My first gun was a Marui M16VN... I thought it was cool, but didn't know much about AEGs then. One game, The sling mount snapped off the base, and the gun fell, literally 3 inches to the ground (shouldered while crouching if you can picture that). Receiver cracked. Got a metal body, upgraded the internals, cracked the gearbox. More upgrades, after $1200 invested, Traded it 2.5-3 years later for a Kokusai M16a2 Carbine with a shitload of upgrades.
My second gun was a Marui AK-47S. Once again, still new, thought it was amazing, but I wanted an RPK. Thus the transformation began. Now all I need is a buttplate and it's money. Just gotta buff a few other things out and she'll be ready to roll again. AK's my marui are solid, but not skirmish ready, IMO, without a metal body.
My 3rd gun, I bought from IcePlat.Sky, and was his Tanaka Kar98k... I love that gun. I considered selling it, but after a few paychecks... I'm glad I still have it.
My 4th gun, was a VSR-10, if memory serves me right. Upgraded it, and sold it for 80% more than what I paid in total. Decent gun, just lacking in various places.
My 5th gun, was an ICS M4 I bought from Vince. Great deal, because that gun was solid. Never a problem until I put a marui motor in. Put the ICS motor back in, and no problems. I rebuilt the entire inside, of course, but that was because I was bored and had nothing better to do with my time... wow that was stupid haha.
Then I bought a G&G M14. Great gun stock, not a single problem... until I took it apart, and couldn't get that damn anti reversal latch back in place. I gave up, sent it over to AEX, who fined tuned it, and got it working very well. Notice, I still have this gun for a reason.
Then out of a brief moment of insanity, I bought an ICS MP5. Great gun, just not my style. Sold it for a profit, but it did require some fine tuning to get optimal preformance. After a reshim, it was much quieter, and much better rate of fire.
I bought a few more guns here and there, which I sold. M1 Carbine...which was a real mistake. And I cannot remember the other.
Then I got into classics, and couldn't be happier. I'm much more thrilled with their performance over AEGs.
I first bought an MGC M725 from Darryl Zero on CA.net. Great gun, amazing gun... But I thought they'd be like AEGs... no no... I took it apart, and fucked it up. Been at The Mousehole for several months now... I should check on that.
(Kokusai M16a2 carbine picked up in trade)
Then I felt like spending more money, and bought a Sun Projects M16a1 carbine, and of course I couldn't leave it stock... It's been upgraded.
Then my impulses couldn't stop. I bought two JAC M16A1's. One their A1 Export version, and one being their VN ... step below LTD version. DX? Still has an ABS receiver, but is amazing.
Now, I thought I'd be somewhat intelligent and stop buying guns, but no... I bought a Digicon Mp5a5 off ebay. No bids, and I thought ah what the hell. And I won that too.
So that's my story. I went back in time much farther haha.