M249 or SCAR?

[Devildog]

I'm debating on support gun platforms. The two I am considering is either an A&K M249 Para, or making my CA SCAR into a support rifle.
The SCAR has a proline built gearbox shell, quality CA proline gears, good shimming, M120 spring, steel tooth polymer piston, POM piston head, good air seal, bearing spring guide and a high torque motor. I run it with a 9.6v 4200 mAh battery.
So I'm trying to decide if I should get a bipod and a 5000 rnd high cap mag for the SCAR, or simply go with the M249.
My question is, the SCAR GB holds up great but will the shell stand up to sustained support fire? And how well do the 5000 rnd box mags feed?

[Zorak]

Many scenario and milsim games wouldn't let you run a SCAR with a box mag, unless there's an LMG SCAR variant in real life that I'm not aware of.

[Da Vinci - Да Винчи]

Feb 1, 2013 10:04:31 GMT -5 Zorak said:

[...] unless there's an LMG SCAR variant in real life that I'm not aware of.

If an M27 is allowed in games as a support weapon (I don't know if it is), then the HAMR IAR should be allowed. It's a SCAR modified for use as an automatic support weapon, entered in the IAR competitions but it had lost to the modified HK416, the M27.

Here's a picture:


Heavier barrel, and a fires from a closed/open bolt mix operation. I would think it would fall into the whole MG36 debate, though, seeing as anyone can put on a barrel extension and drum magazine, and call it a HAMR.

[Zorak]

Of course it comes down to event organizer's discretion, but to me, the logic of airsoft support weapons is that if you're willing to carry some significantly fat oversize weapon to perform suppression fire, you get a box mag in exchange. The point of the IAR competition was to get something that weighed almost what an M4 weighs, which would disincline me to allow box mags on IARs. I might go for hicaps as an intermediate solution, especially if the Marines end up adopting a high capacity magazine like those Surefire 60 or 100 rd models. (Which I've heard suck, but that's a different issue.) I think the Strikers in Ohio always insisted that the real steel weapon had to have a quick change barrel to get a box mag, and that makes sense to me.

[Hound]

Im pretty sure the 249s gearbox is designed better for the extended use. Like quick change spring, adjustible ROF, and a beefed up shell.