Cheap vs quality

[filadz]

Thoughts spend 200$ on a Ctac L96 and buy upgrades
Or buy something like a TM but will likely still need upgrades?

[Ricochet]

They all need upgrades. It all comes down to spec, initial quality and available upgrade parts. Put a good clone up against the higher end with exactly the same parts and mods and the clone will likely fall short and break earlier. As far as spring snipers, there's only a few good ones. TM VSR, Maruzen L96, CA M24. There's a couple other decent ones that'll work, but that's where you want to live.

CTac = dumpster fire

[ThunderCactus]

Difference between quality and cheap is how well the upgrades fit in.
A $300 PDI cylinder set will work like it's supposed to in a $120 or $500 bolt action, what changes it how it interfaces with OTHER parts. It might be really loose in the receiver, it might not line up with the hop chamber perfectly, the trigger sear might rub on the wall of the cylinder slot, cylinder might be too BIG for the guide rings, etc.

Only thing that doesn't change much is how damn easy it is to strip the threads in the pot metal everyone makes their bolt actions out of lol
I've enlarged and rethreaded many holes in bolt actions.
As a base platform, they all kinda suck in one way or another

And price isn't even a determining factor in overall quality. Sometimes the price is solely due to how exclusive a gun is.
Honestly I kinda wish they just sold DIY bolt kits. Get the externals as a kit, then pick and choose your internals.

[dmitril]

Apparently Novritsch's rifle is accurate out of box, which would make it a good deal considering the quality of of the externals and the already upgraded internals.
As to upgrading yourself, look for quality externals, which apparently doesnt mean TM. Jg is actually a great upgrade platform, IMO, as you get TM level externals and replace all the internals for less.