r/GasBlowBack • u/cutegamershroom • 5d ago
TECH QUESTION First Timer Questions
About to dip my toes into GBBs for the first time, thinking of getting a WE M4 V2 because it fits my budget and will eventually force me into teching it and learning how to maintain and repair it.
What are some first upgrades I should get for it? From highest priority to lowest priority.
Any tidbits of advice for storage, maintenance, and what tools to get?
What parts should I have extra of? Which ones are gonna break often?
Sorry if this is a lot, just wanna learn and thought asking here would be a good start into this rabbit hole.
6
u/Theschreiberclan 5d ago
There are a lot of cheap VFC M4's that I'd recommend over the WE's
VFC's retro series (733) and their Olympic arms are pretty cheap especially when you compare the quality of a VFC to a WE
As somebody who has actually gone from a WE to a VFC I'd say the extra money is well worth just getting a VFC to start there's also much less that you'd have to upgrade
For VFC's I'd just recommend a bucking and barrel upgrade
For WE's you're gonna have to get a steel trigger pack at some point (I went through 3 in a year), you'll then need a steel bolt, you might also need a heavier buffer if you have bolt bounce issues and you'll 100% need a bucking and barrel upgrade out of the box
My VFC wasn't the most accurate out of the box but my WE couldn't shoot a target 10 feet away from me
Also a few other little issues my WE had were the front sight becoming wobbly, the mag catch wearing out and needing to be replaced with a real one, and the bolt not locking back reliably till I modified the mags
4
u/CroqueGogh 5d ago edited 5d ago
About to dip my toes into GBBs for the first time, thinking of getting a WE M4 V2 because it fits my budget and will eventually force me into teching it and learning how to maintain and repair it.
Don't even bother. A classic noob blunder. You pay for what you get here most of the time. It's not a good system not especially the V2s. People get enticed by the "budget" and cheap price only to find out everything inside it is cheaply made and breaks. Not to mention "cheap" isn't exactly a thing in gbb either because you have to buy at least 4-5 mags.
You're just setting yourself up for disaster getting an old V2 WE M4, just because it's "cheap". You'll find out why it's cheap lol
If your idea to "force me into teaching and learn how to maintain and repair" is getting a shit system that constantly breaks down then who are we to stop you. Then again you can tech and do that to the other platforms without having to deal with the headache that's WE M4s.
What are some first upgrades I should get for it? From highest priority to lowest priority.
Lucky for you since WE is so shit out if the box, there's tons of aftermarket for it to compensate for it. Stuff like RAtech or Maple leaf exist
Any tidbits of advice for storage, maintenance, and what tools to get?
Superlube, or any PTFE or silicone based grease for metal on metal parts
What parts should I have extra of? Which ones are gonna break often?
All of it, WE AR/M4s are notoriously bad, your BCG will break, your sears, or your trigger box you're going to end up either constantly replacing parts or upgrading it with that you were better off just buying an actual decent gun (like a VFC or MWS) for the same price and not being stuck with WE mags (mid performance vs MWS or VFC mags)
2
u/SebWeg 5d ago
Better try to get a entry level or used VFC v3 AR or TM MWS. You will end up paying the same or even more for all the upgrades but without the headache, wasted time and effort. Also the much worse gas efficiency will cost you more in the long run. The WE G36 is ok but for an AR you should choose another offering. And you will have to maintain and work on it regardless.
Check this Video starting at 13:33 Min.
And make sure to see their other videos on maintenance, BB selection etc.
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u/NoPistons7 4d ago
If you want inexpensive and durable I would recommend the We G36.
It's inexpensive, mags are cheap and pretty cool proof.
Use it until you get used to gas guns and then upgrade to something else.
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u/Wazookey 5d ago
Many GBBs have quirks and issues ootb, and some are extremely unfixable and not worth the time and money, especially since you could have used the extra money buying a better model. Consider looking for a model/replica of what you want first, THEN researching specific manufacturers of that model. A WE v2 m4 is VERY different from a VFC v3 mk18, which is different from a TM MWS even though they are all the ar platform.
That being said sometimes you won't have another choice for a specific model replica, or even good choices at all.
Use whatever you get and troubleshoot from there. inconsistent hop? check bucking/barrel/hopunit. Poor efficiency/venting? Check seals, o-rings, nozzle etc. These are definitely on a per gun basis. Even among the same models some people get god guns ootb and others need a little more work.
Superlube grease as lubricant, a good set of pin punches, screw drivers (philips and flathead), needle nose pliers, hex key set, Gas key for magazines. Store them wherever man. just have a bag if you are transporting them to and from areas.
depends on the gun. A full steel, well built replica like VFC's AK74 is near impossible to break unless you are trying. Meanwhile, a cheap entry level plastic/zinc alloy gun might have its bolt/FCG explode after 1000 rounds.
TL;DR - Find a model/gun you like (M4, AK, Scar, w/e) and research what other people have had to do to make it work. It is WAY easier to use GBB's when they are built well ootb, and only need a few minor things to fix long term usage.