The VFC / Umarex HK416 Owners Thread

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

I am running mine stock at the moment. I only had Geoffs 0.3g and 0.32g bbs when I played last and it seemed to be decent with them. I have since picked up some Geoffs 0.36g and 0.40g and will give these a run out over the weekend. So far I am happy with the performance but will see if the heavier bbs are any better before messing with any upgrades.

I was having a look at the TNT drop in hop unit and barrel but it isn't cheap and I don't know if it would be an upgrade that would justify the cost

https://www.davescustomairsoft.co.uk/complete-hop-up-chamber-with-6-03mm-275mm-barrel-for-vfc-hk416a5-replicas

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

I am running mine stock at the moment. I only had Geoffs 0.3g and 0.32g bbs when I played last and it seemed to be decent with them. I have since picked up some Geoffs 0.36g and 0.40g and will give these a run out over the weekend. So far I am happy with the performance but will see if the heavier bbs are any better before messing with any upgrades.

I was having a look at the TNT drop in hop unit and barrel but it isn't cheap and I don't know if it would be an upgrade that would justify the cost

https://www.davescustomairsoft.co.uk/complete-hop-up-chamber-with-6-03mm-275mm-barrel-for-vfc-hk416a5-replicas

I do need to check the 0.40s will be lifted properly at long range, but the hop is definitely affecting the trajectory properly at 17m at least, and given the spare performance we've got available, I should imagine it'll lift alright, even with the stock components.

I saw a YT video where someone mentioned the TNT system, they highly recommended it, but £125 is definitely a bit 'ouchy'.   I found a comment on Reddit suggesting that a Maple Leaf bucking and nub will do much of the work for a lot less money.   We'll give that a go, eh?

Edit: The TNT bucking is available separately, and doesn't seem to indicate that it needs to be paired with the replacement hop unit, so maybe worth a try ...?
https://www.wgcshop.com/en-jp/products/t-n-t-aps-x-t-hop-bucking-for-vfc-m4-gbbr-2-pieces-set

Edit2: Nah, I think aps-x is the name of their system, so it will be specific.

BadaBing did a review, it seems to work better at higher FPS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHhm7Y8hAa4

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

I've received a reply from LandWarrior, giving me the go-ahead to re-oil all the o-rings, as I'm happy to try it myself ... so let's see if I get a good result from that too...

 

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

I've received a reply from LandWarrior, giving me the go-ahead to re-oil all the o-rings, as I'm happy to try it myself ... so let's see if I get a good result from that too...

They are very simple to take apart. Just need a few allen keys and screwdrivers. Took me about ten mins to oils each mag. Mine are still holding gas from when I did it yesterday.

 

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

There is this guy with the TNT hop unit and barrel hitting 50m targets with no problem. He is using 0.4g bbs and a higher fps than we can have over here, but it seems to be the real deal.

I will have a go with heavier bbs first to see how I get on. I have already spent a small fortune on the gun and mags so I don't wanty to keep spending money on it, although I probably will anyway.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

To be fair, this gun is so great, if I'm going to spend money on 'upgrades' it'll be on this one now ?

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

I'm really not cut out for this tech'ing lark,  I can follow instructions, but I seem to be just... unlucky with it.

I've stripped the leaky mag down to its individual parts, greased / oiled everything, and re-assembled.   It's now much worse than it was before

The leak still seemed to be the knocker valve initially.
I've now taken the damned thing apart multiple times, making stuff ever-tighter ... I wonder if I've over-tightened something, but the o-rings and gaskets don't show obvious signs of damage.

It is holding a tiny bit of gas, once the pressure has lowered after the initial fill (where most of the gas is escaping is now coming through the magazine catch slot), but I can still hear it leaking even with hardly any gas inside.

Bah humbug, I'll send it back for a fresh one.

Edit: Another video of the TNT system, looks good

 

[Ajaxiasty]

To be honest try and fix the mags your self . Simple fact of life is if you do not master this skill you will be disappointed with the experience of a gbbr. 

I can see you are in the honey moon period of owning one .

Maintenance and problem fixing are a must .

I use grase not silicon oil to maintain my gun . As oil fouls the hop ,barrel etc . Makes the gun prone to catch dirt and jam .

Get yourself some orings a valve key etc . Good set of small screw drivers ,Allan keys etc  So you can field repair them .

To the topic of the TNT Hop. I wonder if the same could not be achieved changing just the rubber and inner barrel for a maple leaf set.

? 

I have better results on 0.3 then the guy on video with stock rubber and barrel then he with the upgraded hop  rubber .

I belive that due to fps limitations 0.4 bb is a bit pointless . 

My sweet spot are 0.3 max 0.35 .

Unfortunately it's way less accurate then my TM NGRS

Sorry for any grammar mistakes as English is not my first language. 

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

To be honest try and fix the mags your self . Simple fact of life is if you do not master this skill you will be disappointed with the experience of a gbbr. 

...

Sorry for any grammar mistakes as English is not my first language. 

Thanks, sensible words.  I've got all the tools, including the valve key, just not the skills, or the luck ?

I'll have another go before I send it back.

I'll stick with the 0.40s as I don't want to have too many varieties of ammo knocking around, I hated having 0.20, 0.25, 0.28 as I'd inevitably forget what mags contained which ammo! 

Your English is very good, wish I could speak more languages...

 

[Ajaxiasty]

Chose a weight and stick to it .

I think with 40 you will find yourself missing a lot . As they are going to be very slow. 

But hey . Maybe you are on to something .

I never shot more then 35 as I think hop will not take it up .

And the velocity loss is acceptable.

Close quarters I use 28 as there is no need for more .

I think I will eventually change the barrel and hop rubber . Not the chamber .

And eventually I will get a MWS for comparison. 

Just to have the 2 platforms .

I don't see any point of doing any other upgrades to the HK . As there is nothing in my mind to upgrade.

Who know maybe I am wrong 

Live and learn.

 

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

Just an update on the new mags being a tight squeeze.

I found that if the top two screws that attach the plastic top to the mag body are too tight, it will deform the plastic part a little and will result in the mag needing to be forced into the mag well.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

Well I've taken the mag apart again a couple of times, but I can't make it even as good as it was originally (and it's sometimes a lot worse), however much I tighten the screws / bolts / valves. 
I'm going to send it back for LandWarrior to fix or replace.

Ho hum, this airsofting lark is never entirely easy!


On a different note, my stock sometimes decides to a bit askew.  I've tightened the nut down as much as I can with my AR tool, but obviously it's easy to apply quite a lot of twisting force on the stock itself which loosens it off a tad, allowing the stock to move.
I can see as part of the receiver there's a little spring, but that doesn't seem to do much, especially as it's got trapped and bent in half whilst trying to escape at some point in its life...

View attachment 106845

There's the small hole in the sling plate that looks like a detente catch or locking pin could go into - but that doesn't line up with the spring - so I'm at a loss.
I do have some Loctite thread lock knocking around somewhere - should I use a tiny bit of that to keep the nut in place?

 

[Krisz]

Well I've taken the mag apart again a couple of times, but I can't make it even as good as it was originally (and it's sometimes a lot worse), however much I tighten the screws / bolts / valves. 
I'm going to send it back for LandWarrior to fix or replace.

Ho hum, this airsofting lark is never entirely easy!


On a different note, my stock sometimes decides to a bit askew.  I've tightened the nut down as much as I can with my AR tool, but obviously it's easy to apply quite a lot of twisting force on the stock itself which loosens it off a tad, allowing the stock to move.
I can see as part of the receiver there's a little spring, but that doesn't seem to do much, especially as it's got trapped and bent in half whilst trying to escape at some point in its life...

View attachment 106845

There's the small hole in the sling plate that looks like a detente catch or locking pin could go into - but that doesn't line up with the spring - so I'm at a loss.
I do have some Loctite thread lock knocking around somewhere - should I use a tiny bit of that to keep the nut in place?

You should try to run your gun on HPA if you've got a chance in the near future. It's not for everyone though I know.

 

[Wavey_Gravey]

That spring retains your rear takedown pin. You can easily unfuck that.

Loctite the castle nut as you say, should sort it but honestly shouldn’t undo that easy. Are you putting the gun in a vice or bedroom teching it and holding it with your hands?

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

Haha take a wild guess Wavey
 

Akshully... I'm technically not holding it with my hands... it's between my knees, and I'm using my hands With Realistic Gripping Fingers (tm)(c) to do up the nut.  But I appreciate there's quite a difference in the amount of torque I can apply.

 

[Wavey_Gravey]

Yeah if your not using a vice it can be pretty difficult to get it to lock down tight enough but give it your max effort!

For the retaining spring, just make sure your rear pin is actually in the outward position, helps it seat.

 

[Ajaxiasty]

On Friday one of my mags developed a leak. I was sure it's from the valve, but that was wrong. It was a top leak due to the gasket being Factory damaged  (pics from Redit as i did not make pictures of my damage but this is the same ) Nothing was helping . I assembled and disassembled the mag 100 times.

Then I just picked up a different mag and changed the whole top. Surprise no leaks.

Hope it helps.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

Thanks, mine are now back at Land Warrior.  I'll send them the information as I asked for a fix or repair to be done as quickly as possible

I'm active in the comments on the YouTube video linked earlier... Complaints that all the new mags are leaking.  One chap got 6 that all leak.  I wonder if they've all been over tightened at the factory, that has caused the issue with the mags being tight in the well and damaged the seal...?  

Hmmm, it's the screw inside the mag that would affect that seal isn't it?  Mine didn't seem overly tight when I first dismantled it

 

[Ajaxiasty]

Definitely check the seals. I got some on order just in case. Got mags from https://www.davescustomairsoft.co.uk/ got 6 and just 2 were leaking. Seems to be a common top seal problem. Always check them underwater, so you don't fix the Valve 10 00000000 times    

Use lube, not silicon oil. More durable, and allows the usage of propane without silicon oil.

Maybe they are factory too tight. I don't have much experience with gbbr so can't tell 

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

Land Warrior have just emailed me to say they've fixed the mags and they're on their way back to me... should be here in time for Saturday's skirmish - so fingers are crossed they really fixed them!