Going on what Jon stated...
Personally, I would never buy another JG, My first real airsoft rifle was a JG G36c, had to send it to the seller twice to get it running, then it worked just fine, as long as I cleaned the barrel. I never actually used it in a game, but I had it sitting around for a year or so. Every one I know that has a had a JG has had problems with the internals. Chad had an MP5 that was constantly messing up...
Echo 1 is the sister company, but with better quality control. I've never shied away from Echo 1 guns.
I am the exact opposite in this regard.
I've found E-1s to be highly inferior , and the "higher" standards of QC supposedly reported, to be non existent.
But, like Jon said...
and I will say...
even when you buy the "best of the best" , someone is going to get a "lemon" at some point, and from there on out... will not buy another.
Like me... I am NOT going to buy another KWA , not until I see some constant changes in the quality they ONCE had held, but seem to lack nowadays. Thats me though... hehehe, Metal will tell you all, I am crazy for that aspect still.
But see... the thing is... every company can and will produce an AEG that malfunctions or performs poorly at some point. Someone will get one, and try to smear the "good name" based off their own limited understanding on how mass production, and QC goes.
No one ( including me) likes getting a lemon deal. We drop HUGE money on one thing... and we feel "cheated" when it doesn't measure up to what we spent, or desire it to be.
I PERSONALLY think E-1 is inferior to JG all the way around.
that's because my personal experience with them, has formulated this opinion.
of course...
I know what "companies" or brands to stay away from at first , just given out there. Some make stuff, that is cheaply made, and no amount of "upgrading" or repair is possible.
But here's the real deal...
No matter what you start with...
You will find something else you want more later on.. lol.
one good thing to do, is start learning Airsmithing if you can. One of my first thing I did was, hook up with Cody, and help him or watch hm work on AEGs. Now, I can say Cody is a good airsmith... but even he goes through a "trial by error" basis of repair. He and I both, have screwed things up here and there.
Though, I did pick up tips and learn from other airsmiths as well.
Like Metal is a good source as well, cause he's been doing it longer... and has more of a mindset like me, when it comes to actual performance vs "popular opinion".
We both look at Bushman's post and what he says as well.
But, the ABILITY to understand how every piece, down to the amount of gear grease to use,a nd how it will effect the performance and reliability of an AEG, will take you far beyond what "brand" of AEG you get ahold of to begin with.
Like I despise E-1 AEGs, however, if I had one... I now have the knowledge and confidence that I could gut it entirely, and build it into an AEG that will grant reliable performance. If I hit a "snag" , then I can go to my pool of resources ( other airsmiths) and ask them their opinions. It cost to build from scratch though... but, since I have other AEGs already able to use ... I don't have to get a project running immediately, and can spread out cost over time to do it.
No one "brand" of AEG, is with-out faults and quirks. Given enough time using one, will will find these things just by using em.
Then, you gotta break that down farther for INDIVIDUAL replicas, made by the companies. Individually, there will be more INCONSISTENCY from one AEG on the line, to the next even in the same "batch".
So, it boils down more into PERSONAL preference of what to use and get.
Some AEGs are easier to work on than others, and have "brand new' reliability over other brands.
Knowing through experience, what parts are better than others , what barrels are going to work better, what hop ups seem to work the best, what other modifications seem to hold up well... allows you to "judge" for yourself , if what you got is a POS, and what isn't.
Also, some "experience" with different brands... like I know JGs fairly well now. I know the "general" quirks of em. I STILL can't seem to make the selector switch operate as intended. I do think this is a manufacturing flaw in JGs, and until they change it on the line... they will always have these issues.
( I still say an Electronic fire mode selector , would be better than MANUAL fire mode selection.. but thats me, and my disdain for outdated technology.)
But, another person, even an airsmith... will tell me, this or that, and we might not see eye to eye on every aspect, regarding the different "brands" of AEGs. Why, because it's all based on previous experience, and limited knowledge we possess.
So, it boils down... again... get what you like, and feel comfortable on getting.
Is G&G better than JG? <<< That depends.
Is G&G better than CA? <<, also depends ( I will say YES though, lol. )
Is G&G better than ICS? << again, it's a variable equation.
Are JGs inferior to E-1's? <<< I will tell you from experience, no. They are more or less the same, only one has a trade mark on it, and the other doesn't. More JGs outlast E-1s under heavy use though. But, yet again... it depends.
So... all in all.
get what you want, and feel comfortable on investing in.
