Airsoft Canada - View Single Post - Help a happy AEG owner learn about pistols

Kozzie · December 11th, 2011, 06:48

The M4 of pistols would have to be the Hi-Capa. Several brands make them but TM is IMO the best, special consideration goes to Western Arms. There are obscene amounts of different upgrade parts for the Hi-Capa. They're the base for 90% of all race guns out there. That being said there are upgrades available for most kinds of pistols as long as you buy a good brand (TM, KWA/KSC, WA). Best thing to do is to try a bunch of pistols out. See what feels comfortable in your hand and what is naturally to point for you. Be aware of what mags the pistol takes, single stack mags can often hold more bb's than they have the gas to fire. Also large and uncommon pistols can be difficult to find holsters and mag pouches for.

The biggest thing I find people place too much stock into when buying their first pistol is a metal slide. A plastic slide will cycle much quicker and consume less gas. Brands like WE and other clones trade on people absolutely needing to have a metal slide when IMO you're far better off getting a plastic TM. Tm pistols are quite robust and while not designed to run it they can hold up quite well on propane. The only parts that MAY break on a stock TM run on propane are the slide and the nozzel, they cost around $10 each to replace.

When it comes to upgrades I've found it's best to go bit by bit. This way you'll be able to best determine if that part has the desired affect or if it's causing an issue and needs to be modified or junked. It's much more difficult to isolate an issue if you dump a bunch of parts in all at once. Custom pistol builds can be full of modification and trial and error. That being said there are certain upgrades that should be done in groups like: metal slide, metal barrel and heavier recoil spring. And there is certainly nothing wrong with running a stock pistol, if it ain't broke.....

The three keys to being a happy GBB pistol owner are maintenance, maintenance and maintenance. Clean and lube your pistol often, make sure to store your mags with gas in them (just how much differs depending on who you ask) and keep the seals on your mags properly oiled to avoid leaks. A good quality pistol should be ready to shoot straight out of the box but it can't hurt to take it apart and make sure all the moving parts are properly lubed.

As far as Gear goes the most important thing is to get a good holster that will retain your pistol properly and be quick to draw (Serpa, Safariland). I'm personally not a big fan of lanyards, I find them to be cumbersome. I'm also not a big fan of drop leg holsters either they wobble around when you run and are difficult to draw while on the move. I find the most effective holster is on the hip of your dominant hand though this isn't always possible depending on your rig for that day. Unless you plan on going pistol primary 2-3 mags (incl. the one in your gun) should do you fine, you don't want to carry more than you need as they're much heavier than a midcap.

You can't really go wrong with a TM or a KWA/KSC. They're the best stock guns out there and definitely what I would recommend. WA upgraded can be very good pistols but are IMO far too expensive for what you may get over a TM. If you get a KWA/KSC make sure you get the System 7/NS2 version. IMO TM makes the best pistols out there because of their hop-up design. It has two prongs (points of contact) similar principle to the shredars concave nub for AEG's. While the KWA/KSC hop-up is just a single point of contact. The two points of contact lead to better range, accuracy and consistency. The one knock I would have against KWA/KSC is that their hop-up rubbers tend to absorb a lot of oil and swell up over time. Be prepared to have some spares to change your rubber every so often if you get a KWA/KSC. KWA's can also shoot a little hotter than 350 so be careful there.

KWA/KSC vs. TM

TM
+ Accurate to 150ft.
+ more aftermarket upgrades
- stock plastic slide and barrel
- not true 1:1 scale of real steel

KSC/KWA
+true 1:1 scale of real steel
+stock metal slide and barrel
-accurate to 100ft.
-hop-up rubber will absorb oil and swell

KJW can be a good value for your money "a workhorse" just leave it stock and don't count on amazing range and accuracy.

December 11th, 2011, 06:48	#7
Kozzie a.k.a. Greedy Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto	The M4 of pistols would have to be the Hi-Capa. Several brands make them but TM is IMO the best, special consideration goes to Western Arms. There are obscene amounts of different upgrade parts for the Hi-Capa. They're the base for 90% of all race guns out there. That being said there are upgrades available for most kinds of pistols as long as you buy a good brand (TM, KWA/KSC, WA). Best thing to do is to try a bunch of pistols out. See what feels comfortable in your hand and what is naturally to point for you. Be aware of what mags the pistol takes, single stack mags can often hold more bb's than they have the gas to fire. Also large and uncommon pistols can be difficult to find holsters and mag pouches for. The biggest thing I find people place too much stock into when buying their first pistol is a metal slide. A plastic slide will cycle much quicker and consume less gas. Brands like WE and other clones trade on people absolutely needing to have a metal slide when IMO you're far better off getting a plastic TM. Tm pistols are quite robust and while not designed to run it they can hold up quite well on propane. The only parts that MAY break on a stock TM run on propane are the slide and the nozzel, they cost around $10 each to replace. When it comes to upgrades I've found it's best to go bit by bit. This way you'll be able to best determine if that part has the desired affect or if it's causing an issue and needs to be modified or junked. It's much more difficult to isolate an issue if you dump a bunch of parts in all at once. Custom pistol builds can be full of modification and trial and error. That being said there are certain upgrades that should be done in groups like: metal slide, metal barrel and heavier recoil spring. And there is certainly nothing wrong with running a stock pistol, if it ain't broke..... The three keys to being a happy GBB pistol owner are maintenance, maintenance and maintenance. Clean and lube your pistol often, make sure to store your mags with gas in them (just how much differs depending on who you ask) and keep the seals on your mags properly oiled to avoid leaks. A good quality pistol should be ready to shoot straight out of the box but it can't hurt to take it apart and make sure all the moving parts are properly lubed. As far as Gear goes the most important thing is to get a good holster that will retain your pistol properly and be quick to draw (Serpa, Safariland). I'm personally not a big fan of lanyards, I find them to be cumbersome. I'm also not a big fan of drop leg holsters either they wobble around when you run and are difficult to draw while on the move. I find the most effective holster is on the hip of your dominant hand though this isn't always possible depending on your rig for that day. Unless you plan on going pistol primary 2-3 mags (incl. the one in your gun) should do you fine, you don't want to carry more than you need as they're much heavier than a midcap. You can't really go wrong with a TM or a KWA/KSC. They're the best stock guns out there and definitely what I would recommend. WA upgraded can be very good pistols but are IMO far too expensive for what you may get over a TM. If you get a KWA/KSC make sure you get the System 7/NS2 version. IMO TM makes the best pistols out there because of their hop-up design. It has two prongs (points of contact) similar principle to the shredars concave nub for AEG's. While the KWA/KSC hop-up is just a single point of contact. The two points of contact lead to better range, accuracy and consistency. The one knock I would have against KWA/KSC is that their hop-up rubbers tend to absorb a lot of oil and swell up over time. Be prepared to have some spares to change your rubber every so often if you get a KWA/KSC. KWA's can also shoot a little hotter than 350 so be careful there. KWA/KSC vs. TM TM + Accurate to 150ft. + more aftermarket upgrades - stock plastic slide and barrel - not true 1:1 scale of real steel KSC/KWA +true 1:1 scale of real steel +stock metal slide and barrel -accurate to 100ft. -hop-up rubber will absorb oil and swell KJW can be a good value for your money "a workhorse" just leave it stock and don't count on amazing range and accuracy. Last edited by Kozzie; December 11th, 2011 at 07:28..