Problems with G&P?

[vibora]

I went to my local airsoft shop today to look for a replacement for my current gun. I was specifically looking for this one. When I asked the guy working the counter if the shop could order G&P airsoft guns (as they don't stock them), he said they could but don't because "they're crap."

In my airsoft experience, I've never heard bad things about G&P; lots of praise goes out for their externals, some of which are lauded as the best on the market. The store attendants told me that while that was true, the G&P internals were sub-par, and recommended CA, E1, and Modify GB's as better quality alternatives (the Modify option probably is). They also included some pretty horrific stories about failures of the metal bodies themselves.

I was hoping this would be my entry into the high-end replicas, but I have absolutely no experience with G&P (or any other high end manufacturer for that matter). While I know that no airsoft gun lasts forever, I trust these guys' opinion for the most part. I'd really like to hear everyone's experience with this brand, and whether parts failure is a constant issue, or even one final spectacular explosion. Also, if G&P really is crap, is there a similarly-priced and modded alternative to the above replica?

[Beran]

i would consider G&P to be one of the higher end brands. ive got a G&P M16, and so far i'm really liking it. as a point of reference, ive also owned pretty much every other brand of AEG on the market. ive currently got several CAs, some G&Gs, one or two E1s, some STAR/ARES, an old TM or two somewhere, and a few random chiclones.

as for brands, if you are looking at a high end AR style platform i would recommend CA, KWA or G&P. the G&G M16s are nice (i love mine to death) but i needed to do some work on it when i got it. had to replace the motor and have the gearbox reshimmed. the new CA LWRC guns and the KWA SR series are pretty impressive as well.

[league 4]

What shop was it? Tacoma Tactical? But yeah, G&P AEG's are great. IMO one of the best brands out there. I had problems with gear axles breaking though.

[Martin.]

i would venture to guess that the only reason the shop in question considers them "crap" is because they either
a) don't have a good supplier of G&P
b) they don't want to pay the expensive buy in purchasing direct
c) they've never had any experience with them

[Pope_Alex_Kaeda_I]

I'm not a fan of KWA, if I had a shop, I wouldn't stock them unless there was a constant demand for them.Yet, a lot of people around here think they're the cats a$$. I'm also not a fan of G+P. Admittedly, its been a couple years, but the G+P i had, locked up constantly. I remember a few other peoples G+P's were locking up pretty bad as well.

People think I'm a weirdo, because in general, I'd rather buy a TM gun, and replace the parts I don't like, than buy anything else. I'll settle for a Classic Army, but I dislike their wiring, and I'll end up replacing their motors with either TM or HUMMER motors.

[vibora]

Yes, league 4, it was Tacoma Tactical. As far as common complaints go, the axle issue came up the most in my internet searches. And Martin, I would most likely have the same reaction if it was the shop's owner that was crapping on G&P, but I was getting most of that info from the tech that works there (as well as another store attendant). Both of them said they had bad personal experiences with several different G&P AEGs.

Thanks for the heads up on the CA LWRCs as well, Beran; I totally forgot about those.

Pope_Alex_Kaeda_I, that seems to be in line with a lot of the stuff I've read. Most G&Ps that people complain about are older; supposedly they've brought up their quality control recently, so the things that fail are smaller (like gear axles).

Thanks for the advice, guys; I will certainly take it all into consideration. If anyone has anything more to add, please do.

[league 4]

Who were you talking to there about G&P? Was it Jason (the owner) or someone else?

[vibora]

I was talking to Derek and whoever the shop tech is.

[wake.joe]

I've NEVER had good luck with G&P.

But, I'm very hard on guns.

THe first G&P was pieced together. I had just accumulated stuff over time and built it (Right down to bearings and gearbox). It sucked, bad.

I hated it, so gave it away for Free and bought Factory New G&P that I found online for a smoking deal. Hated it too.

Now I shoot all KWA's. But anymore, with KWA, you're like 90% likely to get a broken one in the first game or two.

[Whan]

I've heard the older G&Ps had some problems, but they're much better now. Currently not really any problems with mine, besides those cause by my own error. I broke my hop up clip and broke some wiring.

[Vegeta]

the G&G M16s are nice (i love mine to death) but i needed to do some work on it when i got it. had to replace the motor and have the gearbox reshimmed.impressive as well.

Just to put another persons experience out there I have a G&G M4 which it the same thing as the M16 with a different upper receiver and I've never had a problem with the gears and I've pretty much left it stock (except for replacing the stock 380 FPS spring with something softer for CQB) and I've had this thing for about 1 and a half to 2 years and its still running great.

[GacktC]

Shops don't make profit fr G&P, that is why they don't carry them.
I have 3 G&P guns, 2 of them with fully upgraded internal, no problems yet.
The stock one is having problem running with Lipo, I think the stock gearset not that great.
If I am going to buy another M4/M16, I only will pick G&P.

[Grease]

, I would most likely have the same reaction if it was the shop's owner that was crapping on G&P, but I was getting most of that info from the tech that works there (as well as another store attendant). Both of them said they had bad personal experiences with several different G&P AEGs.

Who were you talking to there about G&P? Was it Jason (the owner) or someone else?

*facepalm*

[namloot]

My son has 2 G&P AEGs, an M16A3 and an M4A1. Both guns perform excellently and have excellent externals.

We upgraded the M4 to shoot 435fps w/ .20g BB (400 w/ .25). Using a good 9.6v battery, it shoots 27bps.
The gun got about 29,000 rounds through it before the hub on the spur gear snapped. After replacing the gears, 500 rounds later the first tooth of the piston broke.

Is 29,000 rounds, before a major failure, good or bad for the way the gun was shooting?
Could another brand do better at the same level of performance with the stock internals?

I actually think it is good.

The thing is there are more then one report of G&P gears failing, sometimes very quickly with a stock gun. The guns have great externals, excellent performance, but a persistent problem with their gears

This is the * (asterisk) that must be put on all discussions about G&P AEGs.

We are going to replace the piston, check the AOE and my son is going to use an 8.4v battery in the future. It will still shoot 21-22bps and the internals should last much longer.

For the level of performance and overall quality, I highly recommend G&P AEGs *.

Good luck

[HKspecter-A2]

i would venture to guess that the only reason the shop in question considers them "crap" is because they either
a) don't have a good supplier of G&P
b) they don't want to pay the expensive buy in purchasing direct
c) they've never had any experience with them

I have 6 of them. All 2009 models and not one problem. Thumbs up on the model you were looking at... I was in the market for one till the Magpul MOE came out.