Springers!

PISTOLS

    Ah, Gaston's Plastic Pistol. My first springer.  Here is a little excerpt info on the real steel version from the preeminent authority on modern military firearms, Ian V. Hogg (Source: Military Small Arms, 7th Ed.):

    This pistol was adopted by the Austrian Army in 1983, 25,000 being ordered.  It is a recoil-operated semi-automatic, using a cam-controlled dropping barrel to lock slide and barrel together...There is no manual safety catch...The Glock 17 is of simple design, there only being only 34 components including the magazine.

    My thoughts?  I had a chance to shoot a real steel Glock 23 and it was pretty sweet.  The feel between that and my Glock isn't that far off.   Relatively cheap, simplistic and easy to point; as easy as shooting a revolver.  Make no mistake, Glock definitely has carved a niche on the handgun market.  Don't even get me started with the patented "Safe-Action-System."

    I first delved into the airsoft hobby two years ago.  I was sitting in one of RU's many computing facilities checking email and what not and decided to just type in "glock" over on eBay.  Sure enough, numerous objects came about and I stumbled upon "Airsoft BB Paintball, etc..."  Hmm....a replica Glock for less than 30 beans...why not?  I could not believe that they could make BB guns look like the real ones.  I always thought of Glock's having it's own lil' mystique...what would this gun look like?  When it finally arrived a week later, it was all I had hoped it would be except that the trades were missing and there was a bulge beneath the recoil-spring guide, not to mention the "Made in Taiwan".  Eh, no biggie...As you can see in the pic above, I have "pimped" it out by giving the ubiquitous "Glock" front dot sight and rectangular outline rear sight.  Two years later and still functioning, although it's aim is incredibly off!  Field-stripping is a pain in the arse.  Some features include: 1-1 scale replica, full size magazine - 25 rd capacity, two-piece slide, high impact plastic ABS furniture, hop-up, leftside mag release, fixed ejection port and last but not least, real steel takedown lever posing as the external safety! 

Some famous Glock quotes:

"Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel-plated sissy pistol?" - Tommy Lee Jones, US Marshals - Hey! that nickel-plated sissy pistol was a SIG P226 stainless, which isn't that bad. Update: I was wrong, the sissy gun turns out to be a Taurus PT945. PUKE!

"Between your faith and my Glock 9mm, I take my Glock" - Arnold Schwarzenegger, End of Days - What other gun would an Austrian use?

Coming Soon: UHC G17 vs. Real Steel G19

www.glock.com

UHC SIG-Sauer P228 (HGHU)

    My second springer.  A compact 9mm spawned from the famed P220 lineage.  Again a snippet of the real-steel from da man, Ian. V. Hogg:

    The P228 appeared in 1988 and was intended to round off the SIG line with a compact pistol having a large magazine capacity.  (A squared block around the chamber fits into the enlarged ejection port in the slide and does the locking).  The majority of the parts are from the P225 and the P226 pistols and it uses the same automatic firing pin safety and decocking double-action system.

    Well, what can I say, from the land of coo-coo clocks and Swiss cheese, the Swiss sure do know how to manufacture a fine weapon, need proof? - Swiss army knives.  Need more proof? - These pistols are used by the FBI, DEA, U.S. Navy Seals, the Secret Service and just recently, the good ol' New Jersey State Police.  Anyways, I had to "spring" for this pistol after seeing it's older bro the P226 in action in Face/Off and the X-Files.  It's nice, compact and easy to point like the real thing and with this gun, I hit the ten ring about 20 ft out for the first time.  Sadly, two years later, it's starting to lose it's accuracy like a middle-aged man trying to hit the toilet taking a whiz.  I've been able to pimp this one out with three-dot sights (shown in the inset above).  I originally had the bar-dot-bar sight configuration but those bars were just too nasty.  Now, if I used glow-in-the-dark paint I could simulate SIGLITE sights, hmmm.  Oh, and like the UHC pistol above, field stripping can be a bitch, as well as the barrel is fixed onto the frame, which, in theory would make the gun more accurate.  Sadly, it is not.  Some features include: 1-1 scale replica, full size magazine - 25 rd capacity, two-piece slide, high impact plastic ABS furniture, hop-up, ambidextrous magazine release catch, open ejection port and last but not least, real steel de-cocking lever posing as the external safety! 

www.sigarms.com

KWC Colt Model Elite 10mm (HG)

    My bro Steve's first springer.  The Colt. 45 has too much history to be placed here - oh about 90 years worth, but this specific model has been around for the past decade or two.  In the 1980's Colt revived and updated their .45 model (perhaps to compete with the onslaught from European manufacturers?) and is known as the Series 80 lineup.  They also reintroduced John Browning's ageless classic, the M1911A1 and updated it to be known as the M1991A1.  Trust me, from a far it looks to be confusing.  Each gun on this page's real steel equivalent should respect this gun for most new modern designs feature a "modified" Browning action - whether it be locking block or linkless cam, Browning's ingenious design has withstood the test of time.  The Model Elite 10mm Auto is Colt's attempt in the 10mm market before the .40S&W made a giant splash and supplanted itself as the cartridge de rigeur.

    For awhile, I thought the Colt .45 was too plain, however compared to its flashy clones i.e. SV Infinity, ParaOrdnance, Caspian, etc...I began to respect the original wartime Colt .45.  For Steve, he has some infatuation with WWII weapons, must be all that Day of Defeat playing.  As you can see above, I was able to repair the gun with some tips from Inferno out in Hawaii;  added dot-bar-dot sights and fixed the slide.  Some features include: 1-1 scale replica, stick magazine - 12 rd capacity, one-piece slide, high impact plastic ABS furniture, leftside mag release, fixed ejection port, Single-action grooved hammer with eyelet, recoil spring around barrel, rubber grips and last but not least, real steel-like working external thumb safety!

Until he decides to get the new TM M1911A1, this Colt will have to do!

www.colt.com

TM H&K Mk23 SOCOM (HGHU)

It is now time for the piece de resistance.

    My first Tokyo Marui springer.  What better way to get a marvelous gun made by a marvelous airsoft manufacturer?  I have many nice things to say about this gun and no negatives.  I got it from excesspower off eBay just when the TM Mk23 SOCOM pistol was released in Sept. 2001.  Presently, this is by far my most superior, bread and butter gun.  I first heard about the SOCOM pistol when I played Metal Gear Solid.  I wondered, what ever happen to Snake's good ol' Beretta from the NES Metal Gear series and what was this SOCOM thingy?...is it a real gun?  Sure enough and it’s a massive mofo packing a lot of punch! 

    Some interesting tidbits about this awesome weapon:  In 1990, the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) decided to hold a contest to replace their aging "Hush Puppy" or the Mk22 Mod 0 (basically a run of the mill Smith and Wesson Model 39 with threaded barrel).  This little military pet project was called the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) which involved two entrants: Colt and Heckler and Koch, GmbH.  Well, we all know who one out and it turns out that the H&K Mk23 Model 0 design is THE most thoroughly tested handgun ever created.  It has undergone testing from 140° F to -25° F, immersed in salt water, exposed to sand, dust, snow, mud, icing, and to a slew of other hostile environments, as well as accuracy testing after 30,000 rounds of firing.  Can be operated DA/SA with de-cocking lever to silently and safely lower the hammer.  Having controls reminiscent of the venerable Colt M1911A1, the SOCOM is a stable weapon in the Special Forces arsenal, although many operators feel the shear size of the gun is a hindrance and therefore, prefer to use the H&K USP Tactical.  Alas, H&K is one of THE best firearms company out there to this date, kinda like ESPN is the best sports channel out there.  The system consists of the pistol itself, a suppressor and a laser aiming module or LAM.  Let's see what Ian V. Hogg has to say about the real steel:

    The SOCOM pistol is generally similar to the Heckler and Koch USP, which formed the basis of the design.  It is a double-action design, hammer fired, with breech locked by the Browning dropping barrel system.  An additional recoil buffer is incorporated into the buffer spring assembly to reduce the felt recoil and improve the accuracy.  The muzzle protrudes from the slide and is threaded to accept the silencer...The front of the frame is grooved to accept the laser sight.

There are three variations of the SOCOM pistol:

    I must say that Marui's version is near parallel to the real thing, except for the metal and the weight and a few other things.  However, shaving off nearly 2 grand ain't bad either.  Mine came with all the trades intact - woohoo! except on the real steel, the lower right hand side of the receiver should have the US Patent # instead of "TM SOCOM Mk.23" and the "Made in Japan, etc.” on the top of the receiver.  Dimensions are exact and the springer features a faux O-ring on the barrel, which also improves accuracy.  The end of the barrel has 14mm neg. threads and can accommodate the KSC SOCOM suppressor.  The inner end of the barrel even features H&K’s polygonal bore rifling – impressive to detail!  Even the locking barrel chamber features authentic trademarks.  As for accuracy purposes, I have put only .12g bb's in and at about 20 feet out, I was able to hit the ten ring with ease.  It also stings like a mother.  I would be amazed at what it can do if I ever use the .25g bb's included!  It shoots just as hard as my UHC MP5SD3 and that's a full size SMG!  Slide pull is very LONG, to compensate for its nearly 10 inch slide.  It has a full hand grip that's extremely heavy on the stippling and checkering - so much that after holding the gun, the checkering leaves imprints on the hands!  Some other features include: 1-1 scale replica, full size magazine - 25 rd capacity, one-piece slide, high impact plastic ABS furniture, hop-up, ambidextrous magazine release catch with flared trigger guard, open ejection port, faux rubber grooved hammer, lanyard slot, extended recoil spring, durable brass inner barrel, threaded insert on trigger guard for mounting accessories, frame grooves and last but not least, real steel slide catch posing as the external safety!

www.hkpro.com
www.mark23.com

TM Beretta M9 (HG)

    My second Marui springer purchased from excesspower.  Now granted Marui does make some excellent airsoft springers, there is no way a person should charge $45 for a non hop-up, and for that, I was a bit disappointed in the price alone on this gun, other than that, the quality is top notch when it comes to TM.  My Beretta M9 is one of my most realistic looking pieces, sleek and resplendent in all matte black finish.

    Beretta claims to be the oldest industrial manufacturer in the world (c. 1526) and throughout that period, they have perfected their weapons so that the world’s greatest armies would adopt them.  So in 1985, the US Army officially adopted Beretta’s Model 92F to replace the aging Colt .45 as their standard sidearm, but not without some controversy.  I have spoken to ex-military and they still do not like the Beretta.  It is interesting to note that both handguns feature near identical length and barrel size dimensions, so that the feeling wouldn’t change, however, it lacks the sufficient “stopping power.”  It must also be noted that in the trials, it came down to the Beretta M92F and the SIG P226; the latter was eventually lost out on cost alone.  Beretta’s M92 series was one of the first handguns on the market to feature a double-stack magazine that held 15 rounds and was one of its selling points to the Army.  Other selling points that one over the US Army was the ambidextrous magazine release and the ambidextrous crosshatch slide safety.  Ian V. Hogg writes:

    Based on the M1951 brought up to date…magazine capacity has been increased and the trigger mechanism is double-action…having a safety catch on both sides of the slide, a magazine catch behind the trigger guard…including a automatic firing pin lock…trigger guard was reshaped to suit the two-handed grip, the magazine had its base extended to improve the grip and the butt front edge was curved at the toe, new grip and lanyard ring were fitted.  The barrel is chromed internally (albeit a lesson learned from the Colt M16) and the external finish is ‘Bruniton’, a Teflon-type material.

    Marui’s version is superb.  It is a full-size gun, about an inch shorter than the SOCOM.  Some qualms that do appear: Has a two-piece barrel with significant seam down the top, cut back magazine to allow proper hammer action, non working slide safety and stress cracks appear on the slide due to TM’s design of the metal piston spring retainer.  Nevertheless, the positives definitely out weigh the negatives.  Unlike most Beretta springers, this one sports a cut slide/open ejection port which is a must – a Beretta signature, authentic takedown, one of the best looking faux rubber grips and a nifty optional barrel plug that can attach basic (non-threaded) silencers – for that MGS2 effect!  One other interesting point to note: because of Japan’s weird patent/trademark laws, they can put H&K trades on, but with Beretta it’s a different story.  Ultimately, in its place of the distinct three arrows insignia on the grips, you get three swords with the words “US MILITARY” and instead of “PB” it’s “MB” on the slide…which I guess stands for Marui Beretta!  Some other features include: 1-1 scale replica, full size, but cut back, magazine - 25 rd capacity, one-piece slide, high impact plastic ABS furniture, switchable magazine release catch with squared trigger guard, open ejection port, grooved hammer with eyelet, lanyard ring, metal recoil guide rod  and last but not least, real steel slide catch posing as the external safety!

www.beretta.it
www.berettausa.com
www.berettadefence.com

UHC H&K USP (HGHU)

    The latest springer so far.  Well, to complement the SOCOM (aka a USP on steroids) I got this weapon after seeing it in action in 'The Way of the Gun' and in MGS2.  Hogg states:

    The USP (Universal Self-loading Pistol) was designed with the intention of incorporating all the various features which military and law enforcement agencies appeared to find vital and was introduced in 1993.  It uses the Browning cam system of breech locking, together with a patented recoil-reduction system which forms part of the recoil spring and buffer assembly.  The frame is of polymer synthetic material, and metal components are given an anti-corrosion finish.

    Known as the P8 in Germany, the USP was born out of the .40 and 10mm caliber phase, the USP was built from the ground up to .40S&W specifications.  Heckler and Koch don't disappoint.  With the knowledge gained from its previous pistols, the USP was ushered in as a new police sidearm.  With at least 7 different variants to choose from, it definitely puts the U in Universal.  '93 production models don't include polygonal bore barrels until 1995.  The USP is now offered in 9mm and .45 ACP.

    For less than $20, this gun was worth it.  Unlike the stories I've heard of UHC's USP being underpowered; fortunately mine is pretty powerful and hefty.  Some disappointments are: no trades, loose magazine and the chamber does not lock in the ejection port.  Takedown is authentic and the grip is full bodied, except the stippling is a bit less than the SOCOM's.  Basically a no-frills pistol that is very effective.  Some other features include: 1-1 scale replica, full size magazine - 25 rd capacity, one-piece slide, high impact plastic ABS furniture, hop-up, ambidextrous magazine release catch with flared trigger guard, open ejection port, grooved hammer, lanyard slot, frame grooves and last but not least, real steel-like working external thumb safety!

www.hecklerkoch-usa.com
www.streetpro.com/usp

Y&P Glock 19 (HGHU - Heavy Weight)

    Wow, my latest airsoft gun.  It's been awhile since I purchased one of these bad boys, especially with the shady likes of Y&P.  For the past year or so, I've been spending all my dough on real steel, cleaning supplies and range fees, but once I got my raise, BAM, I had to pick this baby up for comparison after getting the real steel version.  For only ~$30 (incl. S+H) from www.airsoftatlanta.com this pup is probably THE closest resembling Glock springer out there.

    The Glock 19 can be considered (well I do for that matter) as Gaston Glock's closest creation as to what the Glock slogan is: Perfection.  Following the success of his 17th patent, the Glock 17, it was only a matter of time until Gaston and the boys from Austria decided to create a compact sized version of the venerable standard size M17 in caliber 9x19.  In 1988 the first generation Glock 19 began arriving in the States.  Rumor has it that the very first G19 prototypes were just 17's with the grip chopped down at a angle to get that sporty look as well as the cut down of the muzzle end of the frame/slide.  Shortly thereafter, Glocks moved on to the second generation, where the grips featured checkered front/back straps and incorporated reliefed grip panels instead of the full grippy wrap.  Not till 1998 did Glocks undergo the third generation change whereby FG/R (finger grooves located in the front strap and a MIL-STD 1913 Picattinny accessory rail by the dust cover) features were made available.

    Sporting a 4.02" barrel, this baby can accurate pop <4" groupings at 25 yards.  Coming in at around 30 ozs loaded, the G19 makes a perfect duty weapon as well as for concealed carry.  Many various law enforcement agencies that haven't switched over to the .40 S&W craze make this the weapon of choice such like the majority of the 40,000 officers of the NYPD, the PAPD and the United Nations Security Personnel.

    As for the airsoft version, very few manufacturers make Glock copies anymore, and the ones that do have to opt out of trademarks due to the copyright laws, this being no exception.  The only other time I had experience with Y&P was the short lived Beretta 92F that I owned.  Within 20 minutes, the darn thing broke.  It was underpowered, loading the magazine was a PITA and detail wise, it made Tauruses look good.  So naturally, I was a bit skeptically about making this purchase, however, I didn't mind picking up a low cost "copy"  for training in weapon presentation as well as handling and grip technique.

    Airsoft Atlanta's G19 special came in a plain black box, along with 100 yellow BB's and a silencer that has female threads, although the muzzle end of the gun isn't threaded, so alas, the included can becomes a paperweight.  The G19 comes modeled after the 3rd Gen frame.  As stated earlier, the frame styling is very similar, quite possibly even better than the KSC/KWA frame.  The thumbrest doesn't look ovalish like an egg, rather more like a clean ellipse similar to the real steel.  Some exterior features include: open ejection port (even beveled accurately like the real steel), one piece slide, textured trigger minus the trigger safety (biggest disappoinment), smallish fixed sights, rounded mag release button, shallow accessory rail (most likely won't be able to attach real torches), manual safety notch located above the trigger, but within the trigger guard and a metal slide stop lever that actually locks the slide back when the mag is empty!  Most of the weight is located in the magazine which holds 12 bb's double stacked!  It even includes a mag follower connected to the BB plunger.

    Now comes the amazing part.  At first, when I racked the slide, I noticed that there was some flash around the ejection port that was scrubbing up alongslide the chamber.  I decided to tink with the slide to fix that problem up as well as putting on the ubiquitous Glock sights.  I stopped and stared as to how to field strip this guy.  Having full knowledge of the UHC Glock field-strip procedures and the hassles that accompanied it, I was beginning to fret as I continued to ponder.  Sitting on the toilet (where I do my best thinking) I realized that the sucka field strips *almost* like the real thing!  First, one has to rack the slide back and lock it, making sure the chamber is clear.  Next, wiggle the rear slide plate till it comes off, then dryfire.  From there, disassembly procedure follows the same as the real steel: retract slide 1/8", pull down on the takedown lever, and voila!, the slide comes right off.  If you've done this correctly, the next thing you should hear is the sound of the recoil rod falling out.  Yup, that's correct: a captured recoil spring guide(!) just like the real steel.  Along with that, the rest of the upper assembly includes the one piece barrel and air piston assembly.  Even the frame is accurately depicted for it has metal slide rails, albeit much longer and is part of a metal block, thereby eliminating the embarrassing "recall" that E series Glocks suffered.

    Tested at the indoor range, the Y&P G19 can definitely hold it's own.  Shooting at a standard Walmart Score Keeper target placed at 7 yds, the pistol can keep a decent 5" group (using .12g BB's).  With ear protection on, it sounded less than a .22LR!, whereas plinking indoors, it's loud and is powerful enough to dent cardboard, definitely stronger than the UHC's.  A rough estimate? - easily 200fps, as hard hitting as the UHC MP5 SD3.

Recommendation: If you own a G19, G23 or G32, YES!  Also, Y&P does have a G17 version available at www.airsoftatlanta.com  I always believe that one should own an airsoft version of the real steel...it's a lotta fun!

www.glock.gr
www.glocktalk.com
www.remtek.com/arms

More to be added...

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