Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 23, 2013 18:52:33 GMT -5
With the ICS Garand AEG out and the GnG Garand soon to arrive (we hope). The stop gap, 2nd Bat Garands have been discontinued now for about eight months. When I occassionally receive build requests I recommend the ICS or a pre-owned 2nd Bat Garand which should be reasonably affordable on the used market. Over 460 are out there so you see them come up on assorted forums and ebay from time to time. During the time they were built there was a wide variety of tweaks and changes implemented and a wide assortment of different brand base M14s used. The vast majority of the guns I built used the CYMA 032 while second to that, the AGM M14 was used. Roughly 2 dozen used a Marui M14 while a few others were Kart, UTG, TSD and Echo 1s (which as near as I can tell are rebranded Cyma 032s.).
Some had the selector switch left in while others had them removed. some were permanently full auto while others were the reverse. This was done at client requests. the assorted stock attachment processes varied greatly with later models have a vastly improved approach over the early versions. All disassemble quite easily but with the tweaks, the later ones came apart differently then the early ones (slightly more effort). The later flush mounted shotgun clips were a big enhancement but frequently require some slight adaptation to work with each of the base guns. typically the ABS tab attached up front on the clips has to be filed or sanded a bit to work. A three or four BB waste in each clip is always present due to the gap between the clip spring guide and the tappet plate inside the gun so the effective capacity is 11or 12 rounds. The MAG stubby mid cap mag that holds 70 rounds is an excellent accessory to a 2nd Bat Garand and although it protrudes about 1 and 1/2 inch it feeds great, isn't terribly distracting visually and increases the guns skirmishability considerably. These work great in all the brands I've tried thus far. (cyma, AGM, Marui and Echo 1 M-14s. But of course DO NOT work in the GnG or Classic Army M14s.
I have discovered that there are longevity advantages to leaving the gun fixed in full auto. The firerer can maintain semi fire with trigger control or do short bursts which are more likely to register as "hits" when striking your opponent.. In addition, when in semi Mode the AEG produces an electrical arch that over time melts the contact points. (prolonged use and many many thousands of rounds.) A mossfet eliminates this arching. I did not mount a mossfet in ANY of my builds as frankly it was not a problem I was aware of. On most of the later guns I added a stubby barrel extension beyond the locking lug and over time some of these get tweaked and missaligned. This will obviously effect the Bb as it leaves the muzzle and might seem like a flawed or broken hop up with poor range and inaccurate shots. (Easy easy fix but not an intuitive thing to diagnose).
Sometimes when putting the receiver group inside the stock the selector switch or trigger springs snag preventing the gun from firing and sometimes when fixed in semi the contacts disengage causing the trigger to "click" and not fire. the fix here is to disassemble the entire selector switch assembly including the white plastic cage and remove the verticle spring that holds the tab down in semi so it is permanently set in full auto. Access this with the four screws holding the bracket on the left side (opposite where the selector switch (was or is). With an 8.4 battery it is still easy to generate semi auto fire if that is what you wish to do.
Most of the four hundred sixty rifles I built used actual wood handguards and actual albeit modified Garand gas assemblies. About 120 of the rifles had handguards and gas assemblies that were molded resin parts. obviously not as durable or authentic but they can be patched and repaired with the skillful application of resin paste, sandpaper and finish and detail work. My molds are long gone. (They failed and tore after 120 parts or so). i have no replacement parts and no way to remake them.
I also have no way to know which variation or version or what exact build process was used so sadly if you have an issue with your particular rifle I can't be of a great deal of help. Given how many are out in circulation it is rare that I receive inquireys (which is blessing) but so far most of the requests are from folks who bought them second hand often from either a kit builder or a do it yourselfer who didn't even buy the kit or rifle from me in the first place. In a few of those cases folks were upset with "MY" rifle and I had nothing to do with it. One fellow was persistent and unrealistically insistant that I do something about it to the point that I briefly regretted I ever took on the
project.
I am glad the offering provided a stop gap measure that filled a gap in our hobby and I am extremely proud of the effort but please respect the fact that with regard to the
2nd Bat Garand. i am retired! 2nd Bats workshop outside of his own needs is OUT OF BUSINESS!
If you see a 2nd Bat Garand conversion available do what you can to insure the quality of the build, the condition and functionality of the specific gun and while most of them should be great as with any used airsoft gun you buy at your own risk. Do not expect repair or replacement support from me as I am simply not equipped to do so.
I will periodically buy some I run across that need some TLC or light repair work so on rare occassion might have some to sell. Price will vary by version but will be well below the ICS or GnG Garand so in the $250.00 to $300.00 range. Which is pretty close to what they would cost you to make yourself.
Some had the selector switch left in while others had them removed. some were permanently full auto while others were the reverse. This was done at client requests. the assorted stock attachment processes varied greatly with later models have a vastly improved approach over the early versions. All disassemble quite easily but with the tweaks, the later ones came apart differently then the early ones (slightly more effort). The later flush mounted shotgun clips were a big enhancement but frequently require some slight adaptation to work with each of the base guns. typically the ABS tab attached up front on the clips has to be filed or sanded a bit to work. A three or four BB waste in each clip is always present due to the gap between the clip spring guide and the tappet plate inside the gun so the effective capacity is 11or 12 rounds. The MAG stubby mid cap mag that holds 70 rounds is an excellent accessory to a 2nd Bat Garand and although it protrudes about 1 and 1/2 inch it feeds great, isn't terribly distracting visually and increases the guns skirmishability considerably. These work great in all the brands I've tried thus far. (cyma, AGM, Marui and Echo 1 M-14s. But of course DO NOT work in the GnG or Classic Army M14s.
I have discovered that there are longevity advantages to leaving the gun fixed in full auto. The firerer can maintain semi fire with trigger control or do short bursts which are more likely to register as "hits" when striking your opponent.. In addition, when in semi Mode the AEG produces an electrical arch that over time melts the contact points. (prolonged use and many many thousands of rounds.) A mossfet eliminates this arching. I did not mount a mossfet in ANY of my builds as frankly it was not a problem I was aware of. On most of the later guns I added a stubby barrel extension beyond the locking lug and over time some of these get tweaked and missaligned. This will obviously effect the Bb as it leaves the muzzle and might seem like a flawed or broken hop up with poor range and inaccurate shots. (Easy easy fix but not an intuitive thing to diagnose).
Sometimes when putting the receiver group inside the stock the selector switch or trigger springs snag preventing the gun from firing and sometimes when fixed in semi the contacts disengage causing the trigger to "click" and not fire. the fix here is to disassemble the entire selector switch assembly including the white plastic cage and remove the verticle spring that holds the tab down in semi so it is permanently set in full auto. Access this with the four screws holding the bracket on the left side (opposite where the selector switch (was or is). With an 8.4 battery it is still easy to generate semi auto fire if that is what you wish to do.
Most of the four hundred sixty rifles I built used actual wood handguards and actual albeit modified Garand gas assemblies. About 120 of the rifles had handguards and gas assemblies that were molded resin parts. obviously not as durable or authentic but they can be patched and repaired with the skillful application of resin paste, sandpaper and finish and detail work. My molds are long gone. (They failed and tore after 120 parts or so). i have no replacement parts and no way to remake them.
I also have no way to know which variation or version or what exact build process was used so sadly if you have an issue with your particular rifle I can't be of a great deal of help. Given how many are out in circulation it is rare that I receive inquireys (which is blessing) but so far most of the requests are from folks who bought them second hand often from either a kit builder or a do it yourselfer who didn't even buy the kit or rifle from me in the first place. In a few of those cases folks were upset with "MY" rifle and I had nothing to do with it. One fellow was persistent and unrealistically insistant that I do something about it to the point that I briefly regretted I ever took on the
project.
I am glad the offering provided a stop gap measure that filled a gap in our hobby and I am extremely proud of the effort but please respect the fact that with regard to the
2nd Bat Garand. i am retired! 2nd Bats workshop outside of his own needs is OUT OF BUSINESS!
If you see a 2nd Bat Garand conversion available do what you can to insure the quality of the build, the condition and functionality of the specific gun and while most of them should be great as with any used airsoft gun you buy at your own risk. Do not expect repair or replacement support from me as I am simply not equipped to do so.
I will periodically buy some I run across that need some TLC or light repair work so on rare occassion might have some to sell. Price will vary by version but will be well below the ICS or GnG Garand so in the $250.00 to $300.00 range. Which is pretty close to what they would cost you to make yourself.