A5 mag fed conversion?

[HarleyQuinn]

Hey y'all,


So I recently (today) scored an a-5 for $20...

I tried searching but keep getting an error.

Way back when, I loved the build quality, and design of them otherwise I'd just buy something else. Plus, I like a challenge.


Here's my dilemma. I wanna covert it to mag fed. I saw the tacamo conversion kit, and read that kit is terrible.

I'm wondering your experience with them if you've used OR if you have a good route to convert in another way. I don't mind metal cutting, or getting something printed (heck, most everything I have is heavily modified).


So my ask is, does the vortex conversion work, if so, how are the mags? Would I be better off designing my own conversion to use a "better" mag (I saw the cf20's are "the best").


Anyway, I figured if anyone group is gonna have some ideas or good direction to start, it'd be tall.



Have a lovely weekend!
-Cassidy

[XEMON]

I had a tacamo, its in par with Tipmman stuff ... got a lot of hate but for the lower end of things it was pretty good imo.
It kept up with other magfed of the era.

Not the best mag fed ... by a long shot ... but if you want to dip your toes in and see if you like the game, go for it

Note i sold mne before they came out with the bolt lock system, no idea how well that works

[Trbo323]

My question is what's your end goal? Just to have a fun project or to reliably use on the field?

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[HarleyQuinn]

End goal, have something that's magfed and see what I think of it honestly. Ideally one that just works, isn't fiddly, and see iif it's for me.

All my current markers are all long term projects, or based on very, very old tech. Which I love btw, but I was hoping to have something that's a bit less finicky. And they're all pumps.
And this seemed to be an option for trying out magfed.

[Trbo323]

End goal, have something that's magfed and see what I think of it honestly. Ideally one that just works, isn't fiddly, and see iif it's for me.

All my current markers are all long term projects, or based on very, very old tech. Which I love btw, but I was hoping to have something that's a bit less finicky. And they're all pumps.
And this seemed to be an option for trying out magfed.

Then I really suggest not doing a conversion. Especially a custom one. Unless you get extremely lucky they are always fiddly and picky. Maybe look around for a milsig m17 or valken m17 (same marker) they typically sell for a lot less than current mag feed stuff but are pretty good. Based on a modified automag drive train they are heavier but very simple and reliable. Or just keep an eye out for a used emf100. They are really good and if you don't end up liking mag feed you will likely be able to sell it for what you buy it for. Unfortunately even used I would expect about $450 minimum, more if it comes with mags and other things

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[HarleyQuinn]

Hmm, so I also kinda want a project (winter is ramping up here and I like modifying).

So just to check, when you say finicky, in what way? Mis feeding? Velocity? Chopping?

[Trbo323]

Hmm, so I also kinda want a project (winter is ramping up here and I like modifying).

So just to check, when you say finicky, in what way? Mis feeding? Velocity? Chopping?

All of the above? I can't say for sure as every custom project is different. I did a 98 mag feed conversion that someone else started, they did most of the cutting and did a decent job of it but still the alignment to get everything to work together was terrible. If you needed to open up the marker for anything internal it was a minimum 1 hour job. It was fairly inconsistent after all that. If you had paid me minimum wage, all the work I put into it I could have bought something good.


I also worked on a milsig m17 that had a mag well conversion to run dye/PE mags. It had issues with alignment, still worked ok but just wasn't great.

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[Trbo323]

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

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[Trbo323]

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[Trbo323]

Super Nova

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[Fubarius]

Here's my last A5 build...





So A lot of this is part of my own personal A5 build theory, a low bolt force, which is a lot like a low pressure build but concentrating on getting the main spring tension down as low as possible instead of trying to get the pressure down below some arbitrary number. So don't worry about the reg, rear velocity adjuster, extra valve volume, gold powertube, etc. That's me doing my usual overkill.

Also the rare .45 grip for the A5, I just couldn't help myself.

Anywho, lets talk just the magfed stuff. This body is the bit older version. It came with the mag well that took the older roundhead magazines, so called because the part that balls came out was, well, round. Which meant no First Strikes. So I had to order the updated Dmag mag well. These magazines are honestly not as nice, and you got to give them a bit of a smack to make sure they're fully seated, but they're simpler, much cheaper, heck they're available in bulk sets (I bought a box of 10 of them), and can work with First Strikes. In theory, haven't gotten to test that yet. The mag well was "almost" a simple drop in. Had to do a little dremeling to get everything to fit just right. I went with 14 round mags on this, which are 7+7. You have to flip them around half way through. Which works for me, my goal wasn't to get as close to a hopper fed in use, but more like a semi-auto stock class. You got to play with it like a SC Phantom or Sheridan, really make every shot count, but you can squeeze into positions where you might not be able to work a pump.

So all the stock parts (what few I used) dropped right in. The grip frame, being an aftermarket part, had some fit issues. The stock A5 grip is a little bit loose out of the box, so I think the body was made a little thicker there to tighten it up. Well the aftermarket frame was made a little bit tighter for the same reason. So the two together was REALLY tight. Had to dremel off all the paint under where the grip frame attaches.

Now the body I used was made before they developed the loc-bolt, which is an extra backwards facing detent that locks the bolt open when there is no ball present. Nifty, nice to have, I'm not worried about it. My other regular mag fed choice (T8) doesn't have it, I just count my shots, or at the worst listen for the extra loud shot to tell me to reload.

[HarleyQuinn]

Trbo- Really not looking to buy, again, looking to mod with direction.


Fubarius- thank you! That's incredibly useful info, when I do my conversion I'll be checking back on this a few times. Much appreciated 💜

[Carp]

There is other options for your mag choice.

Vortex To Tipx (Magwell Only) | eBay



Then you can get silly with ADN Drums, Zeta 20rd, Tippmann 12rd and 7rd mags.

[Trbo323]

I get it. I like a good project too. Just keep in mind I have yet to see a conversion project that was perfect, reliable and left nothing to be desired.

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[w3ki11suckers]

so if youre inyerested, i have this 3d printed conversion that bolts on where the cyclone feed would typically go. pretty straight forward. i can send me some pictures later today. id also have to find which mags worked with it. PM me if interested. ill let it go cheap as ill never cross over to the dark side lol

[HarleyQuinn]

W3ki11- that'd be lovely, thank you! Get me tooling around a bit. I appreciate the offer! It seems like it could be fun.


My big builds are getting the squallicane operating again, and my KP....