Assembling Systema M4A1 PTW

[ekfc63]

Has anyone bought and assembled one of these kits? Given the high price of a ready assembled one the kits look very attractive.

1) How hard is it?
2) How long does it take
3) Any special tools needed?

I have asembled one a few days ago, overall its not anything hard to do if you know how to read instructions and take your time.

The only tools I would recomend is a small set of pin punches, A good soldering gun or station , A vise with some rubber scraps to protect the finish of the reciver. Some hex tools and thats about it...

If you are not experienced with soldering you might want to get a pro to solder the motor connections.


Haveing done one I would probaly do a other one


HOWEVER after useing my systema for the first time it broke down on me with a weird problem, Im not sure what the problem is but im not done diagnosing it either , I just hope its not my fault.


EDIT: Problem was the motor adjustemnt screw I took it out as it serves no purpose.

[LUTNIT]

Originally Posted by ekfc63

Given the high price of a ready assembled one the kits look very attractive.

$2000 vs. $2500.....thats only 125%, quite a small bit if you ask me. I have a SCK on the way but do plan on buying a second PTW eventually and will definitely be getting a ready assembled one.

[mcguyver]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Buy it assembled and it will work out of the box. Build it yourself and your own skills (or lack thereof) can and will play a huge part in it's performance.

Personally, I think it was the worst decision Systema ever made to sell do-it-yourself PTWs. But, there's no way that they could meet demand if they had to build them all.

In the end, if you have trouble, it will cost you parts (Systema does not warranty the kits in any country and there's no warranty on PTWs at all in Canada) that would have eaten up the cost difference to buy it assembled (and QC'd and tested at the factory).

If you're already spending $2000 on the gun and another $1000 or more in mags, batteries, cylinder kits, rails, etc., spend the extra $500 and buy it assembled.

[manchovie]

it's a pretty intimidating project but all things considered it's not all that hard. i disagree with mcguyver about the performance issue. with systemas i find they work consistently mediocrely (but very reliably) or not at all. the only thing i can see you screwing up during the install would be serious bungles that would result in a fubared gun and easily prevented if you take your time, don't be drunk or retarded and pay attention to the manual. if you look at the instructions:
http://www.systema-europe.com/Files/Assembly_Manual.pdf
you'll see there is a tools list at the end. also, all of the newer ptw kits (6.04mm barrels) have pre-assembled barrels/hopups and mechboxes. some even have preassembled cylinders depending on which kit you buy.

[ThunderCactus]

I just built one this weekend, took about 3 hours, super easy to do

[mcguyver]

I have archived in my PMs here at least 100+ PMs from guys who assembled kits, had problems immediately after or within a couple of months. I know of only 1 guy who had a MAX EL-003 fail by using the wrong battery. This gun is different from anything out there. If you run into problems, you may be able to figure it out, or maybe not. But if you have to order parts, you'll be getting them easiest from the U.S..

I can see the appeal to kit if you are buying a Gen 3 and you are paying $1000. If you are paying $2000 for a MAX kit, it's foolish in my opinion to cheap out for $500.

If you can't float the whole amount for an assembled gun and all the accesories you need in 1 shot, you shouldn't buy a PTW. Because if you have a motor or electronics failure, you will have to fork out many hundreds for replacement parts. And if you have no more money, then you will have a gun that's dead in the water.

The choice is yours. I made mine (twice) and have had zero problems at all. Not one. How many kit owners have had issues?

[Kimbo]

I think it's like anything. If you are mechanically inclined you won't have a problem. I assembled mine with 0 issues, but a friend of mine who assembled his has had problems.

It's up to you. Like mac says, if you are willing to pay a little extra to have it assembled you'll greatly lessen the chance of something gettting frigged up during assembly.

[Daes]

Originally Posted by LUTNIT

$2000 vs. $2500.....thats only 125%, quite a small bit if you ask me. I have a SCK on the way but do plan on buying a second PTW eventually and will definitely be getting a ready assembled one.

$2000 (M4 MAX kit) vs. $2100 (M16A3 MAX burst) if we are talking A&A here. I scratched my head on that one, since most people are going to do a ton of RS mods on the gun anyways, didn't make much sense to save the $100. Sadly, the last one now sold as of this weekend. Still, having now owned and gamed with one, having one side by side when constructing would make the process much easier, seriously crammed mechbox.

Still, when it comes to getting one, if the kit is the only available one of the type you are dying to get, might as well give it a try... You can also blow a little bit on replacement parts.

-Daes

[jerryliang2k]

If I'm not mistaken, a great deal of what makes systema products kick so much ass is the amount of QC that goes into their products. By assembling the gun yourself, your basically throwing away a good part of what makes a systema product a systema product.

Like pivot and mcguyver says, it's all up to you. If you think your the 1337 m3ch4n1c, then go for it... just as long as you don't complain when things go wrong.

[Styrak]

It's just like with normal AEG's. Not everyone can build one, so why would everyone be able to put together a Systema, which is more complex?

[mcguyver]

Funny thing is, it's the most complex electric gun out there by a long shot, yet it's the easiest to assemble, by a long shot. But any problems during this "easy" assembly can and will cost you real "easy" yet "complex" dollars.

I still think that Systema should never have made kits available. Many retailers in the U.S. and Europe either won't sell them, sell them pre-assembled (for a fee) or tell the customer "don't come back if it doesn't work"-sort-of-thing.

If you buy one from MadMax and he gives you the option of assembling it for you, take it, even if you have to pay a tiny bit extra. He's no dummy and you'll get the gun in working order as soon as you open the box.

[Mantelope]

Originally Posted by mcguyver

If you buy one from MadMax and he gives you the option of assembling it for you, take it, even if you have to pay a tiny bit extra. He's no dummy and you'll get the gun in working order as soon as you open the box.

AFAIK, he hasn't sold any non-assembled kits, for the reasons you listed.

[mcguyver]

Originally Posted by Mantelope

AFAIK, he hasn't sold any non-assembled kits, for the reasons you listed.

This is what I read just today:

Originally Posted by KEVORKIAN

I chose to pick up my PTW Max CQB from MadMax & I have yet to have any problems...The money I saved by having it QC'd & built by him is well worth the added cost! I even got the 6-pack of mags in the deal !!! Quit wasting your money TRYING to save money...

Let this be a lesson to all who are looking into purchasing a Max SCK...

[Mantelope]

I'm pretty sure Kevorkian is comparing buying it pre-assembled from AI to buying an unassembled kit from another retailer.