[Ricochet]

I should have clarified a little more. I had a 2007 M4 and ended up smashing it on the ground at Cold Front II, when I tripped. I got my hands on a gen-1 M16 and had it converted to be compatible with 2007 plus parts. I put the internals from my 2007 into it, and a brand new 2008 VUK kit. My 490 motor finally parished after a season and bit, and has now had the Tack mod like my old 480 did. I bought my first PTW in 2006, and I still have many original parts from it in my current one. So other than the original gun, my costs have been fairly low. Everything breaks or wears out eventually. But when you use expensive equipment, the repairs replacement cost more.

Here's a list of major fixes in the last six years;

- 480 motor mod $200 (motor died 3 months after purchase)
- replacement lower receiver $270 (this is what broke apart when I biffed it)
- VUK $330 (motor died when I smashed my gun on the ground; but it was already four years old. My boards fried when I used an oven to dry them out after Mason relic II, but they were also four years old)
- replacement gold cylinder $190 (I dented the casing of my first one by jamming a BB into it)
- selector switch board $25 (old one still worked, I just bought it with the VUK)
- 490 motor mod $220 (motor died this last June, and was installed in April a year prior)

Total cost is approx: $1235
Approx: $206 a year on fixing my PTW

That's not a lot considering the performance, or that my gun is almost never down. Not to mention a lot of that damage was my fault, not thing wearing out. I'd say that if you looked after your weapon, and expected to have to do the motor mod soon after purchase, you'd have few issues.

When Swatt13's gun was done up after years of use and abuse, it was horrific. I found metal parts, shattered BBs and grass inside of his magazines. Macguyver I believe found a stick and some other goodies inside his mechbox. It was still going strong.

PTWs are a high cost right off the line. So every part, fix, and accessory is expensive as well. They aren't for those that have a tight budget. If you sold your soul to own one; look out! It "will" cost you a small fortune in the future.

If I could change two things about them; firstly and obviously the jackasses that assemble/manufacture the motors, and secondly the receiver. The receivers are fairly tough, but I've seen a few break. It's always in the same spot right by the grip and takedown pin.

I still wouldn't run any other electric system. My ancient PTW can propel a 0.28g BB well over 300 feet (that was measured and consistent distance using a gold cylinder and the MacGuyver hop-up mod). The evolutions can do that with a slightly better grouping (that's stock, right out of the box).

I've seen some very nice custom built AEGs. The last one we had was a $1700 build. A Systema Revolution gear box, G&P motor, MOSFET, 11.1v lipo, custom hopup with a hard concave bucking, Prometheus inner barrel, etc, etc. The gun chrono'ed at 410 FPS consistently, and was nowhere near the distance or grouping of the PTW. We used BB Bastard 0.25g, 0.28g, and 0.30g rounds. Although it was a performer, it wasn't the same. We had better luck with a WE M14 gas open bolt with a full RA-Tech internal upgrade. It shot 413 FPS, and still didn't match the performance of a PTW.

So if FCC wants to survive, their motors will have to outlast a Systema one that's been modified, and their boards will have to tougher than the stock ones. It really is as simple as that.