SolidSnake87May 23, 2006 10:10pm
I made quite an interesting discovery today. I've known for a while that, When it comes to the real m16 series, that the airsoft equivalents generally reproduce the same 1:1 scale and dimensions. The only real visual difference is that airsoft m16s have larger handguards to accept batteries and that the mag well and mags are slightly smaller than their real steel counterparts. This is something most airsofters have known for a while. I did not expect, however, that the adapters for some of these parts (like the delta ring) are true 1:1 scale internally. Out of sheer curiousity I was able to mount not only my real steel AR-15 handguards on my CA rifle but A real Knight's Armament RIS system for the M4 Carbine. Furthermore, I was able to place my airsoft handguards on my real gun. (don't ever shoot a real gun with airsoft hanguards or they will melt beacuse they don't have the aluminum heat shields!!!) Unfortunately, I was not able to see if an airsoft RIS would work on a real steel firearm since I have a full length RIS for my CA SR-15 and I need a carbine sized one in order to try and fit it on my real AR-15. I figured I'd share my little discovery because I've only been aware of external comparison's between real and airsoft (with the exception of some airsofts mimicking the real steel gas tubes in the hand guards). I truly wonder, however, if the airsoft ones mount on the real rifle because if they do they would save you some serious money if you desired one on your real gun. A real Knight's RIS is around $300+ and the airsoft ones are around $145 at AEX. The airsoft versions of these parts, though they are not combat durable, are far cheaper and work just as good as the real thing if used for target practice. I know i'm mounting a CA RIS vertical grip, CA rail covers, and a CA Harris style bipod on my AR-15!!!!