Help installing G&P M500A on G&P M4A1 *SOLVED!*
 

Hello.

I recently purchased a G&P M500A handguard/flashlight to use with my G&P M4A1 AEG and they do not seem to be compatible with each other. I'm a bit lost and was hoping to get a bit of guidance. I know it sounds stupid but please let me explain...

http://www.colinsun.com/Pictures/Back_Ring.jpg

You see the toothed rail circular rail holding the rear spring ring in place? The back of the G&P M500A handguard seems to interfere with with that thing.

http://www.colinsun.com/Pictures/Handguard.jpg

The left is the G&P M500A handguard, the right is the default handguard and as you can see with the default handguard, there is a groove in place where the toothed rail goes. I tried snapping off the small plastic tabs inside the G&P M500A handguard (didn't seem to affect the thing structurally) but that obviously didn't help.

My gun did not come with an installation manual and googling/searching the forums did not yield a guide. I looked up the TM M4A1 tech manual on Arnies however it appears the front end of my gun is built differently.

Is there any way to make the G&P M500A handguard work with the G&P M4A1? Perhaps can I move the front guide ring a few mm closer to the metal body? Heh I guess G&P didn't build the M500A with the intention of allow compatibility with its own M4A1...

Thanks!

Well I guess I stumped everyone. ;) At least I didn't get flamed I guess.

I have the same issue installing it on my G&G carbine. What I'm going to do is file down the collars on the grips as they are too wide to fit into the delta ring. I've already removed the tabs and filed a hole in the top of the grip to make room for my gas tube. I'm probably going to work on it this weekend, so I'll post an update and maybe some pictures after I'm done.

pivot thanks for the reply. I guess the G&P M500A handguard was designed to use with TM M4's only, grr I wish they'd say that on their website. :(

If you could please post pictures of your work that would be greatly appreciated! :D

I have seen G&P M500 on other guns such as ICS M4 and G&G but for certain you have to have barrel that could adjust it length to fit the M500 otherwise it won't fit.

The TM old M4 barrel has that length adjustment unlike the new one piece which does not have that function no more.

the G&G Handgaurd is made to fit TM style locking rings. On the TM, its simply a slip rign, hence the lip on the M500. G&P and G&G have chosen to take a similar route the the real steel mounting of grips in an attempt to cure "grip roll", whihc really is just the twisting side to side of TM handgaruds. As such only handgaurds that are made for G&G or G&P will work.

As far as I know G&P has not released a G&P Friendly M500 set.

Thanks guys for your replies, it defintiely sheds a lot of light onto the situation! :D
That makes a lot of sense and it looks like if I want to get the G&P M500A working on my G&P M4A1, I'll need to do a bit of modification... Goldman perhaps you'd might know, if I were to abandon this and go for a RIS or RAS, woudl a conventional RIS kit for a TM gun work with mine or should I have to go with an authentic RIS for my gun since G&P mimics the real thing? Sounds to me like the latter but I'd love to get expert opinions. :)

The G&P M500 was built and marketed before G&P started to build complete AEGs, and give that the majority of AEG builders still use TM's design, well you can't blame them for not looking forward.

You should be able to still use your M500 if you got a TM slip ring, though I'm not sure if the TM slip ring is 100% compatable with the G&P (ie: you coulnd't use your gas tube anymore). That should allow you to use your M500, or get the TM slip ring, then mount a standard RAS on it.

You might also want to consider the G&P CQBR kit that SD-Unit sells. Its a pretty good price, and is a complete front end. It gives you a freefloat RAS, CQBR outer barrel, flash hider, front sight, new slip ring that is more secure than the TM style, and is all compatible.

Just an update for those who are interested, I was able to install the G&P M500A handguard/light onto my G&P M4A1 although a bit of ugly modding was necessary.

First you have to snap off the tabs inside the G&P handguard (both top and bottom) and smooth it down to the base as much as possible. That allows the handguard to slip between the delta ring and the rear spring ring.

http://www.colinsun.com/Pictures/Air...Fake_Valve.jpg

As you can see, there's very little space for the handguard with the gas valve in the way.

http://www.colinsun.com/Pictures/Air.../Handguard.jpg
http://www.colinsun.com/Pictures/Airsoft/M500A/Dip.jpg

With the top piece you then have to cut some of the plastic away to make room for the fake gas valve on both the front and back. I used an exacto and pliers and as you can see it's not very pretty but works. Lent my friend my dremel, that probably would have been better to use, oh well.

After that you're set, simply install the G&P M500A handguard liek you would the stock model. Since the mods are done internally, the external appearence is still nice. At least I think it looks pretty good. ;) Here are two pictures of it installed on my M4A1.

Pic 1, Pic 2

The two pictures are a bit on the large side, that's why I only linked to them. On the side with the pressure switch, I still have a few edges to clean up, that's why it's not completely flush but you get the idea. :)

Anyway I hope that can help others who run into a similar issue.

Did the same to mine, works good.

Just hit the rough edges with a round file and it'll look like a factory mod.

Glad you got er straightened out.