G&G M16A3 max review

[Neved4eyes]

ASC,

About 3 weeks ago I finally made up my mind on which airsoft gun I wanted to go with. I originally was thinking of going with an M14, but because of the version 7 gearbox, and lack of upgradeable parts I went with the g&g m16a3 max.

Not really knowing too much about the max series, aside from the boastful reviews on websites about the "480fps" they are suppose to shoot I was a bit concerned that these guns had a 140 or 150 spring thrown into them so they could sell them faster because of their admirable fps statistics. My worry being great, they shoot near 500 fps, but can the internals handle all that? After much research, and not finding really too much I figured someone had to start the trend. I went down to my local airsoft shop (forest city surplus London Ontario) and bought the gun. It came close to 600 dollars with taxes, which is alot to pay for a gun you are unsure about.

My first impressions were good. The box was amazing, one of the nicest boxes I've ever seen on an airsoft gun, and all the parts were securely packaged inside with no room for risk of damage. When I picked the gun up, it was alot heavier then I thought it would be, but it was a very balanced weight, not too barrel heavy. One of my concerns were the plastic stock and handguards, because from experience (one of my ICS M4's) plastic stocks don't survive through much beating around the bush, I will start by saying you don't have to worry about this gun breaking any time soon. I can easily say it has the best and strongest plastic I've ever felt on an AEG (and I've felt many) and I could even go as far as saying it is better then any TM plastics I've felt.

The gun comes with a very nice manual, which clearly shows basic cleaning skills and how to care for the gun. It also includes a 9.6v 1600 ma battery, smart charger, cleaning rod, a 450round high cap (very durable all metal) a pair of g&g safety glasses and an M100 spring to lower the fps if desired. I charged the battery until it was full, grabbed some ics .20's I had laying around and took it out back for some shooting. The first shot I took said it all, without any hop up engaged, this gun shot at least 100 feet, and you could tell there was some power behind it. After adjusting the hop up, I could hit the fence at the back of my yard, after measuring that my fence is about 260feet from where I was shooting, not accurately, but I could hear then ping off the wood. Amazing, is the word I could use to describe it.

I decided it was time to chrono the gun. With .20 bbs, it shot an average of 483 fps, with .25's it shot around 436 and with .28's it shot close to 407. After putting a scope on it, sighting it up and getting some paper targets made up, I found I could hit a 14 inch group at 180 feet, and I hot about every other shot at 200. After that, I could hit a target at 230 feet one in every 5 or 6 shots. That is some serious range for an airsoft gun. Much further then the TM L96 I have, which maxed out around 200feet. Being a curious one, I wanted to open this gun up, to find out what G&G has done to make this gun so much far superior then other guns I've used. What I saw what the most upgraded and well built gearbox I've ever seen and the best quality parts I've seen in a gun. Upgraded piston, piston head, cylinder, gears, motor, barrel you name it g&g upgraded it.

As a final sum up, if your a CQB player, the max series is not for you. Just because if you downgrade it to the m100 spring, your missing out on its true potential, and there are many other guns that would suit CQB better. If you play alot of outdoor games like me, need the best range and power you can find, a G&G max series gun would be the best choice for you. I have external parts coming in the mail right now to upgrade this rifle to a DMR, and then hopefully to an SPR (when I win the lottery... lol)

Appearance: 10 the guns full metal, solid construction shows no sign of ever wearing out.

Performance: 10 shooting targets at 200feet before they even have the chance to react can change the tide of a firefight, if you could even call it a firefight when they can't even fight back.

Value for money: 9 the only reason I give this gun a 9, is because G&G guns are not compatible with all upgrade parts, meaning some parts may not fit where others will. Other then that, in my opinion there isn't any other gun I would have spent 600 dollars on. I now call G&G my favourite brand, and if you don't have the money for a max series, save. Its worth every penny to not have to worry about upgrades or operating issues.



ps. the tape on the stock is a cheek rest, and the paper is windage and range references, they did not come on the gun


as of AUGUST 20th

I fielded the gun for the first time today, and was blown away. I played for 8 hours at adrenaline paintballs field in melbourne. After that 8 hours I have a few things to say about the gun.

To start, its accurate and can still shoot as I said it could, reaching 200 feet with some accuracy, using IRON SIGHTS ONLY. With a scope could have changed things, a little at least being able to track your BB's better. I put about 1000 I would guess BB's through it. The mag it comes with feeds great, no issues there and doesn't take a hell of a lot of winding like other high caps seem to. I also realized that the mag itself is much bigger then most high caps, and hold 600 rounds! A little much for me, but whatever! Back to the point, the gun does not however shoot as they say it should... after playing today I took the time to chrono it again to see it dropped about 20fps, so watch out for the fact that the spring does need to relax, and the fps ratings they provide are on a brand new spring. One other issue I can across is that I was changing my battery, and left the connectors hanging out, but when I bumped the door of the battery compartment when it was open it pinched the wires that were hanging out. It didn't do any serious damage, but I wouldn't doubt that if you were to hit the door hard enough it would close and cut your connecting wires right off! WATCH OUT FOR THIS! I would assume I will have to replace my wires someday now because of this...

Aside from those small issues, I can't really say much more. It shoots accurate, and well, just not as fast as they preach. It seems to be very solid so far.

[Caspian]

Although I would never see myself purchasing a G&G, other than the F2000 - I say this is a pretty good review.

[Amos]

You should keep this thread updated over time if you don't plan on downgrading it.

I've seen SEVERAL of these things come across my bench with quite a few problems.

In my opinion, the internal set-up can not handle the spring that it comes with.

[Styrak]

Originally Posted by Neved4eyes

Performance: 10 shooting targets at 200feet before they even have the chance to react can change the tide of a firefight, if you could even call it a firefight when they can't even fight back.

Many if not all field limits are a lot lower than this gun shoots...

[Cliffradical]

I don't want to rain on your parade, I too liked my G&G when I got it.
But my experience with G&G armalites has soured greatly since I purchased one 6 months ago.
I'm glad you got one with a metal body, that will save you about four headaches.

In my personal experience, if you're going to leave a G&G stock; say you like a particular configuration of a gun and want to let it be, then the higher-end ones are a good purchase.
The second you decide to do any addition or modification what-so-ever to the platform you are getting yourself into a world of hurt.
My $350 gun is soon to be an $800 gun, and it is absolutely not worth that much money.

I would not buy another G&G Armalite platform AEG.
Especially not a pneumatic blowback.
And if you are going to buy one with a plastic lower, you may as well buy a goddamn PTW because the clear plastic lower absolutely will shatter at key load-bearing structural points and force you to spend $130-$250 on a decent metal replacement.
Then you will have to spend more money or your own time filing and sanding it down to fit.
Then if you were dumb enough to buy a pneumatic blowback system you can add another $100 to buy a new mechbox shell and whatever other upgrades/ work you may as well just do at that point.

I am butthurt. I haven't even got one whole season out of my G&G.
I wanted a Barbie-doll M4 and instead I got a Bardie-Figurine M4 pattern playset.
Some assembly required.

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by Cliffradical

I don't want to rain on your parade, I too liked my G&G when I got it.
But my experience with G&G armalites has soured greatly since I purchased one 6 months ago.
I'm glad you got one with a metal body, that will save you about four headaches.

In my personal experience, if you're going to leave a G&G stock; say you like a particular configuration of a gun and want to let it be, then the higher-end ones are a good purchase.
The second you decide to do any addition or modification what-so-ever to the platform you are getting yourself into a world of hurt.
My $350 gun is soon to be an $800 gun, and it is absolutely not worth that much money.

I would not buy another G&G Armalite platform AEG.
Especially not a pneumatic blowback.
And if you are going to buy one with a plastic lower, you may as well buy a goddamn PTW because the clear plastic lower absolutely will shatter at key load-bearing structural points and force you to spend $130-$250 on a decent metal replacement.
Then you will have to spend more money or your own time filing and sanding it down to fit.
Then if you were dumb enough to buy a pneumatic blowback system you can add another $100 to buy a new mechbox shell and whatever other upgrades/ work you may as well just do at that point.

I am butthurt. I haven't even got one whole season out of my G&G.
I wanted a Barbie-doll M4 and instead I got a Bardie-Figurine M4 pattern playset.
Some assembly required.

I've heard some of the same things from other players about G&G, Although I chose the MAX series to see if they would hold up better then standard G&G AEG's. So far I'm very impressed, but will update this thread if I see anything I don't like.

[SHaKaL]

You know that no fields will let you play with that gun unless you put a spring that will lower your fps below 400 fps... right?

[Cliffradical]

Originally Posted by Neved4eyes

...So far I'm very impressed, but will update this thread if I see anything I don't like.

Like I said, if you like the way this thing is set up, then it should make you very happy.

But if you want to make changes and upgrades without dickering, just get a new gun.
The costs really will equal out. I wish I was exaggerating.

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by SHaKaL

You know that no fields will let you play with that gun unless you put a spring that will lower your fps below 400 fps... right?

Well, I play at adrenaline and have a 50 feet engagement rule, meaning I can't shoot at anyone within 50 feet, or I have to use my sidearm. They seem to be fine with it.

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by Amos

You should keep this thread updated over time if you don't plan on downgrading it.

I've seen SEVERAL of these things come across my bench with quite a few problems.

In my opinion, the internal set-up can not handle the spring that it comes with.

I will keep it up to date, and keep you in mind if anything ever goes wrong with it. Seems like you have some experience!

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by Cliffradical

Like I said, if you like the way this thing is set up, then it should make you very happy.

But if you want to make changes and upgrades without dickering, just get a new gun.
The costs really will equal out. I wish I was exaggerating.

Honestly, I bought this gun so I didn't have to do any upgrades. I'm only 18, and have a part time job getting like 15 hours a week. I don't have the money to throw into upgrades and all that I would rather just put my money into one gun, then not worry about it, so thats why I went with this gun.

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Many if not all field limits are a lot lower than this gun shoots...

Shackel said the same, and as I said, the field just has me use a 50 feet engagement distance. I'm not out to hurt people, I just enjoy having the range over the average gun. In my opinion, if airsoft can be taken to a new level by making guns that can shoot further, why not take advantage of it? Although I would never want to shoot anyone or be shot with anything shooting hotter then 400+ inside 50 feet.

[The Hunter]

Originally Posted by Neved4eyes

In my opinion, if airsoft can be taken to a new level by making guns that can shoot further, why not take advantage of it? Although I would never want to shoot anyone or be shot with anything shooting hotter then 400+ inside 50 feet.

Many people have said the same before, but many also do not agree. You have to remember there will always be one person that does shoot someone in that 50 feet and if they end up popping someones eye or injuring them, it could ruin the game for all of us.
Its not about taking anything to a new level, we all know we could play at 499FPS, it's about SAFTEY and safety only. Simple as that

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by The Hunter

Many people have said the same before, but many also do not agree. You have to remember there will always be one person that does shoot someone in that 50 feet and if they end up popping someones eye or injuring them, it could ruin the game for all of us.
Its not about taking anything to a new level, we all know we could play at 499FPS, it's about SAFTEY and safety only. Simple as that

It really just depends who you are playing with in my opinion, if you have a bunch of guys who know their engagement rules and can abide by them, then there isn't an issue. But I do agree with you, there is always one person who seems to ruin it for the rest....

[Neved4eyes]

Originally Posted by Caspian

Although I would never see myself purchasing a G&G, other than the F2000 - I say this is a pretty good review.

Thanks alot man!