Ares AW338 upgrades?

[sinfulpain]

I just got an Ares AW338 today (technically last night), with a leaky mag and some other minor defects (stuff I can fix easy).

I'm just curious if anyone has any knowledge about what kind of bucking, hopup chamber, and barrel the Ares uses.

Not to be a dick, but don't bother telling me to use the search function on google, as I am doing that. I am just putting this out there, in case anyone already has knowledge about them, and upgrades for them while I am looking for possible upgrades.

Also, are there any fill valves that are compatible with the magazines? My fill valve is missing 1/2 the threads somehow (probably due to poor machining).

I have been hearing that it uses an AEG bucking and barrel (650mm barrel, to be "exact"), and can take this
http://airsoftoutletnw.com/index.php?pa ... &Itemid=28

If it does take an AEG bucking, what bucking would you suggest, for keeping it above 450fps?

I have fixed the mag all I can today, but I need to get some new O-rings for it, since one of them was shredded.


Any comments saying things like" Ares AW338 is crap", or anything like that, is UNWELCOME. I only want helpful comments about upgrades/modifications to make the gun shoot better in general. And no, I haven't gotten to actually shoot it yet, but give me a few days. I am juggling this, and multiple other things at the same time, so it will be a few days before I get to shoot it much, and test its accuracy beyond 50-75 feet.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 4383_n.jpg

Btw, if you know where I can get the monopod for it (new or used, I don't care), I would REALLY appreciate it. I'm not afraid of designing one myself, though, so it's no big deal.



~Brian

[sinfulpain]

Notes for myself:

The first thing you will want to do is get at least a couple long mags ($80/ea). Ehobby often has those items in stock for good prices but you may have to do a little looking.

XavierMace obviously knows his shit, lol

[XavierMace]

I have my moments, but just to make sure you are aware, those comments are talking about Tanaka's, not Ares guns.

[sinfulpain]

I have my moments, but just to make sure you are aware, those comments are talking about Tanaka's, not Ares guns.

would the G&G power pack still work, though? It says it's compatible with the G96, but I haven't gotten around to researching today, because I got into a minor accident, losing a few hours of time.

~Brian

[XavierMace]

would the G&G power pack still work, though? It says it's compatible with the G96, but I haven't gotten around to researching today, because I got into a minor accident, losing a few hours of time.

~Brian

Extremely unlikely.  The Ares uses a completely different design from the Tanaka system.  If I have the time over the weekend, I'll take a look at my Well bolt (which is a clone of the Ares) but I'd be shocked if you could use any of the Tanaka parts.  Saying it's compatible with the G96 is not attempting to indicate it's compatible with the Ares AW338.  It's indicating it's compatible with the Tanaka L96 and the G&G G96 (which IIRC is another Tanaka clone).  I'm trying to avoid negative comments about the Ares as you requested but unfortunately there's not much available for the Ares/Star/Well AW338's.  On that note though, if you have interest in BUYING my Well AW338, send me a PM.  I've got one Well mag and one Ares mag, both of which work perfectly.  I will not sell the mags separately however.

The Ares does use standard AEG cut barrels and buckings.  However, the chamber you linked to is once again for Tanaka/G&G guns and flat out won't work in the Ares.  They are not even close to the same design.  This thread might help you a little as well.

http://www.airsoftretreat.com/forums/in ... ic=96965.0

[sinfulpain]

would the G&G power pack still work, though? It says it's compatible with the G96, but I haven't gotten around to researching today, because I got into a minor accident, losing a few hours of time.

~Brian

Extremely unlikely.  The Ares uses a completely different design from the Tanaka system.  If I have the time over the weekend, I'll take a look at my Well bolt (which is a clone of the Ares) but I'd be shocked if you could use any of the Tanaka parts.  Saying it's compatible with the G96 is not attempting to indicate it's compatible with the Ares AW338.  It's indicating it's compatible with the Tanaka L96 and the G&G G96 (which IIRC is another Tanaka clone).  I'm trying to avoid negative comments about the Ares as you requested but unfortunately there's not much available for the Ares/Star/Well AW338's.  On that note though, if you have interest in BUYING my Well AW338, send me a PM.  I've got one Well mag and one Ares mag, both of which work perfectly.  I will not sell the mags separately however.

The Ares does use standard AEG cut barrels and buckings.  However, the chamber you linked to is once again for Tanaka/G&G guns and flat out won't work in the Ares.  They are not even close to the same design.  This thread might help you a little as well.

http://www.airsoftretreat.com/forums/in ... ic=96965.0

Thank you for the help.

I hadn't gotten around to opening up the insides yet, or find pictures/video of one opened up, so I didn't know about the power pack compatibility.

I meant negative comments like "overpriced POS" and useless comments like that. If its useful negative comments (saying which parts are known for being prone to failure, etc,), I'm fine with those.

I didn't spend anywhere near $500 worth of money/trade into it. Traded about $50-$60 worth of stuff, and my friend was fine with it (he called, asked if I wanted a sniper, and I had the choice between a KJW 700 with a bent outer barrel, and the Ares, which was just the leaky mag, and "broken" bipod). Tossed $15 into it to fix it, and it shoots fine now (getting about 1.5-1.75 mags per charge), and the bipod works great. Just gotta get a new bucking at the minimum.

Besides getting an HPA rig (way out of my budget right now, after having spent $240 on a flashlight), what would you suggest for potential upgrades/stuff to buy for it? Bucking/nub are on the list, along with all new o-rings and seals for the gun.

http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info ... s_id=32395
http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info ... s_id=32410
http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info ... s_id=31081
http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info ... s_id=31599
These are all on the list for stuff to buy for the gun, not including SGM's and Biovals (those are first, so I can try to use it at Grozny 3).

Is there any way you can take a pic of the housing for the monopod on your Well for me? I'm looking at designing one, but I need an idea on what the original design was.


Edit (instead of double posting):
Do you have any reccomendations for a pressure regulator? With what I'm reading, paintball tanks are commonly used, and I have 3 of those (2 20-oz, and 1 4-oz tank), so all I'd have to buy is the regulator, remote line, and the adapter, to tap my mag. I have a paintball field less than 2 miles away, so refilling the tanks is no problem.

Looking about $45+shipping, minus the regulator. Pretty cheap, if I may say.



~Brian

[XavierMace]

Palmers regulators are pretty common.  Classic Airsoft has a lot of info on building rigs, I'd dig around there a bit.  I've only seen a few classics at game here (including mine) and the people using them aren't on the forums here much/at all.

Upgrade wise, to the best of my knowledge, the barrel+bucking is pretty much it.

[sinfulpain]

Thanks for the info, Xavier. You've helped me a fair bit.

I had found the Evil Detonator Regulator for ~$50 shipped (listed on ASF), which doesn't seem to be too bad... I'm not afraid of the 2k-4k round break-in period. I have plenty of ammo I don't care about much anymore (about 2-2.5k .20's, and a few thousand .23's), so I can just plink with that until its gone, and it should be broken in by the time I've run through it all (then I'll throw a prometheus soft bucking in, and use real ammo). My backyard will be loaded with BB's at that point, though, lol.

Btw, do you have any estimate on how long a 4 oz (and possibly a 20-oz) Co2 tank would last? I'm estimating at least 600 shots for a 4-oz, since airsoft uses much less gas than paintball (4oz are said to last about 150 shots for paintball), but I may be off.

~Brian