Question about AR variants

[Bigload]

I am in the market for a new all metal M4. I stayed away from the M4 because I know there are a load of options and variations for this platform. I am interested in an AEG.

Don't want to be flamed, but what's the difference between AR's SR's and the numbers? What to look out for and what to stay away from?

I am leaning towards ICS models at the moment, and I am interested in ones with a longer barrel, but don't want to sacrifice the weight.

What brand has fitment issues for aftermarket stuff? Mag feed issues?

Fanks in advance crowd,

- newbie.

[ThunderCactus]

Basically nothing is different, they're all pretty much the same inside

Stick to VFC, G&G, or G&P for M4s

And barrel length makes no difference in accuracy, so if you want a 12" MK18, get a 12" MK18
There's really no reason to have a full length M16 anymore

[L473ncy]

To start AR15 is the Armalite model 15 designed by Eugene Stoner.

ARXX just means the "model" that it is. So there's things like AR5, AR10, AR18, etc.

Armalite sold the rights to the AR15 (and 10?) design to Colt and Colt ran with that and the US Army purchased it.

So every M4/16 or whatever is based on the AR15 platform (eg. offerings from Olympic Arms, Bushmaster, Norinco, DPMS, Sig, Mossberg, S&W, HK etc.). I don't know of any "exotic" AR's (ie. not based on the AR15 platform) in the airsoft world but I'm sure people could custom make something like an AR10 if they were so inclined.

So for all intents and purposes in the airsoft world M4/16=AR=SR (Stoner Rifle which I believe Knights Mfg owns the rights to). I'd say it's a very "modular platform" and you can change just about anything and keep it the same like barrel length from 7 inch AR pistols to big 20 inch long range hunting/match rifles.

I would recommend starting with a standard 14.5" AR and going from there. As for brands do some research but VFC makes nice models, G&G Regular/TopTech line, CA X-Series (not the old series), as does G&P (with the caveat that you need to strip it and reshim the gears properly or replace the gears entirely). As far as fitment issues go as long as you get a "G&P style" body where the upper has "sliding tabs" where the upper and lower connect you'll be fine. As opposed to the CA "2 pin system" of which I lost one of the pins from my Madbull body (which I believe all use the CA 2 pin system) and I'm really considering turning a single pin on a lathe because it annoys me lol.

And Thunder Cactus is wrong, there is a reason to have the longest barrel you can. I know that Ricochet loves having the longest barrel he can but it's probably also because he's over 6 ft. tall. I don't think he actually has anything shorter than a 14.5" barrel on his guns and the first time I met him I think he had a 18" barrel on his PTW.

[Drake]

"AR" (per actual designation) is Armalite Rifle and the numbers refer to model numbers, most commonly AR-10 and AR-15, Eugene Stoner's rifle designs (in 7.62x51 and 5.56x45 respectively), the rights to which were eventually sold to Colt (the AR-15 platform led to the M16 and M4 series carbines).

"SR" is Knight Armaments Company's (KAC) designation for Stoner-based rifles/carbines, the SR-15 (and SR-16) series being 5.56x45 and SR-25 being 7.62x51. There's also the short-lived SR-47, chambered to 7.62x39, which accepts AK mags.

There's a really long list of AR variants, specially with Colt, following the entire evolution of the gun from the original Stoner design to the newest M16A4s and beyond. Here's a partial list if you're really curious (I've seen more exhaustive ones): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AR-15_variants

That doesn't even account for all the AR based designs from smaller shops or variants with addon rails systems, etc.

Basically it all comes down to looks. Unless you're looking to get something that fits a specific impression (Navy SEALs, USMC, CF, etc) just get whatever you think is most purdy.

[lurkingknight]

The ICS m4s seem to have their own measurements... Unless you find the ICS with your exact barrel group and rail system, I'd suggest you go with any other brand.. KA, G&P, vfc.

The only advantage to ICS m4s is their split gearbox... it makes replacing pistons or springs really easy, but not much else.

[ThunderCactus]

Originally Posted by L473ncy

And Thunder Cactus is wrong, there is a reason to have the longest barrel you can. I know that Ricochet loves having the longest barrel he can but it's probably also because he's over 6 ft. tall. I don't think he actually has anything shorter than a 14.5" barrel on his guns and the first time I met him I think he had a 18" barrel on his PTW.

Would have been a 20" barrel
There's a whole other reason why Lindz likes the longer barrels though:
When you spear throw your ptw onto a cement surface, the M16 tends to have better flight dynamics due to the more balanced weight distribution

[Bigload]

How about the 416/417's?

And what's with the SOPMOD and MK stuff, how does that fit into the airsoft world?

I guess players like to 'model' after a certain look?

[ThunderCactus]

Just different types of AR's
For example:
The M4 and MK18 are like the AK74 and AK105

In airsoft, same gun on the inside, slightly different look.

The HK416/417 are a bit different, not quite as interchangeable on the outside, but still the exact same gun on the inside.

In the world of M4s, you buy whatever the heck you think is cool and run with it. Cause they're all the same on the inside

Here's mine:
SR15E3 and a MK18 (except mine ARE different on the inside, cause they're PTWs)

[Bigload]

Are HK416 and M4 base rifle's parts interchangeable?

[Styrak]

Originally Posted by Bigload

Are HK416 and M4 base rifle's parts interchangeable?

Like what? What do you want to know exactly? Some parts are not even interchangeable among different manufacturers with the same model of rifle.

[Bigload]

Thunder,

With AEG's, what are the differences between the types of mags? What's P mag etc...

[Bigload]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Like what? What do you want to know exactly? Some parts are not even interchangeable among different manufacturers with the same model of rifle.

How close of a platform are they? Are mags / rails / grips / receivers interchangeable?

[ThunderCactus]

mags yes, grip yes, rails no

Most mags are the same, Pmags, troy battlemags, PDW mags, etc fit just about any M4.
There are a few M4s that take a slightly proprietary mag, but stick to G&P, VFC, G&G, CA, marui, mainstream brands and you'll be fine.

The different mags are just looks, Pmags, stanag mags and troy mags are the same thing just look different

Generally all M4 mags work in M4s, with the except of PTW mags and gas mags. Just look up reviews for what brand of mags work the best.

[Bigload]

I like the looks of your SR15,

SR15, I guess the SR25 is the longer barrel version?

[HackD]

Originally Posted by lurkingknight

The ICS m4s seem to have their own measurements... Unless you find the ICS with your exact barrel group and rail system, I'd suggest you go with any other brand.. KA, G&P, vfc.

The only advantage to ICS m4s is their split gearbox... it makes replacing pistons or springs really easy, but not much else.

There are subtle, and not so subtle differences in ICS M4's, as compared to VFC/G&P. Dimensionally, ICS differs significantly enough, that it makes external modifications not totally impossible, but certainly more complicated than working with something that is of closer to RS dimensions and design.

My first airsoft rifle in 2011 was a full metal ICS M4A1. Absolutely no regrets about the purchase, and i still have it - albeit not having fielded it in a year now. I now have two ICS M4's. No issues reliability wise except for the semi/auto lockout selector which i've replaced x2 in the original (of plastic construction, fails easily - it's a proprietary ICS OEM part). Both wear variants of the Daniel Defence MK18 RISII .. one with a G&P barrel nut (ICS barrel nut is proprietary, smaller than RS) and 14.5" stock barrel, and one with a DD RIS that works with a receiver collar in lieu of the barrel nut, using an aftermarket 11.5" barrel for the compact 'commando' look. Both required significant modding/reworking/rethreading of the receiver threading to make work. Similarly so for fitting a barrel mount DBoy M203 onto my 14.5" stock barrel version, it was far from just being a slap-on and go add-on.

Internally, working on the ICS gearboxes is a straight-forward affair, BUT many of the parts differ in dimensions from the traditional TM version-2 gearbox, upon which the ICS split gearbox is based upon. Replace ICS internals with ICS parts, unless you can compare alternatives with a micrometer first.

If you like tinkering/problem solving and wish to do external mods to an ICS.. it just might be for you. Otherwise, look at a G&P or VFC offering .. be prepared to do work on the G&P gearbox before fielding though.