armoury
TOKYO MARUI V10
were quite impressed by it. The sights are
Novak ones but don’t have any paint on so
in low light acquisition is a challenge. I shall
rectify that with some white paint ASAP,
however. If RMRs are your cup of tea, then
the V10 is optic-ready and comes with
a mounting plate for the Marui version
ONLY. it will not work with aftermarket
options but I have a couple I’m going to try
that have a specific 1911 plate included,
so stay tuned. Unlike newer Marui releases
the slide needs to be removed to adjust the
hop unit but it is easy enough to do and
had no problem with 0.28g BBs.
shots. It was about 7.5degs under the trees
temperature-wise and I would fully expect
the gas efficiency to only get better as the
temp climbs into the summer months,
when even the shorter mags for the V10
should be able to empty their full load of
BBs.
One thing of note though, is that there
have been notices online from Marui
themselves about slides cracking at the
rear. Mine is fine thus far, so I don’t know
if this is cracked from the factory or after
some use so as it gets warmer but if you
are concerned, using 144a instead of
green gas would probably be a sensible
course of action. If you do happen to have
a crack develop, then that’s something
you’re going to have to take up with your
retailer. In the UK, this on its own is a
very compelling reason to buy from a UK
retailer, to protect your investment and for
that I cannot recommend Defcon Airsoft
UK enough. They have delivered 100%
on any and all TM needs and wants I’ve
had over the last 18 months or so and
consistently have stock, even when other
retailers don’t.
SUMMARY
A LITTLE STIFF
The stiff slide release wasn’t actually as bad
as I thought it would be, it just took a little
getting used to and a slight adaptation
to my manipulation of it. It’s probably
partly down to my usual handgun being a
Glock and the fact I haven’t used a 1911
for quite a while. I certainly wouldn’t let
it put me off if I were looking to buy the
V10. The mags hold 22 BBs but if you
think you’re gonna get 22 off presently
(with the temperature being sub-10degs),
then you’re dreaming unless you leave…
Ooooh, I dunno? Maybe 30secs between
each shot? If you want anything useable
then you’re either going to have to
under-load the mag or accept that the
last few won’t be fired. I found 16 was
the absolute max during that game and
still have enough punch to lock the slide
back and not lose power with the last few
So there we have it. A nice little pistol.
It’s nothing new really, as the V10 has
been out for years by other manufacturers
but it is a very well executed replica of a
little-seen 1911 variant. It isn’t without
small issues (common to most 1911’s
when the temp is low though) and one
potentially BIG issue but whether the slide
is a problem across all of them remains to
be seen. I’m glad I got it as a change to the
modern handguns I have been using for
the best part of the last 4-5 years.
LAST MINUTE UPDATE!
Just before going to press, something
happened that I have never ever
experienced with Marui - the slide cracked
at the rear where Marui had said they’d
been having issues! I was absolutely
amazed if I’m being honest, even though
I knew the release had been delayed as
a direct result of this very problem. I’d
probably put maybe 20-25 mags through
the gun so it wasn’t through over-use.
Luckily Defcon took the gun back and I
am on my second V10. So far (after 10
mags) it shows no signs of damage and I
am watching it like a hawk. I have noticed
that everything in this one feels a little less
tightly sprung; the slide release is much
easier to actuate and it seems to be a little
more controlled. Perhaps this has some
bearing on the longevity of the slides but I
honestly don’t know yet. Rest assured that
as I use it, I will report back on it and how
well it holds up as the weather, hopefully,
gets warmer.
I find myself torn now as it really is
a nice little pistol and different to boot!
Can I recommend it knowing I’ve already
had one fail on me though? Well, yes, I
think I can - so long as you are aware and
happy to take that chance. If you are not
particularly gentle with kit, or have no idea
how to fix things, or if you feel you’d be
unable to get it back to the retailer you
bought it from if it does break, then I’d
have to say steer clear of it …for now! Let’s
see if any more of them have issues and
what Marui are prepared to do about it as
the manufacturer but, until that is clear I’d
have to say “caveat emptor”, which is a
real shame! AA
“THE STIFF SLIDE RELEASE WASN’T ACTUALLY AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD
BE, IT JUST TOOK A LITTLE GETTING USED TO AND A SLIGHT ADAPTATION TO MY
MANIPULATION OF IT. IT’S PROBABLY PARTLY DOWN TO MY USUAL HANDGUN BEING A
GLOCK AND THE FACT I HAVEN’T USED A 1911 FOR QUITE A WHILE. ”
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