TM hicapa 4.3 accurate barrels.. what to get.

[Degenetron]

Ok, so im relatively new to the airsoft world and recently got a TM HiCapa 4.3.

While it is a lot more accurate than i would have expected from a gun that shoots round pellets from a smooth barrel i wouldn't mind some more accuracy

There seems to be a lot of options around though and im guessing a lot of variability in quality (and probably opinion too, but i'll ask anyways ;p).

My criteria are that the barrel should be less than 100$us, (have yet to see one closing in on that) and that it doesn't require me to extend the slide or attach a compensator etc. Trying to keep this fairly cheap, so going with as little change to the gun as possible.

On a sidenote.. There seems to be more options for the 5.1.. Would a stock 5.1 slide fit the 4.3 frame? The frame seems to be longer on the 4.3, so the cosmetics would be off, but i could live with that if there is a good 5.1 barrel alternative that would allow me to get a stock 5.1 slide and not total over 100$.

EDIT: i should perhaps mention i dont do skirmishing/games etc. this is mostly a plinking toy for me

[Daiviet]

Tanio Koba Twist Barrel

[Slono]

Originally Posted by Daiviet

Tanio Koba Twist Barrel

+1.

[Degenetron]

any thoughts on where i could obtain this? Checked with a couple places and they list them as out of stock for the 5.1 and nothing at all for the 4.3

[Slono]

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong but I don't know if that exists. I've scoured the internet and haven't found anything.

You can find most things on these sites though:

• Redwolf Airsoft
• DENtrinity
• Airsoft Global
• WGC
• eHobby Asia

[Degenetron]

Thanks for the links and the checking up, Slono Everyone cept redwolf was new to me. I guess you checked them (thanks again ) and i double checked, but none of them even mention a barrel like this for the 4.3, and the ones that list the barrel type say out of stock or 'stop ordering' (Kinda liked that way of putting it lol.. very to the point.) for the 5.1.

There also seems to be a 6 inch version of the barrel but im not finding a slide/fake compensator that would extend the 4.3's slide/outer barrel to accomodate this so im guessig the 6 inch would turn out to be a bit on the expensive side if i went for that option...

I guess this leads back to my question if a stock 5.1 slide will fit on a 4.3.

[Shirley]

Originally Posted by Degenetron

Thanks for the links and the checking up, Slono Everyone cept redwolf was new to me. I guess you checked them (thanks again ) and i double checked, but none of them even mention a barrel like this for the 4.3, and the ones that list the barrel type say out of stock or 'stop ordering' (Kinda liked that way of putting it lol.. very to the point.) for the 5.1.

There also seems to be a 6 inch version of the barrel but im not finding a slide/fake compensator that would extend the 4.3's slide/outer barrel to accomodate this so im guessig the 6 inch would turn out to be a bit on the expensive side if i went for that option...

I guess this leads back to my question if a stock 5.1 slide will fit on a 4.3.

5.1 slide will fir on a 4.3.

5.1 has more options to it, more upgrades, more accuracy and power. For about $200-$300, you can get a 6 inch tightbore, Shooters Design threaded barrel, Shooters Design chamber, and a compansator. Cheapest comp is 5ku on Ebairsoft.com .

Not only the barrel has to be accurate, you got to get the right hop up rubber. Firefly, nineball.

[Styrak]

Just a second here. I think you're assuming the barrel is all one piece?

There are inner barrels and outer barrels. Which are you looking for?

[Degenetron]

nono i know about the inner/outer barrel thing. Im a bit of a tinkerer so i've already disassembled most of it and put it back together

That being said i didn't find any 5ku compensators for this pistol on the ebairsoft site. Seems i am in less of a hurry though as the 6 inch barrel is making more and more sense so this is gonna cost more than i initially planned and i will need to gather the moneys. But hey.. now i have a project, so win win.. cept the money part

[Degenetron]

An additional question.. If the compensator is not fixing the inner barrel to the frame it is more or less useless for improved accuracy, no? I mean, if it is only screwed in to the outer barrel it is basically just a lump of metal on the front of the gun?

[m102404]

LOL...compensators on pistols are purely cosmetic...either just for looks or for hiding a longer inner barrel.

Pistol barrels are made up of an outer barrel (the part you see) and the inner barrel (which "floats" inside the outer barrel and the hopup attaches to it). So...the outer barrel is sort of cosmetic as well in a sense...but it is functional as well.

If you want a more accurate pistol, yes, you can definitely just put a 5.1 length slide, outer barrel and longer inner barrel on there. Or 6". You need the slide, outer barrel and inner barrel. Different hopup rubbers will be more accurate as well...firefly makes a very nice one.

If you want to knock at least one flier out of your group...dry fire one shot after you freshly fill your magazine up with gas...then shoot your group. Depending on temperature, the first shot might be significantly less powerful than the 2nd/3rd/etc shots.

Tys

[Degenetron]

Originally Posted by m102404

LOL...compensators on pistols are purely cosmetic...either just for looks or for hiding a longer inner barrel.

Pistol barrels are made up of an outer barrel (the part you see) and the inner barrel (which "floats" inside the outer barrel and the hopup attaches to it). So...the outer barrel is sort of cosmetic as well in a sense...but it is functional as well.

Hmm.. so the bb leaves the barrel before it gets a chance to be affected by the wobbling caused on the barrel by the blowback?

Isn't the blowback instant? i mean once i press the trigger the gas is released forcing the bb forward and the slide backward. the slide moving backwards will make the barrels move as the outer barrel is not so tightly clenched in the slide anymore.. etc.. damn this is making my head hurt ;p

Anyways.. my idea was that having the inner barrel fixed into a compensator that is, in turn, fixed to the frame would hold it much like the outer barrel does when the slide is in its forward position, eliminating the wobble cause by the slide not "holding on" to the outer barrel.. if that makes any sense lol. </headache>

EDIT: futile attempt at clarification ;p

[m102404]

Re. the shot and blowback cycle...not really as you described. There's a very good pictoral explanation on Redwolf's site. With a NPAS (negative pressure something-system) the full cycle of the shot works (very roughly) like this...this description is in my simplified laymans terms:
1. Trigger is pulled, tripping the hammer, which bumps the knocker (the knocker will stay forward until later on in the cycle).
2. The knocker hits the knocker (main) valve of the mag, releasing gas up out of the mag, into the nozzle assembly.
3. The float valve (a little valve inside the nozzle) is in the rearward position...so gas goes towards the barrel end (and pushes the BB out with it...yeah!).
4. Once the BB leaves the inner barrel...there is now more gas pressure behind the valve than there is at the end of the inner barrel (which in a simplied sense is connected to the big grandios atmosphere)....so the float valve shuts (moves forward) because of gas pressure.
5. Since the incoming gas is now "trapped" in the nozzle (the float valve essentially plugs the tip)...it expands and pushes the piston of the blow back unit back...and the piston, joined through the blowback unit housing, takes the whole slide back with it.
6. The slide travels rearward...and there's a knocker disconnect nub/"pin" on the left side of the hammer assembly which rided in a slot of the blowback unit. When the slide (and thus the blow back unit) travel back to a certain point, the nub is release up and kicks the knocker out of position...the knocker retracts and the mags stops feeding gas into the nozzle...which then means there's no more force pushing the slide back...and the forward phase of the slide starts.
7. Without the incoming gas pressure, the gas escapes from the nozzle, the float valve pops open.
8. The recoil spring starts to expand and pushed the slide forward, the little nub gets pushed down and the cycle is ready for another shot.

When you dry fire (i.e. with gas but without BBs) the switch between the forward movement of gas down the barrel and the trapped "recoil" phase happens very quickly...but it still follows the same cycle as above.

Re. your frame mounted compensator idea...yup...that works very well, but just a comment or two. While you can get a outer barrel that doesn't tilt/drop/move ("fixed" barrel)...the inner barrel/hopup does move. So you can't "trap" the inner barrel with your comp setup. BUT...for optimal accuracy, you do want the inner barrel to return to the same relative position to your sights (either iron sights on the slide/comp or optics). By having minimal tolerances in the play when the slide is forward and ready for a shot (i.e. in battery), you'll maximize the consistency. BUT...airsoft guns don't work under the same pressure forces as real guns...so you can't really jam-fit parts, 'cause the gas pressures might not be enough to un-jam them.

Hope that makes sense....and hopefully it's clearer why it's so easy to ruin a perfectly working gun by just dropping in random "upgrade" parts.

Tys

[Jimski]

it's so easy to ruin a perfectly working gun by just dropping in random "upgrade" parts

I should print this sentence in gold letters size 250, frame it and put it up the wall of my workshop :|

[Degenetron]

Thank you, m102404. that was practically a goldmine of information I'll be picking the gun apart again later to inspect the parts and see. And yeah, it made partial sense.. will have to reread a couple times and look at the parts inside the gun to make it stick

I'll place an order for a tanio koba 6 inch barrel and the firefly hopup rubber right away then.. gonna ahve to have a bit of a look see for the frame mounted compensator though.. Don't suppose any of you have an idea as to where i could get one? I havent really looked much yet though, so dont strain yourselves. if all else fails i believe i saw a shop in england that made these things to order. :/ I'll be eating rice for a month to accomodate this shit lol