support weapon
 

after a little bit of gaming, a lot of reading and video watching I realize I will never be a sniper. I am not the most accurate shooter, and being big and tall I figured I might be best suited for support weapon.

So, I guess, what I should be looking for is a weapon with very high rof, enormous charger, easy battery change, reinforced gearbox.
Am-i forgetting something?

i dont know about you but carrying around a heavy gun for 5-6 hours (longer if its a milsim op) doesnt sound to pleasing to me.
Im 6'6 220lbs and run an M16/FNC

In most games you need an actual support weapon (ie a gun thats a support weapon in real life, M249, M60, RPK, etc versus an M16 or AK47 with a drum mag) to be able to use it as a support gun; this is especially true here (Montreal/Quebec area) with real cap games becoming increasingly popular.

So what you're looking for is a support gun, which narrows down the search a lot. Just about all of them come with a box mag, that will hold 1000-3000 BBs and usually have some kind of motor -driven feeding mechanism. As with most AEGs, RoF will mostly be a function of your battery size. You may want to look into adding a MOSFET to your setup (for several reasons). Most support weapons come with a gearbox that can stand up to the function.

It comes down to what you like, how much you're looking to spend and how much work you want to put into it (some setups will require some converting, like some RPKs or an MG36).



And in response to Dustin's comment: I've carried an M249 for 10 hrs or so during a milsim. It IS heavy and tiring, but so's an M4 w/M203 etc. Honestly, in the heat with gear on, after a while anything gets heavy. Get a good sling. For me, the most annoying thing by far about LMGs is the box mags, which are big noisy maracas (specially when doing recon style stuff, which is what we do).

You don't need a reinforced gearbox.
And G&P 249 is hands down the single best AEG LMG on the market

One of the game I played is not even sure if the rpk is cumbersome enough to be consider a ''support weapon''.
The budget is low but I am ready (and able) to do a lot of stuff. I was event considering a complete build. Something like http://acepilots.com/ww2/m1919a4.jpg
or this http://esensja.pl/magazyn/2001/07/img/ilustr/16_01c.jpg

If your budget is low you mite look into an AK full stock to fit a large battery and a drum mag to use as a ''support weapon''.
It has V3 gear box so its strong to take an upgrade spring plus good range and plenty of ammo & power with the large battery.
Just find a brand of AK that is 99.99% TM compatible so part's are easy to find to upgrade or repair it.

You want an M56A2 or M59B Smart Gun....not an RPK

Don't sweat the really high ROF stuff...you'll just break/wear stuff out. Narrow down more (in reality terms) what model you want. 249/M60/M46/Stoner/RPK/L85something/etc...

Yan, since you're in the Montreal area another factor to consider is do you have any interest in/plan on attending stuff like Vietnam and/or WW2 games (mostly around Quebec City but still)? Cuz then you'd be looking at some very specific models if you want to use them at those games.

Or for example, an M60VN can be used both at a Vietnam game and a more modern themed game, in addition to general games/skirmishes.

yea ! or a mingun!

I plan on, mostly, plays syfy and post-apo game.
I don't have the gear to plays a historically accurate game of WW2 or vietnam (for the momment anyways)

I normally rock a M249 during the summer season and I love them ignore people saying its cumbersome and all that BS not cumbersome at all. Only draw to it is when you're playing long full day games, your arms get tired from hold the damn thing the whole day.

You can easily pick up a A&K M249 relatively cheap in canada. Not gonna list the price but lets just say cheap. They aint the best internally but its all V2 gearbox parts even uses a M4/M16 length nozzle. So replacement parts are plentiful, my old one I used last year was rocking full Modify internals. Threw in a lipo and some hi-speed gears shot about 30-35 bb's a second, shot so fast box mag couldn't keep up. Until I stripped the piston....

Yep what everyone else said lol.
Choose a real support gun and a bigh rof isnt really something a support gunner needs you just need a moderate rate of fire so you dont blow through all your ammo to fast think " pop pop pop pop pop" not "brrrrraaaappppp" 15-20rps is more then adequate. ie a stock rate of fire.
Also a tip try to mix yer bbs (set yer hop up with 28's) and mix 25 28 and 30 thayll give you a bit of a spread on your rounds in full auto
Also lol at minigun id argue its not worth the 5grand or so price tag.
Cool as frak tho lol

I personally like the look of the of the Stoner (96) LMG. With a couple of rail covers, looks recent enough for me, and I am a person inclined to futuristic weaponry.


http://everything-airsoft.com/blog/w...ads/image1.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...CStonerLMG.jpg

The A&K 249 is a good testing the waters step into support guns. Pretty well 100% reliable, commonly available and good knowledge base about running them.

The more out there choices like a MG42 or Minigun are going to set you back 3-6K or so on a good day. The only G&P 249 I've seen for sale on here in the last five years had a cracked body so it was not desirable. If you want to spend a bit more you can get the slightly nicer Classic Army version that the A&K was copied from.

The only downside I've found is that you do run through more ammo than if you had a rifle. That may not be an issue for you.

The best way to buy is to first of all hit a few games up and see one in action so you can decide for sure. While you're doing that start saving up and watching the classifieds on here for a good deal. It's spring and for sale ads will be popping up soon.

I am also doing medieval fighting. I used to carry a 10 pound wooden shield all days and in full gear. I am 6'3'' 260lbs (if I loose 20, I should be able to carry at least that much in extra :))
I did try a smaller gun (I have g36c) and end-up doing mostly suppressing fire for my team (was a friendly game, no specific role at first).

I'll keep my eye open for the classified.

Big dudes....

If you're going all future-fantasy land..You might want to take a look at some of the builds a guy in the UK (or US?) did. I think he was called Candyman. He used 249 mechboxes and PVC piping I think.

Let me look

Not him...but neat stuff...http://www.ukmonsters.co.uk/oldmadwe...ics/wa2000.htm

*** Killbucket ****
This is the guy...he's built some pretty wild stuff and has plans posted for public consumption. I don't think he has kits...I know lots of guys were asking for them long ago.
http://www.air-sharp.com/freeminipattern.html

He have a lot of interesting stuff.
I wonder if any one here as done business with him

He's kind of out of the airsoft loop. He was handbuilding for local folks in the USA and then posting his builds and guides to a few websites but then he dropped off the map.

The last time he showed up was when someone poached one of his guides and was passing it off as their work.

From what the different picture I saw, I think I have expensive taste... minigun, browning 1919,...

So I was thinking of ''making one''. Or more exactly, building around a existing frame.

What would be a good base to start?
-m4 : lots of available parts
-m249: already the right type of weapon

the m249 gearbox look a lot simpler to work, compare to my v3 (no trigger in the ways, removable ''tension spring''). Have'nt see how the gear stop turning in the right position (in v3 the trigger is deactivated when the knob on the ''piston'' gear it the ''trigger mechanism'') so the piston is at is most forward position.

From what I saw (youtube video...) it used all the same internal parts (same gears, piston,...).

any suggestion?
ps sorry for all the bad technical term, I should get better soon

The 249 is basically a "brick"...so it's definitely more generic to work with re. space/layout. I suppose any mechbox can be modded to be activated by a switch (so no trigger worries) but with the 249 box you're half way there. There is no semi on a 249...so it's full auto only and the piston is basically going to stop wherever it will just after you release the trigger. Technically you could just remove the gear stop and it would "unwind" as the piston is pushed forward.

Also...the hopup is basically a cylinder with a hole in the side for feeding...whereas many other hopups are bottom fed (because they're meant to be fed from a traditional mag).

From what you've described in that pic...you might actually be better off using the internals from a 249 and the outer from something else like a big water gun or nerf gun.

Height and weight doesnt have much to do with anything. I'm heavier then TC and am only 5'8 160lbs and we both handle our 249s just fine.

And for 24hrs, or 3 days of claybank, not just 5-6 hours lol

m249 gearbox seem to be rare...
new or used.

Contact Leecas, he built up one already;

http://ontarioairsoftwwiireenactors....?t=402&start=0

Because you can't break the CA style ones, no need to sell new ones
And G&P just uses a stock V2

Alternatively you could try using an M14 or P90 mechbox
V3 would work too since it has a motor cage

Not really. They're not as common as say a V2, but they can be ordered. I've carried an airsoft vulcan cannon (mini gun), they are extremely heavy, and very difficult to shoot. Homemade won't suit you, and is hard to pass off for use. A mini gun system uses an electric system to rotate and time the barrels, and a gas one to propel the BB. The weapon assembly weighs in around 50 pounds, that's not including the backpack you may want to run for extra battery and gas, as well as BB feeding; so your gun can shoot for more than 5 minutes before reloading everything. They are very cool, but mostly useless and you wouldn't want to carry one for more than a quick scrim, even if you're incredibly fit and built. On top of that, they aren't very accurate.

At least with an M249, M60, RPK, etc, you can upgrade them to take the punishment, be more accurate and take weapon sights, etc. also, whichever gun you do use you'll want to be able to shoot it, and dump a ton of money into completely upgrading, tuning, and keeping it perfect. 99 out of 100 LMGs on the field do not out range, have better accuracy, or have as good of a rate of fire as your average assault platform. If your gun isn't all that it can be, then your average M4 will keep your head down, and move in on you, quickly killing you before you are even a threat. After an hour or two when your tired of carrying the thing around, you still are only useful if you can bust your ass to the front line and provide support fire before the battle is done.

As for build, I'd take Thunder Cactus's advice. He's had one of the few I've seen that was worth its salt.

As far as keeping people's heads down, I've kept 2-3 people suppressed with a bolt action rifle before. High accuracy inspires just as much fear as a torrential downpour of ammo it seems

Except torrential downpour is alot funner :)

Especially when you can shoot standing up, SAW/LMG at your hip, cigar hanging out your mouth, laughing your ass off.

BA, not as much fun!

guess I'll have to start smoking again

Hard to enjoy a nice downpour when BA keeps cutting it short.

Pom Poms look badass with a 249. Just saying lol.

It's much better when you can simultaneously rapid fire 20-30 40mm kings, Now that's what you call suppressive fire