G&G G980
G&G Armament, long known for its cutting-edge designs,
has lunged 80 years into the past. Scott Allan gets his
hands on G&G’s replica of the infamous Kar98
G
uay Guay – or G&G as it’s
better known – has kept us
entertained and salivating with
a steady stream of releases
from Taiwan in the past few
years. Recently we reviewed the new
PM5-A4 and now we have been lucky to
be one of the first to see the final version
of the Karabiner 98 (aka Kar98, K98) airsoft
rifle. (But obviously, as Taiwan respects
international copyright G&G’s offering is
not a Kar98 but a G980.)
With an excellent finish that boasts a
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hefty real wood finish and full-metal outer
construction it is hard to find a reason
not to appreciate the new K98; powered
by CO2 with variable power to suit every
player, there’s little more you could ask for.
So if you are a diehard WWII German fan,
either airsoft or re-enactment, this version
presents a usable alternative for both. Both
the length and weight are absolutely spot
on and while it feels tough it does not feel
overly heavy.
The original Kar98 saw service
throughout WWII and was the general
issue bolt-action rifle until the grim
invention of the assault rifle and
submachine guns. Originally manufactured
by Mauser in 1898 the rifle underwent
various transformations and eventually
ended up a little bit lighter and shorter,
under the Karabiner 98 Kurz designation
(K98k). Utilising the 7.92 x 57mm round,
the same as the MG42, the rifle packed a
mighty punch even by today’s standards.
Many of these rifles were also fitted with a
scope to be used in a sniper role, but this
was difficult and expensive in WWII. After