L85s

[Red62]

So yeah, I'm looking at an ICS L85, but I just want to hear from all you guys: what's the best L85 out there in the market today (aside from realsteel)?

[tygr701]

You could PM A Lone Swordsman on our team he has an L85 it's a pretty sweet gun.

[philly0001]

I have been eyeing up an L85 myself. It was like my SCAR, didnt really like the look at first but then it grew on me. I would also like to know the recommended brand for the L85 as I am looking at ICS myself.

[kalnaren]

STAR is the best.

ICS isn't terrible but it has some quirks.. IIRC it has proprietary barrel so T/N isn't an option (may have been changed in the more recent versions?). I have one that doesn't work.. suspect the previous owner fucked it up before selling it to me and me nor my gundock were able to figure out what the hell was wrong with it (any gundocks in the GTA know anything about ICS L85s? Send me a PM!) The body is nice and it has a good hefty weight to it. I don't like the look of the foregrip.

Other brands are... bleh. I had an Army Armament L85. Easily the shittiest airsoft gun I've ever owned. Decent body, fit well, really liked the overall external design, but the internal tolerances were absolute crap and the internals were nothing to write home about. Misfed like a motherfucker. Never was able to solve.

WE is coming out with a GBBR L85 (/jizz). I'm 100% getting me one of those.

[Eien]

G&G makes the L85A1 and A2 versions as well but I heard their were bad. Madbull recently released their DD rail for the L85 too, not sure if they can fit with ARES.

I own a ICS L85 for a few weeks before selling it. Not sure if they fixed it but alot of people were getting their piston breaking after 1000 rounds or less. The annoying thing that I didn't like with the ICS L85 is that it didn't had any markings on the selector switch. Though the quick spring switch was a nice touch.

Go with the ARES L85s. They make all of the version of the L85 I believe. WE already released the L85 if your into gas blow backs.

[w1lp33]

I have an ics l85 and the barrel isn't proprietary... Can't comment on the rest of the internals tho...

[Fong242]

I have an ICS:
-Barrel is standard. I put a prometheus TB in mine.
-Piston is still fine after approx. 10k rounds. As all the other internals.
-Exterior is really nice and solid. It went through rain, mud and sand just fine.
-Large battery compartment
-I don't have much experience with other mechbox, but this one is easy to open and modify (mostly V2 internals)
-Quick change spring!
-I didn't looked thoroughly but I can't find a better nozzle that fits...
-There's indeed no marking on the selector switch
-The original hopup bucking and sleeve on mine were not really good. Standard ones fit nicely and provide good seal.

On a side note:
-I'm not sure if the madbull DD rail is currently available. (If it is, show me where to get one! ) In the ad, they specified an ICS adapter for it also.
-Get a SA80 sling from UK surplus and search youtube for how to install it properly. It's a really nice sling system.

Hope it helps,
Fong

[Wrath144]

ICS has changed a lot about their L85, I bet a lot of it was through working with Mach 1. If you get a new generation L85, I could see it being very solid. Mine was good, and there was a lot about it that really sucked. Proprietary barrel and shitty stock piston were the main issues. If these issues and more got fixed, it would be a great gun!

[Krusty]

Originally Posted by kalnaren

STAR is the best.

Take this into consideration, I recently got a Star L85A2 in a trade. I think I'm the fourth owner of this AEG. The Star is built like a tank and after a little cleaning 400 fps. Now I know people hate the non metal Mex box but ARES which I think ownes Star now make a drop in steel box for $90 if your concerned. Stars L85A2 you can also change the spring without opening the Mex box.

Excellent AEG and other than my Systema PTW is the best one I have ever owned. I have decided to put together a upgrade guide for my Star since a lot of aftermarket parts are now on the market in the last 5 years since it's release. Stay tuned.