SunProject M700

SunProject M700
Juoj8 from Sweden (airsoftsniping@yahoo.com)

	Stock Specifications
FPS	120 m/s with 0.2g BBs (394 ~fps)
Length:	110cm
*Barrel*	Inner barrel: 55cm
Weight:	2500g
Ammo capacity:	??? rounds

SunProject

There's not much info about the Sun Project M700, which I think is rather sad, since it's such an interesting rifle. If you ask Airsofters around, there isn't many who knows about it's existence, and even fewer who know how it performs like! Many believe that it only exists as a collectors piece, and is no longer been made, which is not true. Others have said that this rifle shoots very lousy, but this is not true either.

I could start with telling a million facts about the real rifle, the real m700 mechanism, and all thrilling facts about the inventors mother and her cat, but I don't find such information any interesting, and I think that most of you 'gunfreaks' out there know what an M700 is, and it's pretty easy to find ont he internet anyway. Instead I'll start with some facts about how the Sun Project M700 really performs like.

First looks: This gun makes about 120 m/s with 0.2g bb's, (about 394 fps), which isn't really that bad, but still a bit low for a sniper's rifle. Another thing that keeps the range low is the lack of hopup. This problem has an easy cure though, because on the outside at the end of the inner barrel, there is a glimpse, which an O-ring is threaded onto. This works as a crude hopup system, but you don't really see it until you use really light bb's, like 0.12g. An easy way to make your own hopup would be to find an o-ring tighter than the one supplied, which would give the rifle more hopup. Anyways, I think that the PDI hopup chamber for the SP M40A1 would fit, so if you're planning on buying that upgrade, then there'll no worries for you... I think it's kind of strange of Sun Project to not supply their M700 with a somewhat good hopup, since it's one of the biggest reason for potential buyers not buy one of these.

Even though it's lacking hopup, the range is still a bit longer than an ordinary Marui AEG with hopup. Without any upgrades, I'd recommend you to use 0.2-0.25g BB's with the M700, since the range will be very poor with heavier BBs.

Accuracy: The accuracy of a stock M700 is very good, since it has a tight barrel. Even with light BB's, the accuracy's still good. Therefore you don't need to buy a precision barrel with the gun, which keeps the price tag low. This is always pleasant since Airsoft sniping gear is rather expensive. If you wish to use the PDI hopup you have to buy a new AEG barrel, since the M700 barrel won't fit the new hopup chamber.

Looks: The looks of this rifle could be described as, for you who already are familiar with the M40A1, as a sleeker version of the M40. We could start with the stock, the M700 stock is longer than the M40's, but the M40A1's is higher, and has a cheek rest. The m700's stock is also not as wide as the M40's. The grip on the M40a1 is bigger, and more vertical than the one of the M700. I myself prefer the M700's grip, since I think it's more ergonomic, but that's for your personal taste to decide. The M40A1's outer barrel is longer than the M700's, probably due to it's bigger cylinder. The M700 utilises the old cylinder, which is much smaller than the new M40A1 XB version's. Therefore, the outer barrel gets shorter, and the magazine is placed closer to the trigger. The outer barrel is also very much smaller than the M40's. The quality of the wood and metal on this rifle is really good, no cheapass here ;)

Upgrades: The biggest problem, I think, is to upgrade the M700. There isn't many upgrade parts, although most of the parts from the old M40A1 fits, since they use the same cylinder. I've found a gas cylinder at DenTrinity for the m700, which is actually cheaper than the M40's. Although, I don't know how it performs like, but probably like the M40's (Read the M40A1 review at RedwolfAirsoft for reference on gas cylinders...). Another way to upgrade the rifle is with a stronger spring, and since the M700's internals are very strong, I believe that no other upgrade is needed. Although, I'd recommend that you buy a new sear, and preferably a new trigger, with bearings to keep trigger pull light. The internals are crude but effective, and the rifle strips in no time. You could mount a bipod on the rifle, but then you'll need to drill a hole in the stock, but it's a minor modification, no worries here. I think that many M700 owners vill wish to add a bipod to reduce the "hunting-rifle"-looks of the gun ;)

Correct way to cock the M700:

Pic 1: This way you'll get tired very fast, and causes unneccesary stress on
the cylinder.

Pic 2: An easier method, but it's still causing stress on the cylinder.

Pic 3: The correct way to cock a sniper rifle. By putting your thumb around
the cylinder you get some sturdiness, and gives you a straight pull.

Pros:

Cheap, depending on where you order it. I got mine for 300$ including shipping and 25% taxes (Importing to Sweden is expensive). But It can be a lot more expensive, often it costs more than an standard m40.
Unusual, I've never heard of anyone outside japan who owns one, except for a guy from Norway.
And of course, it's one of the most beautiful rifles that exist ;)

Cons:

It has no real hopup system, exept if you modify it.
Hard to find upgrades, but not impossible, check the external links.
You'll have to do some work yourself.

Conclusion: To make it short; The M700 is a unusual rifle, I think that I and my brother are the only ones in my homecountry, Sweden, that owns these babies. Therefore you'll stand out from the crowd at the games with this rifle. The problem tough is that it requires more work to upgrade it than with, let's say the APS-2. Although the reward will be a very unusual rifle.

Upgrade Potential	6/10 It's not like it's impossible, but it's hard to find the accessories needed.
Build Quality	9/10 You can run a car over it, twice probably ;)
Value for Money	7/10 You get the most durable rifle I've ever seen in airsoft, and that's good.
Overall Potential	8/10 The big problem is that you'll have to do some work yourself...

written by Juoj8 from Sweden (airsoftsniping@yahoo.com)

External Links:
http://www.uncompany.com - The only place where I've found upgrade springs
for this rifle.

http://www.dentrinityshop.com - Got a pretty cheap gas cylinder for the
m700.

Proper Bolt Action Gun Cocking Techniques - Suackie's guide to correct cocking of and Airsoft bolt action gun.

SunProject M40a1 review - A very long review on AirsoftCanada of the closely related SP M40a1

Site links: ???

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