PISTOL PREVIEW
Tokyo Mauri
The biggest name in airsoft, TM pretty much started the whole affair
as we know it. The pistols are very good, designed for the Japanese
market. They are normally plastic in construction so they work well
all year round. Genuinely seen as the original and best by many
players, you can’t go wrong with a Tokyo Marui pistol.
There are a large number of TM pistols available, from 1911s and
Glocks to more modern efforts such as the PX4 and Five Seven.
■ Expect to pay £130-150
KJ Works
Another of the Taiwanese manufacturers, and with similar focus on the
budget, full-metal market. Again like WE there is certainly nothing wrong
with these pistols, but there are of course better performing systems
out there. Though KJ Works produces many types of well-known pistol
they tend to have their own names for them – for example the Sig 226 is
known as the KP-01.
■ Expect to pay around £110-120
Western Arms
One of the original IPSC favourites, largely based on the highcapa/1911 design, Western Arms’ offerings are nice and expensive.
While they work well with their full plastic design, magazines can
be crippilingly expensive at around £50 each. Some of the most
outrageously-cool custom jobs are done on WA pistols. They are
often thought of as the connoisseurs’ pistol choice.
■ Expect to pay around £200
Maruzen
Maruzen produce a handful of pistols, primarily for the Japanese
market – in particular the Walther P38 and P99. Its gas blow-back
pistols are not the most earth-shattering, but they are nice pieces
and often not made by any other manufacturer. The non-blow-back
P99 is a personal favourite of mine for all-year-round use, as it
doesn’t suffer any major issues with outside tempreture.
■ Expect to pay around £110
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
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