kwa vs. ca

[NORDIC]

im trying to figure out if i should buy a kwa m4 or a classic army m4. i like the rep of classic army but i dont like how most have a peq box for the battery. i like kwa for the crane stock batteries.

anybody have any suggestions?

[Raging Hormann]

Get one with a Solid stock, plenty of room, and you don't have to fuss with wires. Barring that, get a KWA, just my opinion...

[PLANofMAN]

KWA is a good gun, but...
upside: ready for LiPo NIB, which means they should provide you with years of good performance with a normal battery. virtually upgrade free as everything is already upgraded to the max. (except the barrel) Throw a tightbore and a scope on. Done with upgrades! If you want to save money by spending money get the M4 RIS for $60.00 more. KWA also has awesome customer support.
Downside: KWA is relitivly new to making AEG's. Doesn't come with battery.
Read the reviews at airsoftgi.com, very impressive.

If you don't plan on upgrading the CA, go for it. Like you said, CA does have a good rep. If you plan on upgrading it you should go with KWA, you will save a lot of money in the long run.

[Raging Hormann]

Downside: KWA is relitivly new to making AEG's. Doesn't come with battery.

I have yet to hear bad of their later gen models.
Also, if you AEG comes with a battery, chances are it's a piece of shit.

[Darius137]

If you don't like the use of battery boxes, you can easily buy the shells off of an airsoft site and then get a mini type in the foregrip.

Hell, you could probably sell the RIS and/or battery box and make money out of the deal.

You can also buy a crane stock for either weapon and put a battery in it.

[PLANofMAN]

I wasn't saying that KWA's M4 was a bad gun, I was just mentioning it (lack of battery and newness to aeg mfg.) as a possible downside for some people.
The KWA M4 with RIS is going to be my next gun purchase. I was just trying to be objective.
I am the proud owner of a KWA M9 PTP and if they put 90% of the effort designing the M9 PTP into the M4, I would take it over brands costing 4x as much.
KWA M4: reinforced gearbox, superstrong polycarb piston, springs, 8mm bearings, thicker gears, etc. what's not to like? Read the reviews, seriously. It's one bad@$$ gun.

[Raging Hormann]

Aha, I see what you meant. I thought you were saying that the ASGI reviews called it a bad gun, but I like the objectiveness.

[PLANofMAN]

It was hard to be objective. I drool every time I see one.

Based on all the reviews of the KWA M4 I have read, the only other M4 that compares is Systema's.
CA, sorry, not even in the same class. It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Ford Focus, or a Springer from Wal*mart to a spitwad shooter.

"keep in mind folks, you can buy a complete KWA gearbox from KWA's website so if you have an M4 now you can buy that and with little to no modifications get KWA quality internals." -M. Loeb (from a review of the KWA M4 RIS at ASGI )

If you get this gun, the hopup does not need to be replaced! Clean it. KWA puts a coating on it to keep the rubber from deteriorating while it waits to be sold.

[GacktC]

KWA can't even get close or eat dust from a Systema!
Systema guns are PTW, 1/1 scale compare to a real steel, they are not really made for airsoft toys..plus a $300ish KWA VS a $1600ish Systema~
I am not saying KWA M4s are bad, but CA has its reputation.
Sorry again to say this, if wanting a M4, get the G&P!!
M4=G&P
AK=LCT

They are specialize on those platforms, close to real details..If internal sux, just upgrade em'!

[Steve]

I generally have an idea in my head as to what I want the finished product to look like. I shop based on externals. Since aftermarket RIS units, iron sights, stocks, etc are not inexpensive, I try to pick a model that already has as many of the features as possible at the time of purchase.

I know that eventually, AEG internals need to be either replaced or upgraded, so I am not as worried about the quality of the stock internal components as long as there are suitable upgrade parts available. I plan on blowing out a gearbox within the first few months, so I generally immediately install a higher compression spring and move to a LiPo pack for additional ROF right from the get-go, and when the internals explode, I get an upgaded gear box and misc. bits all at a go. My personal choice is to buy mainly as a shell and upgrade it as needed, or as money allows. It's been my experience that replacing the externals to get what I want, plus doing minor internal upgrades ends up being more of a hassle (and more expensive) than getting one with the right body and scrapping the internals later.

I've never owned a KWA AEG. I've had a stock CA for almost 4 years, and have run it on lipos for quite a while with no issues. When the internals go, I'll replace them, and be amazed that it survived as long as it did. I'd be very conservative if I said it has eaten 100k rounds so far and still going strong.

And a side note: The systemas may be externally identical to an M-series platform. But they still have at least one unresolved issue. You cannot release the bolt by slapping backward on the charging handle, only by hitting the bolt release. Unless and until they fixed that issue, I wouldn't really look at them too seriously as training tools. Also, they really don't simulate recoil. I think the training tool market will end up dominated by whoever makes a GBB the right way. WE was on the right track, but I'd want to get more information about what materials improvements they have made in the newer versions before I would support them.

[Nec]

Don't go by what the pretty little box the gun comes in says. Go to an event and touchy-feely both.

[Jeep]

I have been searching for a M4 because believe it or not, except for a DE LPEG, I don't own one! With this in mind I have been doing a lot of research and trying out. In regards to those two manufactures, CA and KWA honestly, Its a toss up and pick.

Classic Army used to be crap, they then put a lot of effort into quality control. they then got pretty descent over all, (expect for wiring that remained poor) Then early 2008 they packed up and move manufacture to china, so quality of manufacture............ya, not so much any more. Lately the shimming has been off, wiring is still crap, DOA are not unknown anymore. I have been waiting for a year or two of production to see if it smooths out again.

KWA, I really like the spec sheet for KWA, Their customer service is excellent, but a lot of players around here had to find out first hand how good it is. We have 15 regular players that are using KWAs just about every weekend, half of those have had gearbox failures, Three of those are due to gear box shells cracking in the front. One of those failures happened twice to the same player, That replica lasted 3 hours of game time, he is still waiting for a replacement gear box shell for the last 9 months as they are back ordered. Early KWA had poor hop up and inner barrels, they also shoot from the factory above our velocity limit. That being said, the version 2 release is said to be a LOT better reliability wise. Well at least the inner barrel and hop up improved. Anyway, right now I am willing to give KWA another try, I am just waiting for them to come back into stock. This is the choice I am leaning towards right now.

A alternative is the new EBB Toyko Marui, This thing is awesome! You have to fire one to believe it. BUT it is EXPENSIVE, it is incompatible with any other magazine, some versions take proprietary batteries as well. Those batteries have a very low cold weather life and you are limited to 8.4 volts. They also only chronograph 280fps with .20s to comply with Japanese laws. The TMs reliability and awesome feeling do not make up for the expense of not only the replica but having to buy proprietary magazines, batteries(s) and chargers for it, I just can't justify a $1400 expense.

Then there is ICS, G&G and G&P, These have real nice exteriors but, kind of like a expensive European super car, they spend most of there time in the shop. If you are willing to spend a lot of money and time on fixing them they would be great replica. Then I suppose that you could then go on the web and beat the drum of awesomeness to all us lesser players on how great they are, with lightning bolts of coolness and metal bodies that will smite thy foes on the field, when they aren't on the work bench, broken. (yes, I just left ASF and ASR so.........it is a little raw)

[Variable]

KWA and CA are both excellent replicas.

That said, the KWA has some weird quirks to it if you ever have to take it apart to service it, and I would recommend the CA for a new player.

[slipstream]

Don't worry about the PEQ box. You can fit most batteries short of a large type in the hand guard of a standard m4, meaning, I can fit larger 7.4v lipos, and smaller 11.1v in it, and large 11.1's if I put a length of between the 2nd and 3rd cell to get the cell on the other side of the barrel to make it fit.

Just get what you want. KWA totes it's guns as "lipo" ready, but to me, most guns are already lipo ready for a 7.4v, so that doesn't really mean much. In fact, I am running an 11.1v in my CA sportline and the only durability upgrades on it are metal bushings, no breakage as of yet. I would recommend the CA simply because I am a trade mark whore and I have had great luck with CA, but that being said. KWA's are good guns internally. But, their externals suck (in terms of trade marks and feel), I got rid of mine for that very reason.

But in general: (IMO)
Internals: KWA>CA
Externals: CA>KWA by far

Also, this:

That said, the KWA has some weird quirks to it if you ever have to take it apart to service it, and I would recommend the CA for a new player.

After taking apart both brands of guns, I prefer the CA in terms of ease of maintainence and gearbox work.

[Variable]

Also, this:

That said, the KWA has some weird quirks to it if you ever have to take it apart to service it, and I would recommend the CA for a new player.

After taking apart both brands of guns, I prefer the CA in terms of ease of maintainence and gearbox work.

The mix of metric, sae and torx really screws with you if you aren't expecting it.
Then theres the two piece hopup and wireguides (which are super easy to break).

On an otherwise great replica I don't get why they opted for the old Marui style motor plate with the penny spacer and 1.5mm set screw; or why they decided to use a proprietary two piece hopup.