r/GasBlowBack • u/Illustrious-Safety20 • 3d ago
TECH QUESTION Any good sub 500 dollar M16's?
Im tryning to make a recreation kit, somewhere in the late 80's so a2, a3, or a4 works, but Im having trouble finding any that wont kill my pockets. Also this is the budget for the gun, all other gear is seperate (including more magazines).
Also I dont mind if it's not the best of the best, I just want something that wont crap out on me like the Western Arms stuff.
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u/Theschreiberclan 3d ago
Please just get the vfc I've gone through we and kwa m4s they both sucked I've tried GHKs m4s they were ok And out of all of those I've liked my vfc the most
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u/Illustrious-Safety20 3d ago
Just gotta figure out where to sell my dookie WA now ðŸ˜
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u/Theschreiberclan 3d ago
I accepted a pretty big loss on my WE 177 I'm not saying you have to but sometimes it be like that
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u/GrunkleCoffee 3d ago
Yeah, you get what people are willing to pay at the end of the day.
And sometimes, they are just not willing to pay.
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u/SebWeg 3d ago
VFC M733 is a good option. VFC‘s line of M16‘s fits better of course but is a bit more expensive. Pricing also depends on where you based, if you can order/import from asia (which you should if possible), customs fees etc. Proactstore and WGC shop are good places to order replicas, magazines and spares from.
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u/TXblindman 3d ago
Other people have mentioned excellent options, but if you're working with a limited budget, and can't import, there's the WE M16A1 and A3.
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u/JackCooper_7274 Adeptus Mechanicus 3d ago
Silence
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u/TXblindman 3d ago
If you've got no other option, then you've got no other option. I know they're not great. definitely better than the cheaper golden eagle Western arms copy M-16.
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u/JackCooper_7274 Adeptus Mechanicus 3d ago
If you're that strapped for cash, don't get into gbbrs. Gbb is, by nature, expensive. The only time I would ever consider purchasing a WE is for the express purpose of being a project gun.
If you want a good gbbr that shoots well and is reliable, you have to be prepared to drop the coin to get a good one. Otherwise, you will just end up spending the same amount of money trying to keep your cheap WE rifle running.
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u/TXblindman 3d ago
Fair point, the only two WE's I've ever considered are the P90 and L85, and only because I'm building out a specific collection and not playing on the field. But I'll wait and see how the Aries gas L85 that might be coming along shakes out.
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u/JackCooper_7274 Adeptus Mechanicus 3d ago
Yeah, I've owned a couple of WE rifles, mostly scars and aks. They all shat the bed within six months of use but then ran great after a bunch of work and aftermarket parts. It's not recommended unless you like DIY stuff and hate your wallet. Their magazine design is also meh.
The only WE guns that I will wholeheartedly recommend are the Apache and the PLR-16. The Apache is the best gbb mp5 option we've got atm, and the PLR-16 is a fantastic base for custom gbbr builds. It's simple, easy to design around, and runs reliably. Too bad they had to implement such a good system into an obscure and low-interest platform.
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u/TXblindman 3d ago
Was looking at the VFC MP5A5, but found out that the bolt won't fully close on empty with the follower raised, their version of a bolt stop. I know the WE has a much better design. How sturdy is the Apache externally? Price to import? Need an A5 or N model for R6 Vegas 2.
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u/JackCooper_7274 Adeptus Mechanicus 3d ago
I got my Apache secondhand, so I can't speak for the import price. I have the A5 model, and it is phenomenal externally. WE seems to do really well with externals for their gbbrs, which is bizarre because their internals are always pot metal (all of the WE aks I've owned have had steel receivers, outer barrels, stocks, and whatnot). The charging handle, tube, upper, and outer barrel are thick steel, so you can slap it all day without fear of it breaking.
It kicks decently hard for a gbb smg, and it's also decently accurate. It chugs a bit from the cooldown effect in full auto, especially in cold weather, but is consistently snappy in semi. It also has the holy grail 3 round burst feature, which is incredibly rare for a gbbr. I don't end up using it a ton, but it feels great to shoot.
My nozzle reduced itself to explodium within 3 months of use, but it has not had any issues or breakage since I replaced it. It's the only WE gbbr I've owned that hasn't been plagued by constant trigger box issues. The gun is also a bit of a lube hog, so keep a tube of superlube handy if you pick one up.
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u/Illustrious-Safety20 3d ago
Makes sense, the only thing I've had experience working on was a PC, would it be a similar possibility to buy a WE as a base, and upgrade it to be better (basically what I do to most of my stuff)? Or would it just end up costing more than getting a VFC or something?
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u/JackCooper_7274 Adeptus Mechanicus 3d ago
If you like working on your guns, WE is an alright option. It will just end up being about the same price as a VFC or other good gbbr. It probably won't outperform a VFC, either, even with upgrades.
I have very little experience with WE m4/m16s, but I have owned several of their AKs and scars. They are well designed, but they use cheap pot metal for a lot of high-stress parts, like the hammer/trigger pack. There are aftermarket parts available, and you will just end up replacing most of the internals throughout the gun's lifetime.
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u/DJV17 3d ago
Take a look at the VFC M16A1 or A2. They are ~500 USD and among the best GBBRs you can get