ProWin M4 CNC Aluminum Hopup
Aug 10, 2012 23:16:42 GMT -5
Post by triggs (SABR) on Aug 10, 2012 23:16:42 GMT -5
Full Album Review – ProWin CNC M4 Hopup
ProWin CNC Aluminum M4 hopup chamber
- Overview
- Accessories
- Externals review
- Internals review
- Performance
- Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Overview
For many years it was common knowledge that the Tokyo Marui M4/M16 hop up chamber had an inherent flaw in its design with holding its hop setting under sustained fire. i.e. the more the gearbox cycles, the more the hop up dial rotates back to zero (off). With the release of the Madbull Ultimate 3-in-1 hop up this problem became less of an issue.
It’s also been common knowledge that the “drum” style hop up found in rifles like the G36 and G3 do not suffer from the gearbox cycling affecting the hop up setting. However the Madbull M4 hopup is a costly $40 with virtually no difference in price anywhere.
A few months ago however ProWin released their CNC Aluminum M4 hop up. Having run a ProWin G36 CNC hop up for many years I was set on buying one, especially since it was an affordable $22 from ehobbyasia.com
Accessories
The hop up comes with very little beyond what is absolutely necessary. In fact the hop up doesn’t include a spring for the front of the hopup, which I found a bit surprising.
Externals Review
Externally the ProWin hop ups have always been some of the most eye catching hop ups on the market due to their anodized blue exterior.
Besides the anodizing however, there’s not much to view. The exterior features an engraved manufacturer mark.
Internals Review
Really there’s not much to talk about for the internals of a hop up. However, it’s worth noting that the ProWin hop ups have always been some of the smoothest I’ve worked with. This is more likely due to that they are CNC milled directly instead of cast and refined, but it is a positive mark in my book.
The one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the lack of instructions. While a hop up may not be “complicated” the bag of parts can be confusing to a new user. A simple exploded drawing on the back of the slip of paper would have been nice.
I’ve tried to lay out the hop up as close as possible to how it would be assembled.
1. Once the barrel and bucking have been inserted into the hopup attach the included “C clip” like a traditional hop up.
2. Next install the hop up nub and arm similar to a G36 and insert the included pin.
3. Next slip the included o-ring into the groove closest to the feed tube. This o-ring provides tension on the hop up wheel and keeps it from losing its setting.
4. Slip the hop up adjustment wheel onto the o-ring with the groove facing towards the feed tube.
5. Slip the hop up arm into the groove on the adjustment wheel. I found it helpful to push on the arm forcing the wheel end up, making it easier to align in the groove.
6. Slip the wheel “C clip” into the second groove closest to the gearbox.
7. Finally screw the allen screw into the front of the hop up chamber to allow for the use of a tension spring.
Once completed everything should look like this. Note I have added my own spring from a local hardware store for the front.
Performance
My previous experience with the ProWin G36 hop up chamber set my expectations fairly high, with a consistent ability to send .28-.40g BB’s out to a respectable 240ft depending on environmental conditions.
So when it came to the M4 version I was expecting similar results. As of the first trial I am pleased to report that the same consistency can be found, with 3” groupings at 200ft from a free standing position. Further testing is of course required, but I will have to find a much larger field to test at.
Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Given that the only competition to the Madbull Ultimate is the ProWin CNC I’m very pleased with my results. Having owned a number of Madbull hop ups I’ve been pleased with their results as well but the price, unless you are using their LED module, makes the $40 price tag somewhat of a deal killer especially in the current economy.
That being said, shipping from ehobbyasia for just the ProWin hop up does force the price up roughly equal to the Madbull. However, with enough items purchased the price comes down to an acceptable $26
Externals Score:10 /10
It’s blue, it’s shiny, it works, you can’t ask for more.
Internals Score: 9/10
I have to take a point away for the lack of an included tension spring. I’m not sure if mine was missing from the factory or they don’t come with one at all. But it was somewhat of a letdown.
Overall score: 9.5/10
For an advanced user the ProWin hop up will be a great add-on. However, for a first time upgrader the lack of an included spring and assembly instructions may make the process a bit more complicated.
© Copyright triggs 2012
ProWin CNC Aluminum M4 hopup chamber
- Overview
- Accessories
- Externals review
- Internals review
- Performance
- Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Overview
For many years it was common knowledge that the Tokyo Marui M4/M16 hop up chamber had an inherent flaw in its design with holding its hop setting under sustained fire. i.e. the more the gearbox cycles, the more the hop up dial rotates back to zero (off). With the release of the Madbull Ultimate 3-in-1 hop up this problem became less of an issue.
It’s also been common knowledge that the “drum” style hop up found in rifles like the G36 and G3 do not suffer from the gearbox cycling affecting the hop up setting. However the Madbull M4 hopup is a costly $40 with virtually no difference in price anywhere.
A few months ago however ProWin released their CNC Aluminum M4 hop up. Having run a ProWin G36 CNC hop up for many years I was set on buying one, especially since it was an affordable $22 from ehobbyasia.com
Accessories
The hop up comes with very little beyond what is absolutely necessary. In fact the hop up doesn’t include a spring for the front of the hopup, which I found a bit surprising.
Externals Review
Externally the ProWin hop ups have always been some of the most eye catching hop ups on the market due to their anodized blue exterior.
Besides the anodizing however, there’s not much to view. The exterior features an engraved manufacturer mark.
Internals Review
Really there’s not much to talk about for the internals of a hop up. However, it’s worth noting that the ProWin hop ups have always been some of the smoothest I’ve worked with. This is more likely due to that they are CNC milled directly instead of cast and refined, but it is a positive mark in my book.
The one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the lack of instructions. While a hop up may not be “complicated” the bag of parts can be confusing to a new user. A simple exploded drawing on the back of the slip of paper would have been nice.
I’ve tried to lay out the hop up as close as possible to how it would be assembled.
1. Once the barrel and bucking have been inserted into the hopup attach the included “C clip” like a traditional hop up.
2. Next install the hop up nub and arm similar to a G36 and insert the included pin.
3. Next slip the included o-ring into the groove closest to the feed tube. This o-ring provides tension on the hop up wheel and keeps it from losing its setting.
4. Slip the hop up adjustment wheel onto the o-ring with the groove facing towards the feed tube.
5. Slip the hop up arm into the groove on the adjustment wheel. I found it helpful to push on the arm forcing the wheel end up, making it easier to align in the groove.
6. Slip the wheel “C clip” into the second groove closest to the gearbox.
7. Finally screw the allen screw into the front of the hop up chamber to allow for the use of a tension spring.
Once completed everything should look like this. Note I have added my own spring from a local hardware store for the front.
Performance
My previous experience with the ProWin G36 hop up chamber set my expectations fairly high, with a consistent ability to send .28-.40g BB’s out to a respectable 240ft depending on environmental conditions.
So when it came to the M4 version I was expecting similar results. As of the first trial I am pleased to report that the same consistency can be found, with 3” groupings at 200ft from a free standing position. Further testing is of course required, but I will have to find a much larger field to test at.
Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Given that the only competition to the Madbull Ultimate is the ProWin CNC I’m very pleased with my results. Having owned a number of Madbull hop ups I’ve been pleased with their results as well but the price, unless you are using their LED module, makes the $40 price tag somewhat of a deal killer especially in the current economy.
That being said, shipping from ehobbyasia for just the ProWin hop up does force the price up roughly equal to the Madbull. However, with enough items purchased the price comes down to an acceptable $26
Externals Score:10 /10
It’s blue, it’s shiny, it works, you can’t ask for more.
Internals Score: 9/10
I have to take a point away for the lack of an included tension spring. I’m not sure if mine was missing from the factory or they don’t come with one at all. But it was somewhat of a letdown.
Overall score: 9.5/10
For an advanced user the ProWin hop up will be a great add-on. However, for a first time upgrader the lack of an included spring and assembly instructions may make the process a bit more complicated.
© Copyright triggs 2012