Post by Mles on Mar 10, 2010 21:14:31 GMT -5
Your Gas Blow-Back Pistol Guide - Michigan Airsoft
The Author.
Hello everybody, for those who don't know me, I am Miles. I have been on MiA for a good three and a half year (trolled for about 2 prior before my account creation), but I have been playing airsoft for about seven years. So now let's get on to the good stuff - the guide.
The Introduction.
First off, read this, www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/r22_newbie/whatisagbb.html . If I was to describe Gas blowbacks (GBB) in one word - fun. There is a certain feeling that rushes through your body when you feel the recoil of the slide rack back and forth like a seesaw. GBB Pistols are the of the most realistic Airsoft replicas on the market. Everyone knows that the more realistic the replica the more desirable they are. GBB's, however, are not all perfect. Gas Guns require a lot of patience, cleaning, maintenance and tuning - which should all be considered when purchasing your GBB replica. GBB's are powered by relatively low-powered gases (70-120 PSI) and mostly hold the gas inside a magazine (Gas-in-Mag, GiN). This guide will walk you through the world of GBB's, and essentially decide the best replica and manufacturer for you, but remember, buying a GBB is not all what it cracks up to be - they require more attention and consideration than any other category of airsoft replica.
The Gas.
GBB's are powered by a range of different propellants. Let's list them and describe each briefly. This list will also provide a good reference on what gas you should choose for your replica.
• Duster/134a - This gas is, chemically, tetrafluoroethane or difluoroethane. 134a is the lowest powered gas of all the available gases. It is best used for guns with plastic slides or for very high temperature conditions. This gas is safe to use any weapon, but for most replicas with heavy rate springs or metal slides it won't be powerful enough to fully cycle the weapon. 134a, which is tetrafluoroethane with some silicone lubricant in it, is very hard to find stateside. I suggest using PC duster, which is, chemically, the same thing. You must buy an Airsoft Innovations Duster Adapter or use Knief's method found here,
miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=405.
• Propane/Green Gas - Probably the most popular gas stateside, Green Gas has been used by airsofters most recently due to the popularity of the metal slide. This is a pretty powerful propellant and is not suggested to be used with plastic-slided replicas. Propane is more suitable for replicas that require a lot of force to cycle. Green Gas is essentially propane with silicone lubricant. Propane can be used with most replicas with a Propane Adapter that is made by a variety of different companies.
• Butane/C02/Red Gas - I am considering these gases the "high-powered gases". The only use I can think of for these are for extreme weather conditions that require a very powerful propellant. I don't recommend anyone using these gases unless your replica is highly tuned or specifically made for this type of gas
For more info on Gases and their dynamics regarding airsoft replicas refer to the links at the end of this thread.
The Factors you should Consider.
There are many factors you should consider when buying a GBB. No GBB is perfect, but some may suit your needs better than others. You should keep in mind all these factors and decide, what GBB best fits you. The factors I have created are here as follows..
• Realism - How important is that your GBB matches every aspect of your Real-Steel Pistol? Does the weight of the GBB seem important to you? Do incorrect trademarks bother you?
• Aesthetics/Furniture - How important is the feel of your GBB? Is the gun being full metal important to you? What type of pistol design best fits you?
• Performance - How important is the performance of the GBB to you? Do you want a GBB that is skirmishable? Do you want to do IPSC? Does the range of your weapon seem important? Performance seems like the most important factor to many in the Michigan community.
• Durability - Does the lifespan of the GBB matter to you? Do you want to be able to drop your gun over and over again?
• Maintenance - Do you want a gun that can be shot and left in a case after each use? Do you want to ALWAYS be cleaning your GBB? This, to me, is very important, perhaps the most important factor. You will see later why I support this.
• Price - How much do you want to spend?
So these are the factors you must consider - take a brief pause to list these factors to your importance.
The Companies.
There a hundreds of airsoft companies Miles; how are you suppose to list and describe them ALL? I'm not. I'm going to briefly describe each one I find most popular or most important. If I have left anyone out that you consider MUST be included, PM me. I'll list some links of manufacturers at the end to truly be a complete guide. I am going to briefly describe each company, don't expect a in-depth historical timeline or anything.
Tokyo Marui (Japan) - The good guys. They have been around for a long time and their reputation is unrivaled. They are the go-to company regarding airsoft. Don't test Marui, they know what they are doing. They may not be completely dominant in one factor (because they aren't), but they are definitely the one of the best all around. Some of their early replicas are pretty bad (I.E., the original Desert Eagle), but lately they have been stepping up their game. Their replicas are mostly made out of high-quality plastic, so 134a is pretty much the only gas you could use stock, but don't be worried there is a plethora of aftermarket parts available. They perform great stock thanks to the renown Marui hop-up, but the sometimes cheap furniture/body could stray you away.
KSC (Japan) - KSC has been around for a while. They are a great company. Most of their pistols are made our of plastics and are tuned for 134a. The newer System-7 models are supposedly some of the best GBB's to date, rival to TM's latest releases. KSC has a variety of different models, including some GBB SMG's. KSC is definitely a company you should consider when choosing your GBB. Don't confuse KSC with KWA who clone many of KSC's models.
KWA (Taiwan) - KWA is sort of like that weird step-brother to KSC, no one truly knows the real story on their relationship - but all I can say they are very closely related. KWA use to be a very hit or miss company, but they seem to be shaping up quite good with the release of the NS2 system. They are much like KSC in the aspect that they have make many of the same models. Most of KWA's GBB's are fully metal and are tuned for Green Gas. KWA can still be a hit or miss though considering what model you decide to buy, but still they have quite a good reputation with the MiA community.
WE (Taiwan) - Gross, WE. WE is a clone company. WE clones other guns. WE sorta sucks. WE is definitely a hit or miss company. They clone many of Marui's GBB and have a few proprietary models. WE's are full metal and usually include an extra magazine or accessory. I would stay away from WE, but a lot of users have been able to upgrade them and tune them so they perform great.
KJW (Taiwan) - I personally don't have much experience with KJW's. Some of my teammates have owned them and they seem pretty decent. They offer many models at very affordable prices and most of their models are full metal. They seem to lack trademarks though. KJW clones some TM designs but also some proprietary models. KJW seems like a very good GBB for a beginner, but I wouldn't count on a KJW for too long. If you have the money definitely go with KSC, WA or TM, but KJW can be a decent alternative.
Maruzen (Japan) - Maruzen offers a lot of unique replicas. They are made out of high quality plastics, but their externals aren't the best for the skirmisher. 134a would be best suitable for Maruzen's GBBs. Maruzen has a few replicas that have enormous upgrade potential, but most of their replicas lack aftermarket parts, hence making many of their guns collectibles. You don't see many Maruzen's stateside, but that's only because there are better alternatives (cheaper, more parts available).
Marushin (Japan) - Marushin is much like Maruzen. They are both Japanese companies that have a lot of unique replicas that are made out of high quality plastics. Some Marushins utilize the 8mm BB, I personally don't see the point. Again, most Marushin's are like collectibles, hence why you don't see many of them being used.
Tanaka Works (Japan) - Tanaka offers a few GBB models - and, hell, they are great. Tanaka builds their GBBs with high quality plastics and are damn heavy. There aren't many aftermarket parts available, but from what I heard, they are amazing stock. The hop-up, though, seems to be Tanaka's only downfall, being relatively weak and sometimes un-adjustable.
Western Arms (Japan) - My personal favorite. Let's start off with a short analogy. A Western Arms pistol is kind of like a sports car - they look and perform amazing, but are overpriced and rare. Casual airsofters would most likely dislike WA due to their plastic bodies and heavy price tag, but with their heavy price tag comes unrivaled craftsmanship and attention to detail. WA's is also a really annoying company. They are notorious for having VERY, I mean very, limited runs of models. This makes basically any model of WA rare, and again way overpriced. WA has a very different versions of GBB systems. Magna, SCWI, SCWII and SCWII are the various systems. Magna's are made for power, but have subpar accuracy and are gas hog's - they are ideal for IPSC shooters because with the right accuracy mods they become complete workhorses. SCW's are WA's more mainstream system - some have adjustable hop-up, some don't. They have a variety of aftermarket parts that can make your WA far more skirmishable than in stock form. WA is truly the king of GBBs in my opinion. They are a truly THE status symbol regarding the gas pistol.
Various Japanese companies - Tanio Koba, Digicon, Kokusai and Etc. - These companies offer some rare or unique models. Not much info on them, but if you have some input on them, let me know.
So you're probably now asking, what is the best company for me? This is a hard question. You need to answer this first - what do you want out of your pistol? Here you can relate back to my factors about GBBs. But let's start out small. What's your favorite model of pistol? Some companies are great with certain models, but suck with others. But for now let's go over some basic parts of the gas pistol.
The Most Important Parts of a GBB.
The Externals - Pistols are usually separated into a lower and a upper frame. Some pistols have safeties that can be engaged. Externals vary from model to model, so it is hard to make a broad generalization on the externals of a GBB. Most Japanese companies use few metal parts, although, do not let this worry you. Most of the plastics these companies use are actually STRONGER than the pot metal Chinese and Taiwanese companies use.
The Blow Back Unit - This is the unit that propels the gas through the loading nozzle and throughout the GBB to make it cycle. Some people believe this is the most important part of a GBB, but really it's a pretty simple operation. An animation can be found in the link at the beginning of my article, it will help you visualize the blowback of a GBB.
The Hammer/Firing Pin - The hammer usually strikes the firing pin on most GBBs. There is a hammer spring that dictates how fast the hammer cocks forward. The faster the hammer hits the firing pin, the better.
The Recoil Springs - These are one of the variables that dictate how fast your gun recoils. The higher rate spring, the snappier recoil.
The Trigger and spring - The trigger is a very important, it is connected to your hammer, hence the faster the trigger engages the hammer (due to the spring). The faster the spring, the faster trigger response, which is very important to GBBs, especially in IPSC.
The Magazine - This is definitely the most important part to the GBB and it deserves its own section.
The Gas Blowback Magazine.
This is where everything can go wrong in a GBB, hence why I created a separate section just for it. Gas (in liquid form) is stored in the magazine, so basically stores the stuff that makes your GBB run. GBB magazines are charged with gas by putting it upside down and filling the magazine with your desired gas until you hear/see a hiss of spewing out or if no more gas will enter the magazine (silent filling is found with TM models). I recommend when filling your magazines you do short charges so you get the maximum amount of gas in the magazine. If you have a good magazine, you probably have a good GBB. The magazine is a pretty complex piece of machinery. It consists of the body, valves, o-rings, stoppers, springs and much more. The most important part is definitely the valve. The valve dictates how much gas is sent into the BBU, and therefore completely dictates the power and efficiency of your GBB. The main problem I see with airsofters and GBBs is leaky magazines. Basically a leaky magazine is when you charge your magazine with gas but some of the gas leaks out of one of your GBB's valves. This is caused by a variety of things...
• One of your valves is not screwed in all the way, hence gas leaks out through the threads. Solution - Apply some BLUE Loctite and screw in your valves, then apply some teflon tape around the valve, after 72 hours I would personally remove the tape, but you don't have to.
• One of your valves is broken. Solution - Replace it or find where the valve is broken and bond it.
• Your O-rings are dried up. The O-ring is a much needed part of a valve because when the gas is in a liquid form and is rapidly changed to a gas, the O-ring makes sure the liquid does not leak not and form gas elsewhere besides the exit valve. Solution - There are a few solutions. Remove your O-rings and soak them in silicone oil for 48 hours so they expand back to original size. Buy brand new O-rings from a Hardware store. I personally always use some blue Loctite and teflon tape after each time I clean my O-rings/magazine.
I cannot emphasis enough how important the magazine is to GBBs. Always store them in room temperature and I suggest cleaning them after 3 uses, this will ensure the longest possible lifespan to your magazines. Some magazines designs are far better than others. I personally like WA's the best, followed by TM's. They usually have very nice stock valves and hold gas very well. But also keep in mind the type of model's magazine is also a very important factor. For example, a thin 1911 magazine doesn't store as much gas as a large USP or 2011 doublestack magazine, hence you get less shots and perhaps worse efficiency. For Michigan weather conditions I would usually recommend you choosing a model with a pretty big magazine, just for the sake of gas usage. Let us go deeper into the type of models, and which Companies make the best ones.
The Models.
This section will probably be the hardest because truly there are so many GBB's out there and there are so many reviews out there also. This will basically be a short overview on what GBBs you should consider based on the factors I listed early. For pistol reviews I suggest, www.justpistols.co.uk/ or www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=295 . Those reviews will do a much better and in-depth review of specific models. Let's start off with the different models (I obviously won't be able to list them all, but just the popular ones).
The Sig's (P22x, etc.) - I would suggest TM, KSC or Tanaka. They all make decent models of the various Sig Sauer's. They will all be plastic, so if you want a metal one, you'll have to buy a kit. P22x's are great GBBs because they have a lot of room for gas in the magazine and are relatively easy to upgrade. TM models offer the most aftermarket support, so I would definitely go with the TM, but KSC and Tanaka both make great replicas, but when it comes down to the long run, TM has the most support. Tanaka is great in the feel and aesthetics department so that might be something you want to consider.
The Glocks - I would side with KSC. KSC has been renowned for their Glocks - great performance, furniture and accurate trademarks. They have a decent magazine design, so you'll be able to get a lot of shots on a fill. They have enormous upgrade potential, so it's really all up to you on how you want your glock to look/perform. I have heard a lot of bad things on compacts, so I would generally avoid them.
The Desert Eagles - There is really only one reasonable choice and that is Marui. They are pretty cheap, kick hard and perform great. TM's Desert Eagle is really plasticky though, so that might turn some off.
The 5-7's - Marushin or TM are the only choices here, I would go with TM just for the sake of upgrade potential, although they feel very plasticky, accurate trades though.
The M9's - I would definitely go with KSC or KWA. KWA makes a great M9 PTP and NS2 version. They have great hop-up's and the magazine is great. KSC's S7 is basically the same thing, but without the metal slide. There are ton of aftermarket parts for KSCs, so no need to worry about something breaking down and not finding a replacement.
The 1911's - I would suggest TM or WA, nothing else. TM makes some of the most skirmishable 1911's. TM's line has a ton of upgrade parts that are readily available and are pretty cheap. They have great hop-up's can hit targets 100+feet away. There is no way that you would be disappointed with a TM 1911. WA's 1911 line are the best aesthetically, so if you're a collector or a detail freak, I suggest going with the WA model. WA's can be skirmished, but you'd be better off with a TM for the price if you want a workhorse pistol. WA's have some great upgrade potential as well, but parts are generally harder to find. I personally love my WA's, so if you want a bias decision, I'd say go with a WA.
The 2011's/Double Stacked 1911's - Again, I would go with TM or WA. I personally believe that the 2011 is the best model for a GBB for several reasons. They have huge magazines that store a ton of gas and they have pretty large frames that can fit a very heavy rate spring. Many IPSC shooters (if not all..) choose the 2011 for these reasons. WA's Magna Series 2011's are considered the best GBB pistol by many, and I stand by that. TM's High-capa series has a ton of upgrade potential and perform amazingly. Again, with a little bias, I would go for a WA, but you'd definitely be happy with a TM.
The USP's - I would suggest going with a KWA or KSC, preferably S7 and NS2 models. The USP is great in GBB form due to its large magazine. USP's don't have that much upgrade potential, but basically, if you get a nice metal slide, your set. USP's serve as great skirmish pistols with a large mag capacity and nice sights. You can't go wrong with a NS2 USP, since it can use propane and performs very nice.
Well now you know a little bit about each model, but please don't use this a comprehensive guide on what the best GBB is, this was simply an overview. I still suggest going over to JustPistols or Arnie's for more comprehensive reviews on the model you are looking at.
Upgrading the internals of your Gas Pistol.
I am a very strong proponent of, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it", so when I am looking to upgrade my GBB, I won't do it unless something is just not working right. Although, I do know a lot of people who buy a stock pistol and completely overhaul it before even shooting off a test round. When you are looking to upgrade the internals of your GBB you want to first off make sure that it has a wide base of aftermarket support. I want to emphasize the term, "wide base", because occasionally the upgrade parts you buy for your pistol are actually worse than the stock parts (unless proper research is done, which brings me to another point). Properly researching each upgrade part you plan to use is absolutely necessary. Why? because you want to make sure it is compatible and actually functions the way it is suppose to.
Essentially, you can upgrade every part of your airsoft pistol as long as the parts are there. TM, by far, has the widest base of aftermarket parts. There are various companies that make parts for TM's GBBs. For example, Action, Nine ball, Shooter's Design, Firefly, PDI and KM all make tons of upgrades for the TM pistol. Other pistol manufacturers obviously have aftermarket support, but if you are looking for a brand that has various parts that are almost always in stock somewhere, choose TM.
I would say the most popular upgrades for GBBs are tightbore barrels and higher rate springs for the slide and hammer. These upgrades are generally very cheap and very easy to install. They can also boost the performance of GBB significantly.
When you are looking at pistols for IPSC (race pistols), the rule, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it", does not apply. In the case of shooting for competition you want the quickest target acquisition, fastest slide action and the best possible accuracy. Depending on what type of competition you are participating in, open or closed, certain upgrades are prohibited. Companies like Prog4 and Shooter's Design make excellent IPSC parts for your pistol. The most popular build bases for race pistols are TM and WA.
Upgrading the externals of your Gas Pistol.
More than often airsoft skirmishers use their GBB pistol as a sidearm. Let us make a very easy conclusion here - if you are a skirmisher your GBB won't be used as much you think. Sidearms are often used for "show pieces" on a loadout. I am not saying they aren't used, but they aren't used as regularly as you may think. The externals of a gas pistol are crucial in this line of thinking. If you want a nice show piece, you definitely want some nice externals.
Upgrading the externals of your gas pistol can get pretty expensive. Many steel and CNC parts can cost a lot. For example, a Sheriff extended slide stop for a WA 1911 is close to $100. There is a wide range of companies that make metal slides, frames, safeties, outer barrels and so on. Companies like VFC and Guarder make complete metal kits that replace most plastic parts on TM pistols with metal ones.
Upgrading the externals of your GBB not only increases the visual appeal, but also can increase durability. Metal slides are able to reliably be run on propane, which is probably one the most popular upgrades for TM and WA pistols.
The GBB link list. These are simply links, I do not take credit for the work done in them.
Western Arms - www.wa-gunnet.co.jp/
Tokyo Marui - www.tokyo-marui.co.jp/
Marushin - www.marushin-kk.co.jp/
KWA - www.kwausa.com/
Prog4 - www.prog4.com/db/index.asp
Snowman's Pistol Reviews (THE BEST) - www.justpistols.co.uk/
"Do Gas Guns Work Well in the Winter?" - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=672
"Gas Dynamics 101" - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=698
"Gas Primer" - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=405
Airsoft Gases - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/newbie_guide/airsoft_gases/airsoft_gases.htm
Arnies' GBB reviews - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=295 and www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/reviews/rev_pistols.htm
"Just Handguns" GBB Tech Discussion - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=199
Western Arms Magazine (Cool, retro stuff) - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/magazines/magna_blowback_vol1/magna_blowback_vol1.htm
GBB Cleaning (Nice article!) - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/gbbcleaning.html
Fitting WA SV Metal Slides - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/sv_metalslide/sv_metalslide.htm
Two Gunning - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/newbie_guide/two_gunning.htm
The Author.
Hello everybody, for those who don't know me, I am Miles. I have been on MiA for a good three and a half year (trolled for about 2 prior before my account creation), but I have been playing airsoft for about seven years. So now let's get on to the good stuff - the guide.
The Introduction.
First off, read this, www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/r22_newbie/whatisagbb.html . If I was to describe Gas blowbacks (GBB) in one word - fun. There is a certain feeling that rushes through your body when you feel the recoil of the slide rack back and forth like a seesaw. GBB Pistols are the of the most realistic Airsoft replicas on the market. Everyone knows that the more realistic the replica the more desirable they are. GBB's, however, are not all perfect. Gas Guns require a lot of patience, cleaning, maintenance and tuning - which should all be considered when purchasing your GBB replica. GBB's are powered by relatively low-powered gases (70-120 PSI) and mostly hold the gas inside a magazine (Gas-in-Mag, GiN). This guide will walk you through the world of GBB's, and essentially decide the best replica and manufacturer for you, but remember, buying a GBB is not all what it cracks up to be - they require more attention and consideration than any other category of airsoft replica.
The Gas.
GBB's are powered by a range of different propellants. Let's list them and describe each briefly. This list will also provide a good reference on what gas you should choose for your replica.
• Duster/134a - This gas is, chemically, tetrafluoroethane or difluoroethane. 134a is the lowest powered gas of all the available gases. It is best used for guns with plastic slides or for very high temperature conditions. This gas is safe to use any weapon, but for most replicas with heavy rate springs or metal slides it won't be powerful enough to fully cycle the weapon. 134a, which is tetrafluoroethane with some silicone lubricant in it, is very hard to find stateside. I suggest using PC duster, which is, chemically, the same thing. You must buy an Airsoft Innovations Duster Adapter or use Knief's method found here,
miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=405.
• Propane/Green Gas - Probably the most popular gas stateside, Green Gas has been used by airsofters most recently due to the popularity of the metal slide. This is a pretty powerful propellant and is not suggested to be used with plastic-slided replicas. Propane is more suitable for replicas that require a lot of force to cycle. Green Gas is essentially propane with silicone lubricant. Propane can be used with most replicas with a Propane Adapter that is made by a variety of different companies.
• Butane/C02/Red Gas - I am considering these gases the "high-powered gases". The only use I can think of for these are for extreme weather conditions that require a very powerful propellant. I don't recommend anyone using these gases unless your replica is highly tuned or specifically made for this type of gas
For more info on Gases and their dynamics regarding airsoft replicas refer to the links at the end of this thread.
The Factors you should Consider.
There are many factors you should consider when buying a GBB. No GBB is perfect, but some may suit your needs better than others. You should keep in mind all these factors and decide, what GBB best fits you. The factors I have created are here as follows..
• Realism - How important is that your GBB matches every aspect of your Real-Steel Pistol? Does the weight of the GBB seem important to you? Do incorrect trademarks bother you?
• Aesthetics/Furniture - How important is the feel of your GBB? Is the gun being full metal important to you? What type of pistol design best fits you?
• Performance - How important is the performance of the GBB to you? Do you want a GBB that is skirmishable? Do you want to do IPSC? Does the range of your weapon seem important? Performance seems like the most important factor to many in the Michigan community.
• Durability - Does the lifespan of the GBB matter to you? Do you want to be able to drop your gun over and over again?
• Maintenance - Do you want a gun that can be shot and left in a case after each use? Do you want to ALWAYS be cleaning your GBB? This, to me, is very important, perhaps the most important factor. You will see later why I support this.
• Price - How much do you want to spend?
So these are the factors you must consider - take a brief pause to list these factors to your importance.
The Companies.
There a hundreds of airsoft companies Miles; how are you suppose to list and describe them ALL? I'm not. I'm going to briefly describe each one I find most popular or most important. If I have left anyone out that you consider MUST be included, PM me. I'll list some links of manufacturers at the end to truly be a complete guide. I am going to briefly describe each company, don't expect a in-depth historical timeline or anything.
Tokyo Marui (Japan) - The good guys. They have been around for a long time and their reputation is unrivaled. They are the go-to company regarding airsoft. Don't test Marui, they know what they are doing. They may not be completely dominant in one factor (because they aren't), but they are definitely the one of the best all around. Some of their early replicas are pretty bad (I.E., the original Desert Eagle), but lately they have been stepping up their game. Their replicas are mostly made out of high-quality plastic, so 134a is pretty much the only gas you could use stock, but don't be worried there is a plethora of aftermarket parts available. They perform great stock thanks to the renown Marui hop-up, but the sometimes cheap furniture/body could stray you away.
KSC (Japan) - KSC has been around for a while. They are a great company. Most of their pistols are made our of plastics and are tuned for 134a. The newer System-7 models are supposedly some of the best GBB's to date, rival to TM's latest releases. KSC has a variety of different models, including some GBB SMG's. KSC is definitely a company you should consider when choosing your GBB. Don't confuse KSC with KWA who clone many of KSC's models.
KWA (Taiwan) - KWA is sort of like that weird step-brother to KSC, no one truly knows the real story on their relationship - but all I can say they are very closely related. KWA use to be a very hit or miss company, but they seem to be shaping up quite good with the release of the NS2 system. They are much like KSC in the aspect that they have make many of the same models. Most of KWA's GBB's are fully metal and are tuned for Green Gas. KWA can still be a hit or miss though considering what model you decide to buy, but still they have quite a good reputation with the MiA community.
WE (Taiwan) - Gross, WE. WE is a clone company. WE clones other guns. WE sorta sucks. WE is definitely a hit or miss company. They clone many of Marui's GBB and have a few proprietary models. WE's are full metal and usually include an extra magazine or accessory. I would stay away from WE, but a lot of users have been able to upgrade them and tune them so they perform great.
KJW (Taiwan) - I personally don't have much experience with KJW's. Some of my teammates have owned them and they seem pretty decent. They offer many models at very affordable prices and most of their models are full metal. They seem to lack trademarks though. KJW clones some TM designs but also some proprietary models. KJW seems like a very good GBB for a beginner, but I wouldn't count on a KJW for too long. If you have the money definitely go with KSC, WA or TM, but KJW can be a decent alternative.
Maruzen (Japan) - Maruzen offers a lot of unique replicas. They are made out of high quality plastics, but their externals aren't the best for the skirmisher. 134a would be best suitable for Maruzen's GBBs. Maruzen has a few replicas that have enormous upgrade potential, but most of their replicas lack aftermarket parts, hence making many of their guns collectibles. You don't see many Maruzen's stateside, but that's only because there are better alternatives (cheaper, more parts available).
Marushin (Japan) - Marushin is much like Maruzen. They are both Japanese companies that have a lot of unique replicas that are made out of high quality plastics. Some Marushins utilize the 8mm BB, I personally don't see the point. Again, most Marushin's are like collectibles, hence why you don't see many of them being used.
Tanaka Works (Japan) - Tanaka offers a few GBB models - and, hell, they are great. Tanaka builds their GBBs with high quality plastics and are damn heavy. There aren't many aftermarket parts available, but from what I heard, they are amazing stock. The hop-up, though, seems to be Tanaka's only downfall, being relatively weak and sometimes un-adjustable.
Western Arms (Japan) - My personal favorite. Let's start off with a short analogy. A Western Arms pistol is kind of like a sports car - they look and perform amazing, but are overpriced and rare. Casual airsofters would most likely dislike WA due to their plastic bodies and heavy price tag, but with their heavy price tag comes unrivaled craftsmanship and attention to detail. WA's is also a really annoying company. They are notorious for having VERY, I mean very, limited runs of models. This makes basically any model of WA rare, and again way overpriced. WA has a very different versions of GBB systems. Magna, SCWI, SCWII and SCWII are the various systems. Magna's are made for power, but have subpar accuracy and are gas hog's - they are ideal for IPSC shooters because with the right accuracy mods they become complete workhorses. SCW's are WA's more mainstream system - some have adjustable hop-up, some don't. They have a variety of aftermarket parts that can make your WA far more skirmishable than in stock form. WA is truly the king of GBBs in my opinion. They are a truly THE status symbol regarding the gas pistol.
Various Japanese companies - Tanio Koba, Digicon, Kokusai and Etc. - These companies offer some rare or unique models. Not much info on them, but if you have some input on them, let me know.
So you're probably now asking, what is the best company for me? This is a hard question. You need to answer this first - what do you want out of your pistol? Here you can relate back to my factors about GBBs. But let's start out small. What's your favorite model of pistol? Some companies are great with certain models, but suck with others. But for now let's go over some basic parts of the gas pistol.
The Most Important Parts of a GBB.
The Externals - Pistols are usually separated into a lower and a upper frame. Some pistols have safeties that can be engaged. Externals vary from model to model, so it is hard to make a broad generalization on the externals of a GBB. Most Japanese companies use few metal parts, although, do not let this worry you. Most of the plastics these companies use are actually STRONGER than the pot metal Chinese and Taiwanese companies use.
The Blow Back Unit - This is the unit that propels the gas through the loading nozzle and throughout the GBB to make it cycle. Some people believe this is the most important part of a GBB, but really it's a pretty simple operation. An animation can be found in the link at the beginning of my article, it will help you visualize the blowback of a GBB.
The Hammer/Firing Pin - The hammer usually strikes the firing pin on most GBBs. There is a hammer spring that dictates how fast the hammer cocks forward. The faster the hammer hits the firing pin, the better.
The Recoil Springs - These are one of the variables that dictate how fast your gun recoils. The higher rate spring, the snappier recoil.
The Trigger and spring - The trigger is a very important, it is connected to your hammer, hence the faster the trigger engages the hammer (due to the spring). The faster the spring, the faster trigger response, which is very important to GBBs, especially in IPSC.
The Magazine - This is definitely the most important part to the GBB and it deserves its own section.
The Gas Blowback Magazine.
This is where everything can go wrong in a GBB, hence why I created a separate section just for it. Gas (in liquid form) is stored in the magazine, so basically stores the stuff that makes your GBB run. GBB magazines are charged with gas by putting it upside down and filling the magazine with your desired gas until you hear/see a hiss of spewing out or if no more gas will enter the magazine (silent filling is found with TM models). I recommend when filling your magazines you do short charges so you get the maximum amount of gas in the magazine. If you have a good magazine, you probably have a good GBB. The magazine is a pretty complex piece of machinery. It consists of the body, valves, o-rings, stoppers, springs and much more. The most important part is definitely the valve. The valve dictates how much gas is sent into the BBU, and therefore completely dictates the power and efficiency of your GBB. The main problem I see with airsofters and GBBs is leaky magazines. Basically a leaky magazine is when you charge your magazine with gas but some of the gas leaks out of one of your GBB's valves. This is caused by a variety of things...
• One of your valves is not screwed in all the way, hence gas leaks out through the threads. Solution - Apply some BLUE Loctite and screw in your valves, then apply some teflon tape around the valve, after 72 hours I would personally remove the tape, but you don't have to.
• One of your valves is broken. Solution - Replace it or find where the valve is broken and bond it.
• Your O-rings are dried up. The O-ring is a much needed part of a valve because when the gas is in a liquid form and is rapidly changed to a gas, the O-ring makes sure the liquid does not leak not and form gas elsewhere besides the exit valve. Solution - There are a few solutions. Remove your O-rings and soak them in silicone oil for 48 hours so they expand back to original size. Buy brand new O-rings from a Hardware store. I personally always use some blue Loctite and teflon tape after each time I clean my O-rings/magazine.
I cannot emphasis enough how important the magazine is to GBBs. Always store them in room temperature and I suggest cleaning them after 3 uses, this will ensure the longest possible lifespan to your magazines. Some magazines designs are far better than others. I personally like WA's the best, followed by TM's. They usually have very nice stock valves and hold gas very well. But also keep in mind the type of model's magazine is also a very important factor. For example, a thin 1911 magazine doesn't store as much gas as a large USP or 2011 doublestack magazine, hence you get less shots and perhaps worse efficiency. For Michigan weather conditions I would usually recommend you choosing a model with a pretty big magazine, just for the sake of gas usage. Let us go deeper into the type of models, and which Companies make the best ones.
The Models.
This section will probably be the hardest because truly there are so many GBB's out there and there are so many reviews out there also. This will basically be a short overview on what GBBs you should consider based on the factors I listed early. For pistol reviews I suggest, www.justpistols.co.uk/ or www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=295 . Those reviews will do a much better and in-depth review of specific models. Let's start off with the different models (I obviously won't be able to list them all, but just the popular ones).
The Sig's (P22x, etc.) - I would suggest TM, KSC or Tanaka. They all make decent models of the various Sig Sauer's. They will all be plastic, so if you want a metal one, you'll have to buy a kit. P22x's are great GBBs because they have a lot of room for gas in the magazine and are relatively easy to upgrade. TM models offer the most aftermarket support, so I would definitely go with the TM, but KSC and Tanaka both make great replicas, but when it comes down to the long run, TM has the most support. Tanaka is great in the feel and aesthetics department so that might be something you want to consider.
The Glocks - I would side with KSC. KSC has been renowned for their Glocks - great performance, furniture and accurate trademarks. They have a decent magazine design, so you'll be able to get a lot of shots on a fill. They have enormous upgrade potential, so it's really all up to you on how you want your glock to look/perform. I have heard a lot of bad things on compacts, so I would generally avoid them.
The Desert Eagles - There is really only one reasonable choice and that is Marui. They are pretty cheap, kick hard and perform great. TM's Desert Eagle is really plasticky though, so that might turn some off.
The 5-7's - Marushin or TM are the only choices here, I would go with TM just for the sake of upgrade potential, although they feel very plasticky, accurate trades though.
The M9's - I would definitely go with KSC or KWA. KWA makes a great M9 PTP and NS2 version. They have great hop-up's and the magazine is great. KSC's S7 is basically the same thing, but without the metal slide. There are ton of aftermarket parts for KSCs, so no need to worry about something breaking down and not finding a replacement.
The 1911's - I would suggest TM or WA, nothing else. TM makes some of the most skirmishable 1911's. TM's line has a ton of upgrade parts that are readily available and are pretty cheap. They have great hop-up's can hit targets 100+feet away. There is no way that you would be disappointed with a TM 1911. WA's 1911 line are the best aesthetically, so if you're a collector or a detail freak, I suggest going with the WA model. WA's can be skirmished, but you'd be better off with a TM for the price if you want a workhorse pistol. WA's have some great upgrade potential as well, but parts are generally harder to find. I personally love my WA's, so if you want a bias decision, I'd say go with a WA.
The 2011's/Double Stacked 1911's - Again, I would go with TM or WA. I personally believe that the 2011 is the best model for a GBB for several reasons. They have huge magazines that store a ton of gas and they have pretty large frames that can fit a very heavy rate spring. Many IPSC shooters (if not all..) choose the 2011 for these reasons. WA's Magna Series 2011's are considered the best GBB pistol by many, and I stand by that. TM's High-capa series has a ton of upgrade potential and perform amazingly. Again, with a little bias, I would go for a WA, but you'd definitely be happy with a TM.
The USP's - I would suggest going with a KWA or KSC, preferably S7 and NS2 models. The USP is great in GBB form due to its large magazine. USP's don't have that much upgrade potential, but basically, if you get a nice metal slide, your set. USP's serve as great skirmish pistols with a large mag capacity and nice sights. You can't go wrong with a NS2 USP, since it can use propane and performs very nice.
Well now you know a little bit about each model, but please don't use this a comprehensive guide on what the best GBB is, this was simply an overview. I still suggest going over to JustPistols or Arnie's for more comprehensive reviews on the model you are looking at.
Upgrading the internals of your Gas Pistol.
I am a very strong proponent of, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it", so when I am looking to upgrade my GBB, I won't do it unless something is just not working right. Although, I do know a lot of people who buy a stock pistol and completely overhaul it before even shooting off a test round. When you are looking to upgrade the internals of your GBB you want to first off make sure that it has a wide base of aftermarket support. I want to emphasize the term, "wide base", because occasionally the upgrade parts you buy for your pistol are actually worse than the stock parts (unless proper research is done, which brings me to another point). Properly researching each upgrade part you plan to use is absolutely necessary. Why? because you want to make sure it is compatible and actually functions the way it is suppose to.
Essentially, you can upgrade every part of your airsoft pistol as long as the parts are there. TM, by far, has the widest base of aftermarket parts. There are various companies that make parts for TM's GBBs. For example, Action, Nine ball, Shooter's Design, Firefly, PDI and KM all make tons of upgrades for the TM pistol. Other pistol manufacturers obviously have aftermarket support, but if you are looking for a brand that has various parts that are almost always in stock somewhere, choose TM.
I would say the most popular upgrades for GBBs are tightbore barrels and higher rate springs for the slide and hammer. These upgrades are generally very cheap and very easy to install. They can also boost the performance of GBB significantly.
When you are looking at pistols for IPSC (race pistols), the rule, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it", does not apply. In the case of shooting for competition you want the quickest target acquisition, fastest slide action and the best possible accuracy. Depending on what type of competition you are participating in, open or closed, certain upgrades are prohibited. Companies like Prog4 and Shooter's Design make excellent IPSC parts for your pistol. The most popular build bases for race pistols are TM and WA.
Upgrading the externals of your Gas Pistol.
More than often airsoft skirmishers use their GBB pistol as a sidearm. Let us make a very easy conclusion here - if you are a skirmisher your GBB won't be used as much you think. Sidearms are often used for "show pieces" on a loadout. I am not saying they aren't used, but they aren't used as regularly as you may think. The externals of a gas pistol are crucial in this line of thinking. If you want a nice show piece, you definitely want some nice externals.
Upgrading the externals of your gas pistol can get pretty expensive. Many steel and CNC parts can cost a lot. For example, a Sheriff extended slide stop for a WA 1911 is close to $100. There is a wide range of companies that make metal slides, frames, safeties, outer barrels and so on. Companies like VFC and Guarder make complete metal kits that replace most plastic parts on TM pistols with metal ones.
Upgrading the externals of your GBB not only increases the visual appeal, but also can increase durability. Metal slides are able to reliably be run on propane, which is probably one the most popular upgrades for TM and WA pistols.
The GBB link list. These are simply links, I do not take credit for the work done in them.
Western Arms - www.wa-gunnet.co.jp/
Tokyo Marui - www.tokyo-marui.co.jp/
Marushin - www.marushin-kk.co.jp/
KWA - www.kwausa.com/
Prog4 - www.prog4.com/db/index.asp
Snowman's Pistol Reviews (THE BEST) - www.justpistols.co.uk/
"Do Gas Guns Work Well in the Winter?" - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=672
"Gas Dynamics 101" - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=698
"Gas Primer" - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gas&action=display&thread=405
Airsoft Gases - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/newbie_guide/airsoft_gases/airsoft_gases.htm
Arnies' GBB reviews - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=295 and www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/reviews/rev_pistols.htm
"Just Handguns" GBB Tech Discussion - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=199
Western Arms Magazine (Cool, retro stuff) - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/magazines/magna_blowback_vol1/magna_blowback_vol1.htm
GBB Cleaning (Nice article!) - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/gbbcleaning.html
Fitting WA SV Metal Slides - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/sv_metalslide/sv_metalslide.htm
Two Gunning - www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/articles/newbie_guide/two_gunning.htm