One
fine English summer’s day while skirmishing at AA (Airsoft Adventures),
during a capture the flag scenario the need for a sidearm was made very
clear. I was within running distance of the flag, under cover, with the
enemy being suppressed by my team. All I had with me was my M4/M203 combo
with no sling. I had a dilemma: ditch the M4 and run for the flag with
no gun or take the gun and be as maneuverable as a 4-tonne truck. Cutting
it short I ditched the M4 and got the flag.
News spread
that the Glock 17 Rail variant was being released be KSC and Tanaka Works
(TW), I knew I had to have one. I decided to go for the TW offering since
it had had a more favorable review at Redwolf and incorporated Western
Arms (WA) R-Type valves and Magna Blowback technology (for newbies that’s
a very good thing).
So on my last
trip to Hong Kong I picked one up. Opening the TW Glocks box I found the
pistol inside a polymer holster that comes as standard with the gun. Removing
the pistol from the holster I was impressed by the look and feel of the
Glock. It weighs in at 730g quite a nice weight that can be increased by
adding metal inserts to the inside of the slide. The Glock looks great,
no shiny plastic – the slide and frame are finished in a dull matt black
(unlike the KSC version). Its very comfortable to hold due to the contoured
grip and has a clean profile, i.e. no bits that will catch on other equipment.
This is due to the lack of an external hammer. Just like the real steel
Glock the TW version has an internal hammer. The clean profile means fast
drawing, but can mean trouble finding a holster.
But what about
the one included you say? Briefly it’s of little use in skirmishes. It
has no facility for spare magazines, it can only be worn at waist level
on a 1-inch belt (not compatible with webbing or combat/tactical vests)
and it looks awful.
Back to the
pistol, it has the standard Glock safety, the trigger within a trigger
– when in one is not engaged the gun won’t fire. Also to comply with ASGK
standards there is a small safety on the right side above the slide release
catch. This does detract from the realism but I hardly notice it.
Like all Gas
Blowback (GBB) guns the gas is stored in the magazine, here the charging
valve in the base of the magazine is covered by a sliding plate, which
is secured by a button. While I find this adds to the realism, I found
the plate very loose and flimsy even when closed (on all 3 mags for the
Glock). Old Tanaka magazines used to leak gas like a sieve, but the addition
of the R-Type valve was meant to halt that. However this is not the case,
all my Tanaka magazines allow the gas to POUR out of the retaining pins
in the base of the magazine. But reports on the Internet state that there
still is a problem, owing to Tanaka’s poor implementation of WA’s technology.
Now the important
bit: Shooting the gun. Dry firing the gun was good fun with good blowback
action. The rate of fire (RoF) on a full charge of gas was good, but decreased
after one magazine worth of firing (1 magazine charge is good for 2 magazine
loads). Putting rounds through it was initially great fun with each shot
(0.2g) coming off clean and accurately that’s using HFC 134a. DON’T use
HFC22 (Toyjack, Green gas) in this gun since it can’t take it! However
this did not last, after 6 magazines worth of rounds the guns began to
double feed badly, i.e. every other shot. Anyway 3 trips to the shop and
a bit of tinkering later it was fixed – but the shop owner said he was
aware of TW Glock feed problems! I still have some problems with the gun
– the gas nozzle becomes stuck in the chamber, causing some light damage
to it. It appears, unlike the real gun, that this gun requires lots of
maintenance. I would say when getting it fork out extra for some silicon
spray – you’ll need it!
Reassuringly
the Glock is easily stripped, simply drop out the magazine, pull the slide
release catch and pull the slide off. Once its off its easy to remove and
lube up the internal components. Constant lubrication is required to keep
the gun working reliably.
Conclusion
Overall I am
completely displeased with my Tanaka Works Glock 17. The problems with
it mean that I won’t buy another Tanaka gun unless I read that they have
done a major quality assurance overhaul. The issues highlighted above justify
that, also the faults seen uniform across a lot of the Tanaka range, especially
the leaky magazines. Next time I will buy a WA gun since I know that their
guns are extremely reliable and are low maintenance in comparison. Do you
self a favour buy the KSC Glock if you must have a Glock.
Airsoft DolphiNs Southampton.