MGC M4 A1 pastimes

As most of you may know, I am very fond of the AR-15/M16 series. I have a few different models in my collection and have done a few mostly cosmetic modifications.

I wrote about fitting real M4 foregrips as the grips MGC used were too thin. MGC simply used the molds they had for their XM177 and M16A1/M16A2 Carbine models (M725 Carbine), but the 14,5 inch M4A1 carbine uses thicker hand guards (you may notice that the M933 M4A1 Commando with the 11,5 inch barrel still has the thinner ones).






I also added a real AR-15 stock (no-name product, Taiwan made) to my MGC M733 as the original XM177 MGC stock rattles very badly (even worse than the one on the M4 series) and is too shiny.

Original MGC stock:


Aftermarket stock (tight fitting, dull finish) added:



My latest modification was done to the MGC M4A1 "RIS version". This is a model that was made in limited numbers before MGC closed down. It comes with a nice metal RIS rail system made by CAW - mosquito molds. This model is very heavy as the metal RIS adds more weight. It feels realistic, despite being HW plastic.

Out of the box (rather shiny stock, blued magazine):


After some work I did as I could not sleep once again:


I spray-painted the stock with dull black paint and added an old MGC magazine with black plastic follower and grey "mil spec" finish. Those magazines are very rare today and came originally with the ABS M16s. In realioty the dull stock looks much better than the photo suggests.

Here you can see the late blued magazine (zinc follower), the early grey "mil spec" magazine (black plastic follower) and a real mil spec M16 magazine (OKay 9/2003) with green follower. Note that the MGC magazines are not the same size and not as curved as the real one.



I really regret that MGC used to blue their late magazines, but I guess this was because the "mil finish" magazines tended to rust easily.

Please excuse the poor photos. As I said it is night here. Normally I prefer taking pictures outside in the daylight.

You've been busy 'Mike

The subtle changes you've made to your models have transformed already very real looking models into superb replicas indistinguishable from the real thing.

I don't have 30rd MGC magazines so hadn't realised they are a different shape to the real ones. There must be a good reason for this ? Is it because MGC cartridges are shorter than real rounds as they have no bullet? Do the shorter cartridges feed up the model magazines better than the tighter curved real ones?

Hi Madmike,

A fine example of what a few hours of hard work can achieve ,that m4 now looks completely different to the out of the box version and so much more realistic,great work mate....you will have to send me the link for where you purchased the after market stock mate ....great work

Kickback

Hi madmike
I know my reply to this post is a few months late but i'm new to the forum. The work you've done looks great! I have a MGC M4 also, I managed to buy it privately just before the VCRA came in. So far I've fitted a KAC RAS rail to it and got a few replica scopes (ACOG & Aimpoint). A couple of other bits too. I'll put some pictures up in the designated MCG M4 thread soon.
I wanted to ask about your real M16 magazine because I have the opportunity to get hold of a real AR15 magazine but I'm not sure if it would fit and work with my M4...?
Also, I've been trying to change the stock on it too. I've been looking at airsoft AEG stocks, but I don't know if they would fit and if they'd be any good (the mojority are plastic and I get the impression they wouldnt look so good). The alternative is to spend £££ on a real stock.
cheers!

Hello mate! Welcome to the forum. Sadly I am very busy lately so I do not post much. I do not think that real AR-15 magazines can be modified to fit a MGC AR-15. The real magazine just does not fit into the magwell. I only use them for decoration. Real ones can be modified to fit a Marushin AR-15 by filing the mag catch hole, modifying the feed lips and shortening the spring. Anyway I have not yet managed to make it feed properly.

Fitting stocks is a problem too as they are not standardized in the Airsoft and modelgun world. I found a Taiwan made stock that was okay, but it was the old style, not the newer "Law Enforcement" type. Most stocks need a special stock tube, and that won't fit the MGC receiver.

Anyway I found out that a little flat black spray paint will make the shiny ABS MGC stock look very realistic.

Cheers for getting back to me.
I guess I'll have to leave the AR mag, no point spending money on it if it wont fit.
As for the stocks, I hoped that the stock tubes would have been standard throughout the airsoft/model gun world. I was thinking about either one of the LE stocks or a modstock (with the cheekrest/battery compartments). I thought that the latter would fit over my existing stock tube, I guess this isn't the case.

Anyway, thanks for the info!

Getting back to the stock issue, I would like to stress that real AR-15/M16 Carbines use two different "stock tubes" (buffer extension tubes): Military spec has 1.145 to 1.150 inches diameter, Commercial spec. has 1.163 to 1.173 inches diameter.

Checking my MGC M733 I noticed that the diameter is 29,75 mm (approx. 1.17 inches). So I gave a Commercial stock a try. This fits really snug on my M733, but does not fit on my M4A1 tube which is still slightly thicker. The stock is an aftermarket stock assy from Taiwan, I got it quite cheap. Anyway it really improves the look and feel of my M733 which is currently my favourite gun for playing around.







Please excuse the bad pics, it is cold, cloudy and rainy here, so I needed to use the fash.

There is no chance a mil spec stock will fit on a MGC M4A1, but there is a chance that Commercial versions may fit as tolerances vary.

I do not see that a real buffer extension could be fitted as MGC uses a different design as well as different threads. I doubt if you can rework the threads within the receiver due to the brittle HW plastic.

I had a little free time yesterday (something that doesn't happen too often lately), so I decided to do a little conversion. I made an early M4 Carbine, Colt model M727 or current M777, with M4 style barrel, full auto trigger mechanism and fixed carry handle. I used the MGC M733 which is one of my favourite models and a MGC M4A1 barrel. I used real handguards and and the real, Taiwan made stock (see above).

very nice job mate

This is currently my model for trying different things. I got a real stock for an excellent price, fitting a commercial (diameter 1.17 inch) "stock tube" (better receiver extension). It is the version with the slanted back that was first introduced in 2002/2003 and can be often seen with US Govt issued M4 Carbines. Those Carbines retained their original 4 pos tube with flat back, so the stock was longer than the tube. Commercial tubes often have 5 or 6 positions and a slanted back too. As the tube MGC uses is 30 mm / 1.18 inch in diameter, the stock fits snuggly on the tube, wearing off the finish. Sadly this variations don't work on MGC's 4 pos tubes, as they are even wider.

I do not think that a real tube can be used on MGC's model as it is a different internal design. If you want to use a real stock I'd suggest getting a cheap commercial one and filing off some material from the inside. The locking mechanism does not need modifications.

Tubes with worn-off finish, as well as newer stocks on older Carbines can often been seen with Israeli Defence Forces.













With real handguards and stock the model looks and feels much better and is even heavier.