M4A1 comparison
 

So I'm nearing the point where I could be buying my first gone and I've settled on an M4A1 I just need to decide which brand.

Basically I'm looking at the TM or G&G. I've heard some complaints about the TM internals so I'm wondering if the extra 100$+ for the TM is really worth it.

I'd appreciate any input any of you could provide on this subject.

Yes, it's really worst but why don't you chose CA intead. It tend to be better out of the box than TM and G&G without much of upgrade.Only problem is company just need to control the quality for lemon. TM might need heavy upgrade from internal to external but still if you keep it in stock form, it tend to be use for long period than other gun I have been seen but 290 fps is not right for outdoor game, it's still good for indoor. I wouldn't use stock TM for outdoor though.

It would more help if you can tell us what you plan to do with the gun like indoor or outdoor game or for just only plinking.

KND

Internals for the TM? No, TM is pretty much perfect for internals, they dont shoot as fast as other guns like G&G. But i've heard people using tms and having them last for years. The only complains I had about my TM m16 (Which uses the same receiver type) are how fragile the tabs are (Tabs are what keep the two halves together)
Unless you can get a metal body ASAP, i would go for the G&G
________
Brunette Webcam

Sorry I should have mentioned. I don't think we have any CQB fields in my area so it will be mostly outdoors.

So am I to be under the impression that G&G and CA perform better right out of the box then TM?

Further down the road I would like to get into gun modding but I imagine I'll have a lot of learning to do first. So how are all of these brands for compatibility, that's why I was staying away from CA I had heard they were less compatible with TM parts then other M4s.

TM s-system.

hmm ! Tell me what part that CA is not compatible with TM. The only is different is the hop up, since TM use two piece plastic hop up and CA use the one piece metal hop up.

By the way, Have you ever think about ICS M4A1 ?

KND

i have a G&P m4 and i could not be happier!

Are you the guy who drove out to Brooks I was hearing about? :)

Anyways if you mean performance measured by speed and such yes China clones perform better out of the box since Japan has strict FPS limits on their guns (I believe it was something like 330-350 on .20's).

If you mean by reliability then TM hands down since they are less prone to breaking or so I've heard due to less stress on the internals and higher QC on their products.

I've heard CA used to be dreaded because of the hit or miss quality, but their QC has improved greatly since those days. It's still sometimes hit or miss in terms of lemons and such but they have less lemons going out now.

Are you by any chance in contact with the new Lethbridge team? (They play at coulee runners paintball)

The limit is 1 joule.

As for TM internals, they're great. If you want to change FPS, all it takes is a spring swap.

I don't know! I've just heard... things! :P

OK shit, so I have no idea which M4 I want. Post opinions!

Ya that was probably me. I've talked to a guy from aesir airsoft a bit and I'm gonna try to make it to one of their games soon to have a look around.

well recently, chinese clones have been getting better and better reviews.

Not dboys tho haha.

JG espeically. I've heard tons of ppl have jg's last for 2 years so far and still shooting great.
But then again, with chiense brands there's always the luck of the draw that it might not work as well as it should, but then again even CA has bad luck at times.

Best is to know the gun shoots well. But for chances, CA is probably best, other than G&P which has really nice bodies.

DBoys is garbage. Only good thing in them is the... Well I bought a complete mechbox for 40 bucks just so I can get those cheapo XYT gears, and they are poor quality... I mean really poor.

Are you kidding? Get your hands on a Dboys/CYMA(rebranded) AKs-74u, they are AWESOME. ridiculously good out of the box, and have 360-380 fps with .20's. For the thread starter, i would say go for TM, and get a new spring. Aim for 360-380 FPS with .20 's, it seems to be the sweet spot for AEG's.

I have the CA M15A4 Carbine which is the equivalent of the M4A1. I can't describe how happy I am with the gun.

You can ask almost anyone who owns an CA M15A4 and they will tell you. Quality internals with a metal body, what more can you want? The availability of parts for the CA is an advantage as well.

I can vouch for that. I used to have two of them AKS-74 U, At least 20 000 BBs trough them before they got sold and they are the first AEG that never break on me and still the next buyer until now.

KND

tm is the lamborghini of cars. in airsoft its the king why would anyother say TM-compatable because tm parts will last you a long time. I beleve another reason why TM's fps is low is because they play alot of cqb. In otherwords Tm is basically maxed as hear we need more fps because more outdoor enviorments are present. My advice is buy a Tm and buy a spring that gives you 350 fps so you can do indoor and outdoor.

the only gun i have experiance is with JG m4's but being a noob sort of speak. You are game ready out of the box. I think im lucky but i don't need to adjust the hopup on mine 0.2 they fly straight and within my iron sites for a good 100ft+

TM shoot at 280 because of Japanese law. No other reason.

And TM internals are good. They still only have plastic bodies, and most people would put CA, G&P, ICS (real ones, not halfbreeds), VFC, and Ares above TM.

Remember, the hop-up is your friend. And switch to 0.28g for outdoor play. Believe me, you'll love the result. ;)

Even the guys from the mainland don't like Dboys guns, and they are stupidly cheap over there.

Ok I have one last question. I've been seeing mention of M4 "new version" and I've been unable to discern what that is (aside from the obvious) is this something I should be looking out for when buying?

TM will be awesome guns and run forever - as long as you're happy with 280 fps and don't mess with them. If you want true performance you basically have to gut the gun and replace most of the internals. Try upgrading a stock TM V2 mechbox to 400 fps without swapping anything but the spring and you'll be picking bits of metal and plastic out of your broken shell in no time.

IMO, buying TM M4 is a waste of money, because you have to sink a bunch of money into it to make it a good performer. You can get a clone and put the same amount of work into it and have it come in cheaper than the stock TM, and in the end, you'll have a much better gun.

So which brand would you personally recommend crunchmeister?

my two cents again,

I would recommend ICS M4 ( the real full metal, not halfbreed, cansoft )

KND

If you're willing to fork out the cash for TM, I'd say to go Classic Army. No hesitation there for me. About the same price (maybe a bit more), all metal (best stock metal bodies of any AEG IMO), reinforced internals (including the mechbox shell itself) that CAN handle a stiff spring without any other foolery required. The all metal contruction won't flex in the slightest, unlike TM and other plastic guns.

As for compatibility concerns, there are no compatibility issues with CA guns. I've been running my CA M15 rifle (now with a Guarder C7 body) and it's been fantastic. It has minimal internal upgrades, shoots 385, and has sick range and accuracy.

My custom C8A2 and MP5 are also built from a lot of CA parts (externally) and they're both incredibly solid and look great. Although they're really not CA, so it doesn't apply in terms of the internals which are all custom.

If you are on a budget and the prospect of a) a plastic body, and b) working in a mechbox doesn't bother you, JG.

If you don't mind spending the extra cash and want a very sturdy, reliable, full metal gun: Classic Army, ICS or G&P.

Actually, ICS is another great brand too. Lots of benefits with going the ICS route, mainly being the quickly replaceable upper mechbox so you can switch from indoors to outdoors velocities in seconds without having to tear the gun apart.

Ok thanks, you guys have given me some more to think about. Uh... one quick question that I feel really silly having to ask, but does this forum have an advanced search feature?

Systema Revolution gearbox with an AEG attached to it. :D

Yep, drop down the Quick Links in the top right corner, it should be there.

Yes it's under "quick links >> search >> advanced search" in the top right of your blue panel thing.

It took me a while to figure that out after the forum update too....

Since you're AV'ed, have a budget in mind and look in the Classifieds till something you like pop's up.

Other option would be talking to Ken at 007 (Calgary) and getting a clear bodied gun and painting it.

Actually, it's quicker to just hit the "Go" button without filling out the search field. Takes you right to the advanced search.