Marushin
Marushin only produces a handful of pistols; many are 8mm format
and quite unique. It produces a limited number of shell ejection BB
pistols such as the CZ75 which, although not easily skirmishable (imagine having to
pick up your shells all day), are a nice feature on an already cramped market.
■ Expect to pay around £110
KSC/KWA
KWA (Taiwan) is the OEM manfacturer for KSC (Japan). Although the
pistols are effectively the same there are subtle differences. KSC
pistols are designed for the Japanese market only, so they have real
trademarks (they do not recognise the US trademark laws, so use them
regardless). They don’t have a metal top slide though, and they cannot
produce over 1 Joule of muzzle energy.
KWA is, in my opinion, at the forefront of gas pistol performance at the moment. The
company utilises a system called System 7 (or NS2 – same thing, two names) which is, in short, brilliant.
Quite possibly the most effective gas pistols in terms of performance are made by KWA. Almost all are
accurately produced with weight, metal and polymer parts made up correctly. Many KWA pistols are
rebranded with trademarks by ASG or Umarex so that they come with authentic B&T or H&K markings.
■ Expect to pay around £100-150
Gas Blow-Back / Non-Blow-Back
IPSC pistols
Part of the love of pistols in airsoft is their realistic cycling action, so why would
you ever consider a non-blow-back?
Ever wonder why most airsoft rifles are electric and not gas? Gas isn’t the most
reliable system in the world. As it changes from a liquid (in the magazine) to a gas
it cools the mechanism around it. Each shot lowers the tempreture of the gas –
and the pressure drops accordingly. So a shot on a hot day is different from a shot
on a cold day. Now, imagine firing off 15 shots quickly; the cooling effect lowers
the power, your pistol will cycle slower and the shot will travel a shorter distance.
This is the same from all gases available, though different gas types can make a
difference to some degree. The non-blow-back benefits because it does not rely on
power to cycle, so all the gas power goes straight down the barrel. Less cooling
takes place and overall they perform with greater stability in cooler conditions.
The International Practical Shooting
Confederation (IPSC) is the governing
body for a sport based around the
concept of practical pistol shooting.
Many pistols are specifically geared
for IPSC – these offerings tend to be
larger, compensated, red-dot loaded
and generally ostentatious. Many of
these pistols are custom built to near
perfection. One of the largest names
in this scene is Clarence Lai. He made
his name by building pistols and taking
part in competitions, and by working
with Red Wolf Airsoft he has remained
a key industry celebrity for the sport.
So the topic of pistols is clearly quite
long-winded, and like almost anything
airsoft depends hugely on personal
experiences. This overview is designed
simply to give you a brief insight into
what’s available, the differing qualities
out there, and what to expect from
specific companies. There are many,
many other factors and opinions – as
there always are – and we could go on
forever on the subject. But we won’t –
it’s time to take the trusty Glock out of
its box and marvel at it once again...
Maintenance
Like anything that has moving parts airsoft pistols must be kept within an operating
specification. They will wear and, eventually, break. A good pistol will last years
with regular maintenance however. Silicone is the lubricant of choice for most
airsoft items as it prevents degrading seals and rubber. The slide and frame interact
across a runner which will need the occasional clean and re-lubing. Most pistol
maintenance shouldn’t take anymore than 15 minutes. Literally just slide off, give a
liberal spraying with silicone and wipe down with a cloth to lift out all the skirmish
dirt. Once the dirt is out apply a silicone grease along the runner \