M4 vs M16

[warbird]

Ok, so I've done my research and all, but I'd like to get first hand info. I'm looking at the G&Gs, there more suitable for my financial situation and I hear they're quite good. Is the accuracy of an M16 worth the extra bulkiness and length compared to an M4? The M16 I'm looking at already has a full stock for a bigger battery and the M4 doesn't. Does battery size really matter? I don't know how important these pros and cons are so that's why I'm asking for your advice.

Thanks.

[Crunchmeister]

I'm a total whore for large batteries. The added capacity and ability to deliver lots of current will give you a nice rate of fire, decrease trigger lag, and ensures you have plenty of juice to play long, extended sessions without having to worry about recharging. I also tend to lean towards longer barrels because of the added range and accuracy they provide. And I love the solid feel of a full stock.

But which gun you get also depends on your size. If you're shorter, a full size rifle with a fixed stock may be awkward for you to carry, shoulder and manoeuvre properly. I'm 6 feet tall, so a large rifle is no issue for me. Also, consider if you'll be playing CQB. A full size rifle is very awkward in tight spaces. For that, a carbine with a sliding stock is better.

[rjorven]

imo battery size does matter, i run full stock on my gun (hk416) just for a large battery, and to distribute the weight a bit. i have never had good luck with small batteries either so that kind of gives me a bias opinion

[The Saint]

All else being equal (in this case, quality of guns in question is the same), the amount of accuracy you need is entirely dependent on your own playing style. The more aggressive you are (and physically fit), the less accuracy at longer range you need (because you won't be at long ranges for long). Your height is also a factor, shorter people have problem with longer guns.

Also, to an extent, properly upgrading and fine-tuning a M4 can overcome any actual shortcoming of a M4's accuracy at longer ranges. A good hopup unit, hopup sleeve and tightbore will do amazing things.

Depending on your shooting style, battery size matters. If you shoot a good amount (1800rd+/day), especially on semi, you'll need multiple good mini batteries (or a single decent large battery). Semi is hard on your battery power because each shot is spinning up the motor from a state of full stop.

[warbird]

Ok, I'm 6'-0" too. I don't think I'll be playing too much CQB either.

PS: Wouldn't fine tuning on the M16 do the same?

[Loathing]

Pretty much told the same thing to Crunch when he AVed me - going to look at getting a M4 for more CQB style fighting and a M16 for longer outdoor style fights.

An interesting alternative I saw a little while back, was someone had one complete rifle (lets say a full M4) and then had a M16 barrel/upper receiver with him as well. So if you know that you'll be doing a lot of closer distance shooting, he'd pop on the M4 URer/barrel and then also have the option to switch to the M16 URer/barrel for longer distance.

[Crunchmeister]

Yes, you can tune an M4 or M16 equally. My MP5 is well tuned. Fielded yesterday outdoors and was making 100+ ft shots and getting kills without any issues. However, at the end of the day, my C7A2 (also well tuned) can easily reach out and touch someone 125-150 feet away, which is out of the effective range of my MP5. As The Saint said, it depends on your style of play. I consider myself a rifleman, and I prefer shooting people at long range - and staying out of their weapons' effective range. That's my style of play.

You can also have the best of both worlds if you can get an ICS rifle. With their split mechbox design, you can have multiple upper mechboxes with different springs and matching cylinders for different barrel lengths. You get one base gun, a couple of different upper receivers / front ends with different upper mechboxes. Want an outdoor gun for long range? Swap in a new upper mechbox with a 400 fps spring and full cylinder, and an M16 front end. Want CQB? Install an upper mechbox with a ported cylinder and a 350 fps spring along with a shorter railed M4 front end. And you can perform the full swap in a couple of minutes. That gives you one very versatile gun that will suit any gaming scenario.

[FOX_111]

IMO, the little added acuracy of a full lenght rifle won't be enough to justify the lenght.

Batterie size capacity is a plus, but it can be done on a M4.

The biggest thing I see between the 2, is if you plan on doing real CQB (In buildings) or not.

I've done room clearing with a full size M16 ans it's very cumbersome.

Even playing in dense forested erea will have you struggle with a full lenght rifle. You'll have trouble tracking moving targets with all the branches in the way. Crawling is also more difficult with a long rifle.

If you like the long barel, I'd get a M16 style rifle with a M4 colapsible stock, or a bagpul type stock. You'l get a little less lenght, keept the long barel, and you can store the batteries in a An-Peq unit, wich will put a lot of weight on the front of the rifle.

I suggest you try both rifles before you buy. It's the best way to know.

[The Saint]

Originally Posted by warbird

PS: Wouldn't fine tuning on the M16 do the same?

Point is, with a properly tuned M4, you don't really need a M16.

My upgraded Ares/Star M4 was fighting to a draw against my friend's upgraded TM M14 yesterday at some pretty crazy ranges, with high cross wind. So barrel length really doesn't make or break a gun's long range accuracy.

[NoGear]

im 5-11 and i can barly carry my m4. so if you can carry a heavy load easy then get the m16 but if ur like me tall and skinny the m4 is perfect

well... my size i wish i had a good mp5 with full stock

[warbird]

Thanks. I'll stick with an M4.

[Bissa]

It also depends on the feild you are going ot be playing at mostly. At our feild, we are almost always at the very end of our guns range.

[coach]

Originally Posted by warbird

Thanks. I'll stick with an M4.

you can always extend your inner barrel sometime down the road. I've put on the JP rifles 12" front end and I have 4 outer barrel lengths to choose from in the event I want to go longer or shorter than I am currently running. I've put a 509mm inner tightbore into my M4.

I've also changed the full stock/8.4v 3300mah to a collapsible stock with a custom 9.6v 1500mah mini which lasts me long enough to not worry.

[Sir Roderick]

I'm planning on buying the G&G M16 from here: http://buyairsoft.ca/catalog/product...roducts_id=437

I'm planning on upgrading it with the cylinder kit from here: http://www.airsoftparts.ca/store2/in...oducts_id=1105

And a spring from here: http://www.airsoftparts.ca/store2/in...roducts_id=886

Having a bit of trouble finding a tight bore barrel, but does this sound like a smart choice for an upgrade?

[Styrak]

Question is, why are you upgrading in the first place?