VFC Airsoft M249 Review: Untapped Potential

A review of VFC's gas blowback airsoft rendition of the iconic M249 SAW, also known as the FN Minimi.
Nozzle standoff spring housing:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:621...
www.shapeways.com/product/CVL...
Appropriate springs:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBQL2SN3 (Second from the left column, second from the bottom row- the 1.67lbf/in spring))
www.mcmaster.com/catalog/129/... (Same price as the entire pack above, so use this as a last resort)
Spring tubing (for AEG box mag conversion):
www.mcmaster.com/catalog/129/...
0:00- Introduction
4:15- M249 History
5:58- Externals
15:32- Disassembly
17:03- Internals
31:48- Operation
35:35- Performance
38:23- Practicality
42:42- Aftermarket
44:15- Fixing It
49:03- Modification Summary
49:35- Conclusions
Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio.

[@ExplosiveEnterprises]

A few quick notes that got accidentally omitted during filming: -The rubber bumper that the charging handle passes over is also the lever that opens the ejection port cover. This seems to wear down fairly quickly, so it does so inconsistently. There is no impact to function. -The stock inner barrel is 355mm. -We tested Maple Leaf Wonder and PDI W-Hold buckings, and neither performed as well as the stock bucking, even with the nozzle spring mod. -Efficiency tests were conducted at an ambient temperature of 73F. 1/12/24 Update: We DO NOT recommend the nozzle standoff spring anymore- please see our follow-up video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5CkeXuGlNqbl8U We'll update this comment with any further developments or anything else we missed.

[@CAAT308]

I agree brother 0331 for life and these kids couldn’t hold the real thing or ammo any ways. Would love to see them hold 800rds water frags nvg helmet smoke and any other combat load. I love my gbb saw just hpa mine. Love low bb/ammo count. It makes you better and harder for you

[@killzxo21]

Being in the army dude this LMG is the MOST realistic one out there. You’ll never see someone holding a saw with 1000+ rounds on a belt fed! Most ammo boxes come in packs of 200 so these kids are far tf off

[@Wienerslinky]

yeah no shit, but when standard capacity airsoft mags can hold 150bb's, usually more, a 100 round magazine for a gun that is supposed to be an LMG doesnt really make sense. like another commenter said, this would be perfect in a milsim game with ONLY realcaps allowed, but on a standard AEG skirm this thing just falls behind

[@killzxo21]

@@Wienerslinky well duh no shit hence why I said it’s the most realistic not the most practical. Obviously if you wanna have a high cap load out you go with an AEG my guy.

[@Roundgoggles]

*laughs in vietnam war*

[@tylerm124]

I agree for realism. But people run 400 rd hi cap mags in their ar's most of the time with higher rates of fire. So unless everyone is on the "real steel" 30 rd mag game its really not the most effective for what it should be doing which is suppressive fire when its a lower capacity than the airsoft ar it doesnt make sense. Always remember airsoft is military larping.

[@ronaldchang8885]

To me, both 100 round for a gas LMG or 2,000 rounds for a battery LMG are both far from real.

[@the_zerokai7329]

2:10 never thought i see someone reload a lmg like a p90

[@mrxecks5793]

that's kindof similar to how they actually reload, after you attach the new box you have to open the top like that to lay the belt across before slamming it closed. that part he pulls out of the airsoft gun does look like a p90 mag though

[@pierceday8317]

Everyone's complaining about the unrealistic reload and I'm just sitting over here thinking of how I could mangle this thing into a weird kitbashed fictional weapon because I actually like the cassette reload. 😂

[@zhain0]

I don't mind the cassette relaor, but there is no way they couldn't make 200/250 bb box mag with enough gas. Just seems like a missed opportunity imo.

[@4UADSmartAirsoft]

amazing review! and my god you went through all the details! Thank you so much for this review!

[@pyroromancer]

hows your cats doint

[@reallifegaming3822]

Christ almighty, GBBR techs are basically wizards -Aeg tech

[@cillblinton8181]

Absolutely not bro you guys have it way harder. Most gbbs are simple to tech with only basic handy skills required. Seeing you guys do wizardry on gearboxes based on spreadsheets from some companies obscure airsoft forum makes my brain hurt

[@kylecopley5320]

Airtac have just released a full kit to use standard 249 mags and hpa it Also as a saw gunner I REALLY want one

[@kriegsmarinekonigstiger4038]

At last the video we’ve all been waiting for!

[@juhomakela2823]

"inexcusable to release magazines that do not work" Did that already with the AEG mp7. Jams galore with those goddamn things.

[@brigexplosion]

Probably the most well explained and informative video I have seen on an airsoft gun ever. This has sold me on the gun. Well done man.

[@arjunsingh-mi9hu]

I dream they make a GBB PMK, who cares about mag capacity, this thing is amazing!

[@fiskersproductions]

If you get one of those chonker 300rd boxs you could fit an HPA tank and literally infinite ammo in one

[@arjunsingh-mi9hu]

@@fiskersproductions Bro ur a genius

[@doodlepugg]

Outstanding, comprehensive review. If all airsoft reviews were like this it'd be awesome - none of this paid promotion rubbish with 'it's really good out the box' and other clichés. Thank you for being a true to life human being and putting in so much effort to help people like myself make a decision. I cannot applaud you enough!

[@MrJose786]

The long awaited review and as usual you did not disappoint , I'm glad.i cancelled my order , although you clearly showed that the gun is viable if you hpa it, might be something I consider im the future! thanks for the review, i know you put in a lot of hard work to make it so comprehensive, I wish all airsoft reviews were like this.

[@James-rd1se]

The magazine release button is made of zinc alloy, but it broke after the third time I used it... Fortunately, because I live in Hong Kong, the manufacturer sent a small number of parts to the store, so I asked a master to make a steel one.

[@AlbionAirsoft]

Why do I like using a 12kg mg with a lower mag capacity than an ARP9 with a drum? Because I can, it looks cool and most of the weeds that whine about these things can’t even lift it. I’m waiting for the kinks to get worked out with feeding on the vfc saw and then I’m getting one!

[@TOTALRECOILAIRSOFT]

Awesome work dude! 👏👏 Thanks so much for this video! I’ve been waiting for this to release before attempting any work on mine. It’s defs gonna save me a lot of heart ache 😅

[@stewbacca117]

We had VFC on site at the GBBR LARP in Taichung I wrote about back in May. They brought 5 different final prototypes along in different configurations and were acting as arms dealer NPCs allowing players to borrow and use them in game in exchange for objectives completed in the MilSim. I'm pretty impressed with the system on the face of it, and it was surprisingly accurate and consistent in use from what I saw, but I still need to get hands on with one in a longer term review now I've finished up with the LCT SVDS. I definitely like the separation of gas and ammunition feed. No daft hose which always cause feed issues in my experience. Also, why do they keep doing this with open bolt guns? I'll suggest they include the spring standoff in future when I see them 😂💪

[@Vaquerodelabulba]

Its definitely the most anticipated video, Im super hyped 🤠

[@kylegungamers2755]

Great review work as always. Makes me exited for when the GGP batch of guns comes in!

[@user-ms5tl7dm3j]

The combination of Metal Slug sound effects and Sega Rally BGM is absolutely chef's kiss!

[@EthanL2023]

Love the video as always! Would you consider doing a guide for getting into a VFC GBB M4 and another for getting into the MWS? From price to pros and cons kind of similar to this but with all of your experience with the gbb platforms you’ve gained over the years

[@ExplosiveEnterprises]

A side-by-side comparison of all the popular AR brands is something we'd definitely like to do, but as that would be a major undertaking we have no concrete plans just yet.

[@sogerc1]

@@ExplosiveEnterprises Not to mention you should also do the AKs.

[@EthanL2023]

@@ExplosiveEnterprises you could always do it as a series, and take your time with it. Then you could tie it all in at the end

Most excellent review and mods guide as usual. Thanks!

[@anthonyrs8137]

That's how you do reviews! Much appreciated!

[@arthurhuang]

Love the review. I tap mine m249 with box mag. Its not too bad, since I don't like the hpa line stic out. Its a lmg with lots potentials and i love how your content.

[@charslapp285]

bro why is everyone complaining about the magazine capacity? a REAL saw normally uses 100 round belts and a SAW gunner carries 8 belts. And with it being a GBBr meaning MORE REALISM it would make sense to only have 100 round magazines

[@elijaah81]

Sick review iam absolutely loving this style of video and some GBBR love

[@keyboardcommando5146]

YOU GUYS GET BIG POINTS FOR THE SEGA RALLY SOUNDTRACK!!!!! A GAME THAT WAS WAY AHEAD OF IT'S TIME!!!!

[@NighthoundTacticalOfficial]

One of the best reviews I've seen.

[@sugoi4983]

All i hope is that now that the M249 & HK53 is out that, that we finally get to see the updated SD sometime soon

[@DENDENMUSHIFROMZOU]

Honestly glad its fieldable. Might pick one up

[@halo-cn3ku]

Thank you for the very informative review. Glad to know there are only a few modifications that need to be made to it, to make it function properly.

[@walterbryan1798]

Super in-depth! Much more than “it looks realistic. Okay, moving on…” Nah, this was highly descriptive and interesting.

[@gunman1299]

Awesome review! Would really like a review on the vfc hk53 next.

[@OversquareGoon]

Hope they use the development from this platform in other machine gun chassis, a FN MAG platform would be a dream come true

[@g.p.airsoft]

Thanks for making this video.

[@NomadikProd]

brilliant video as per usual. Sad I missed out on some of the fun, but seeing gorilla action is always good.

[@somdov]

The first part of this video plays like a montage of a joke/troll weapon in a videogame. Love it!

[@KrokLP]

I really hope they make a PKP. I wanna run it with a Scorpion belt system with the HPA hose going through the dummy belt into the ammo backpack

[@mountainadventures7346]

Very nice video! I will wait for the M60 for Nam Soft!👍

[@GTNoName]

Was waiting for this less go

[@adamtroke]

Awesome video - thanks!

[@airsoftgeek901]

canceled my pre order and got myself an tm akx, this vid makes me want to pre order it again 😅

[@tk-5764]

Trust me you got a good gun, just wait it out and you'll love having both

[@redn2994]

Airtac are working on a HPA adaptor which lets you run a box mag also.

[@Splina.]

this is just the perfect platform for HPA blowback i had this idea for long...but no really options... the idea is to fit the HPA tank in the box mag

[@azimuth9751]

If you're going to HPA tap your AEG LMG, might as well get this one and just reload more often

[@arog7493]

After watching a bunch of your reviews as of late I am considering you the authority on GBB reviews and as such would love to see you review the VFC HK416 which I'm considering purchasing. Would be greatly appreciated!

[@xaviersshare5824]

Great video,thanks for the making ,because of your video , I ve change the magwell plate ,appreciate that . May I ask where u found that heat shield which is suitable for Vfc m249 , it looks cool .thanks again 🙏🏽

[@SHKUDOY]

Great job, thanks ❤

[@isaaclee674]

Excellent video as always. Btw, I have a question of how to put on the heat shield as my heat shield got blocked by the carrying handle even though I have place the charging handle like yours

[@simonstokes369]

Great review

[@gunsmoke132]

I'm not going to lie I am not a m249 fan nor did I really think this would be all that cool but just the intro alone makes me kinda want one

[@7249xxl]

getting mine today. Not intending on being competitive with the rest. I will try to make a more permanent HPA mod and print some box mags that just hold 200 rounds. Maybe buy some 100rnd nutsacks and just make them 200 rnd cap.

[@EuthanasiaSUPREME]

Cool idea but I personally like the idea of the Daytona GBB LMGs over this

[@pacosanchez3684]

Great content, this is THE video we all have been looking for since this gun was on the market. Just one question, Im thinking to buy it, but does the cassetes fit on a m4-g36 style mag pouch? I mean, they seem preety long for those pouches and I have been looking for the exact measures to see if the can fit in medium box mag pouches but it seem like they dont fit on them, and the big mag pouches are not an option for me because they don´t "fit" whith the aesthetic of my loadout. Thak you so much, Have a great day¡¡¡

[@froggyblocks]

Would love to see a review on the VFC mp7

[@7249xxl]

The modifications you've shown and the options im already seeing for 3d printing is something i hope they can incorperate in gen 2 and make backwards compat with gen 1. With the high gas efficiency i don't see the need for them to redo the gas system albeit it an intergral NPAS and or Alu nozzle would be great (really when you make your gun HPA-able how did you not do this).

[@Booze_Rooster]

Lets just hope its not full of those wonderful cheap magnesium parts. Cant shake the memories of my VFC GBB M4A1. Too light, dimensions wrong. Shot nice and crispy for two games. entered the third and the BCG exploded, bent the upper receiver and cracked the slip ring housing. Sent pieces of plastic nozzle all over the place. Only info I can contribute pertains to the MK48. They start with "NV" in the serial number. The one I was issued in 2011 was NV482301. I don't recall what the MK46's started with as we only had the one in the platoon. I seldom used SAWs when stateside and don't recall any sernos from the top of my head. I can tell you the metal finishes look nice, but are entirely off from the real thing. The 249 has a weird mix of finishes on it. The feed tray cover is almost purple, the receiver has more of a blue finish to it and the stock collar and trigger group have more of a green tinge. I have yet to see any airsoft gun pull off the mixed finishes look. This is a mess of grays. Hope you get it nice and weathered.

[@nextgenretros2062]

Awesome video! Can you make another ingame video?

[@Zonic0000]

I like the milling mark somehow lol

[@male_walk]

Got one yesterday. But seriously, I can't see the difference between stock&mod nozzle. Does it really help? I just want to see some numerical evidence like how far it'll travel before/after the mod.

[@JustinDelDavid]

"Oh i see a ghillie!" *unloads entire fucking mag*

[@gincrystal7756]

Amazing😯

[@cMONoutdoors]

the fact that VFC could easily find mag issues if they just tested it but didn't is ridiculous .......thankfully the threads to hpa tapp it is universal and using a standard m249 box mag is a easy mod

[@Adidas_Altyn]

Airtac is working on an aeg box mag adapter for this too

[@anthonywood9632]

I’m torn between one of these or a tm mk46 I’m in the uk so I’d have run it on hpa with our colder winters

[@Ravencof]

Looks awesome, but may stay with my A&K M249 para. Still. Awesome.

[@Captain_Coleslaw]

Major oversight not including 60 round quad stack Stanags !

[@frast9201]

did you try putting some silicone spray in the cassette mag? it helped me with jammy mags on other guns.

[@draxusdemos8266]

question are some of these videos taken at south Maryland paintball because if so i think that might be me in the background clips around the 3 minute mark

[@ismulniir]

love your kit bro, what goggles do you use?

[@ExplosiveEnterprises]

In this video it's Bolle X800s, but for actual play we've all slowly converged on ESS Turbofans.

[@tescoshortage]

0:40 _Somebody_ has impeccable taste in music.

[@AshM308]

What do you mean by shimming the rocket valve for going HPA? Can i get away with not doing that? I also found your parts on shapeway. Thanks!

[@silverfan1295]

Hi there, I bought the vfc m249 and can't seem to get the hop up out, not matter what I do the unit won't budge. I just want to access it to put in a new hop up unit.

[@JediMando11]

Epic!

[@kozaa7978]

Gonna wait for gen 2 then

[@bryceharper5915]

The review is here!! Where do you guys source your VFC guns? Particularly the MP5 GBBR?

[@ExplosiveEnterprises]

We suggest checking out Taiwanese and Hong Kong retailers, as availability in the US and Europe tends to be limited and expensive.

[@ChrisC-oy9qp]

"Embrace the LARP" 👌

[@HousingTalesTV]

Do you have to trim the spring length? How far should the nozzel stick out?

[@Alffraido]

do you think VFC will make a version 2 to correct the issues present in this version?

[@AshM308]

is it possible to buy a block with the spring for the nozzle from you? I dont own a 3D printer also it is possible to have the measures for the spacers you used for the weight? Mine is on its way and id like to get the parts before it get here. Thanks for all the info!

[@TierNoneOperator]

Where did you get the aimpoint clone on the carbine?

[@funpolice8601]

What are the odds that there comes a video of a pkp?

[@LocoLynx]

What box mag did you use for the magazine modification? thanks.

[@Ghost-hz9xm]

Man i’d love to get that thing but i can’t find the huge ammo box and the mk2 handle that you have

[@AshM308]

What would you use to grease the exterior of the entire gun?

[@Hammerbass]

I just dont like the magazine system for this one. Im down for GBB LMG's but If the purpose of a GBB is sorta realism, I want to have something with belt bags for bb's. It definitely is cooler than I imagined though.

[@zhain0]

I don't see why they couldn't have real capacity box mag and enough gad storage. I like the idea of having to lift the cover to reload. You do on the real one, but it just seems like a missed opportunity. If I can get a 400bb box mag for my mws this thing should be able to use a 200bb box mag ootb

[@SupremacyDealer]

Are the hpa parts from vfc already available?

[@Boopboob]

GBB master race

[@thespaghettiiigod]

how do you carry the inner mags?

[@pyroromancer]

when tension springs go flying, they disapear forever

[@premyslkyselak8731]

If needed some more recoil why not to wait untill a steel reciever is made by aftermarket rather than washers modiffication? Actually I understand that this video was done at the time the aftermarket just started thinking about some mods to be done. The same with the nozzle mod. Do you think that your mod can stand longer time use? Unless itś not 3D printed in one piece I don not believe that any glue can hold it for long. But I might be wrong. And last but not least the HPA is also expected by VFC sowe should bet sttisfied by it too. Whatś more I think it should fit he magazine. I understand the BB mag modiffication, but to me it looks awfull and I stay with plastic mags. Hopefully some aftermarket replacement occurs solving all the issues the original have.

[@Doug_Dimmadome1833]

When will this he available for purchase in the United States

[@king124kine]

Could you not fit the HPA tank in the box ?

[@Hobbnob_FirstPersonAirsoft]

Another excellent review, unfortunately the unrealistic reload is a dealbreaker for me but I understand that I'm asking too much. Still a very cool entry to the market though

[@Michael-fk3ik]

mind explaining the barrel shroud - shoulder rest joke?

[@docthorr]

Yup, would love to get it

[@elliotcragg4181]

Lovly weapon but I think to actually get this gun operational and working I.e. tapped for HPA use to avoid cool down and modded to use a drum mag for ammo capacity you would be better simply buying a HPA LMG at least everything you would want to do and even more so like changing the bucking for accuracy isn't a chore to do or having to mod the weapon in such a way. So in a simpler sentence if I were to buy one of these it would sit on the wall and maybe be ripped thru a mag once in a while shame 😕.

[@user-bv2np4xl5s]

Hi, guys, You will have Modify PP2k?

[@alanwallace7443]

So it’s not as good as the Tokyo mauri mk46?

[@Auloss]

HPA is the only gbb SAW that makes sense

[@calebsalzmann3248]

hello, I love these videos and value your opinion, I haven't however seen many umarex/elite force videos. do you think they are a trust worthy brand and should I spend my hard earned money on their products?

[@ExplosiveEnterprises]

Hey there- Umarex and Elite Force, along with Cybergun, don't manufacture anything themselves. They're licensing companies that rebrand other products- the Umarex MP5 GBB and Elite Force MP7 AEG, for example, were both actually made by VFC. It can be hard sometimes to figure out who actually manufactured a product (the OEM), but we try to use the OEM name rather than the rebrander's for our reviews. And since these companies do rebrand products from multiple companies, they can vary considerably in quality. Hope that helps!

[@calebsalzmann3248]

@@ExplosiveEnterprises Thank you so much