Current LMG of choice

[Baser]

Considering an LMG for my next toy and not sure what to get.  In my head I see myself laying down covering fire like a mad man for my team to advance and I've been playing this role with the well with the DMR, hanging out on the flank and picking off targets but its a bit slow at times so I'm looking to get back in on the action. 

My usual full auto of choice is a CYMA Platinum MP5 which gives 25rps at 1.1j on a .28 BB's.  A LMG will be bigger, heavier and from what I've seen will have a lower rate of fire than the SMG.  This is covered as my usual site allows full auto rifle/SMG for 2 seconds max but LMG can go full auto until you run out of ammo. 

Looking for advice as reviews on LMG's are a bit few and far between so my research has come up a bit short.  I want the big heavy, bipod LMG experience, I have a LCT G3 which I use as my DMR and love the size, weight and feel of the thing.  I have tried a few on field most are poly and sound very anaemic so not in the running.  Only one I've seen I've liked is a HPA converted GBB of some kind, truly epic but well out of my budget and my local sites don't top up HPA tanks which will be a pain.

Options so far are 

https://www.bespokeairsoft.co.uk/a-k-mk43-aeg-with-box-magazine Like to look of this and Airsoft Mikes recent review with his usual infectious enthusiasm has me very interested.  Like the (slightly compact) Ramboness of the platform. 

https://www.bespokeairsoft.co.uk/ares-m60-e4-aeg-support-weapon-mg-005 Same gun but in Ares flavour, not sure if its better or worse than the above

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/novritsch-ssr249-machine-gun-aeg Love the para stock on the m249 and the spec / fire rate on this one looks more modern

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/krytac-trident-mk3-lmg?pv=27295 Another m249 like para stock but this looks more AR than LMG? 

Also like the look of the LCT RPD / RPK16 but these are out of stock everywhere I've looked.

 

[Austeyr]

The A&K m60 series is a solid contender, very easy to work on when it eventually goes down. Just be cautious of the feeding mechanism and making sure the tube doesn't get crinkled as well as making sure the internal feed tube also is positioned properly.

I've always avoided anything Ares just on principle so can't speak on that one

The Novritsch SSR249 (Not owned one personally) would be good I assume, the other few Novrtisch AEGs I've had and/or worked on have all been solid. Although my only video I've seen of one was the youtuber who had his catch on fire (I assume that's been QC fixed by now?!)

Krytacs are good, when they work. When they break, it's usually some form of slightly out of regular spec thing which makes them a bastard to fix up.

@HuttArmouries had an LCT RPD for a cracking price, not sure if he still has it though

Alternatively, if you want to try the LMG role without investing too much (Make sure your site counts them as an LMG first) a Cyma RPK could be a good way to dip your toes into that side of the gameplay without spending a fortune

I've primarily been an LMG gunner for my friend group for the past 4 years and I've loved it so much. However, you have to factor in that you're going to be suppressing more and going for accuracy a lot less - Which you seem to understand. Also be prepared to be hated by the enemy, and financially in ruins because of BB's and breakages

 

[Cannonfodder]

I had an A&K M249 years ago and I think one of my teammates summed it up best. "Cannonfodder tends to swear at his saw than by it."

The pot metal parts were very fragile and the micro switch in the trigger kept sticking causing the gun to keep firing after I released the trigger. To be fair though this was over 10 years ago so I don't know if these issues have been solved.

Other things to bear in mind are the extra weight and ammo costs. I was going through several bottles of bbs a day

 

[Austeyr]

so I don't know if these issues have been solved

Nope Still a poor design choice in every m249 style gearbox, but it's a £3 fix at least

 

[Lozart]

I have an A&K M249 Para. When it feeds it's great fun, but it is a heavy beast to lug about.

Unlike the average carbine/rifle, there is NO point in chasing ultimate accuracy or rate of fire; the whole point of the things is to lay down a field of suppressing fire. The main thing to concentrate on is a) does it feed, and b) do I have the strength/stamina/sheer bloody-mindedness to lug it about all day.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

Maybe the Specna flex offerings, in Polymer be another (lighter) option? I might presume (but don't know for certain) that they are effectively polymer versions OEM'd by A&K?

Edited: I see that you are actually after a heavyweight option!

 

[Baser]

Thanks for all the help and advice.

I found and bought a used LCT RPK 16, love the weight and look of the gun and it's a bit more compact than the others on the list. Still have a love for the MK43 so still might add one at some point. Looking forward to taking it to a couple of games to see how it shoots before deciding what to do with it, if anything but I would like to make it 11.1v compatible at some point as it sounds a bit sluggish on 7.4v but that is saving me cash in ammo.

Will pick up a few mid caps to supplement the drum (incase of tech failure) before taking to a game.

 

[Cannonfodder]

I would like to make it 11.1v compatible at some point as it sounds a bit sluggish on 7.4v but that is saving me cash in ammo.

Pretty much all aegs are 11.1v compatible out of the box and only need work done if they're over spinning with the 11.1v battery. If it's sluggish with the 7.4v then it'll probably be ok.

 

[Cannonfodder]

To elaborate on the above, overspin is only really an issue on semi auto and who uses a support gun on semi?

The term lipo ready is often used by shops to sell guns is meaningless waffle as the motor doesn't care about the chemical composition of the battery, just whether or not the electrons are flowing. Sure, for anything with an electric motor the higher the rpm the faster wear will occur but the way some people act as if using an 11.1v will cause the gearbox to instantly explode or catch fire is simply alarmist nonsense. It's the same with mosfets, I've run all my AEGs on only 11.v lipos for at least 10 years now and never had one fittedand not a single one has broken because of it

 

[Baser]

To elaborate on the above, overspin is only really an issue on semi auto and who uses a support gun on semi?

The term lipo ready is often used by shops to sell guns is meaningless waffle as the motor doesn't care about the chemical composition of the battery, just whether or not the electrons are flowing. Sure, for anything with an electric motor the higher the rpm the faster wear will occur but the way some people act as if using an 11.1v will cause the gearbox to instantly explode or catch fire is simply alarmist nonsense. It's the same with mosfets, I've run all my AEGs on only 11.v lipos for at least 10 years now and never had one fittedand not a single one has broken because of it

I killed a TM NGRS by putting a 11.1v in it by mistake, although on taking it apart it had other issues around motor contacts and bad soldering and I think the 11.1v just pushed it over the edge. Its back up and running, strictly on 7.4v.

I run 11.1v's in all of my other guns mostly without issue, it did eventually damage/eat the trigger contacts in my LCT G3 but I just put an optical mosfet in it and it's fine now.

Fully intend to run the RPK in full auto only, 2,000 BB's at 17(ish) RPS gives me nearly 2 minutes of full auto

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

Just out of curiosity did your searches extend to the Classic Army Stoner96 when you were considering options? And if so, what made you drop it?

Its rather caught my eye recently, so i'm gathering opinions!

 

[Baser]

Just out of curiosity did your searches extend to the Classic Army Stoner96 when you were considering options? And if so, what made you drop it?

Its rather caught my eye recently, so i'm gathering opinions!

I did look at it but my preferred supplier(s) don't stock it so discounted it almost immediately I'm afraid. I have used the classic army mini gun in the past and it was epic.

Usually I buy on looks, either does it look cool or has it been in any films I've watched so the M60 variants are Rambos gun so immediately had a head start over others. Admittedly I bought the RPK 16 which is almost unheard of but it does look awesome.

Good luck with your search!

 

[MSSNAFU]

A note of caution re 11.1v LiPo's. Modern Aegs with ETU etc. might be ok with 11.1v out of the box, but older ones may not be. I've had a few stripped pistons because of them, and lower quality gears that are perfectly happy with 9.6v NiMH may not react well to 11.1v either. A good inbetween choice is the 9.9v LiFE type which I use in most of my own AEG's now. Only downside with them is slightly less capacity(Ah) by volume and its more difficult to find somewhere selling them at a reasonable price.