When I showed others what my new project was, I was completely shocked by their response. A number of people said they disliked the kit; they got rid of them as soon as they could. Others thought it was a neat idea, but needs some refinement in order to be viable. The last group were people that thought the kit was a far cry from what makes up a true GBBR, and calling it GBB was an insult! I was taken aback by the whole conversion. I have heard some critiques about people with Polarstar type systems*, but never heard anything like I did.
*Please note, I will never post about Polarstar type systems on this blog except as a mention for comparison. In my opinion, they are still an AEG which requires a battery in order to power it. Without it, the solenoids used in the system will not function and therefore, the rifle does not work.
Philosophy of Use
Going to start this off Nutnfancy style. If you haven't heard of Nutnfancy, check out his real gun and gear reviews on YouTube. He begins each one with a section called the "Philosophy of Use". He uses this to set up the rest of the review. Types of philosophy Nutn' uses are "Go to War Pistol/Rifle", "Without Rule of Law Gun", and "Recreation Gun" just to name a few. I'm going to try and do the same thing with this kit, as there is some confusion about what its true purpose it can be.
#1 - Adapting a Current AEG for Multiple Use
I feel the primary reason this kit was developed was to get people interested in gas powered rifles. One of the real big cons of owning a GBBR is the large, upfront expense that can come depending on brand. A really solid AEG can run someone an average of $200. Extra mags and batteries add another $100 to this, again depending on brand. For a solid kit, most people look to spend $300. A gas rifle can start at $300, and add $200 worth of mags and gas as extra. This is assuming you don't want the extra little accessories, like lights and optics. The upper end GBB rifles start at $700! Not everyone sees the same way gas gunners do.
In comes this GHK kit. For $100, you can convert any V2 gearbox M4 rifle into a gas powered blowback rifle. Mags still cost $50 a piece, but for around the cost of getting an entirely new M4 rifle, you can convert your existing rifle to function similarly to a GBBR. (I will go into more detail about the similarities and differences later on into the project.) The best part about it for AEG users, you don't need to repurchase or transfer your accessories over. The kit fits into your already set up rifle. No need to reconfigure an additional rifle. You need some basic tech knowledge to install the kit, but other than that it will be a quick changeover for most users. You don't even need to change the inner barrel or bucking, it uses just about everything from your existing AEG.
#2 - Making a Future GBBR Purchase
This kit is simply a taste of what a true gas rifle offers the user. It has recoil, a simulated bolt stop, and a functioning charging handle. What more could someone want? Well, these aspects are only a taste. What you don't get with the kit is realistic disassembly, compatibility with real firearm accessories, full stroking bolt, and a functioning bolt release. I think with this kit, it is a stepping stone to seeing what kinds of cool features you get with a full gas rifle.
Gratuitous's GHK Kit
So what is my rifle going to be? Well, I have always wanted the Lewis Machine and Tool MRP rifle. G&P used to make one using the Western Arms platform under the name of "Bomber" and G&P being a prominent AEG manufacturer also makes an LMT MRP as an electric gun. The original owner I got it from bought it as a back up to his LMT Defender 2000 (which uses a different rail system and upper). For the most part it sat in his closet gathering dust. I managed to pick it up for a pretty good price.
Being a G&P, it has great external quality, which is why I picked it for the GHK conversion test bed. The trademarks look very impressive and fit in all of the right places. The MRP is unique in its rail system. Unlike others, the upper and rail are machined from one solid piece. G&P replicated this out of a solid casting, but the entire gun feels rock solid. The barrel is of a quick change change design as well, easily removed using two Torx head screws. The only issue with this is you need to use an LMT barrel, as it has a proprietary design on the real rifle. On the real deal, you can convert the rifle from a standard direct impingment to a piston design in under 5 minutes. Even going from one barrel length to another is easy to do. Currently, it features a 10.5 in barrel for the AEG version, but it also comes in a 14.5in.
For the other external things, probably an optic of some kind. Not quite sure yet, but I have to see what I can get for cheap or have extra sitting around. Another thing I want to see if I can get my hands on is a Redi-Mag. The Redi-Mag is designed to attach a second magazine directly to the rifle so when I need to reload quickly, I don't need to fish a mag from my pouches or pockets. The only real con to this system is it makes the gun heavier. Should be fun to mess around with, assuming the GHK mags fit once it gets here.
That is the newest project. The next post about it will be the installation. Keep a look out for it!
