Looking into buying an AR....
 

So after looking at their pics for years I wanna get in on one. But I am very very low on my AEG competency in terms of working on them and the differences in system. So the requirement more or less has to be that I hope its somewhat reliable out of box, good availability of parts, and stock metal body is preferred. CQB sized would probably be best. No PTW as I don't think I can afford one anytime soon....point me to a few options and I'll dig into those more....

thanks...

Classic Army sounds like your cake

I'd also recommend CA. Great guns out of the box.

go with TM, no metal body, but i have heard of some people who use a TM out of the box and it dosnt need anything for 3 years... some times not even a shim job! true not all are that good out of the box but as far as finding parts, and out of the box goodness, TM cant be beat!

Considering that the same parts that fit in a TM fit in any other V2 mechbox, I think that's a moot point. IMO, I'd prefer go for a gun with the reinforced mechbox stock and metal exterior. While TM make great guns, IMO, they don't compare to CA. I've had both, and if I was to get a TM, I'd get a JG instead and just reshim it. Not worth that money IMO.

now, how compatible are those 2 system? completely different or somewhat different? And what about other brands like KWA, King Arms, and G&Ps? Are they all based one one or the other, or all are their own animal? I am also looking at HK 416s from VFC, how are they compare to the "mainstream" option?

Great knowledge.
PTW is for more experienced users.

VFCs are great from what I hear.

Since you live in the USA, aren't there airsoft shops around?
If so, it's better if you have them AR's in your hand.
You might not be comfortable with the AEG.
As for internals, every gun cannot last for a lifetime.

Are you looking to buy one for a collection? Or to game?

For gaming, you're looking more to the internals, and how comfortable you are with it.

For a collection, it really doesn't matter for internals, but externals?

I am still more charisofting than airsofting...but I'd like to go out for more games when I do have time. So external is important, but I don't want to pickup and have the gun not working on me....so I am not gonna skim on cost(just not PTW cost...lol). Airsoft shops here are still few and far between, so I'll probably still buy online, since ones I can find are still hours drive away....

I hope eventually I can be tinkering with the gun as I do my GBBs, but I am very much electrically retarded.....

WA M4 seems interesting, but I think its still bug prone...

Here is the wiki list of manufacturers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._Manufacturers
Its not terribly detailed, but it gives you an idea. G&P makes decent quality AEGs as well as G&G. Some preventative maintenance maybe required sometimes, just something simple like reshimming. As for KingArms, Ive only ever dreamed of owning one of their premade guns, I have an M4 I built myself entirely out of KA parts and its run very well. The only tid bit I can say about them is that for the most part there externals are better than there internals.

KWA seems to be the new craze, personally it doesnt really ring my bell, Classic Army has come a long way, they have improved their QC for their guns. JG has also come a very long way as well, their guns although plastic like TM run a decent FPS out of the box and may only require a little reshim and metal bushings if even to keep running efficently. Another brand to look into perhaps would be Echo1. Echo1 from atleast how I understand it is simply Amercan bought JG guns, reshimmed with metal bushings installed, so there works done for ya there with those.

I say look into the Classic Army, G&P and King Arms guns.

Ken, I need a high res pic of your new avatar, please...

EDIT* (decided to add something useful)

if you're looking to make a specific rifle, I'd say pick up the parts and make your own with a systema drop in mechbox and motor. Being in the states, you can get high quality receivers cheap. I'd recommend the new Magpul body, or a King Arms. The nicest thing about the AR platform is how modular it is and I think this will just save you a ton of time and money.

Kwa m4a1-cqb already come ugraded; shoot 346-350fps and are pretty reliable.
The only con is the trades ''KWA'' on the body

Get a G&P.

Their externals are AMAZING.

Tokyo Marui would be my last choice for an AR unless it's the S-Sytem. Not only is the body made of plastic, but you also need to paint it as it comes in a weird beige-gray color that doesn't match with the rest of the gun.

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_inf...oducts_id=3776

how's one of those? Is it compatible with standard mag(I guess TM type?). Do they sell those telescopic LR-300 stock for it?

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_inf...oducts_id=2930

Check this one? Great bang for the buck!!

Thats what i did with mine...

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=66466

Still not sure about painting it... and i dont care about the kwa trade on the lower...