Post by triggs (FAH) on Jul 26, 2010 6:43:56 GMT -5
This is a VERY quick overview of the various types and brands of the numerous M4 and M16 variants available, I will be attempting to keep it up-to-date if possible.
Due to the sheer number of companies that produce M4’s and M16’s, and due to the number of variations available there will only be four (4) basic designations of variations. This includes:
Stubby M4 = 7” barrel
CQBR M4 = 10.5” barrel
Standard M4 = 14.5” barrel
Standard M16 = 20”+ barrel
Visit any airsoft retailer and they will have just about any M4 or M16 variation hanging on the wall or available through one of their catalogs, and you can get one to fit just about any budget. The goal of this guide is not to point out what M4 or M16 might suite you best, but will focus on the quality you can expect to see from each company, both internals and externals.
AGM M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $140-$190
FPS: 450-500
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Full metal construction
- Cheap priced Western Arms compatible rifle, fully upgradable with readily available upgrades
- Only issues are the same issues faced with Western Arms M4 GBBR
Con’s:
- Cheap quality pot metal, the bolt catch needs to be replaced as it wears down quickly
- Requires a Negative Pressure Adjustable System (NPAS) bolt to be CQB legal
Western Arms GBBR’s have always been a eye catcher, but an expensive to purchase and expensive to maintain rifle. The AGM, while a cheaper pit metal clone, brings down the price, but maintains a high degree of quality, the only parts that need direct replacement are easily found, and relatively low priced.
GHK PDW Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: Unknown
FPS: Unknown
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Unknown
Con’s:
- Unknown
At this time the GHK Knights Armaments Company (KAC) Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) is unavailable. Will update when data is available.
G&P WOC M4/M16/SAM-R Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $420 - $700
FPS: 320 - 380
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Since the original WOC release, models now have a G&P Negative Pressure Adjustable System (NPAS) factory installed for indoor and outdoor combat.
- Steel upgraded Western Arms M4
- Excellent trademarks and steel bodies
- Variations include the stubby M4, and Marine’s Squad Advanced Marksman-Rifle (SAM-R)
- The new “X-series” uses aluminum internals for lighter weight and lower price
Con’s:
- Expensive, and some parts need to be replaced similarly to the original Western Arms
- Unlike their AEG’s, G&P GBBR are as fragile as the Western Arms
- The new “X-series” uses aluminum internals, which can lead to fast wear
While G&P is a highly regarded AEG manufacture, the WOC series isn’t as up to par. Originally G&P made the same upgrade parts for the Western Arms M4/M16, but then started marketing them as a fully functional rifle. Unfortunately, they suffer from many of the same issues as the original Western Arms.
Inokatsu M4/M16 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $880 - $1000
FPS: 400 - 500
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- CNC machined steel, exactly like the real M4/M16
- Realistic trademarks
- High quality CNC machined steel internals
Con’s:
- Extremely high price due to the CNC steel
- Hard to find in the US
Inokatsu is a top brand company, making some of the best rifles in airsoft. Unfortunately, the high price tag, and low availability keep this company off of the common GBBR lists. They are however, a step above every other Western Arms and WETTI GBBR.
JG M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $70 - $90
FPS: 450 - 500
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- A very affordable clone of the Western Arms M4 GBBR
- Lightweight plastic body
- Cheap starting point for a GBBR
Con’s:
- Low quality pot metal internals
- Low quality plastic body
While the JG GBBR is certainly a starting point, the plastic body, and amount of internals needing immediate replacement, put this on the bottom of the list. Like the AGM it will need a steel bolt catch, Negative Pressure Adjustable System (NPAS) bolt, and many other steel reinforced parts including a metal body, nullifies the cost saving on the base rifle. The AGM has a shorter upgrade list overall
King Arms M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $250 - $400
FPS: 280 - 450
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Easily adjustable FPS with a unique valve blocker piece
- Adjustable rate of fire with included “speed buffers”
- King Arms quality
- Realistic trademarks
- 100% Western Arms compatible
Con’s:
- King Arms is a new comer to the GBBR scene, and has not received long term testing so it is unknown if their quality is up to many other available models
King Arms, like G&P, is known for high quality AEG’s. Unfortunately, no reviews are currently available for their new GBBR. If it is similar to G&P, the externals will be above average. Will add more information as it becomes available.
KJW Models Type of replic = original/clone
Price: $300 - $400
FPS: 450 - 500
Mags: KJW Proprietary mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Designed by the precision expert Tanio Kobo
- The KJW is full metal with a unique rubber band based blow back mechanism
- Only company to offer “Thermold” type magazines
Con’s:
- Proprietary KJW design with more parts being rubber based than the Western Arms variants
- Questionable KJW quality
- Only “Thermold” type mags available.
KJW is also new to the GBBR world, and while initial reviews were impressive, many parts wear and break similar to the Western Arms. In addition the rubber bands need replacements as the Green Gas dries them out.
VFC M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Design
Price: Unknown
FPS: Unknown
Mags: Proprietary VFC M4/M16 mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Unknown
Con’s:
- Unknown
At this time the VFC M4 is unavailable. Will update when data is available.
Viper Tech M4/M16 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) for Inokatsu
Price: $580 - $660
FPS: 370 - 400
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Same as Inokatsu
Con’s:
- Same as Inokatsu
Little is known about VIPER, however, as the Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) for Inokatsu you can expect to see the same quality as their well known cousin. The prices are expensive, but with all steel internals and externals there is quality to the price.
Western Arms M4/M16 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Design
Price: $480 - $660
FPS: 330 - 350
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Full metal internals and externals
- Realistic trademarks
- Realistic teardown
- Many aftermarket replacement parts and upgrades
- New “Magna” recoil engine, for more powerful recoil when shooting
- Variations include the stubby M4
Con’s:
- The WA design is more fragile than some, but is also more realistic
- Expensive to maintain and field like any WA or clone
- Designed for HFC134a (Duster gas) since it is made by Japan
Western Arms is one of two GBBR designs (the other is WETTI), while it is the more fragile of the two, due to the open bolt design, the recoil is far superior to the WE, as well as the general build quality. Now that the market has grown, with many WA clones, upgrade and replacement parts are readily available. WA is still a top contender in the GBBR market
WETTI (WE) M4/M16/HK416/ Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Design
Price: $250 - $350
FPS: 380 - 420
Mags: Proprietary WETTI (WE) mid-caps and low-caps
Pro’s:
- The Gas Blow Back (GBB) Design is more reliable than the Western Arms Open bolt
- WETTI now offers an “Open Bolt” in the Knights Armaments Company (KAC) Personal Defense Weapon (PDW)
- Variations include the Heckler & Koch (H&K) HK416 and the Knights Armaments Company (KAC) Personal Defense Weapon (PDW)
- Low price
Con’s:
- WETTI internal and manufacturing quality control is much lower than Western Arms, while the design is internally superior, the craftsmanship is not, and more susceptible to failure
- Proprietary design and little option of upgrade or aftermarket replacement
- Low recoil, the design leads to a closed gas system for better gas efficiency, but there is low recoil in comparison
- Pot metal internals and externals leads to premature failures
WE Tactical Training International (WETTI) is the only other GBBR design on the market. The design of the closed gas system is superior to the Western Arms in gas efficiency and reliability. However, the quality and craftsmanship of WE is significantly lower than WA, and negates the advantages of the system due to the lack of aftermarket parts and upgrades. There is also little or no recoil felt, due to the closed gas system as the bolt carrier acts like the Automatic Electric Gun (AEG) Electric Blow Back (EBB), with just a thin sheet of metal moving, instead of a full bolt carrier. In the end the design is quality the end the design is quality, but the rifle is not.
Due to the sheer number of companies that produce M4’s and M16’s, and due to the number of variations available there will only be four (4) basic designations of variations. This includes:
Stubby M4 = 7” barrel
CQBR M4 = 10.5” barrel
Standard M4 = 14.5” barrel
Standard M16 = 20”+ barrel
Visit any airsoft retailer and they will have just about any M4 or M16 variation hanging on the wall or available through one of their catalogs, and you can get one to fit just about any budget. The goal of this guide is not to point out what M4 or M16 might suite you best, but will focus on the quality you can expect to see from each company, both internals and externals.
AGM M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $140-$190
FPS: 450-500
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Full metal construction
- Cheap priced Western Arms compatible rifle, fully upgradable with readily available upgrades
- Only issues are the same issues faced with Western Arms M4 GBBR
Con’s:
- Cheap quality pot metal, the bolt catch needs to be replaced as it wears down quickly
- Requires a Negative Pressure Adjustable System (NPAS) bolt to be CQB legal
Western Arms GBBR’s have always been a eye catcher, but an expensive to purchase and expensive to maintain rifle. The AGM, while a cheaper pit metal clone, brings down the price, but maintains a high degree of quality, the only parts that need direct replacement are easily found, and relatively low priced.
GHK PDW Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: Unknown
FPS: Unknown
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Unknown
Con’s:
- Unknown
At this time the GHK Knights Armaments Company (KAC) Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) is unavailable. Will update when data is available.
G&P WOC M4/M16/SAM-R Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $420 - $700
FPS: 320 - 380
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Since the original WOC release, models now have a G&P Negative Pressure Adjustable System (NPAS) factory installed for indoor and outdoor combat.
- Steel upgraded Western Arms M4
- Excellent trademarks and steel bodies
- Variations include the stubby M4, and Marine’s Squad Advanced Marksman-Rifle (SAM-R)
- The new “X-series” uses aluminum internals for lighter weight and lower price
Con’s:
- Expensive, and some parts need to be replaced similarly to the original Western Arms
- Unlike their AEG’s, G&P GBBR are as fragile as the Western Arms
- The new “X-series” uses aluminum internals, which can lead to fast wear
While G&P is a highly regarded AEG manufacture, the WOC series isn’t as up to par. Originally G&P made the same upgrade parts for the Western Arms M4/M16, but then started marketing them as a fully functional rifle. Unfortunately, they suffer from many of the same issues as the original Western Arms.
Inokatsu M4/M16 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $880 - $1000
FPS: 400 - 500
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- CNC machined steel, exactly like the real M4/M16
- Realistic trademarks
- High quality CNC machined steel internals
Con’s:
- Extremely high price due to the CNC steel
- Hard to find in the US
Inokatsu is a top brand company, making some of the best rifles in airsoft. Unfortunately, the high price tag, and low availability keep this company off of the common GBBR lists. They are however, a step above every other Western Arms and WETTI GBBR.
JG M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $70 - $90
FPS: 450 - 500
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- A very affordable clone of the Western Arms M4 GBBR
- Lightweight plastic body
- Cheap starting point for a GBBR
Con’s:
- Low quality pot metal internals
- Low quality plastic body
While the JG GBBR is certainly a starting point, the plastic body, and amount of internals needing immediate replacement, put this on the bottom of the list. Like the AGM it will need a steel bolt catch, Negative Pressure Adjustable System (NPAS) bolt, and many other steel reinforced parts including a metal body, nullifies the cost saving on the base rifle. The AGM has a shorter upgrade list overall
King Arms M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Western Arms Clone
Price: $250 - $400
FPS: 280 - 450
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Easily adjustable FPS with a unique valve blocker piece
- Adjustable rate of fire with included “speed buffers”
- King Arms quality
- Realistic trademarks
- 100% Western Arms compatible
Con’s:
- King Arms is a new comer to the GBBR scene, and has not received long term testing so it is unknown if their quality is up to many other available models
King Arms, like G&P, is known for high quality AEG’s. Unfortunately, no reviews are currently available for their new GBBR. If it is similar to G&P, the externals will be above average. Will add more information as it becomes available.
KJW Models Type of replic = original/clone
Price: $300 - $400
FPS: 450 - 500
Mags: KJW Proprietary mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Designed by the precision expert Tanio Kobo
- The KJW is full metal with a unique rubber band based blow back mechanism
- Only company to offer “Thermold” type magazines
Con’s:
- Proprietary KJW design with more parts being rubber based than the Western Arms variants
- Questionable KJW quality
- Only “Thermold” type mags available.
KJW is also new to the GBBR world, and while initial reviews were impressive, many parts wear and break similar to the Western Arms. In addition the rubber bands need replacements as the Green Gas dries them out.
VFC M4 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Design
Price: Unknown
FPS: Unknown
Mags: Proprietary VFC M4/M16 mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Unknown
Con’s:
- Unknown
At this time the VFC M4 is unavailable. Will update when data is available.
Viper Tech M4/M16 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) for Inokatsu
Price: $580 - $660
FPS: 370 - 400
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Same as Inokatsu
Con’s:
- Same as Inokatsu
Little is known about VIPER, however, as the Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) for Inokatsu you can expect to see the same quality as their well known cousin. The prices are expensive, but with all steel internals and externals there is quality to the price.
Western Arms M4/M16 Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Design
Price: $480 - $660
FPS: 330 - 350
Mags: Western Arms compatible mid-cap and low-cap
Pro’s:
- Full metal internals and externals
- Realistic trademarks
- Realistic teardown
- Many aftermarket replacement parts and upgrades
- New “Magna” recoil engine, for more powerful recoil when shooting
- Variations include the stubby M4
Con’s:
- The WA design is more fragile than some, but is also more realistic
- Expensive to maintain and field like any WA or clone
- Designed for HFC134a (Duster gas) since it is made by Japan
Western Arms is one of two GBBR designs (the other is WETTI), while it is the more fragile of the two, due to the open bolt design, the recoil is far superior to the WE, as well as the general build quality. Now that the market has grown, with many WA clones, upgrade and replacement parts are readily available. WA is still a top contender in the GBBR market
WETTI (WE) M4/M16/HK416/ Gas Blow Back Rifle (GBBR) = Original Design
Price: $250 - $350
FPS: 380 - 420
Mags: Proprietary WETTI (WE) mid-caps and low-caps
Pro’s:
- The Gas Blow Back (GBB) Design is more reliable than the Western Arms Open bolt
- WETTI now offers an “Open Bolt” in the Knights Armaments Company (KAC) Personal Defense Weapon (PDW)
- Variations include the Heckler & Koch (H&K) HK416 and the Knights Armaments Company (KAC) Personal Defense Weapon (PDW)
- Low price
Con’s:
- WETTI internal and manufacturing quality control is much lower than Western Arms, while the design is internally superior, the craftsmanship is not, and more susceptible to failure
- Proprietary design and little option of upgrade or aftermarket replacement
- Low recoil, the design leads to a closed gas system for better gas efficiency, but there is low recoil in comparison
- Pot metal internals and externals leads to premature failures
WE Tactical Training International (WETTI) is the only other GBBR design on the market. The design of the closed gas system is superior to the Western Arms in gas efficiency and reliability. However, the quality and craftsmanship of WE is significantly lower than WA, and negates the advantages of the system due to the lack of aftermarket parts and upgrades. There is also little or no recoil felt, due to the closed gas system as the bolt carrier acts like the Automatic Electric Gun (AEG) Electric Blow Back (EBB), with just a thin sheet of metal moving, instead of a full bolt carrier. In the end the design is quality the end the design is quality, but the rifle is not.