XM8 carbine (MP005) - ArniesAirsoft

Author

DarkLite

Yes, commander, my hat is large and my cloak is billowing.

Registered: January 2005
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 9,707

Review Date: 20/4/07

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: �30.00 | Rating: 9

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Great RoF, Quiet, Great Range, Lightwieght, Ergonomic, Uses Ver 3 Gearbox
Cons:	Non TM spec hop-up, ISU not very good, 0.8J stock power.

Ah. The DE XM8. What a gem.

Aren�t you lucky that I�ve decided to write up a review about it? Yes. Yes you are.

For this, my friends, is a very awesome gun. Think that scene in Kill Bill 2, where the old Chinese Kung Fu master punches straight through a piece of wood three inches thick and then pulls a face that can only be described as �Hah, I�m awesome and have a huge beard� � but even more awesome than that.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/WackyFacky/Kill.gif

Yes ladies and gentlemen, The DE XM8 is indeed more awesome than that.

But first things first.

I bought this gem from Gunner-Airsoft for about $450HKD, which is all of 30 pounds sterling. Hah, HK prices rule.

First off, a little history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM8

The XM8 is essentially a G36 in a new shell.

And so the Airsoft XM8s have been too.

The Airsoft XM8 has had a troubled past:

First, the GWS kit to convert the G36C into an XM8. This kit was the first, if not the best XM8 to grace Airsoft. There were problems with it that included it�s horrific price, shoddy optics and weak stock. It came in OD, Tan and Grey.

Then, the BE XM8. This was a copy of the GWS kit � which used a plastic Version 3 Gearbox that was irritating to upgrade. It was mainly made of plastic, had no optics and was all together not terribly good. However, it was cheap, putting it�s cost-to-performance ratio above that of the GWS kit.

Then, DE sneaked in not one, but TWO XM8s, the MP005 and MP006, Standard and Long versions respectively. The DE XM8 is slightly less than two BE XM8s and is MILES better. We�ll see why later. Which is in fact now.

To the review!

Initial appearances

I have to admit, the XM8 is a big marmite-ish love/hate gun. Some like the looks of it, some hate the looks of it. Others go and buy yet ANOTHER AR-15 derivation, and then go home and start bolting shit to it.

Personally, I hated the looks at first. Then I had a period of indifference. Then we decided that it�d be best to be separate for a while to strengthen the relationship.

Then I loved it. I still do now.

The plastic is good quality � the flash in the pictures makes it look a bit shiney, but it isn�t at all. It has a nice textured feel to it � similar to a CA G36 or AUG, if that helps. The DE XM8s are only available in Grey. Which is where spraypaint comes into play.

The rubberized parts on the real gun are actually rubberized on the DE! Although it�s only one layer, and it comes off after a while, it�s a nice touch, and you can go to a Garage and get some rubberizing spray to give it a more permanent rubbery feel.

If that�s what floats your boat.

The main things that stick out are the cheap-looking silver body pins. Bleck. I hear that you can replace them with G36 pins, most likely the ARMY CODE Pushpins.

There is a lot of plastic on this gun. In fact, most of the externals are plastic. This is also the case on the real XM8. No matter, as it is actually VERY solid and non-squeaky-creaky. Why?

There�s a metal Subframe that runs from the back of the body, under the ISU (Integrated Sight Unit), to the very front of the gun, where the outer barrel and flash hider (both metal too) attach.

This makes the gun feel very solid indeed, and combined with the lead weight in the extendable stock, it�s quite well balanced.

The Selectors are Metal, which is nice. The selector markings are a little obvious but can be easily painted over.

It�s nice to hold and shoulder � and all the controls are in the right places. Quite Ergonomic. I particularly like the mag catch, which can be used with both the non-firing and firing hand easily.

The Gun comes with a lowcap mag, a cleaning rod, a Two-point Sling, a 8.4v 1100mAh mini battery, a slow charger and a TM pistol mag type speedloader.

The sling is actually decent enough to perhaps use, but I�d not risk it. The Mini battery seems to be decent, but I�d still prefer Intellect or GP batteries. The slow charger is junk, toss it. The Speedloader is pretty good too � but I�d bet it won�t last too long.

Anyhow. Onto the meat of the review!

Performance

This is without a doubt the best Chinese gearbox I have seen thus far.

How good was it?

When someone test-fired a DE XM8 behind me, I thought it was a TM. It sounded TM-y. Smooth and high RoF.

Opening it up reveals that there is a LOT of brown, nasty-looking grease everywhere.

The gearbox is essentially a standard Version 3 gearbox with a G36 motor cage. The plastic quality of the internals is also of decent quality.

The Hop-up unit is non-standard, unfortunately, but it�s very effective � my DE XM8 firing at 280fps can outrange a CA M15 firing at 340fps. It�s still very easy to adjust.

The hop-up unit also needs to be modified slightly to use TM/CA/MAG G36 mags � It�s an easy fix and involves a little bit of drilling. The Standard lowcap that comes with feeds well, but the side arm locking things aren�t very strong.

It fires just as well as a TM. The XM8�s accuracy is decent enough � the inner barrel seems to be about the same as a TM stock barrel. It�s made of brass and measures as 6.08mm ID. The groupings are about 4� at 30m.

The only main problem that the XM8 is that the ISU is empty, a tube with two glass plates for lenses. This can be solved in two ways � gutting the ISU and putting a scope or RDS inside, or taking the ISU off and replacing it with a short RIS rail.

I went the former route � I like the looks of the ISU.

More on that later.

The gearbox is VERY smooth and quiet. I actually found that firing the gearbox OUT of the gun was quieter than my TM G3SAS. Crazy quiet, this gun is. Coupled with the rapetacularistic RoF � about 16rps on a decent 8.4v mini � and the light weight, this gun is great for nimble, stealthy players.

It also has standard 14mm CCW threads, allowing the attachment of silencers, which makes the gun even MORE stealthy. Add a decent silencer, like the lightweight ELEMENT silencers, and you�re in business indeed.

The only downsides to this gun, in fact, are:

1) Non TM spec hop-up unit.
2) Not compatible with TM mags unless modded (easy mod though).
3) ISU is a pile of crap.
4) 0.8J stock power, compared to JG�s latest which are about 1.3J
5) Mini batts ONLY

However, the upsides are numerous like illegitimate children in medieval times:

1) RoF is great
2) Quiet as hell
3) Light
4) It�s an XM8
5) Ergonomic
6) Manuverable
7) Great range
8) 470 round hicaps (comes with a lowcap though)
9) Comes with a free speedloader.
10) It�s bloody cheap.

So, in short:

It�s awesome. It�s also cheap. If you want an XM8, or just want a great CQB/ninja weapon, get one.

9/10

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Wild_XIII

Glock 17 and FN SCAR, perfection!

Registered: April 2005
Location: Paddock Wood, Kent
Posts: 811

Review Date: 11/5/07

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: �45.00 | Rating: 8

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Sturdy construction, amazing range and accuracy.
Cons:	The stock broke!

I got this off a mate of mine. Overall I was very happy with it but the stock wasn't made very well and one fateful day when it needed a bit of muscle to pull it out the stock came straight out with a terrifying SNAP! The stock would still go back in and stay in, but was now no longer able to go to it's longest setting.

It's a great gun and it's actually quite big and has a nice rubberised texture over the foregrip and cheek rest.

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Feeding the addiction, one gun at a time.