ardrummer292
The ammo box mount is also much more durable but the electrical and BB attachments look cluttered and unrefined. Also the bar that the ammo box is attached to, attaches to the gun by using the mounting holes on the gun. Which means that you can't mount it on a tripod or vehicle. For most people though this is probably not an issue.
The one thing I thought that was a real turn off was the neon blue color of the gear box and the BB tube attachment that hooks up to the gun. :-& There is some nice camouflage color for you. [-(
As for a performance comparison I can't say. I can tell that with the internal modification I made to mine. It is by far one of the best shooting airsoft guns I have ever owned over the last 20 years [smilie=armata_pdt_12.gif]
Thanks for the reply, Black Fox. I suppose I'm pretty partial to Inokatsu, as I own one of their Mk43s and it is, by far, the coolest damn airsoft gun I've ever had. Rock solid, great performer, and an overall damn good training weapon. I run mine like I run my real MGs at work with no issues. Case in point: ate sh!t at high port doing a center peel, slammed the front end into a tree and bent the hell outta a bipod leg. Solution? Cleaned the mud out of the muzzle and got some vice grips to bend the leg back. No problems. ^_^
I'm not real worried about the weapon being 'pretty,' as I can take care of the blue if I'm really bothered. I actually prefer the ammo mount as-is; again, if I'm bothered, I'll snag one of the real ones sitting around unused at work. A spare barrel would be nice, for training purposes more than anything. Then again, an Ino Mk43 barrel and locker goes for near $1k and I haven't seen one for the MAG58/M240 anywhere...
Of all the things that put me off about the TH, the gearbox has to be number 1. My team's former AW has a VFC Mk43 and has nothing but problems with it, to the point where his (V2 based!) G&P Mk46 has become his primary, to his displeasure. To think he, and others, have that many issues with their VFC boxes is hardly confidence-inspiring, especially considering the relative rarity of parts.
Or, perhaps I am misguided in my thinking. I don't quite have one sitting in front of me, and I have never seen one fielded (let alone had first-hand experience). Anyone have a round count and skirmish update?