M15A4 rifle vs. M14
 

Hey all,

I currently own a SIG552 and for a long time I've been wantingto get a larger AEG with a bit more range. I just sold my TM M4 which I really liked but it was not much different in size/performance than my SIG which I liked more, besides I hated the broken tabs and barrel wobble.

Anyways I liked the M4 enough that I'm thinking about getting another armalite, been looking at the M15A4 rifle. It seems like a good deal, metal body, upgraded mechbox, good FPS. However there are always rumours about CA problems, even though 90% of reviews on the new ones are positive.

Lately there has been lots of hype about the M14, of course its got TM reliablity and best FPS of TM guns from what I've heard. I really don't like their look stock, too old looking, but painted camo they are pretty sweet.

Anyways what I'm asking, I am looking for a gun to perform two roles: long distance/sniping and LMG/support. Accuracy and range are the most important factor performance wise. I'd also like it to be durable as I really don't know my way around a mechbox. Which of these would you choose or is there another weapon that would be better?

Those thing don't go along in the same weapon.

Actually, shouldn't be that much of a difference to AEG as long as he's ok with jack of all trades, master of none. Besides, by sniping he probably doesn't mean hardcore, bolt action level.

I wouldn't worry about buying CA that much, the important thing is getting what you like. You're familiar with Armalite ergonomics, so go out and try the M14's. Personally, as much as I hate Armalites, the CA M15A4 has the benefit of higher stock performance in this competition. M14 is suppose to shoot harder than any TM AEGs before it, but I'm not sure if it reach ~320fps range of stock CAs. CA seems ok to fit a 9.6v stock, too, so you should get a higher rate of fire out of it than a M14. But in the looks department, the M14 wins hands down. :lol:

A 400FPS M14 w/a tightbore and good rounds + a Highcap...

Ya get the "sniping" with the ability to lay down plenty of "support" fire.

This being airsoft, many things go along with the same weapon.

Of course this could lead into the debate of what a "sniper rifle" is...so - this is all IMHO :D

And you can never beat TM for reliability;)

Just to be different I would go with the M14. If you don't like I am sure there are a few people around that will take it off your hands.

And the hicap is 400 plus which would be great for support.

Just FYI, Borden (NB player) has a PSG/G3 (called a msg?) He uses it both for sniping and support. Very effective at both.

I fired the M14 and out the box, it's very acurate and shoot very well.

On full auto, you can do nice cover fire. But not like a M249 or M60. Nor will you be able to shoot as acurate and far away like with a M24.

M16-M15 are assault rifle. You can mod them to be stronger, but don't expect much out of it.

But I figure with the number of M14s being sold that they soon will be pretty common, definately more common than classic army M16s.

But the M15 shoots around 30 FPS harder than the M14 so shouldn't it shoot further, at least out of the box?

Also I was looking at the CA36, the longest of the G36 guns, it has a 495 mm barrel and a built in 3X scope. Stick a bipod on the front, maybe a C-mag could make a good sniper/support platform. What do you think? Anyone use one of these? BTW, anyone know the barrel length on the M14?

Not nesseceraly. It's the hopup that mather. FPS just make the BB go faster. It also give range, but at a sertan point...

Trust me get the m14 and you can't go wrong. The gun is a jewel. It shots amazing it really should be a class all its own cause it out classes all the other AEG's so bad.

Well if u compare stock with stock, m16 and m14 will shoot about the same distance...but your shots will be more accurate with the m14 because of the longer barrel. I beleive its about 20 cm longer. If your looking for support/sniper go for the m14, if ur going for support/assault go with the m15/m16. The m14 is a pretty long rifle so moving it around indoor or cqb its gonna be tough. I personally am getting an m16, as a support weapon and assault. efficeintly modded it should get the range and accuracy and reliabilty that i want.

But don't forget the insanely great hopup unit that blows away the armalite hop up

Um.... No. He's looking at the M15A4 *RIFLE*, not one of the carbines. The M15A4 actually has an inner barrel length of 510mm, which is actually 10mm longer than M14's 500mm.

anyway, the barrel leinght don't affect grouping that much.

I ment the actual gun itself.

How does weight/feel/etc. of the M14 compare to real-steel?

I was wondering about that too...

I keep reading "tacky plastic" feeling, which is NOT what I want to feel. Not to mention, I want everything that normally is metal, in (duh), metal.

The gun is full metal other then the stock ofcourse.
Feels nice and solid.

I be shooting real steel M14's tommorrow. Let ya know how it compares to my baby.

Awesome, let us know how it feels!

Sure it does. All else being equal, longer barrels will give tighter groupings at longer ranges than shorter barrels, with the difference in grouping depending on the degree of difference between the two barrel lengths being compared. It's just that in this case, all else is most certainly not equal and 10mm is rather small a difference.

That's what I say. M16 barel lenght compared to an M4 is not enough to mather. Even so, the hophup is more to blame in acuracy than the barrel.

I don't think you really know anything about Airsoft mechanics...have you ever worked on AEG's, or at least cared to test your assumptions? What a lot of disinformation!

M16's are very accurate, and have some pretty decent range out of the box. A modded one will give you even more - a hell of a lot more than any M60/M249 i've seen on the field these days.

So you're saying you don't think a 363mm barrel compares much to a 509mm barrel? Please...

Yes I tested. Im not saying an M16 is not acurate. Im just arguing that the difference between both barel lenght is negligeble.

Can you take us through your methodology?

What do you expect?

All Im saying is, out the box, both M4 and M16 will shoot about the same.

I expect you to prove your position with something more than an opinion, especially since it runs contrary to common wisdom on airsoft mechanics. I don't think that's too much to ask.

I won't be making a video of me showing you my friends AEG (I don't curently own an M4 or M16) shooting at target just to prove my point. From my experience, I found that both barrel lenght offer very similar result. A good hopup setting will give the perfect range and acuracy.

So Im sorry, other than my word, I have no scientific explanation to satisfy you.

Fox, are you really comparing the M4 and M16 or did you make a typo and was really talking about the M14 and M16?

Yeah Fox please clarify, while a 1 cm length difference would be basically negligible, i assume a 15 cm length difference would affect the performance, especially on upgraded guns.

I was really refering to the M16 ans M4.

Altho this don't talk about acuracy, it's kinda on topic:
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=20534

And I say again, Im saying the differance is negligeable between in acuracy in both barrels. Like in not anough to mather.

The M14 is very acurate!

Ok well I was handling the real m14 today. I have to say my airsoft m14 is a pretty good represatation once I got the wood stock on it. Still lacking a bit of heft compared to the real deal but honestly just by looking at the two side by side it would be hard to discern the airsoft from the real.

pic here

http://members.shaw.ca/jrosser1/airsoft/d6.jpg

Is that 1919 a semi or a full auto?

semi still fun though

i am new to airsoft, havnt purchased a gun as of yet. the consensus ive come to so far from reading the forums is this...it is very dificult to have ONE gun to be completely versatile in all venues. the m4 series with retractable scope stock seems to be the most versatile, but is plague by a wobble and low performance "out of the box". i think that for me it would be wise (after doing all the research and spectating games to know with out a doubt this is for me) to get one aeg for now to start that suits what i see most necessary and a second later on. im thinking a TM mp5 sd6 for cqb later on. i really want to participate in outdoor games though which im thinking a TM m14 full metal would be the best choice as it has decent "out of the box" fps. i like its versatility in the field for support with full auto and for sniping distracted SOBs while out of sight. i guess im just wondering about upgrades and particularly scopes. i would like to have the option to upgrade its velocity and distance/accuracy especially with a decent scope. i have looked all over for this info...most canadian retailers dont even have any info on the gun except for a few specs. ive looked at different optcs, but none that ive seen are specific to the m14. ive done a lot of research on this...im sure im missing something easy, but alas i think its time i asked for help on this topic...

pick the gun you like. In stock form, they all basically perform the same.

+1

And the barrel wobble is truly not that BIG of a deal...IMO it's magnified because there are few imperfections to be found w/the TM M16/M4 line-up.

The fragile plastic receiver tabs on the TM M16/M4 line-up should be your biggest concern when considering the CONS w/this line-up.

Well most upgrades for the gun are already availbile and the rest will be soon.

not much trouble to upgrade the gun to 360-380 FPS and have it be quite reliable.

There are no specific optics for the M14. You can put on whatever you want.

I have a run of the mill 3-9x scope on one and a aimpoint on my other.

Sorry for reviving such an old thread. But I didn't want to make a new one asking a similar question. In terms of range and accuracy, in stock form, does anyone know which one is better? CA M15A4 or TM M14?

And in the perfect world, with all the upgrades geared towards range and accuracy, which one would be best?

I really like my ca m15a4, when i first got it , it didnt shoot i was confused but then i un screwed the screws under the pistol grip and there was a wire unplugged, otherwise i love it.. well the batteries in the grips blows, stupid ass system. still i love mine, very accurate, in my opinion. I'd pick the m15a4 over anything lol

That's probably because you haven't fielded 'anything' else yet.
The TM M14 should be more accurate in stock form. It is so accurate that it took the collective 'AEGs will never be as accurate as BAs' paradigm for a whirl after its release.

Agreed! I have both, and the M14 is definitely more accurate out of the two in stock form. But the M15 certainly has insane ROF when you use a 9.6v mini.

I just got a tightbore for my M4, we'll see how that plays out against the M14 after it comes back. :D

Thanks for replying guys. Everyone has been saying that TM's M14 has superior range and accuracy over any other AEG out on the market. If, for example, the 2nd best AEG out on the market has 100feet range, and the M14 has 101feet, it is still considered superior, but not really "significant".

Everyone is saying its better, I can't find any information with regards to HOW much better. Those of you who have an M14, would it be possible for you to "mark" how far your M14 shoots and compare it to another AEG?

I'm looking for a new AEG, the M14 is VERY nice, but its also VERY big. So I'm also debating whether the advantages of having an M14 outweighs it's disadvantages, such as the moving around the bush with something so big.

Does anyone know if there is a page where it lists out every stock AEG's range and distance before the BB drops? If there isn't such a page, would it be possible to make one? I think that would also help others when they choose their gun. Please don't say "every AEG has about the same range" because everyone is also saying "TM's M14 is way better than every AEG out there". Because its a tautological argument. Thanks for the replies guys.