MP5k-A4 - ArniesAirsoft - Review Archive

Author

R22Master

Dionysus

Registered: September 2004
Location: Static in the UK, but wishing I was motorbiking around the world - UK > Europe > Russia > Alaska > USA > UK.
Posts: 3,372

Review Date: 15/8/05

Would you recommend the product? No | Price you paid?: �145.00 | Rating: 6

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	AMAZING recoil on Green Gas, Easily available spare magazines, realistic operation
Cons:	DESTROYS itself on Green Gas, unimpressive performance on 134a Gas, not particularly accurate.

First off, I have to say that this is my all time favorite Airsoft gun. However, I am not going to let that influence my review.

I have two of these guns and have just purchased my third, but I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone else - there are several reasons why.

First, the bad points...

1. This gun self-destructs on Green Gas
This is a real shame because this gun is ONLY fun to shoot when using Green Gas - and it's a LOT of fun. It was built for 134a gas which is a far less powerful power source. Firing on 134a gas is not much fun as there is little noise or recoil and the BBs are propelled at a very low power which isn't even useful in skirmish situations.

2. The magazines are not held very well in the mag-well
This can result in the magazine simply falling out of the gun in full-auto mode. It also makes for a very unsatisfying non-event of a click when you insert the mag.

3. None of the internal components are very strong
Since owning my two, they have both spent far more time broken and awaiting repairs, than working. I have had 5 broken blowback cylinders, 4 cracked metal bolts, 6 blowback springs skip their rails, and one critically worn slide. Despite the fact that I have owned these two guns for several years (since they were first released), they have collectively spent no more than 3 months in an operational state.

4. Modifications are needed to get this gun in a good workable state
The mag-catch needs re-seating, the blowback reset spring needs a washer inserting, and various other fixes. Why these couldn't have been done at the factory is beyond me.

5. The minor down-sides
Fixed HOP-UP, low accuracy, major cooldown on full-auto, poorly fixed rearsight, magazines do not fit mag-clamps (mags are too big), inability to handle the squeezing pressure of the claw scope mount (siezes up the bolt inside), very light weight without the magazine inserted, and light grey finish on the main body.

Now, the good points...

1. This gun ROCKS on Green Gas (then dies)
This gun is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING on Green Gas - the best GBB ever in my opinion. The bang, the recoil, the great range and power, the insane rate of fire (ROF). This gun has it all. The problems follow quickly though. This gun wasn't meant to be run on Green and it shows. First the blowback chamber will skip its return-spring guide. Then the blowback chamber will wear to the point it will never fit back on its return-spring guide, or snap its lug altogether allowing it to fall out of the bolt. Then the bolt starts cracking and eventually crumbles in to three seperate parts, rendering the gun a paper-weight. Plus during all this, the magazines will keep falling out while firing.

Still, in my opinion, it is worth it because this gun is just Sooooo much fun on Green Gas. Live for one day as a lion, or live forever as a lamb? I choose the lion, always hoping that this day will never end!

2. The trigger and selector switch are VERY positive
Forget the spongy selector switch you are used to on MP5 AEGs, this is the business. Each position just clicks nicely in to place with no resistance - you could play with it all day. The trigger too is very smooth and is freely movable even in Safe mode.

3. Realistic Operation
You can do the "H&K Bitchslap" on this baby. Pull back and lock the charging handle, and then slap it down to load the gun. The bolt flies back and forth with each shot, you get a series of bangs rather than the AEG whine, and the recoil is great (at least on Green Gas). Only major realism fault is that this GBB operates an "Open Bolt" system and the real-steel uses a "Closed Bolt" mechanism.

4. The spare magazines are easily available
Spare mags are not hard to come by and they're pretty cheap. The full sized ones are the best as they hold 50 shots instead of the usual 30 held by the standard mags. They look damn good too.

Conclusion

For me, this is the greatest GBB I have ever owned, but then I run mine only on Green Gas. I have tried it on 134a, but the performance is just boring / dull / uninspired / mediocre / yawn-making. On Green though, it is a fire-breathing, insane, awe-inspiring, grin-worthy tool of madness and joy, so I use Green Gas.

I still keep getting reminders every time I pick this gun up though, when a new piece of the bolt cracks and falls out on to the floor when I remove the magazine. So far, one of my presently operating bolts has lost 2 of its 4 runners, and has two large cracks developing, but it still keeps working (for now).

I have taken a Dremmel to the body, built and inserted a custom washer to the blowback-return spring, filed down part of the bolt, put up with the worn blowback cylinder, sharpened the mag-catch, and applied various other custom modifications. I have gone through 5 blowback cylinders, 4 metal bolts, 2 blowback-return springs, and a few other parts - the memory of which has long since vanished in to the mists of time. I have two guns, but only one has any internals in as one has had to be sacrificed to keep the other working.

Would I recommend this gun to others? Not really, no. Unless you just love tinkering, modifying and building new parts for your guns just to keep them working, this is not for you. Of course, if you love low power, weak blowback and uninspring shooting, this gun should do you fine as long as you only use 134a gas.

How much would I rate this out of 10? For me, I'd give it a 9, but knowing that not everyone is prepared to completely machine an entirely new set of internal components from steel (which I have done), I can only give this gun a 6 out of 10 at best - and that is being very charitable.

My advice would be to avoid this gun unless you have read this review in its entirity and are happy to put up with the quirks and downsides that I have experienced over the last few years.

Thanks for reading Wink

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