AK vs M4 (AR)

[Einstein]

Jolly_Green Thanks for sharing your experience. Datawraith Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

[pestobanana]

Ignoring the real world pros and cons of both platforms, in airsoft:

ARs are more versatile because there are more aftermarket accessories available, and in general there are much higher quality AR15 style parts available than AK style parts. This includes gun accessories, but something else that should be considered is kit. There is generally higher quality soft kit designed for AR users than AK users. ARs are also more lightweight and much more functionally ergonomic than the AK.

AKs are generally more durable externally because higher end manufacturers tend to use stamped steel over cast aluminum, but AKs are generally heavier. Performance potential between the two platforms as far as gearboxes and barrel groups go is pretty much the same, however there is no BTC Spectre available for the V3 mechbox. With V3 you are stuck with either the BTC Chimera or a shitty ass Gate TITAN. Most rail and optic mounts for AK platforms do not hold zero anywhere near as well as an AR, though I guess that doesn't make a difference with airsoft.

[Drakker]

Originally Posted by Einstein

sorry if I'm slow, but when you say stock reliability do you mean the actual stock of the gun or the reliability of the gun when its out of the box?

Do you happen to know why the V3 gearbox is more reliable and durable? and does this statement only apply to stock gearboxes?
You seem to state that AK's are easier/cheaper to make increase the performance, why?
When comparing the absolute best V2 and V3, does one version still have an edge on the other?

Yeah, I should have written out of the box instead of stock. The V3 gearbox is more durable thanks to a better build. The two halves are held at the top by a continuous metal clamp, whereas V2s are screws only. Also, the V3 has the motor cage mounted to the gearbox, where the V2 has the motor floating inside the pistol grip. The V3 gearbox also is better is the cold, V2s tend to snap at the front near the 90° angle. A high quality V2 shell will still be reliable in the cold, but chances are the stock gearbox shell you get with your gun won't be that high quality. Its one more part to change if you want top durability.

To make most AKs shoot well, all you need is good compression and a good hop-up rubber/r-hop/flat-hop/flavor-of-the-month-hop/etc-hop. You can also change the barrel to a top quality barrel if you feel that its still not good enough for you with the stock barrel.

With ARs, unless you get a top quality brand like VFC, you'll have to get rid of the wobble first, then fix your compression and work on or change your hop-up chamber. Then you can work on reliability (gearbox shell if needed, etc.) and maybe change the barrel to a top quality one if needed.

[Einstein]

Originally Posted by pestobanana

however there is no BTC Spectre available for the V3 mechbox. With V3 you are stuck with either the BTC Chimera or a shitty ass Gate TITAN.

For people who don't know what BTC Spectre, BTC Chimera and Gate TITAN are, they are MOSFET's. I will post all 3 links so people can look at them and read it for themselves.

https://www.btcairsoft.com/spectre_v2gb
https://www.btcairsoft.com/chimera_v3gb
https://www.gatee.eu/titan

pestobanana, in broad terms: how much does a MOSFET change performance? is the Spectre really that much better? You mentioned accessories/gear related to AR's are of better quality and more available; would you say the same for AR MOSFET's and does new tech always arrive first for the AR platform?

Thanks for the great post btw

[Einstein]

Originally Posted by Drakker

With ARs, unless you get a top quality brand like VFC, you'll have to get rid of the wobble first, then fix your compression and work on or change your hop-up chamber. Then you can work on reliability (gearbox shell if needed, etc.) and maybe change the barrel to a top quality one if needed.

Can you specify which wobble we need to get rid of? I'm try to be very thorough, sorry.

[pestobanana]

Originally Posted by Einstein

For people who don't know what BTC Spectre, BTC Chimera and Gate TITAN are, they are MOSFET's. I will post all 3 links so people can look at them and read it for themselves.

https://www.btcairsoft.com/spectre_v2gb
https://www.btcairsoft.com/chimera_v3gb
https://www.gatee.eu/titan

pestobanana, in broad terms: how much does a MOSFET change performance? is the Spectre really that much better? You mentioned accessories/gear related to AR's are of better quality and more available; would you say the same for AR MOSFET's and does new tech always arrive first for the AR platform?

Thanks for the great post btw

A MOSFET improves electrical efficiency, but a computerized MOSFET gets rid of the mechanical trigger contacts and allows for computerized cycle completion. This allows for a shorter, more reliable trigger pull without the need for a mechanical switch reset.

Spectre is better because all of its components are housed inside the gearbox. Chimera requires external signal wires that go from the internal triggerboard to an external control unit. Having an external control unit takes up space, is less efficient, and is prone to wiring issues over periods of use due to the crimp connector terminals.

ARs use V2 gearboxes which are the standard, so most gearbox tech is released for V2 first.

[Zfurlong]

if you prefer the mags of the m4, but would rather have an ak, then there is an adapter out there allowing you to use m4 mags on the ak. you get all the benefits of the ak, with most of the ergonomics of the m4 from a reloading, gear, and mag size standpoint.

[BioRage]

Originally Posted by Zfurlong

if you prefer the mags of the m4, but would rather have an ak, then there is an adapter out there allowing you to use m4 mags on the ak. you get all the benefits of the ak, with most of the ergonomics of the m4 from a reloading, gear, and mag size standpoint.

[Desmodus]

Originally Posted by Zfurlong

if you prefer the mags of the m4, but would rather have an ak, then there is an adapter out there allowing you to use m4 mags on the ak. you get all the benefits of the ak, with most of the ergonomics of the m4 from a reloading, gear, and mag size standpoint.

Absolutely heretical.

[Einstein]

Originally Posted by Zfurlong

if you prefer the mags of the m4, but would rather have an ak, then there is an adapter out there allowing you to use m4 mags on the ak.

AHAHAHAHAHA your idea seems to have sparked opposition, but indeed I find that if MILSIM is secondary for someone it could be a valid solution.

Do you know if a real steel adapter exists to allow AK's to receive STANMAG? If it does, do some military units use it?

[Einstein]

I talked to people who started out with the AK and switched to AR, the main reason they switched was for weight and to grab their hands on the latest tech in the airsoft world.

edit: They argued that in extremum games, either full skirmish or full milsim, the weight advantage of the M4 shines.

[Desmodus]

Originally Posted by Einstein

I talked to people who started out with the AK and switched to AR, the main reason they switched was for weight and to grab their hands on the latest tech in the airsoft world.

edit: They argued that in extremum games, either full skirmish or full milsim, the weight advantage of the M4 shines.

These people need to lift more. Ak's really aren't that heavy lmao.

[06jorkee]

Originally Posted by Zfurlong

there is an adapter out there allowing you to use m4 mags on the ak

[Zfurlong]

lmfao, I have both m4 and ak platform, however I only use the regular mags for each. only threw out the idea as it is something I have seen a few guys use over the years. I personally prefer the regular mag styles for each platform.

[pestobanana]

You can get the SR47 and have the cons of both platforms.