I also did the battery compartment mod, and it really is easier to change batteries. With a PPA 110 spring the gun is shooting awesome, don't really see a change with the rate of fire, and the 8.4v mini is perfect, I personally would not use a 9.6v. I also added a KM M4 length tightbore (the m4 length inner barrel for the scar-l is a little bit shorter than the outer barrel, but not by to much) and madbull bucking, The gun overall seems solid, and pretty comfortable.