31 replies to this topic

[bobthebrute]

http://www.airsoftgitv.com/?p=3254


VSR compatible, nice.

[bjorn]

DROOL. Finally ARES has done the right thing - their externals and VSR compatible internals that can always be swapped out. Not lets pray they did not manage to *fruitcage* something up in the process of modifying the stock to accept VSR internals and real mag placement.

[kagami]

right time right place ARES.

Lookin' good I must say, very tempting indeed.

edit: around 200? dat be crazy.

Edited by kagami, 03 February 2012 - 06:17 AM.

[slu]

But, other than the DBM, nothing looks A5 about it. A3.

Edited by slu, 03 February 2012 - 06:47 AM.

[EngageNZL]

That mag MUST be fake though.... otherwise it can't be VSR compatible because the bolt's way too long. Unless they have some crazy feed system or a modified spring bolt....

[Bane]

But, other than the DBM, nothing looks A5 about it. A3.

Uh

How does it not look like an A5?

In fact, what are the differences..

Oh, i see.. M40A5 has a threaded muzzle.. and a detatchable magazine.

/me looks at ARES M40A5

Yup.. its an A5!

[faramon]

Hmmm I would buy me one of them ... the varying barrel size thing was interesting .. wouldn't mind an adorable smaller barrelled version.

[renegadecow]

That mag MUST be fake though.... otherwise it can't be VSR compatible

Copied the TM L96 feed system more like. Nothing too crazy about that.

[docs90]

Now this has chucked a massive spanner in the works ,do i gut my pdi vsr for the internals to go into a VFC 338. or this m40

I have to say though the main problem with the fortress stock was its strength ,and looking at the ares stock the weak point again may be behind the pistol grip ,it does look narrow ,but for $200 i carnt see why i wont be having one

[slu]

Uh

How does it not look like an A5?

In fact, what are the differences..

Oh, i see.. M40A5 has a threaded muzzle.. and a detatchable magazine.

/me looks at ARES M40A5

Yup.. its an A5!

So how do you know the outer barrel is threaded? It looks like orange paint over a crowned barrel.

A Google image search would've given you the answer, but here are the differences:

A5 has a Surefire brake that you can fit a Surefire can over. The barrel is also appropriately contoured (thinner near the muzzle) so that you can fit the can.
A5 has a PVS-22 mount toward the front of the McMillan Stock
A5 (and the A3) has a S&B scope with a very noticeable rail-capped top front scope ring, which they don't even bother with here.

This passes as an A3, but not an A5. What was your argument again?

Edited by slu, 03 February 2012 - 01:48 PM.

[WhiteHawksan]

So how do you know the outer barrel is threaded? It looks like orange paint over a crowned barrel.

A Google image search would've given you the answer, but here are the differences:

A5 has a Surefire brake that you can fit a Surefire can over. The barrel is also appropriately contoured (thinner near the muzzle) so that you can fit the can. The barrel is tapered, look at the bottom photos. And there is no way to know if it is threaded yet.
A5 has a PVS-22 mount toward the front of the McMillan Stock - Correct. Does the A4 have this feature, and is it standard or an option?
A5 (and the A3) has a S&B scope with a very noticeable rail-capped top front scope ring, which they don't even bother with here. it has neither feature of A3 or A5

This passes as an A3, but not an A5. What was your argument again?

[slu]

Ah sorry. By taper, I do not mean the standard taper that has been there since A1. I mean there is a hard cut off, right around the length of the muzzle brake. That is probably the single most distinguishing feature, since you can argue that the PVS22 mount and scope are not "part of the rifle" (though the nomenclature does mean the M40A5 is a complete system: the barreled action, the stock, and eveything else on it).

As for the PVS-22, I have no idea, but I don't think there are "options." It comes built that way, and the people who use are not qualified to mess with it, especially if its something like an optic mount. As far as I know, there is nothing called "A4".

When you say, "it has neither feature of A3 or A5," I don't understand what you mean.

Here's what I mean. Note that the SF brake here actually threads onto the barrel forward of where it seems to. It shrouds the barrel a few inches:

Something similar to this: http://www.surefire.com/CA762SSALRE-CompensatorAdapter, noting it says to keep "the first 2.15" of barrel behind the threads clear of obstructions and no more than .775" in diameter."

So, looks fine for an A3. Not an A5.

Edited by slu, 03 February 2012 - 03:29 PM.

[Bane]

In fact, the actual release notes of the M40A5 detail that the M40A3 rifles are being changed to A5's by having their barrels threaded, and the detatchable magazine modification done to the original stocks.

in fact PVS-22 mount is a detatchable optional accessory for the McMillan stock, you can find A3's fitted with it, and A5's without it.

So my point is- its an A5, stop being pedantic.



No "Taper" here, just a shouldered barrel.. Ohwait, that could be the original A3 barrel machined down.

An ACTUAL M40A3 detailed in http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1546586 being converted to an A5


Note the SHOULDERED BARREL WITH FRESH MACHINING MARKS.
Notice the brand new rail tacked onto what appears to be a well used M40A3 stock?

So, your being pedantic over.. nothing

Edited by Bane, 03 February 2012 - 08:02 PM.

[aznriptide859]

We're airsofters. We're born to be pedantic XD.

[kagami]

it's funny because just having a detachable magazine would bar it from being an A3 in the first place.

[slu]

kagami:

Actually you're totally right, the DBM would disqualify it for A3. In the midst of arguing with the Internet I had forgotten what the hell an A3 was.

I guess its a mutt.

Bane:

Like I said in my previous post, what I meant by taper was the "shoulder" for the SF can.

So, it seems like you are really adamantly saying that the A5 has a barrel reprofile toward the muzzle, while the A3 does not. Yes, I know that, I had pointed that out. The airsoft gun the OP posted clearly does not have this characteristic. And yet you are adamantly saying that it's an A5. What are you saying again?

Also, to be even more pedantic, since that seems to bother the *suitcase* out of you, like I said previously, drilling and tapping holes in the stock and installing a PVS-22 mount is not something you do in the field. An A3 goes into the armory, has that work done, comes out an A5. One of the things making it an A5 is the fact that it has a PVS-22 mount. People in the field do not remove the PVS mount. They may remove and attach a PVS from the mount, but they don't remove the mount, just like you don't remove the scope rail. I'm fairly certain that every A5 is a converted A3, but that doesn't make the two the exact same thing now does it?

I mean, by that logic, since the A1 and A5 "only differ really" by the type of stock used (which if I send to GA Precision they can swap it out for me) I can call an A1 an A5 too. Right? My 700 short action varminter and the A5 "only differ really" by some small stuff like stocks and PVS mounts and barrel profiles, but if I send my 700 to GA Precision they can certainly make it into an A5, so I can call my 700 an A5 right? I mean, *fruitcage* my Ruger 10/22 is definitely an A5, barring the action, the barrel, the stock, the trigger, the scope, the scope mount. But these are just small things.

Let's refer back to my original post

But, other than the DBM, nothing looks A5 about it. A3.

Do you want to point out something wrong with what I said?

In the end, it's nice, but it's not a soup to nuts A5. So I say it's not an A5. You want to argue some more about how my opinion is wrong?

Edited by slu, 03 February 2012 - 10:59 PM.

[Kenworth W900]

Peas and rice guys. Its an 'airsoft A5' - i.e. half A3 half A5. Ofcourse it has things wrong with it, I can't remember the last time an airsoft replica was on the money as it left the factory. As always, the guys who buy these will just have to do their own mods to get it closer to the real steel (and potentially have fun - like I imagine Pan had making his GPMG)

Its like the KA Thompson M1928. If I was having a convo with a techy guy as to what needs doing to make it a true M1928 model replica then we would be talking for quite sometime. However, since this is airsoft, no one disputes me calling it an M1928 when we are talking about it casually.

[Zombie00]

@slu One question why did you say it was an A3 when it has a detachable magazine? Your opinion is wrong too.
Is it an A3 or an A5? I'd say it's neither, but's definetely closer to an A5 than A3 IMO.


I like what ARES is doing, there is a significant lack of airsoft sniper rifles based on an skirmish-able system, now all we need is a company that makes reasonably priced upgrades.

Edited by Zombie00, 03 February 2012 - 11:58 PM.

[slu]

@slu One question why did you say it was an A3 when it has a detachable magazine? Your opinion is wrong too.
Is it an A3 or an A5? I'd say it's neither, but's definetely closer to an A5 than A3 IMO.


I like what ARES is doing, there is a significant lack of airsoft sniper rifles based on an skirmish-able system, now all we need is a company that makes reasonably priced upgrades.

Haha, I guess my opinion is wrong. You're right, A3 doesn't have DBM. It really isn't either A3 or A5.

Kenworth:

Would definitely be cool to see a proper A5. Should be just a quick job on the lathe to cut down and thread. The PVS-22 mount should be no problem even on a drill press, if you're careful. My only concern is that the stock might be a bit on the plasticky/flimsy side. As you can imagine the McMillan fiberglass is fairly substantial.

[Zombie00]

Ares overall external quality has proven to be great so far (their G36 are so awesome, one of the best plastic composites in AS), I wouldn't worry about breaking it on regular airsoft use, but neither would I expect it to be as durable as something meant real warfare use.