Vfc m4a1 gbbr
 

Hi guys. First I know that this GBBR has a very bad reputation as a first gen but price was too attractive to not try it.

This M4A1 looks extremly good despite the lack of steel parts. It also feels like a brick with no woobles (except from the usual rectractible buttstock). The engraving are really nices and are all there because it's an "officialy license Colt" product. Receiver is die-cast in alluminium and has a small mold seam in front (like the Inokatsu but smaller). There is no play between lower and upper receivers. Magazine is very heavy but very hard to insert, the magwell seems a tad too small but after 50 removings +- it becomes ok. The bolt racks nicely and with a crisp song. The mag release is very hard to press at first. The hop up is very easy to adjust, just under the bottom handguard. The easiest to adjust that I know off. It accepts aeg barrels. I disassembled the front end and add silicon tape to ensure less leakages. I didn't test accuracy since I never test it (sorry). Hop up unit is made of 2 plastic parts like the WA. The bolt carrier is ok but it seems that it's done with a very poor metal quality. It's worth 12$ so now wonder why some peoples already reported breaking after only 200 shots. Oh, and the "infamous" bolt catch that is supposed to be a fail... well, after 200 shots, it works as new. Maybe I'm lucky. The bolt carrier doesn't show too much sign of wears yet so maybe I'm also lucky in that. The buffer tube is extremly solid and heavy. For the trigger group, I can't tell. I didn't disassemble it and see no need for it now. I read no reports off parts breaking in the trigger group.

Stock it shoot at 495fps on green with .20g bbs. Felt recoil is mild, but I'm used to the WE M14 and so I can't be a good judge. The WE M14 recoil is so hard!

+
Price (very cheap)
Parts already all available threw VFC and are very cheaps
Externals are very goods to look at and seem to be off some quality
Heavy, no woobles, feel like a rock
Bolt catch is (for now and for me) extremly solid

-
Consider to be a middle to cheap M4A1
First generation seem weak
No steel parts (that I know off) or "too much aluminium parts" ;)
Everything is too stiff
Mild recoil
WA design so no innovations
Bolt catch and bolt carrier are supposed to fail very soon.
Lack of upgrades compatibility (for exemple, the Prime steel bolt carrier needs to be modded (dremeled) to fit. But that's a 260$ bolt carrier compared to the 12$ stock VFC.

In conclusion, for now, for me and for the price paid (under 700$ canadian bucks) I'm very satisfied, knowing that I was buying a first gen middle game product that already as at least 2 fails knowed (bolt catch and bolt carrier). For me it's only for plinking and wall hanging so I'm satisfied by the external appearance and ordinary functionning. Having own bolt WE M4A1 and M16A3, I love this one better but I'm missing the WE M16A3 heavy front end. It really needs an steel outer barrel and see what, 50 bucks on VFC.

I already ordered a complete steel front end from VFC for 160$ bucks shipped. Waiting for them!

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Ah, i was waiting for a review on this gun. Looks nice! I'm gonna stick with my we m4 for now. Thinking of maybe picking up a we m14 ebr :) I hear those are decent eh?

Well, if you have a WE M4 no need at all to change it for this VFC. WE AR series feel more solid but I never love the external appearance of their receivers. WE M14 EBR is a hell of a nice gun ;)

Looks great, I want a Colt marked gun just like that!! Where did you get it from? John

You consider <$700 attractive pricing for a VFC M4 GBBR? I sure wish I had your kind of money.

Being canadian yes I consider attractive compare to the G&P/ Bomber / Viper / Ino / KWA etc.

Is it just me or does the back of the upper looks like it could accept PTW cylinders?
Back part is wider and that little nub on the bottom ....

All the parts that you have concern with (bolt, bolt carrier, etc) can all be upgraded with better parts from RA-Tech. No mods required to fit the bolt carrier too, as they have VFC-spec version now.

The internals are also standard WA, so you can upgrade them all with steel components as well.

good catch. that is indeed a PTW upper.. wow VFC recycling parts from other manufactures...lol

i am 100% certain that it's a PTW upper, as GBBRs have no need for that cutout. as to why VFC decided to do this, who knows. a stripped RS upper can be had for $60... how much do PTW uppers go for?

I just double checked it with a friends VFC HK416 ... also has those cut outs
The small in the rear tab is: 5mmx4mmx10mm
And the bigger diameter is: 26mm and 20mm deep

I do not have the right tools atm to measure my own PTW upper if they are correct but looking very promising

Original Systema pot metal uppers go for 100$ from HK
RS uppers here in Europe go for about 300-350$ stripped ^^

@Dynamo: .... if it really was a complete PTW upper it should also have the cut out on the underside for the gears so those are not recycled PTW uppers ..... is VFC up to something they haven´t told us about? :D

Thanks for the info!

I received and installed the VFC steel front end that is composed of:

Steel Nato engraved GBBR outer barrel
Steel front sight
Delux hanguard with steel heatshield (comes with hanguard cap and delta ring)
Steel flashider

I also installed a steel dust cover.

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I weight the gun, the steel front end make it pass to 2700g up to 3090g. Now I'm waiting to receive the Ra-Tech prime steel bolt carrier with aluminium noozle, the new design. I'm also waiting for an AW super block black (copy of the Ra-Tech super recoil buffer 2). I also ordered 5KU anti-rotationnal pins because I notice that when firing, 2 of the retainer pins of the trigger group are getting out of the body and it's pretty annoying. I also have my first failed, the plastic part on the bcg that hold the noozle right is broke. It doesn't affect the functionnality since it still stay in place. Bolt catch is also starting to fail, work most of the time but sometimes not.

Anyone would know if G&P complete frontend (M16A2) would fit this gun? And is the carry handle on the real steel made of aluminium or steel? Thanks!

What exactly is the obsession with steel? Does the strength of steel add durability or is it just for the realism?

Simple fun of modding