It seems that all Airsofters eventually come to the choice of "Which AEG?". New airsofters always seem to want to ask the question "Which is the best AEG?" Depending on who they talk to, they may get any number of answers, but the most common and most truthful answer to that question is "There is no BEST AEG". Now it is important to say also, that there are at least a couple Tokyo Marui AEGs that may not be as advanced, or have as much potential as the other available models, but they are ALL worth buying.

This guide has several different selection methods to go by, each subsequent method more advanced and more in depth than the previous. Which selection method you use will depend on how soon or how fast you want to dive into the Airsoft AEG experience. No single selection method is better than the other, but one method may be better FOR YOU, than the others.

Click on the links below to go to each of these methods:

Method #1
Method #2
Method #3 (Still under construction while doing research)

Method #1:
Cool Looking

This selection method is the least complicated method. Newbies (that term is used affectionately not malicously) are the most likely to use this method, but many times, long time veterens will use this method, just because they've always wanted a particular AEG, even though they knew another AEG fit them and thier style better. This method is also the most practical for those who know they will never actually play airsoft, and will only be collecting or target shooting.

The core of this method relies entirely on "Coolness Factor" and your own idea of what looks cool. For you to be truely happy with your choice, you NEED to go by what YOU think looks cool, not by what others tell you looks cool.

It is imortant to say, that there is no wrong choice when using this method. As I have already mentioned, there is no BEST AEG.

If you believe that you want to make a more informed decision that will ensure your future options are maximized, or if you just prefer to know more about what you are buying, then go on and read the following selection methods.

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Method #2:
Choose by MOS

What is MOS you ask? MOS stands for Military Occupational Specialty. There are Many MOS categories, more than I probably know of, but in Airsoft there are only a few that are relevant in AEG selection. Those few are:

CQC/CQB (Close Quarters Combat/Close Quarters Battle)
Recon
MOUT (Military Operations on Urban Terrain)
Assault
Fire Support
Sniper Team Support
Sniper

(For those Mil Sim types, I know that some of these are not true Military Spec MOS's... Humor me)

Below I will explain the basics of these MOS types, and what AEGs may best fit those MOS types.

CQC/CQB:
The key thing about this MOS, is that you will be playing in tight spaces, with door and corners to move around. If your main playing area, or your preferred playing type will put in this kind of environment, then you need to have a weapon that is small and compact. The TM AEGs that I feel most fit this are:

HK G36C (With its stock folded, this AEG is very compact)
Sig 552 SEALS (With the stock folded, or even with it open, this is very compact)
HK G3 SAS
FN P90
UZI (I don't recommend this one, its old design makes for later issues)
MP5A5 HG (With stock compressed)
MP5K
MP5K PDW (With or without stock folded)
MP5 RAS (With stock folded)

Recon:
Recon Teams are utilized in all environments, but the key thing is that they are often on the move more than your standard squad. They need to be able to move quickly and be able to navigate easily and quickly through rough terrain and tight quarters. For this reason, the size or compactness of your weapon is as important as the bulk of the weapon. A lot of the AEGs from the CQC/CQB category will cross over with Recon. Here is the list of those AEGs that I feel fit this MOS the best.

HK G36C
Sig 551
Sig 552 SEALS
HK MC51
HK G3 SAS
M733
M4S
CAR15
FN P90
FN P90 TR
AK 47S
AK Beta Spetznaz
MP5A5 HG
MP5K PDW
MP5 RAS
MP5A4
MP5SD5
MP5SD6
MP5J

MOUT/Assault/Fire Support:
MOUT Assault and Fire Support all share the same necessity, The ability to function in short, medium and long range, and the ability to dish out some maximum firepower. Normally the M60 and M249 SAWs would fit in this category, but Tokyo Marui does not make them, and this guide is specific to TM AEGs. The qualities that make AEGs fit in this category, are medium length to long barrels, upper end capacity magazines, good sights or sight rails for attaching optics, and high stock rate of fire. The AEGs I feel meet those criteria the best (not many meet ALL of those criteria) are:

HK G36C
Sig 551 (In this category, its best to use the black 60 round mag)
Sig 550
M16A1
CAR15
M16A2
M16VN
M4A1
M4RIS
SR16
XM177E2
M4S
M733
G3A3
G3A4
AK47
AK47S
FN P90 (Compact but has a long barrel for its size, and a high rate of fire)
FN P90 TR
M1A1 Thompson
FAMAS F1
FAMAS SV
Steyr AUG Mil
Steyr AUG SRT

I have not paid close attention to the capacity of high capacity magazines in this selection, mainly because I don't believe in them :) However, it is important to say that all of the M16 Platform, AK platform and MP5 platform guns have G&P Midcap magazines available. The MP5s however, I don't feel have long enough barrels to be used in the these category, so they are not listed. If you don't agree, that's up to you.

Sniper Team Support:
Those in Sniper Team Support, are usually referred to as a Spotter. A spotter's job is to work with one sniper, as his second set of forward eyes and the eyes in the back of the snipers head, to protect him from flanking and anti sniper squads. He must also be capable of verifying range to target, and have a gun with a scope of the same power as the sniper, but with a normal FPS. Those AEGs that I feel fit this role best (Without addition of after market scope rails) are:

G36C
SR16
M4S
AUG SRT
MP5 RAS
MP5 J
P90 TR

Bear in mind that for you to be most effective as a sniper spotter, you will need to buy a separate scope to mount on the sight rails of these weapons. It would be best to select a scope that has an adjustable magnification so you can decrease it when protecting the sniper at close range. If you wish to use another weapon in this MOS (That I havent listed), you will be required to buy a sight rail or mount as well.

Sniper:
A Sniper is one who is an excellent marksman and is skilled in the arts of concealment and stealth. Snipers take their shots from long range, generally longer range than most other soldiers or weapons can. Because of this, a Sniper should have a long gun, with a long barrel and a good sense of range, bb drop and windage. Snipers DO NOT use a full auto weapon. There is only one AEG that fits the Sniper MOS. It is also the most expensive AEG made by Tokyo Marui. That AEG is:

PSG1

The problem with the PSG1, is that it does not come with a high enough FPS to be effective as a sniper rifle. Its stock FPS is barely higher than any other AEG. So, if you truely want to be a Sniper, you must realize that you will need to spend a lot of money. First for the high cost of the PSG1, then to upgrade the spring and gearbox well enough to shoot at Sniper capable range.

I know that there are those veterans out there that may disagree with my weapons classifications in this section. If you do disagree, you can contact me via email or at AirsoftForum.com to discuss it with me, and based on your argument, I may edit these classifications.

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This selection method is based on the AEGs ease of upgrade-ability, and the accessories and conversion kits available for future expansion of the platform. Actually, this "Method" is more a guide to the currently available upgrades and expansions available to certain AEGs. There really is no limit to what you can do to many of the Tokyo Marui AEGs, if you have the money, time and expertise to do it. Many of these things are not, by any means, even necessary, for any reason other than to satisfy your cravings to maximize your weapon's design, image or capabilities. Below I will list those AEGs, that have the most available or most interesting upgrades, attachments and conversion kits. Under each of these AEGs I will list all those items that I know are possible, but know that they may not come cheap, and may be hard to find. Also as I find new items, or items I currently do not know about, I will add them to this list. I will not list the prices of these items, you will have to search and find out those prices on your own.

Gearbox Upgrades:
First off, I will mention that the Gearboxes that have the most available upgrades are Version 2, Version 3, and Version 6. Because These gearboxes are common to many AEG models, I will only list the gearbox version for each model under the name of the AEGs.

For each of these 3 gearoxes, upgrade parts available are:

Reinforced Gearboxes
Reinforced tappet plates
Reinforced piston heads
Reinforced pistons
Reinforced cylinders
Reinforced spring guides
Enhanced air seal nozzles
Metal gear sets
High torque Gear sets
High speed gear sets
Metal oiless bushings
Bearings
Springs
Full Tune Up Kits (FTKs)

Version 1(FAMAS), version 4 (PSG1) and version 5 (UZI) gearboxes are much harder to find parts for.

Click on the AEG names below to go to that model's upgrade and accessory list.

H&K G36C

Stock Gearbox: Version 3
Stock Motor: EG1000 short type
Stock Battery Type: 8.4 Volt Mini

The G36C has 2 rails, one on top and one under the front hand guard. This allows for attachment of any number of accessories, from Scopes, Red Dots, and Lasers, to Mini launchers, grenade launchers, ANPEQ battery boxes, Bipods, vertical fore grips etc. But the really cool G36C specific accessories are thus:

Freedom Art Flash Sight forG36C
First Factory Silencer Adaptor for G36C 14mm Clockwise
Custom Sanyo 1500mAh 9.6V Battery (Requires fuse removal AND gun modification)
First Factory Handguard G36C (will fit 8.4V AND 9.6 volt standard large type battery)
Mosquito Molds 3000 round Drum G36C (I dont condone the use of these)
Smokey's Gun Works Low and High cheek pieces
G&G Metal Cocking Lever for G36C
KM Steel Flash Hider and/or outer barrel set for G36C
First Factory G36C 5000 round Box Magazine (Again, I don't condone the use of this)
TMC G36C RAS kit with metal outer barrel
GB-Tech G36C Metal Handle and sight rail.
First Factory Tactical End Cap G36C (Replaces the stock)
PGC G36C Handguard With New Design Outter Barrel For 10.8V Battery

Now for the REALLY cool conversion kits:

Star SL9 Sniper full conversion kit for G36C
Poly SL8 Sniper full conversion kit for G36C
G&P G36 Handguard Set With Bipod for G36C
G&P Carry Handle With 3.5X Scope For Marui G36C
STAR G36KE Conversion Kit ( Long )
STAR G36KE Conversion Kit ( Short )
Guns Workshop XM8 Coversion Kit

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