249 question

[gunny77]

My friend of mine is big into airsoft and I told him I was looking at getting back into playing. I told him that a was looking at m4's and a 249. He told me that 249's are notorious for breaking internaly and allways having problems unless you totaly upgrade them. is this true?

[bigwavedave]

The microswitches will go out and need replacement, stock pistons are garbage, and the gearbox shells break easily near the motor.  I have used stock gears with an M130 with thousands of rounds with no problems other than one of the stock bearings siezed.  I replaced the mircoswitch with a higher rated amperage version and wired a Mosfet in to avoid arcing the switch out (which is the major problem).  The box mags are the worst part of a 249 because they can be a real PITA.  They are fun as hell to use in field, but they aren't light and have their own issues.

[Squintz]

I used an A&K SAW 249 PARA for about 2 years. Near the end of the second year the box mag finally broke, and the collapsable stock was starting to wiggle constantly. Pain to constantly readjust. Never had any internal issue. The box mag's tab on mine broke, making it difficult to take off if needed. Like Dave said, they are hella fun, just make sure you can lug it.

[Green Listerine]

The factory hop up issue is easy to fix. The run-away trigger is easy to fix, as well as finding extra micro switches. The switch itself will almost never burn out with a MOSFET. Working on the internals are simple (especially shimming and spring swaps). The gun itself takes 60 seconds to take down. The box mags aren't too bad; you can find replacement feeding tube springs if they aren't feeding, or rewire them to a 9v battery if they just aren't feeding fast enough. Every issue in the gun is minor and easily fixed. With some work, you can lay on the trigger for a minute at a time.

[gunny77]

Are these "minor" issues you guys are talking about in all 249 makes or only specific ones?

[Green Listerine]

I've only worked with the A&K. Cant say for the others

[SLINKEY]

the m249s are good guns, all of the issues are easly fixed like Listerine said. the main issue runs with box mags. the issue is the feeding tube is too wide in the china box's causing double stacking in there you can split it in half and file it down, or have a tech do it. or just buy a good box mag like a CA or one of higher quality.
m249 gear box's are incredibly solid.

but i would honestly tell you to get one of the G&p mk23's, an ares Stoner, or the a&k m60 or mk43. they are of way better design with the box magazine, and rarely need to be replaced. main issue with them is hopup.

[Squintz]

Slinky, I've been thinking about maybe going back to squad support gunner. The A&K M60, what exactly is known for going wrong in their hop up system?

[Green Listerine]

The nub sits vertically, not horizontally. When you spin the hop up wheel, it won't do anything.

[gunny77]

The nub sits vertically, not horizontally. When you spin the hop up wheel, it won't do anything.

so how do you fix that? Just swap out the hole unit?

[Green Listerine]

You can make your own nub out of spare wire or whatever. The stock nub isn't long enough, so cutting a small piece of 16awg wire can do the trick. Or actually drill/file the hole to make the nub sit horizontally.

[SLINKEY]

you file the hole so the nub can sit horizontally. then make a custom nub because the stock tube type wont work from crap.