Airsoft Modified M16

The entire Midwest USA has now entered the late January deep freeze stage of Winter. I have been staying busy writing some airsoft gun troubleshooting tips over at the airsoft gun repair website but  this deep freeze for me seems like a perfect time to bench some of my own guns and get them ready for the upcoming 2010 airsoft season.
 My backup loadout includes among others a TM M16-A2. This gun was upgraded with a 120% spring (380-400FPS), steel gears, metal 6mm bushings and a V2 metal spring guide in July 2009, in October the gun started double and triple firing bb's and I lost most range. The problem was not real hard to locate as seen in the photo. My options are to just replace the gearbox shell knowing that at the current 390 FPS I will have to replace the gearbox again in 3 to 4 months cost ($39.90).  I could, downgrade the FPS to 350 or lower and not worry about cracking the gearbox again, or I could install one of the new V2 upgraded gearbox shells and see if it works as claimed. ($59-89)

Well since I like the Modify companies other airsoft upgrade products I have used in the past, I decided to go with the Modify Torus upgraded version two gearbox. I chose... the 7mm gearbox model since the unit does not come with bearings or bushings and I already had the 7mm size metal bushings on hand. To save money I figured I would just transfer the rest of the old gearbox internals into this new shell. The unit does include a reinforced tappet plate, as standard tappets will not fit this gearbox.
All of my M16 TM components transferred into the modify torus design and fit nicely. I am impressed with the look and solid feel of this unit. I also like the idea of the open maintenance viewing ports machined into the face of this gearbox. This allows for lubrication and field inspection without opening up the gearbox.
 Once assembled this gearbox unit fit perfectly into my TM M16-A2 replica body and the completed airsoft gun chronographed at 397 FPS. Perfect. Now to see if it can hold up all season, under my heavy trigger finger.

Armsdealer...OUT!!!