel body thus cutting the bolt travel essentially in half. I installed it on my first AK and it just causes more damage to the bolt carrier as it hits the part pretty hard, despite the spring loaded cushioning. I'd wait until someone comes out with an all steel bolt carrier first.


I'll also be modding the nozzle to install the NPAS. Hoping to get at least a 300 to 450 fps range by the time I'm done.

I am almost ready to pick one up but have a question regarding breaking.

Is it better to replace broken parts with orginal factory ones?

Is ra tech the best and only company making upgrade parts. Seems not a lot of choices.

If you buy original stock factory parts, prepare you buy it again and again and again.. The Ra-Tech parts are made of steel so they will last a lot longer. Will you have to replace the Ra-Tech parts later in life? Probably, but not as often as the original parts. Of course YMMV.

There a few other companies that make parts for WE guns, but Ra-Tech seems to have the most parts. For their AK platform, I don't think there's a lot of parts now, so you'll have to wait a bit for companies to come out with their own products.

For smaller companies that make aftermarket parts, grab what you can off of them now, because they might stop making the parts. I'm having trouble finding a part for my WE M4 right now.