armoury
KING ARMS M1 CARBINE
fitted. Two, you can only get 4 reloads on one CO2 bulb.
Three, the mag cost is high (£45.00 to £50.00 if you can
even get them) and they are very heavy and, as per game
you need a minimum of 8, this increases your weight by a
stone. This would be ideal for a MilSim as it is exactly like
the real McCoy with the two mag pouches on the stock.
But on the bright side, I would not part with it!”
The King Arms M1 Carbine replica is a beautiful
reproduction of this classic firearm. Made with real wood
and aluminium alloy, the rifle looks and feels authentic.
Adding to the realism is the Co2 powered gas recoil
system, which helps to imitate the bolt cycling action and
THAT impresses me.
Of course, like any products there are some negative
points. First and foremost, is this GBB would be more at
home at a MilSim, or possibly BattleSim or re-enactment
site, where it would stand proud alongside a Platoon of
101st Airborne Division ‘troopers. My second observation
is that “perhaps” it might be more appealing to airsofters
had it been the M2 Carbine with its 30 round mag (but of
course, locked to semi) but then “it’s no longer the iconic
M1 Carbine”, so that might be a juggling act.
as the consistency was sound. I was hitting a tea plate-sized
plate every shot at 30 metres. I didn’t bother trying closer
because let’s not forget, this is subject to MED rules.
And did I mention that sexy recoil? How satisfying is that!
But hey, don’t just take my word for it! Veteran (no offence
Jeff) airsofter, Jeff Smith from Dogtag Airsoft, has been the
proud owner of a King Arms M1 Carbine for about 4 years
and he has assured me (on more than one occasion) that
he will never part with it. Visually I could see why but surely
this is not the best airsoft primary for a number of reasons,
predominately the low cap magazine, the cost of spare
mags and the hot-from-the-box factor?
“I purchased the M1 as a retirement present to myself 4
years ago. Out of the box it had that feel like an old friend.
One surprise was that it came with a real wood sock that
felt comfortable from the off. Tested in the garden (quite
long) the grouping was very good. I then did an FPS test
as there was nothing in the box to say what it should be;
it turned out to be high, i.e. higher than 350. So not to be
outdone, I did my first game with it but had to put through
15 BBs to bring the FPS down to site limits. In-game it is
a lightweight airsoft gun to run with all day and was an
absolute pleasure to use. I have used it on many games.
“There is a downside though. One, the mag only holds
15 rounds and you have to lose the first load to bring the
FPS down to site requirements when a new C02 bulb is
SO FINALLY AND TO CONCLUDE
MY OPINION... I LOVE IT!!
I may not get to use it much (if at all) unless I can buy at
least 6 spare mags but it feels great, it’s absolute eye candy
to the purists amongst us and it would be oh so wrong to
go into battle with the M1 Carbine dressed head to toe in
Multicam! Wrong... just so wrong! This has to be used with
100% authenticity and so the airsoft theatre may not be its
best deployment.
Only when a duck goes “woof” would I take it along to
play airsoft.
Lez OUT! AA
Special thanks go out to our ever-supportive friends at
iWholesales for supplying the review gun.
FEATURES
Realistic blowback action to simulate the bolt cycling action &
recoil
Powered: 12 gram Co2 cartridge
Manufacturer: King Arms
FPS Range: 430-470
Length: 920mm
Inner Barrel: 267mm
Weight: 2450g
Magazine Capacity: 15rds
Muzzle Velocity: 430~470 FPS (Measured with 0.20g BBs)
Fire Modes: Semi-Automatic, Safe
Package Includes: Gun, Magazine
Hop up: Yes, Adjustable
“…IT FEELS GREAT, IT’S ABSOLUTE EYE CANDY TO THE PURISTS AMONGST US AND IT
WOULD BE OH SO WRONG TO GO INTO BATTLE WITH THE M1 CARBINE DRESSED HEAD
TO TOE IN MULTICAM! WRONG... JUST SO WRONG!”
16
JULY 2020