My M4 Project - From Crap to Awesome!
 

This is my first project. It sprung from (what many of you might have read) the cheap M4 I recently received thinking it was a JG. This is just the start but I plan on posting updates.

So for right now, this is what I have, the useful parts after I ripped the gun apart and threw away the crap!

Starting from the top (this basically all cost me $16, lol):
- Ejector port fake insides, charging handle
- Delta ring, chamber
- V2 mechbox with decent internals, plastic bushings, front wired
- 300ish round hicap magazine
- motor, grip
- 1100 mAh 8.4V battery
- baggie of parts including ejector port cover, body pins, selector switch, hopup, etc

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../IMG_17941.jpg

I've already ordered a bunch of parts to create my franken-M4:
- Complete front end
- M100 spring and bearing spring guide
- regular length tightbore barrel
- metal bushings, shims
- flip up rear sight
- hopup rubber
- Forgot to mention, I already have a G&P M203, which I may or may not use on this gun

I plan on getting
- An M4 body of some sort
- One of huang's CTR stocks

I'll post updates as the gun gets closer to being a real M4!

Update Oct 24
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I got most of my parts! My eHobby order and my metal body:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1820.jpg


Update Oct 25
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I got my front end, bitches! I'll have to change out that pesky orange flashhider though.
I tried screwing it on to my upper receiver, and it feels more solid than TokyoSeven's TM M4 RIS.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1823.jpg

I got it assembled, except with the crappy stock that came with the other one, and without upgrades. Except for the flip-up sight.
I'm going to see how it fires with the stock mechbox before I install em.
And the body pins are sliding out like butter, I'll have to pick up a set of ones that secure with screws.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1824.jpg

Update Oct 28
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My M4 now has a friend to play with. Hehehe.....

Does anyone have battery solutions for Armalites with an M203 attached? I was thinking either battery bag (kinda ew), a battery stock and rewire the gun to the rear (but I want my CTR stock!), or a stick-ish battery and whenever I connect a battery I have to have the stock extended fully (which doesn't matter, when it gets used the stock will probably be fully extended).

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1825.jpg


Update Nov 25
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I got all my parts. The only thing is, there's a problem with the mechbox so it's not functional right now. But I can still show you guys pretty pictures!
Also, this thing is pretty solid. The metal body helps to reduce barrel wobble to almost zero, and the CTR stock's locking mechanism solidly locks onto the stock tube.

Base M4:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1846.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1847.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1849.jpg

With M203 attached:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...k/IMG_1853.jpg


Update Dec 1
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Hey all, got the gun working. It has a minor problem with the trigger and selector, but it does fire in semi and full normally. Goes through a pop can, doesn't go through the bottom but ALMOST does. I assume 360-370 FPS as a fairly accurate guess, given that 380-385 goes through the bottom of a can. I weighed the gun with the M203 attached and no shell in, and it's 9 pounds (4 kilos)!
I've got a question for all of ya. Would you buy this gun? I'm not sure I want to sell it, because I built it and it's my "child" now I guess, but I want to ask just for kicks.

Goodluck bro! Project guns always get me really excited.

Looking forward to seeing the final result :)

what is your general idea to go with this M4?

Not really sure. I just want to build a solid M4 that looks decent. Forgot to mention that I have an M203 as well.
I want to have a flat top, that's why I bought the rear flip-up sight. Also, the CTR stock will make it a bit different.

Ditto. Much more fun then just buying a complete gun. Great learning experience, and a good opportunity to make it more custom to your wants. Makes you like it much more since you kinda "built it with your own hands".

Best of luck on the hunt for parts.
Cheers,
Alex

The only part I don't really have is the body. Hope I can find one.
Lol, and I see from your want ads and posting in buy ads that you're a very big parts-searcher.

If you're in need of a metal body, pm Jo_Canadian. He's got one for sale.

Just not listed? Or what? I PM-ed him.

EDIT: Nevermind I found his M16VN thread.

Good luck! i love seeing peoples projects grow into something they love, and usually becasue they are building it for themselves it always looks good, attention to detail and some tlc and you've got a winner :)

Update: Got a metal CA M4 metal body.

Update: Got most of my parts!
The inner barrel is a smokey grey color, which is really cool. Even though you'll never see it.

Pics!

They're there!
I just picked up the parts from the post office, keep your panties on!

Pffff you know how easy my panties come off.

Looks like your almost ready to rock with your first armlite.

Oh did you consider that upgrade kit I talked to you about?

Nah, don't need an upgrade kit. At least not yet. The only difference would be new gears and a piston/piston head.

What's the running total now?

I dont see no pics!

Check at the bottom of the first post.

Wohoo...

I want more pics! When is the front end coming?

Im sure he'll post pics whenever he finds his camera and discovers that Aqua loaded it with pics of bum. So after he can force himself to clear the memory card, we'll have the pics we want.

Lies, he will make 3 copies of it first.

That's a secret!

ancorp: The front end is supposed to be here on the 25th......so.....tomorrow.

Mechbox fits into the body along with the one piece hopup, and I don't have a hopup nubbin but I'm getting one mailed to me (yay lettermail!).
Also, it seems that the body pins I have don't want to stay in. I've heard there are body pins that have threads/screws on one side to lock them in, is this true? Is there any other way I can get body pins to stay in?

Good to know. But I just wanted to know if there were any more solutions before I go ordering more parts.

Yeah Ive got a set of guarder body pins that have screw tops and no you cant have them. But they are definatley a good investment, cause loosing one out in the field would be a bitch. I managed to find 1 body pin for you.
Its a stock TM pin, no screw head, but it may fit your needs. Your welcome to it.

Screw me T7! I mean...give me screw pins.....uh....yeah.

But those Guarder screw body pins look pretty sweet. I may have to invest in some.

Just rake the field at PbP Styrak theres about 300 of them laying around out there............................

Haha. But not the ones with screws! Those are the ones I need, so that I don't add to the count in the fields.

Update, front end goodness!

Excellent!

I have a question/poll for people who know more about flashhiders than I. There are two flashhiders I'm looking at getting that are the exact same style. Should I get the aluminum one or the steel one? Which would be better for durability/scratching? I would assume the steel one, but fire away!

I guess its all dependant on how much you wanna spend. Id go steel just cause.

Well the steel one is only a few dollars more. Maybe I'll get that one.

DOnt mix alu with steel... you will have an alu comtamination... so if few start with one stay with it!

This is not like if it was some mechanism with moving parts... Just screw that flash hider and forget about it. The only thing I could think of would be stripped threads on the outer barrels.

And nice project Styrak!

The M4 now has a friend....

Updated with complete gun. Albeit non-functional.

Awesome job Styrak!

Updated, gun works now.

There's a question on my first post at the last update, maybe some of you can answer it.

I sold mine cause it was hard on the back packing that thing up all day, dunno if yours is metal body and all but after you put the red dot, battery, bunch of low caps you can't really be a ninja on the field.

It's not that bad. With a sling it would be easy. My AUG HBAR is fairly hefty, and I was fine with that with a 3 point sling.

looks great i think you should find a railed upper fore-end for the added bad assness :D

Did you get the battery to work the way I described?
If not, you could always get a RIS grip and slap a battery peq on it.

Yup, battery fits in the top using the bottom handguard with M203 attached. Except wires have no place to go so they kinda stick out. But whatever.

black electrical tape

If I had any money left I'd buy it. (Got a little carried away with the holiday shopping)

How much would you take for that dank m4? Is it still available?

Bro...

2007.

Two thousand and seven.

Yup. thats the point hahaha