Hello Everyone,

A3, Mateba and myself took a road trip to Airsoft Atlanta today and on the way back
there was a discussion (among many over the 500 miles I drove in the full round
trip) about whether the full stock M249 could handle a large battery. Here is
the result of that discussion.



The photo on the top right shows the three batteries. The top one is the small stock battery.
The middle one is a 3500maH 8.4V NiMH and the bottom is an 1500maH 8.4V NiCd.

As you can see in the lower right, the battery won't go in butt-end first but as you can see in
the other two photos, it will submerge in the stock connector-end first.

Conclusion? It will fit but you will need a battery cable extender to get it to work. It might
work if you stuff all of the cable in the narrow part of the stock but that is a pain for two
reasons:

1. Getting it out with the connector-end into the stock can be a chore for those of us with
large fingers.
2. The opening of the stock will scrape and cut your plastic covering on that end
battery that is turned sideways on your battery pack because it is just ever so slightly bigger
than the opening. I don't understand why the shrink wrap covering is so thick on that end,
but both of my large batteries have it. It is only that battery that scrapes the battery
compartment opening on the way in/out.

The best solution is do like I do and leave the battery in your gun, disconnect the battery
from the gun and charge it while still in the gun with the battery door fully open to vent
any charging heat.

Comments?

Respectfully,
Mike W.
Auburn, AL

thank you for the update and pics.

Wow, thanks. That's exactly what I was hoping to hear, I think. But, will it hold a large 9.6v with or without modification?

looks like it'll need modification and/or a custom shaped battery.

Good to know. I took for granted that the full stock M249 held a large type battery. I didnt know it fitting was a issue, but good info for the future. I always felt like the small type on the Para and the wire stock versions was the biggest downfall of those guns. If I had one I would want a 9.6v with 3000 mah or more. If you are lugging around a Saw you want long batter life and the rate of fire to match.

Since the topic of this thread was the A&K M249, I thought it was be good to just
keep M249 comments here.

Airsoft Atlanta was out of Prometheus Purple Hopup buckings so I ordered the
Guarder Clear Silicone bucking instead. It took all of three minutes to install it.

I took it outside and test fired it at my usual 180 foot target. SWWEEET!.

It adjusts so easily now and the adjustment is not too sensitive or lack sufficient
range. It is just right. I will order the Purple Prometheus when they have them
in stock along with a Systema Air Nozzle.

I also ordered some Systema Cylinder grease and Prometheus shims for
a future rebuild.

Respectfully,
Esquire
Auburn, AL

For anyone interested, the original full stock can be modified to accept any large 9.6 and probably 10.8v batteries. I used a dremel on mine and basicly removed material from the opening at the end of the stock until the battery would enter and remove fromt he stock without any hangups. The end plate is pot metal and very easy to mod. I took me about 20 minutes with a router bit.