Airsoft Arizona
General Airsoft Arizona => Reviews => Topic started by: Black Fox on July 25, 2009, 01:52:04 PM
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THIS REVIEW WAS UPDATED ON May. 25th 2010
Updates are in Green Oct. 8th 2009, Blue Nov. 9th 2009, OD Jan. 1st 2010 & Orange May 25th 2010
Video instruction manual YouTube link has been added to bottom of this review
TRIGGER HAPPY M240 REVIEW
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/DSC00098.jpg)
P.1 M240 is accessorized with a Trigger Happy Elcan scope and 7.62 dummy rounds
I’ve owned my Trigger Happy M240 now for almost a year. I ran into a few problems and tried to search the Internet for more information. However, I discovered there is not a whole lot out there. So I decided to write this review to help provide more hands on experience with this gun.
I purchased my TH M240 from Impact Games in Hawaii where the gun came directly from one of their suppliers in Hong Kong. Even though I’m in California, I chose Impact Games because they are one of the oldest airsoft shops in the U.S. and have one of the most experience airsoftsmiths I know. And since I was going to buy one of the most expensive airsoft guns currently available, I wanted it to be a solid reliable performer above all else.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/DSC00095.jpg)
P.2
I did some extensive research on the TH M240 before buying my gun. I’ve heard mixed reviews. The most common comments I heard was that on the out side, the gun was beautiful and well built but the internals and its shooting performance were somewhat below par (mainly the barrel) considering its price tag. I had also considered the Inokatsu M240 but after seeing a video review of it shooting with an accuracy of a shotgun at only 30 ft, not to mention its higher price, I dismissed it. I think we can all agree that if you spend more than a $1,000 on an airsoft gun, its performance should at least be better than your average AEG.
With that in mind I asked Impact Games to strip the internals and replace it with the best parts in the market.
The parts that were replaced are as follows.
PDI 05 (6.05mm inner barrel) 595mm barrel
Guarder Hop Bucking
Systema Ver.3 Taper Cylinder Head
PDI Palsonite Cylinder
Guarder SP120 Spring
Guarder Ver.2 Steel Spring Guide with Bearings
Systema Torque-Up Gears
Tokyo Marui EG1000 Motor
Note: I replaced the Guarder SP 120 spring with a Systema M120. My original request was to have the gun shoot 395~400 fps with Excel bio-bb but it was frequently shooting slightly over 400 fps which was disqualifying my gun sometimes. With the Systema M-120 it now shoots an average 395 fps which is perfect.
Note: This gun was chronoed using Excel 0.20g Bio-BBs. The Bio-BBs are slightly smaller than the average BB. Because of this they tend to shoot about 15 fps lower in long barrel guns.
Note: It is not necessary to replace all the internal as I did. The biggest complaint I heard about this gun was the poor quality of the inner barrel. At minimum I would replace the inner barrel with a PDI or Prometheus inner barrel and the hop-up bucking with a Guarder hop-up bucking.
Another thing that I asked them to upgrade was the ammo feeder pouch. The ammo feeder that sits in the ammo pouch is made out of cardboard. I understand they did this to be more realistic. A 100 rounds belt of 7.62mm bullets sometimes comes in a cardboard box. So they were trying to achieve this look.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/MGR-080.jpg)
P.3 This M-60 repack Kit is available at http://www.cheaperthandirt.com
But in real life the box is used once then discarded. Cardboard wasn’t design for repeated use. So I had them replace the cardboard with plastic and duct tape to make it more durable. The results were quite nice, sturdy but flexible and with a pull up tab to boot.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/TMM240AmmoFeeder01-1.jpg)
P.4 NOTE: On the very bottom of the feeder you will always see a white BB. This is an important anti-jamming feature and not a stuck BB. Don't try to remove it.
At the time I made this review I did not have pictures of my gear box. I hope to have them posted in the near future. However, after doing some research on the Internet, I found a YouTube link for upgrading a VFC (Vega Force Company) M-60 Mk-43 gun. The gear box in this video looks nearly identical to the one in the Trigger Happy M-240. The only difference was the color of the gear box (mine was silver) and the trigger switch, which sits below and behind the motor and not under the cylinder as shown in the video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6981761473105456457#
When I got the gun and opened it up. Visually I was not disappointed. It looked very realistic and the parts looked like they were made with high quality machined parts and a nice gun metal finish.
The gun comes in 10 parts: barrel, bipod, receiver, ammo tray, top cover tray, ammo tray pin, trigger, trigger pin, stock and the ammo feeder pouch. Which assemble very much like a real M240. When I put all the parts together, the precision machining showed. All of the parts fit smoothly and snug like a pair of racing gloves.
However, there are 2 areas that require a little effort attaching.
One is the top tray. The front section of the top tray pushes up against a large spring button which is rather stiff making insertion of the tray pin a little difficult.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/TMM240TopTray.jpg)
P.5
I found the best way to do this is to first drop in the silver ammo tray. Then insert the top tray at a 30' angle and firmly push the tray all the way forward, then close it. Once the top tray is closed, insert the pin that holds the ammo and top tray in.
The other is the stock. The wires in the back can sometimes stick out a little making it difficult to close at times. The best thing to do is make sure the wire and fuse box are tucked well into the body before sliding the stock close.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240Rearsection.jpg)
P.6
There were two other areas that required some modification.
The first one was the stock. A large 9.6v battery fits snugly in the stock. However, with SAWs, I like to use a lower voltage battery such as an 8.4 v because I prefer to shoot with long but slow firing burst than a high speed short burst. (A SAW is all about suppression!) So, when I tried to put an 8.4v battery in, I discovered it wouldn’t drop in. Since the last battery cell on an 8.4v is perpendicular to the other cells it actually makes the battery a little wider on that end. Not a whole lot but enough that it wouldn’t drop in. If I pushed hard a little bit I could get it in but trying to get it out was twice as hard. I was concerned about ripping the wires out of the battery. I guess trigger Happy just automatically thought that everyone would use a large 9.6v and didn’t bother trying other batteries. So, I took a half rounded file and grinded the top and bottom of the inside of the stock neck. Fortunately I didn’t have to shave too much to get the 8.4 v to fit.
The other area that required minor modification and the only thing I considered to be a design flaw, was with the top tray cover. When I closed it, the top tray did not seem to be locking in. I could open it relatively easy by pulling on it without pushing in on the release buttons on the back of the tray . This was not right. Once the tray is locked in, it should sit securely on top of the receiver and not be easily pulled off. After a little examination, I discovered that the two little push buttons that you squeeze on the back of the top tray to open it are connected to 2 angle hooks underneath.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240UnderToptray.jpg)
P.7
Theses angle hook are supposed to slip into a cut groove on the inside of the receiver and lock the tray down. (The groove is just above the red wire on the right).
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240InsideReceiver02.jpg)
P.8
The problem was the tray wasn’t sitting down low enough for the angle hooks to slip in to the locking grooves on the inside of the receiver. My first thought was to file the 2 nubs on top of the back section of the receiver where the tray sat on. But the tray was already sitting flush with the body. If I filed the 2 nubs, it would no longer sit flush with the body. Instead, I removed the rear locking angle irons (as shown in pic. 7) and filed the top portion down about 1 or 2mm. After I did this, it fixed the problem and now I can lift the gun up by the tray. However, I don’t recommend picking up your gun that way. Always use the handle.
As for performance, the THM240 shoots like a dream! Impact Game’s quality craftsmanship in upgrading this gun definitely shows. The range and accuracy is incredible. I basically can out gun just about anyone in the field. I have no trouble picking off targets at 50 yards. On top of that, the gearbox runs very smooth and quiet. That is a testament to an excellent shim job.
However the nicest aspect is the ammo box. It is one of the smoothest and quietest motorized ammo box/drum mags I have ever seen. In fact the first time I shot it. It was so quiet that I thought it wasn’t working. The other thing I like about it is that that there is only one small wire that you can barely see. This wire connects to another wire that shares the same connection as the trigger which connects to the battery in the stock. So there is no need to have a battery in the ammo box to power the feeder. And since they are connected together, the ammo box feeds BBs into the gun when ever you pull the trigger. Another excellent feature is the tube spring that feeds BBs from the ammo box to the gun is integrated into metal frame that clips on the side of the gun.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/TMM240AmmoFeeder06.jpg)
P.9
So attaching it is simple, easy and snug.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240AmmoConnection01.jpg)
P.10
This is perhaps the most user friendly ammo box that I have ever seen. On top of all of this I never had a jam or feeding issue. And last, you can have someone pour BBs into you ammo box while you are shooting. Its only drawback is when you first put BBs into the ammo box. It takes about 5 to 7 seconds of shooting for the first BB to travel up the spring tube and into the chamber. If there was one change I could make, I would have the spring tube run up inside the ammo box and out just below the top and through the support frame for a cleaner look. That said, Trigger Happy deserves a round of applause for this ammo box design.
After doing some research, I discovered that VFC actually makes the ammo box for Trigger Happy but Trigger Happy makes the support frame that attaches the ammo box to the gun. (So it is identical to the M60 Mk-43 ammo box. However the ammo box for the Mk-43 does not have the support frame and the BB spring tube that connects to the gun is different.)
FIELD PERFORMANCE
Now for the field performance review. I’ve used this TH M240 in various terrain and weather from heavy winter snow fall in the Sierra Mountains to the heat of the of the Nevada desert. I've also humped it miles by hand and mounted on vehicles. The TH M240 performed admirably in all conditions.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/DSC00088.jpg)
P.11Reno Desert
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240inthesnow.jpg)
P.12 Ambush In The Snow
At 16 pounds this gun is about 10lb lighter than the real one but still about twice as heavy compared to your average airsoft gun. Combine with its size of 49 inches which is just over 4 feet. This is a beast of a gun to be lugging around. When firing, the best position to be in is on the ground using your bipod. Shoulder firing is difficult for any long period of time and the ammo pouch hanging off to the left makes the gun unbalanced. On occasions I found myself borrowing a friend’s shoulder while he holds on to the bipod. This works pretty well. In most cases though, I found myself shooting from the hip. So getting a SAW sling is highly recommended.
When you do uses a sling, one thing I recommend is that you don’t attach it to your barrel. This can potentially put stress on the barrel and cause damage over a period of time. The best place to attach it is at the front end of the gas tube. The gas tube is the cylinder underneath the barrel and is attached to the receiver. At the end of the gas tube and just behind where the bipod attaches, you will see a “U” shape bracket on top that supports the barrel. Below it is a hole. On a real one I think an eye pin goes in this hole so you can attach your sling to it. Since there was none I had to improvise. An old Vietnam Vet told me that they use to use parachute cords to make slings for their M60. So I did just that. I took some parachute cord and ran it through the hole and made a big loop about 2.5~3 inches long on the left side (right side if you are left handed). Then I attach the front of the sling to the loop. Make sure that you have enough excess rope to wrap around the gas tube at least once. I also made a knot on both sides of the whole for added protection. The last thing you want to happen is have that parachute cord come off and have your barrel smack on the ground, potentially breaking it.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/DSC09421.jpg)
P.13 On a real M240 the cord wrapped around the gas tube would probably burn. But hey, this is airsoft.
Also, keep in mind that if you make the loop too short, the clip ring on the sling will rub against your barrel and scratch off that nice gun metal finish, showing the bright aluminum silver underneath. I learned this the hard way. By the way, the sling I use is a “Vickers Saw Sling” by Blue Force Gear. Also, an Army Sgt. who used the M240 in Iraq, recommended that I used a 2 point sling and not a 3 point tactical sling because 3 point sling occasionally gets tangle in the ammo pouch.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240SlingAttachment.jpg)
P.14 The finish was scratched off because I originally made the loop too short which allowed the clip end of the sling to rub against the barrel. A longer loop let the sling clip clear the barrel.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240Sling.jpg)
P.15
Anyway, back to the gun’s weight and size. Because of its weight and size, it’s a bit unwieldy. You will often find your self being the slowest guy in the pack and usually your buddies will be bitching at you for not moving fast enough. However, when shit hits the fan, everyone will be calling your name and when you start ripping a way, they will be cheering you on.
Another drawback is that you are slower to acquire your target and take cover. So if you come upon an enemy and both of you are surprised, usually the guy with the assault rifle is going to get the drop on you. So playing point man with this gun is usually not a good idea. Your best location is in the middle.
Keep in mind though, with a gun like this, your job on offense is suppression. Even with excellent range, accuracy and even a scope, you won’t be a sniper. It’s just too big and bulky. You want to use it to keep the other guy’s head down so your guys can move in for the kill. As I mentioned earlier, I like my SAWs to have a slow rate of fire. This allows me to hold the trigger down for a long period of time. Even though I may not be actually hitting a lot of targets, a long sustained burst can cause several psychological effects. The first one is paralysis. Guys will hunker down and stay there because they don’t want to get shot. Leaving your guys free to flank and take him out. Other guys will start freaking out and just want to get out of the hot zone. Even though they might be in a safe position, they may leave it just to get out. If your team mates are in good position he will be easy pickins, like flushing pheasant out of a bush. The last one is frustration. After being pinned for a while some guys may get frustrated. When they do, they are more likely to make mistakes and get shot.
Where this gun excels the most is in the defensive position. In the right spot you can lay waste to anything in your firing arc and hold people off for a long time. However, even in the best spot it’s always nice to have someone about 30~50 feet behind you to watch your back. You can bet that once you start controlling an area they will try to flank you. If you don’t, bug out just before you feel they’ve had enough time to flank you.
GROUND OPERATION ADVICE
This gun requires some special attention when operating. Here are some recommendation to protect your gun and improve your performance.
1. Since replacement ammo boxes are currently unavailable. Protect your ammo box as much as possible. If you wreck it. You'll be stuck with an expensive gun that you can't use.
2. Make sure you Lock-Tite the screws on the ammo box. (See more on this below)
3. When walking long distances. Do not fill your ammo box all the way to the top. I usually fill mine with about 2,000 rounds which is just less than half way. The reason for this is because the ammo box tends to bounce up and down a little as you walk. If you fill it up all the way. The added weight of a full ammo box puts extra stress on the support frame. Over a period of time it could potentially damage the support frame. I find that 2,000 rounds is more than enough for most situations. However, if you're in a fixed defensive position. Then filler her up!
4. Avoid running too hard or jumping with the M240. Doing this causes the ammo box to bounce up and down a lot and creates added stress to the ammo box support frame. This could cause potential damage to the frame. If you have to run and jump. Try to support the ammo box.
5. After a game is over. Remove the ammo box and put it in a SAW pouch.
6. As mentioned above, get a nice padded two point sling. This will greatly reduce your fatigue.
VEHICLE OPERATION
Another area where this gun excels is being mounted on a vehicle. It’s probably the best airsoft gun for this use. In fact the real M240s original function was to be a vehicle mounted gun. However, when the Iraq war started, guys in the field were finding out that the M249 just didn’t have the knock down or penetration fire that they need. So they began requesting to replace the M249 with the M240. If you do mount it on a vehicle, it best to use real mounts. The cheapest way is to buy an M240 pintle mount and a travel lock. This can be bought for around $300~$350 but since the M240 pintle cradle is in current use, they are a bit difficult to find. However, I wanted to find a mount that had the pintle cradle and travel lock in one and was more compact. I searched the internet for them but most of them cost more than the gun itself. Plus nearly all of them had ammo trays which prevented me from using the ammo pouch. So I had a custom one made for $450. It turned out very nice and is strong enough to handle a real M240.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240PintleandTravellock.jpg)
P.16 M240 pintle and travel lock
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomCradle.jpg)
P.17 My custom M240 Cradle
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/DSC09779-1.jpg)
P.18 M240 on my HMMWV rear turret gun mount
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/HMMWV%20Turret/My%20HMMWV/HMMWV_OP_PC01.jpg)
P.19 HMMWV on combat patrol with M240 mounted in the turret.
Note: After a couple of vehicle operation I discovered that having an ammo tray to support the ammo box is a must. The ammo box just bounces around too much, especially off road, and will most likely break without some type of support. I have since upgraded my cradle to include an ammo tray.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomMount04.jpg)
P.20 Mount with added ammo tray to support ammo box.
AFTER OP MAINTENANCE ADVICE
1. During an OP. Dirt and debris tend to slip in through the top of the ammo box. It's recommended that you remove BBs from ammo box and rinse the BBs. Also, hold the box upside down and shake out any debris. If you have it, use an air bottle to blow out any remaining dirt and debris.
2. Remove the barrel and wipe of any dirt and especially moisture off the end of the barrel the goes inside the receiver. Coat it with a light wiping of silicon oil. (See more details below what moisture can do.)
THE CONS
Well now that I’ve talked about most of the good point about the gun. Here is what I was annoyed with.
The first time I played with the gun. I put it on my friends shoulder to get better stability. When he went to grab the bipod, it fell off. Needless to say I was not happy. In the round cylinder section of the bipod, there is a pin that holds the bipod on. When you move the bipod forward, it opens the hole where the pin is. If the pin inside is not in tight, it just falls out and the bipod comes off as what happened in my case.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M-240biopodrollpinopen.jpg)
P.21
If Trigger Happy used a simple spring/tension pin, it would prevent the bipod from falling off.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/92383a411resized.gif)
P.22
There is also a ball bearing and spring inside the cylinder to but this was lost as well when the bipod fell off. Fortunately I was able to get replacement parts for it at Orchard hardware store and fix it. If you own a TH M240, I strongly recommend that you glue the pin in with some Lock-Tight or replace it with a spring/tension pin.
If you do loose it, you can replace it with a 3/16" x 3/4" Spring/Tension Pin. You will need to cut it to the appropriate length. I pried mine open a little wider with a screw driver to add a little extra tension. Then tap it in with a punch. For extra measures you can dab a little super glue on the inside. (Good idea Steeljaw 36)
The second time I used my gun my ammo feeder broke. On the ammo pouch, there is a black triangle frame that connects the ammo pouch to the gun. The base of this triangle frame is connected to a large rectangle black plate. The 2 heavy duty nylon straps on the ammo pouch wrap around the large plate securing the ammo pouch to the frame. Holding this large rectangle plate to the triangle frame are two small screws. During play, these screws came loose and fell out and my ammo feeder pouch fell off. I lost one of the screws but found the other.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240ammopouch02.jpg)
P.23
Fortunately it was an easy fix and once again I was able to find replacement screws at Orchard Hardware. Had I lost both screws, I would have had a real hard time figuring out what size screws when into those small holes. I was rather pissed that something so small and trivial could have turned my gun into an expensive paper weight. So I strongly recommend using Lock-Tight on these two little screws. Before you do this though, it might be a good idea to see if you can find spare screws, just in case. By the way, the screw size is a metric M4x6mm .7 pitch (Fine).
The third problem I ran into was after playing in the snow all day. My gun became damp and wet. I just stuck it in my bag and went home. The next day I pulled my gun out and removed my barrel to clean it. When I did, the section of the barrel that locks into the receiver had rust on it!
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240Rust02.jpg)
P.24
I was shock that something that is an important part of the gun would rust so easily and so quickly. Fortunately I had some silicon oil and cleaned it off. So if your gun ever does get wet, I recommend that at the end of the day you take your gun apart and thoroughly dry it off. It might also be a good idea to rub a light coat of silicon or gun oil on the metal locking rings on the barrel just below the carry handle and also the hole where you insert the barrel into the receiver to prevent rusting.
The fourth problem I ran into was the trigger guard. In the upper front section of the trigger guard there is a small pin just below a large hole. If you remove this pin, the trigger guard comes off. However, this pin is loose and can easily fall out and cause the trigger guard to fall off. If you loose it, it will be very difficult to replace. I secured it by putting some scotch tape over it. For the most part though, you should never have a need to remove this pin. By the way, as long as the trigger is in the gun, this pin will not fall out. The earlobe holes use for the travel lock that come down over the front trigger, covers part of the pin and prevents it from falling out. (You can see this by looking at the 2nd picture from the top.) It's only when you remove the trigger that the pin can fall out.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240Trigger.jpg)
P.25
The fifth problem I had again was related to the ammo box. Last month (Oct 09) I humped my M240 a good 3 or 4 mile up and down hill in variation of up to 500 ft in elevation. When I returned home, I discovered once again that some screw came out and almost caused me to lose a part that could have potentially prevent my ammo box from working. At the end of the BB feeding tube that sits next to the gear box when it is clipped in, there is a piece on top that that his held by two screws. This piece helps guide the BBs into the gear box. One of the screws had come loose and the other one fell out completely. At first I thought I had lost it on the field but fortunately found it lying on my garage floor. This screw is very small and I could have easily missed it but I was lucky that I found it.(By the way, the size for these two screws are a metric M2 x 8mm fine thread, should you ever need to replace them).
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/DSC09923.jpg)
P.26
Had I lost this piece, it would be very difficult to make a substitute piece. I could probably make something but it's reliability would be uncertain and worst case my gun would no longer be usable.
This most likely occurred because of the long march I had with the gun. Every time you take a step the ammo box bounces a little. At one point I also had it slung over my back and did not remove the ammo box which probably added additional stress to the ammo box. Bouncing around for a long period of time most likely caused the screws to slowly back out.
Because of this latest incident I experienced with this ammo box. I STRONGLY recommend that you use Lock-Tight or some other glue on all the screws that are use on the ammo box. It will save you a lot of worries and heart aches should it become inoperable because you lost some stupid screws.
Last was the rear sight. The sight was slightly bent so the range finder would not slide all the way up or down. This is rather a minor annoyance but for the price you pay for this gun you expect it to be perfect.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/THM240sight.jpg)
P.27
Overall, I think Trigger Happy hit all the big stuff on the mark and with a proper upgrade, the gun is a top notch solid performer. However, they miss the mark when it came to paying attention to the small details. A loss of a few small screws in the right place can put you out of commission. Perhaps the biggest draw back is the lack of replacement parts should you break or loose something. The most critical issue is the ammo box. This is perhaps the most vulnerable piece of the gun. If you should ever fall and brake it or it craps out on you or falls apart because you lost some stupid tiny screws. You’re screwed and stuck with an expensive wall decoration because there are no replacements available. At minimum, Trigger happy should at least make extra ammo feeder pouches available for purchase.
Note: As mentioned above, VFC makes the ammo box for the TH M240. Should your magazine box ever brake, you should be able to replace most parts with the VFC one. VFC sells theirs for $120. You can contact them through their web site. http://www.gb-tech.com.tw/
Recently I discovered that Echo-1 is planning to come out with their own version of the M240. From the pictures I have seen it looks like the ammo box they will use apparently is the same one that Trigger Happy uses. If this turns out to be true. I will be extremely relieved if they sell spare ammo boxes. But for now, I'll just keep my fingers crossed.
If anyone has any more questions, let me know and I will update this review.
TH M240 video manual. (This is the instruction manual that comes with the gun when your purchase it).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvhOMoTuhw0
Here are some other reviews and links about the Trigger Happy M240.
http://www.airsoftpacific.com/content.php?page=53
http://www.airsoftpacific.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=21
VFC MK43 Mod0 Tune-Up Video.
This gun has a similar gear box and the same ammo box as the TH M240 but with a different BB feed connection. It gives a brake down on both.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6981761473105456457#
Inokatsu MAG 58/M240
Some people have asked how the Inokastu M240 compares to Trigger Happy's. The best info I found on the Inokatsu gun was a review done by Redwolf. http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ReviewDetail?reviewID=194
If anyone ever has a used one they would like to sell. Please contact me.
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This is a very good review, thanks Darrell.
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I'm glad you like it. I hope others find it useful too.
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Outstanding write-up!
If only there were more informative threads like this...
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Thanks AZSarge
If anyone has any questions, let me know. I will add them to the review.
I also just realized that you have a review section so I posted it there too.
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I agree, theres not too many reviews out there like this anymore. Wouldnt expect anything less from a Fox though :D
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this makes me regret buying my m249 mk2. that gun is absolutly sexy. great job on the review. echo 1 is soposed to release thier m240 in the fall. i dont mind if it has crappy internals, but just buying the m240 is pretty expensive, est. value on impact games is 2 grand. a little too much.
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I will admit that Impact Games can be a little pricey sometimes because they are in Hawaii. The cost of living is pretty high in Hawaii.
However, the price of the Trigger Happy has dropped since they posted that. At the time that was posted the Gulf version (No heat shield) was $1,600. Now they go for $1,400. A full gearbox upgrade runs about $200~$300. Barrel $50~$120. Remodeled gear box $50ish. So you could potentially get is as cheap as $1,600 with upgrade internals depending on what parts you have put in it. Even so, it's still a heafty price tag.
On the ammo pouch upgrade. Raith has shown me a picture of his. So you now have someone local who can do that for you.
Once the Echo-1 M240 comes out, I expect the the price to drop more.
My prediction on the Echo-1 M240 when it comes out is that it will be a fairly reliable. It all depends on it's ammo feeder. I hope it will be an exact replica of the TH one. Also, it probably will have a higher FPS than TH. Guns that are designed for the world wide market come out of the box shooting about 310 fps since countries like Japan and England had national laws that regulate them to that FPS level. That's why the TH M240 was shooting so low. Guns that are primarily designed for the US market are usually 350~400 fps. However, it won't have the finesse and quality of the TH M240 exterior. If you ever get a chance, compare the Echo-1 M249 side by side with a CA M-249 and you can see the difference. If you're luck to find a TOP M249 to compare it with, you will see a considerable difference. If performance is all that you care about. The Echo-1 should be fine. If looks and performance are important to you then you'll want the Trigger Happy M240.
By the way Gills, there is nothing wrong with the M249. I'm planning to get one myself and is a little bit more easier to maneuver around with.
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I've had zero issues with mine being stock internally. They both shoot pretty much right at 290 FPS with a 0.20g BB. And they both shoot much farther and more accurately than any of my other guns. I have a 7.2v 4500mah NIMH that I run the guns with. The rate of fire with an 8.4v battery was too much for my liking, so I switched to a 7.2v. The 7.2v has the benefit of being lighter and less expensive also.
I put a Madbull 590mm tightbore barrel in each of the 240s, one is a PSG1+ barrel and the other is a regular Madbull. As far as I know, the only difference on the PSG1+ is the extra cuts on the end of the barrel, which don't seem to affect it at all.
I'm a "if its not broke, don't fix it" kinda person, and I've had real good luck with both of these guns. Keep in mind that I haven't run them real hard, so that may be partially why I've had good success. The 240B has less than 1000rds through it, but the 240G has around 20000 or so.
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Matt, how are those spirol pins working on your bipod?
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Matt, how are those spirol pins working on your bipod?
Good. I need one more from you, though.
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How much does that beast weigh????
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15lb
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15lb
Holy crap, ny gun is like 5lbs
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I should have said 15lb dry. With battery, 3,000 bb, elcam scope and ammo belt it's over 25lb. Minus ammo belt, just over 20 lb.
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Sir may I say that I dropped my jaw when I saw this review and after reading it, it fell off. I applaud and respect you for your weapon and this reivew, bravo! :D
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Matt, how are those spirol pins working on your bipod?
Good. I need one more from you, though.
Do you remember what size they were? IIRC, they were -258's.
If you can measure the hole, I can figure it out.
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Matt, how are those spirol pins working on your bipod?
Good. I need one more from you, though.
Do you remember what size they were? IIRC, they were -258's.
If you can measure the hole, I can figure it out.
They were the ones, you know, from that one bin.
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I think I can measure the hole.
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Thanks for the compliment AZSAC Commander.
By the way, I just updated the review. The updates are in green.
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This review has been updated. Updates are in Blue and green.
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I just got the Inokatsu FN MAG58 to mount on my Iltis. I managed to assemble the weapon no thanks to the bikini broad on the instruction sheet.
Mine came from Poweredgeusa.com but didn't come with battery and charger.
I assume the battery gets hidden inside the gas tube of the MG?
Is there supposed to be a battery that goes in the 100rd bandoleer hopper magazine? This one supposedly has a sound-activated mag tube feed.
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Falldownjaeger
Unfortunately I have not personally handle an Inokatsu M240. So I really can't tell you much about it. The best information I found on the Inokatsu M240 is a review written on Redwolf http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ReviewDetail?reviewID=194 Have you contacted Power Edge USA? I would assume that since they sold it to you that they should be able to provide some type of support for it.
By any chance do you live in Hawaii? If so, you can also go to Impact Games http://www.impactgamesairsoft.com/. They are one of the oldest airsoft shops in the US and Grant and Tyler are one of the top masters gurus of airsoft. They upgraded my Trigger Happy M240 and I have been extremely pleased with it's shooting performance.
By the way, how did you manage to mount the gun on your vehicle? From what I've seen from pictures it look like the ammo box uses the gun mount holes on the gun to attach the ammo box.
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Falldownjaeger
Unfortunately I have not personally handle an Inokatsu M240. So I really can't tell you much about it. The best information I found on the Inokatsu M240 is a review written on Redwolf http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ReviewDetail?reviewID=194 Have you contacted Power Edge USA? I would assume that since they sold it to you that they should be able to provide some type of support for it.
By any chance do you live in Hawaii? If so, you can also go to Impact Games http://www.impactgamesairsoft.com/. They are one of the oldest airsoft shops in the US and Grant and Tyler are one of the top masters gurus of airsoft. They upgraded my Trigger Happy M240 and I have been extremely pleased with it's shooting performance.
By the way, how did you manage to mount the gun on your vehicle? From what I've seen from pictures it look like the ammo box uses the gun mount holes on the gun to attach the ammo box.
Anything Inokatsu has seemed to be anything but short of amazing. Their new line of GBB M4's are a true 1:1 real steel deal on the externals.
Fox, Fantastic writeup and follow ups, keep up the good work, I Look forward to seeing more about the TH even though they are now discontinued.
On a side note, if anyone has the itch of getting an inokatsu, Let me know. I can't post the 'to the door' pricing because of MAP regulations but its much,much lower than you will see anywhere else.
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Busta Cap
Thanks for the kind words on my review. I plan to do add one or two more updates to it in the near future on the gear box and showing how to mount it on a vehicle and tripod.
From what I've heard, the TH M240 hasn't been discontinued but temporary unavailable according to a friend who tried to order one from Spartan recently. I wonder if they were affected by the crack down on airsoft gun manufactures in China.
Echo-1 is supposedly coming out with one too but I think they have run into the same problem with China too. From the pictures that I've seen it appears to be similar to the TH M240.
By the way, here is a Youtube review of the Inokatsu M240 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojN2KcPp4r0
I know Inokatsu has brought their prices way down to match the price of the Trigger Happy M240. By the way, Busta, what's a MAP rule?
Anyway, from what I've seen, I think the TH M240 is better. The only exception it that the Inokatsu M240 seems to have a more sturdier but heavier body. The other thing that I'm not keen on is the ammo box. It's bulky and not as clean. The worst thing is the piece that attaches to the gun is the same hideous day glow light blue color as the gear box.
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Busta Cap
Thanks for the kind words on my review. I plan to do add one or two more updates to it in the near future on the gear box and showing how to mount it on a vehicle and tripod.
No problem, If you need some help either engineering a mount of having it fabbed, again let me know, I can do this as well and my machine work is pretty reasonable.
From what I've heard, the TH M240 hasn't been discontinued but temporary unavailable according to a friend who tried to order one from Spartan recently. I wonder if they were affected by the crack down on airsoft gun manufactures in China.
I am an authorized dealer for both Spartan and Redwolf Airsoft, both confirmed that it is currently not in production, which probably means no more of them.
Echo-1 is supposedly coming out with one too but I think they have run into the same problem with China too. From the pictures that I've seen it appears to be similar to the TH M240.
Here is where Echo-1, madbull , socom gear (all falling under the same parent company IIRC) have done the right thing, they actually get licensing and trademarking. Such as the new m82 from Socom Gear. It's a big AEG, why is it $1k+? Barrett..
By the way, here is a Youtube review of the Inokatsu M240 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojN2KcPp4r0
I know Inokatsu has brought their prices way down to match the price of the Trigger Happy M240. By the way, Busta, what's a MAP rule?
This depends entirely on what distributor and how many you are going through, but yes they are much cheaper to retailers than the TH. MAP is Minimum Advertised Pricing. It's a short way of explaining in legal terms, 'don't let us know you are selling this stuff so cheap!"
Anyway, from what I've seen, I think the TH M240 is better. The only exception it that the Inokatsu M240 seems to have a more sturdier but heavier body. The other thing that I'm not keen on is the ammo box. It's bulky and not as clean. The worst thing is the piece that attaches to the gun is the same hideous day glow light blue color as the gear box.
Ah, yes the blue anodized wire harness/feeding tube. Why inokatsu did that is beyond me, they made a great replica, then adding some race gun to it..fail in my book.
If you want pricing on the inokatsu or any other pieces, please shoot me a PM or call my office number @ 480 389 4831
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Busta_Cap:
Can you get the Spade Grip Adapter, Picatinny Rail Top Cover or the M240B Handguard?
I found a real M240 Soft Mount, came off of a LAV25 or something..... Yes it does use the pintle holes used by the wierd bandoleer box hanger. I can get an original GI M240 Bandoleer Hanger to hold the hopper instead.
Here's a Belgian Iltis with the GPMG Mounting Kit, without an MG mounted:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BelgianGPMGMount.jpg)
Here's an FN MAG58 mounted to a slightly different soft mount, this one with a single hydraulic cylinder instead of the twin springs:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BelgianSoftMount.jpg)
Give me a couple days to get a battery and charger. My local shop never heard of the 11.1 v battery for use in this piece. I'll do a review of the G-Pig, soldier slang for GPMG. Also, sometimes called GiMPiG.
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Busta_Cap:
Can you get the Spade Grip Adapter, Picatinny Rail Top Cover or the M240B Handguard?
I found a real M240 Soft Mount, came off of a LAV25 or something..... Yes it does use the pintle holes used by the wierd bandoleer box hanger. I can get an original GI M240 Bandoleer Hanger to hold the hopper instead.
Here's a Belgian Iltis with the GPMG Mounting Kit, without an MG mounted:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BelgianGPMGMount.jpg)
Here's an FN MAG58 mounted to a slightly different soft mount, this one with a single hydraulic cylinder instead of the twin springs:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BelgianSoftMount.jpg)
Give me a couple days to get a battery and charger. My local shop never heard of the 11.1 v battery for use in this piece. I'll do a review of the G-Pig, soldier slang for GPMG. Also, sometimes called GiMPiG.
who makes them?
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Busta Cap
No problem, If you need some help either engineering a mount of having it fabbed, again let me know, I can do this as well and my machine work is pretty reasonable.
Thanks for the kind offer to make a custom mount for the M240. Your offer is very much appreciated. However, my friend is a HMMWV and armory specialist and can make anything I need.
I am an authorized dealer for both Spartan and Redwolf Airsoft, both confirmed that it is currently not in production, which probably means no more of them.
Oddly enough I just got off the phone with a friend in the industry and he told me that the apparent reason TH has stopped making the M240 was because they didn't have a license to do so. He also mentioned that it appears that VFC is coming out with an M240! If this is true, it makes a lot of sense since they already made the gear and ammo box for them. My guess is that it will be identical or nearly identical to the Trigger Happy M240 with some improvements I hope.
If you want pricing on the inokatsu or any other pieces, please shoot me a PM or call my office number @ 480 389 4831
Thanks, I'll definitely keep you on my list. For now, I'm try to find a spare ammo box for my TH M240. If you know where I can get one, please let me know.
Falldownjaeger, If you are interested in a M240 mount I can get you an H24-6 mount for about $875~$900 if you are interestedhttp://www.milsysgroup.com/machineGunMounts.asp#MGM10
Also thanks for your offer
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I lucked into an M240 Softmount Cradle for $350:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/SoftmountCradle.jpg)
I just have to fabricate the adjustable height tubing pedestal to mount it to.
That M240 mount you posted looks very similar to this Canadian rig, with travel arm:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/CFReccewithImproGPMGMount.jpg)
Some Canadians told me they used a Sage International Mount:
(http://www.sageinternationalltd.com/si/mount/762ncsm-lg.gif)
I was quoted $1499 for this one.
I may wind up mounting the C6 (MAG58 on the rollbar) and a C9A1 (M249) for the co-driver.
The Belgians and Germans actually mounted M2 .50BMG on the rollbar:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BWIltisM2MGMount1.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BelgianParaIltiswithM2BMG.jpg)
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Here is my mount, detailed in a previous post -
I figured I'd do a writeup with photos of my M240 vehicle mount.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount01.jpg)
The mount itself is the tan item. The green object below is known as a universal pintle adapter. It is not a tripod, but I have it there because it allows the setup to stand up on level ground for photography purposes. The universal pintle adapter is what would usually be below any of the smaller (vs MK19 or M2) mounted guns. It adapts the small pintle to the larger pintle found on most stationary or vehicular military mounts. It also has a traverse and elevation adjustment bar on the back, but for our purposes, that mostly remains unused.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount02.jpg)
The square tube is the adapter between the M240 mount and the eagle claw mount, which has the small pintle. The eagle claw can fit the front hole of the M240 or M249 as well, but would not allow for the ammo can or rear pin support.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount03.jpg)
Here is the ammo can/magazine on the mount. You can see the BB feeder tube and adapter mechanism sticking out of the ammo can. This slides onto the side of the M240 and provides it with BBs. The shock cord and fastex buckle secure the ammo can into the M240 mount.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount04.jpg)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount05.jpg)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount06.jpg)
The interior of the ammo can. This is simply the OEM magazine internals sitting inside of an ammo can. The left side is sloped so that all the BBs feed. You can see the magazine power hookup behind the feed tray on the M240. I'm not sure what the total BB capacity is, but its tremendous. Probably something like 12,000 BBs.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount07.jpg)
When it is all assembled, the BB feed tube is out of sight enough to be convincing.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount08.jpg)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount09.jpg)
It works very well, and I'm very happy with it.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/castle-bravo/airball/m240/m240mount10.jpg)
M240 sitting in the mount without the ammo can.
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I lucked into an M240 Softmount Cradle for $350:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/ ... Cradle.jpg (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/SoftmountCradle.jpg)
Falldownjaeger, what a frikken steal! If you find another one for that price, let me know :mrgreen:
The Belgians and Germans actually mounted M2 .50BMG on the rollbar:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/ ... Mount1.jpg (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h315/adlerarmory/BWIltisM2MGMount1.jpg)
OMG! With that gun mounted that high, that vehicle must have rocked all over the place when shooting it. Plus the gunner is a bit exposed.
If you do mount your M240 on to your vehicle I strongly recommend 2 things. One, that you get a travel lock for it if you plan to drive around with the gun unmanned. Otherwise, your gun will be bouncing around all over the place and eventually damaging it or worse. Two, that you also have some type of ammo tray that you can tie down and secure your ammo box to for the same reason above. Even if you have a travel lock it will still bounce around. Hit a nice good pot hole and it will go flying.
Wraith has an excellent set up! I wish I had a spare ammo box so I can do the same. Unfortunately, Trigger Happy doesn't sell spare. I'm hoping I might find one some where.
I had my own custom made mount. Originally it had no ammo tray but after driving around with out one and seeing the ammo box bouncing around all over the place. I decided to add one. I got my idea from looking at Wraith's mount. The one main difference with mine is that it's designed to sit low on a swing arm. So the ammo tray doesn't sit below the bottom of the mount. Because of this I had to modify the mount on the M240 ammo box to sit a little higher. To do this I drilled 2 holes about 3/4 of an inch below the original holes. The only draw back is that the ammo belt doesn't sit properly. A minor annoyance.
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomMount01.jpg)
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomMount03.jpg)
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomMount04.jpg)
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomMount05.jpg)
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/blackfox-111/M-240/M240CustomMount06.jpg)
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Hey Busta Cap
I just hear from a friend of mine that Spartan has TH M240 again. Can you confirm this?
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Hey Busta Cap
I just hear from a friend of mine that Spartan has TH M240 again. Can you confirm this?
They were out when i talked to them. But i'll pm my pricing for them.
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Hey Busta Cap
I just hear from a friend of mine that Spartan has TH M240 again. Can you confirm this?
They were out when i talked to them. But i'll pm my pricing for them.
To follow up on this, I just spoke to my girl at Spartan and they do have a few TH m240G's available, however the Bravo kit and combo kit are no longer being stocked.
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Hey all, somewhat off topic here, but I can't seem to get a solid answer via PM or Google.
How does the Inokatsu stack up against this weapon? AATV's review was decidedly uninformative, and the Redwolf review is suspect since it's from a retailer. Does anyone know of field reports or other unbiased information?
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ardrummer292
Unfortunately there is not a whole lot out there. The best reviews I found are the one's that you already mentioned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojN2KcPp4r0
http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ReviewDetail?reviewID=194
Just from looking at the pictures I think the Trigger Happy M240 is nicer and cleaner.
The major advantage that I think the Inokatsu M240 has of over the TH M240 are spare parts.
http://airsoftnews.eu/e107_images/newspost_images/inokatsu_accessories_0603.jpg
Spare parts for the TH M240 are nonexistent. The only way you can get them is to buy another gun.
The ammo box mount is also much more durable but the electrical and BB attachments look cluttered and unrefined. Also the bar that the ammo box is attached to, attaches to the gun by using the mounting holes on the gun. Which means that you can't mount it on a tripod or vehicle. For most people though this is probably not an issue.
The one thing I thought that was a real turn off was the neon blue color of the gear box and the BB tube attachment that hooks up to the gun. :-& There is some nice camouflage color for you. [-(
As for a performance comparison I can't say. I can tell that with the internal modification I made to mine. It is by far one of the best shooting airsoft guns I have ever owned over the last 20 years [smilie=armata_pdt_12.gif]
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ardrummer292
The ammo box mount is also much more durable but the electrical and BB attachments look cluttered and unrefined. Also the bar that the ammo box is attached to, attaches to the gun by using the mounting holes on the gun. Which means that you can't mount it on a tripod or vehicle. For most people though this is probably not an issue.
The one thing I thought that was a real turn off was the neon blue color of the gear box and the BB tube attachment that hooks up to the gun. :-& There is some nice camouflage color for you. [-(
As for a performance comparison I can't say. I can tell that with the internal modification I made to mine. It is by far one of the best shooting airsoft guns I have ever owned over the last 20 years [smilie=armata_pdt_12.gif]
Thanks for the reply, Black Fox. I suppose I'm pretty partial to Inokatsu, as I own one of their Mk43s and it is, by far, the coolest damn airsoft gun I've ever had. Rock solid, great performer, and an overall damn good training weapon. I run mine like I run my real MGs at work with no issues. Case in point: ate sh!t at high port doing a center peel, slammed the front end into a tree and bent the hell outta a bipod leg. Solution? Cleaned the mud out of the muzzle and got some vice grips to bend the leg back. No problems. ^_^
I'm not real worried about the weapon being 'pretty,' as I can take care of the blue if I'm really bothered. I actually prefer the ammo mount as-is; again, if I'm bothered, I'll snag one of the real ones sitting around unused at work. A spare barrel would be nice, for training purposes more than anything. Then again, an Ino Mk43 barrel and locker goes for near $1k and I haven't seen one for the MAG58/M240 anywhere...
Of all the things that put me off about the TH, the gearbox has to be number 1. My team's former AW has a VFC Mk43 and has nothing but problems with it, to the point where his (V2 based!) G&P Mk46 has become his primary, to his displeasure. To think he, and others, have that many issues with their VFC boxes is hardly confidence-inspiring, especially considering the relative rarity of parts.
Or, perhaps I am misguided in my thinking. I don't quite have one sitting in front of me, and I have never seen one fielded (let alone had first-hand experience). Anyone have a round count and skirmish update?
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ardrummer292
Since you have the Inokatsu Mk-43. My guess is that the Inokatsu M240's performance should be similar. I've also heard that Inokatsu in general are usually good performers. Another thing I heard is that the Inokatsu M240 had a more heavy duty body. But since I've never seen one I can't really say for sure.
As for VFC gear boxes, this is the first gun I've owned that has had one. I have had no problems with mine what so ever. However, I had all the internal stripped and replaced with high quality parts from the start. So I'm not sure if that made a difference or not.
By the way, if you are interested in seeing what the VFC gear box look like in the TH M240 go to this link http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6981761473105456457# This is actually a gear box for the VFC M-60 Mk-43 but with the exception to the trigger assembly, it looks identical to mine.
The biggest influence in my decision in buy the TH M240 was the video review from the Dutch guys from AATV that did the review on the Inokatsu M240. When they shot it, the grouping of the BB shots where horrible. I was dismayed that for $2,000 the gun shot like a shot gun.
Anyway, if you have the time, I would like to see a review on your Inokatsu M-60 Mk-43.
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You have a good point about performance similarities, as the Ino 240 appears to have a very similar hop system to my pig... totally sweet, I'm quite glad they didn't change it.
By the by, here's my Mk43 review complete with updates:
http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/i ... pic=180441 (http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=180441)
*EDIT: Link fixed
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ardrummer292
I keep getting an error display from Arnie when I click on the link. Can you recheck it.
Thanks
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This Review has been updated.
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The video manual for the TH M240 has been added to the bottom of the original review.
Also posted below for your convenience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvhOMoTuhw0