Systema gearbox in ICS rifle?

[Ridiculous132]

Hello, I have a few questions for someone helpful enough to read this:

I was wondering if a systema complete mechbox would fit in my ICS M16A4 (the one with split gearbox design)? I had my team's gun doc try to upgrade it but I kept having problems with it (I had a piston head shattered, and it took down a handful of other pieces with it, just to name one costly failure) so I'm looking for a more reliable gearbox. I'd also like to know if the TM hop-up unit will fit my ICS, because ICS ones are hard to find.

Also, I'd like to make it into a marksman rifle, firing semi only in the 425 range. I already have a VSR-10 shooting in that velocity range, but I'd like to have a semi-auto rifle capable of the same kind of accuracy. For this conversion, I'd need the following info:

-What is the best way of blocking the selector switch on semi? Pros and cons?
-Will viet-nam style short mags fit in the ICS magwell? I guess so, but better safe than sorry.
-What type of bipod would you suggest? I tought about getting a rail that screws on the bottom handguard tu put a bipod and a foldable vertical grip (Action Folding Vertical Grip, G&P, are they good?) on it, but if there is a better way of adding a bipod I would be happy with that too.
-How would you mount a scope on an m16? If I just put rings and a scope on it, I have the front sight in the way, but wouldn't a higher mount decrease accuracy? Would I be better off buying a new outer barrel without a frontsight altogether and just use normal rings?
-Tightbore barrel. So many of them out there. Which one would suit my needs?
-Is there anything else I will need changed? Motor? Wires? Fuse?

Thank you very much for your time, it's very appreciated.

[Avenging Angel]

The SystemA mechbox will NOT fit in the ICS rifle. I suppose you could be creative and do what Agit Prop did a few years ago and cut the SystemA mech box into two pieces.

In terms of Hop up, I personally like the Systema one. It takes a little bit of dremeling work to make it fit in the ICS but it's worth it. That's all I can really speak on though.

[Ibby]

Originally Posted by Ridiculous132

Hello, I have a few questions for someone helpful enough to read this:

I was wondering if a systema complete mechbox would fit in my ICS M16A4 (the one with split gearbox design)? I had my team's gun doc try to upgrade it but I kept having problems with it (I had a piston head shattered, and it took down a handful of other pieces with it, just to name one costly failure) so I'm looking for a more reliable gearbox. I'd also like to know if the TM hop-up unit will fit my ICS, because ICS ones are hard to find.

Also, I'd like to make it into a marksman rifle, firing semi only in the 425 range. I already have a VSR-10 shooting in that velocity range, but I'd like to have a semi-auto rifle capable of the same kind of accuracy. For this conversion, I'd need the following info:

-What is the best way of blocking the selector switch on semi? Pros and cons?
-Will viet-nam style short mags fit in the ICS magwell? I guess so, but better safe than sorry.
-What type of bipod would you suggest? I tought about getting a rail that screws on the bottom handguard tu put a bipod and a foldable vertical grip (Action Folding Vertical Grip, G&P, are they good?) on it, but if there is a better way of adding a bipod I would be happy with that too.
-How would you mount a scope on an m16? If I just put rings and a scope on it, I have the front sight in the way, but wouldn't a higher mount decrease accuracy? Would I be better off buying a new outer barrel without a frontsight altogether and just use normal rings?
-Tightbore barrel. So many of them out there. Which one would suit my needs?
-Is there anything else I will need changed? Motor? Wires? Fuse?

Thank you very much for your time, it's very appreciated.

A systema mechbox can be made to fit, but it will take a lot of work to get it to happen. I believe there's an article on this at Arnie's Airsoft. Why you would want to swap the stock 2 piece mechbox out is beyond me. They're reinforced from the factory, and are quite reliable. I have 2 ICS M4's, and neither has given me any undue grief. They were purchased years ago in a shipment ordered by my local airsoft club, and to date all the ones I'm aware of that are still in use are still going strong. Also, aside from my TOP M249, it's the easiest mechbox to upgrade/mod/maintain that I've ever worked on.
As for hop up units, I've tried several in my ICS, including Systema and Promethius metal units. I couldn't get any hop up to fit in it to my liking with the exception of the stock one. I ordered several spares from www.blazingtoys.com (US ICS parts vendor) with very speedy delivery. I did notice that the newer units look a little beefier than the original ones. I haven't broken the first replacement hopup unit yet.
For your questions:
-haven't blocked full auto, not sure what method would be best.
-VN short mags fit fine in my guns.
-I use an ICS bipod from time to time. It's the same one offered on the limited edition version ICS produces. It's a vertical handle that has spring out bipod feet. Works well. To mount it I installed a real steel Olympic Arms FIRSH handguard. It's a great piece of kit, screws directly to the receiver so there's no sloppy D ring problems. It also eliminates barrel wobble. Makes for a very solid gun.
-I have 2 scope solutions. First is the good old Colt 4x25 that fits into the stock carry handle. Works well, low profile, and you shouldn't need anything more than 4x. You'll never shoot that far anyway. Second is a hirise spacer for the 1912 rail to fit on an NV scope I have. Takes the front iron sight out of the picture. Also, if you're into a lower mounting setup a flip up front sight is a good investment. I also recommend flip up covers with a lexan shield in it.
-Tightbore barrels are personal preference. I put a KN tightbore into one M4 and left the other stock. The accuracy increase wasn't as much as I'd like. One thing to note with the ICS is that just inside the flash hider there's a 3 or 4 inch section of barrel that doesn't come out when you remove the inner barrel/hopup. If you're going to put in a new M4 length barrel, it has to come out and it's in there pretty tight. I removed it from the gun I left stock as well. It didn't affect accuracy at all.
-The best all around upgrades I put in are (in order) metal bushings and Guarder 110 spring (gives you 390fps). Tightbore and new motor. I originally went with an EG1000, and am now loving a Turbo 3000. All the other upgrades and mods I've done are cosmetic or for function, such as a RIS sling mount and patrol sling. Your mileage may vary.

[Ridiculous132]

Thank you, very helpful info!