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:

Appropriate springs:

Spring tubing (for AEG box mag conversion):

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.


We'll update this comment with any further developments or anything else we missed.

[killzxo]

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

[UADSmartAirsoft]

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

[the_zerokai]

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

[pierceday]

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. 😂

[juhomakela]

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

[reallifegaming]

Christ almighty, GBBR techs are basically wizards

-Aeg tech

[kriegsmarinekonigstiger]

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

[kylecopley]

Airtac have just released a full kit to use standard 249 mags and hpa it

Also as a saw gunner I REALLY want one

[MrJose]

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.

[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!

[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.

[stewbacca]

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 😂💪

[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!

[EthanL]

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

[keyboardcommando]

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

[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 😅

[James-rdse]

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.

[arjunsingh-mihu]

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

[Vaquerodelabulba]

Its definitely the most anticipated video, Im super hyped 🤠