ICS M4 Beginners Guide Discussion *56k Warning*

[pstpolamalu43]

I got one of those MAG mags just to try it out, and they work perfectly i love them i will get more.

ASGI says that those mags only hold 90 rounds. I thought they held 100? And is it true that they can be modded to fit more?

[XavierMace]

I honestly can't say I have ever sat there and counted the number of BB's the mag held.

[Weirdguy]

They can be modded, there is a guide to doing it under the review on this site.

[dcren123]

Christmas came early this year! the package for my GB-tech SR-15 Match 5 conversion kit arrived, i was around 30 seconds from arriving home when my cellphone rang lol. I spent a total of 160USD including shipping xD a pretty sweet deal if i do say so myself. Now i need to wait for Xavier's installation guide for after market FFRAS for the ICS 

On a side note, does anyone know how good Tamiya spray paint for plastic models are? how are they compared to Krylon fusions, i can't find Krylons on sale in Taiwan (accursed place...) and therefore buying Krylons are out of the question. No international shipping for me ;__;

[XavierMace]

I guess I should really get those pics up this weekend....

Eh, Tamiya paint isn't bad but don't really compare to Krylon & Rustoleum.  But you don't really have a choice so you will have to make due with what you have.

[Seal]

Would just like to add that with the stock gears from the 05 and up models will work fine with the G&P motors with no bad meshing between pinion and bevel gear.

Also the King arms Selector plate needs to be slightly modified (a little shaving) to move freely on those models.

[XavierMace]

Would just like to add that with the stock gears from the 05 and up models will work fine with the G&P motors with no bad meshing between pinion and bevel gear.

The early '05's still had T2k motors with the original pinion gear which would cause bad meshing.

Also the King arms Selector plate needs to be slightly modified (a little shaving) to move freely on those models.

Good to know.  What exactly needs to be shaved for it to move freely?  I have a couple different non-ICS selector plate and so far they have been fine.  But it seems as though KA isn't so picky about the tolerances on their stuff.

[crablegs]

When I put my KA hopup in my ICS m4 the ICS mags would not feed, but mag midcaps feed wonderfully.

[XavierMace]

Yeah, I am still trying to figure out what exactly causes ICS feeding issues.  Could you take a pic of your KA hopup for comparison?

[dcren123]

When installing the outer barrel of a free floating RAS, If the hop-up doesn't fit because of the fin thing... whatever they're called, what should i do? should i file down those fin things on either side of the hop up chamber?

[Seal]

on the selector plate you have to shave the inside square part where the spring is put in at the cut off lever. its hard to explain but its the only spring that goes from the cutoff lever to the selector plate. the forward and bottom part of that box need to be shaved down a bit. When i get home ill see if i can get you pics

but the G&P motor does mesh perfectly fine, i had a t2k motor to start with and threw in the G&P and it meshed fine. only issue was that the secter gear teeth that engage the piston cracked off when i ran an m130. So strength isnt so good but T2K users can put in the G&P M120 motor and have no bad meshing.

[XavierMace]

When installing the outer barrel of a free floating RAS, If the hop-up doesn't fit because of the fin thing... whatever they're called, what should i do? should i file down those fin things on either side of the hop up chamber?

It should fit.  Are you sure those fins on the side are what it's getting caught on?

That would be great if you could.  I will add that to the guide.

but the G&P motor does mesh perfectly fine, i had a t2k motor to start with and threw in the G&P and it meshed fine.

Well then, I guess you got one of the ones with the newer gears and pinion but old motor.  There aren't too many of those around.  Those were the last of the older models.

[dcren123]

yes I'm 99% positive... I ended up comparing the parts of the outer barrels that connects to the hop up, and the slots on the sides where those fins (what exactly are they called?) are supposed to fit, the slots for the RAS was slightly narrower than the original slots for the M4.

[XavierMace]

Personally, I would probably file the openings larger.  Filing the fins down would make them pretty weak.

[crablegs]

I dont have a good camera to use, but here is a better pic than I could ever take.



I just shaved off all of the fin on the front, and the front side of the square block that goes around the feeding tube.  Also to note on the King Arms Hop up, you will have to shave the striker arm down to get it to fit in the ICS properly, if you do not do this the top of the receiver will push it down causing massive overhop.

[dcren123]

when installing a FF RAS on my ICS M4, i turned the part of the RAS that connects to the receiver until i cant turn it with my hands anymore, yet i cant make it so that its perpendicular (those 2 nuts that the rails fit into for the GB-tech ver.) to the gas tube on the top part of the barrel, thus making the entire RAS tilted to one side a bit. the only way to make it perpendicular and lined up against the rail on the receiver is by either turning it loose a bit or tightening it. If it is loose its annoying as u can twist it and it moves, yet i cannot tighten it more. Therefore i improvised by connecting the front scope mount on the FF RAS so it doesn't turn. Is there a way to fix it?

edit: should i try tightening it more? I'm afraid I might strip the turning connecting thingy(someone enlighten me on its name  ).

[XavierMace]

To do it right, you should really get an AR-15 armorer's wrench.  It makes things infinitely easier to work on.  A good one will run you about $30, but you can find them cheaper:

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Armorer-AR15-Barrel-Wrench-p/tool%20armorer%20ar15%20wrench.htm

Also, if there is a pin sticking out of the top of your upper receiver you might need to file that down.

[dcren123]

Yea i was trying to force the gas tube into the pin but it was not budging. Also, i found that kind of wrench made by guarder, yet it only consisted of the left side of the wrench in the picture you posted. Is that the side i would need in order to make the ring which secures the RAS fixed and at turned appropriately so that the RAS isn't tilted? And tightening the ring more wont strip the metal will it? thanks

[XavierMace]

As long as the threads are lined up properly and it's not stuck on anything, you can torque it pretty hard.

You only need the left side of that wrench for airsoft purposes, but if the price is close the real one is going to be a lot better quality.

However, you are stating the RAS is tilted?  Is it caught on the pin/gas tube?  If you have a pin/gas tube sticking out the front here:



You may need to file it down for the RAS to properly thread all of the way on.  If that is not the case, it's possible the threads don't match.  You may need to try to re-thread it.

Edit: Original post has been updated with the new hopup information.

[xepharo]

dcren123
You can find MAG magazines and other locaps from Ehobby Asia... that's where I got mine for under $50.00

I find that ICS has a different mag release than Marui, G&P and CA.
I had my Marui mag release replaced with an ICS one. None of my mags would lock up. They just drop right down to my feet T_T . I end up buying a G&P one.

[dcren123]

ah i see. What prevents me from ordering from sites such as Ehobby Asia is that i don't have a credit card, and therefore the monetary transaction becomes quite a problem.

I thought marui mags work with ICS and vice versa? And i'm holding off on a new mag because i could not find any mid-caps at my friendly local airsoft dealer.

[blackhawk74]

@xepharo: I was wondering about getting the G&P ambidextrous mag release (just in case, if I'm doing something with my dominant right hand). Anybody know if that would fit?

[xepharo]

I got a G&P ambi (cant type that word) mag release for my JG M16 soon to be SPR. perfect fit... but I don't have any ICS M4s lying around to try it.
It will fit, but I wonder how well the mags will feed to the hopup.

[XavierMace]

I thought marui mags work with ICS and vice versa?

99% of the time they do.

It will fit, but I wonder how well the mags will feed to the hopup

I'm not so sure it will work.  I have been thinking about picking one up, but have not done so yet.

[chaoswithinthed]

Hey, Xavier, great guide.  I have a friend with a ICS SR-16 (full stock) and he just bought a 3600 MAH 9.6 volt battery.  On the box it says that if you modify the stock, you can fit a 9.6 volt in the stock.  What exactly needs modifiying? 

I vote sticky! Not enough info about ICS guns.

DP