Blowback Rifles Get Mature
Gungho Cowboy
20 Oct 2008
More and more airsoft manufacturers from the Far East are getting into the market, with mainly copies of the Tokyo Marui technology design features in these. So, it's getting to be a crowded market out there that it's even getting harder to differentiate each offering from the other. How will the leaders in airsoft design put themselves above the rest? The answer now relies on the blowback feature which gives another level of realism in airsoft play.
While blowback features are not new, they have been unreliable in terms of airsoft Automatic Electric Guns (AEGs). The initial blowback design on the G&G L85 have been somewhat a drawback as the it was not reliable. The Army R85, which is a copy of the G&G version, had initially been an improvement, but the problem still remained. Some players had made some DIY modifications in order to have the same effect, but overall, there was not much wide adoption...
...and it seems that 2008 is the year where blowback now has the full attention of airsoft manufacturers. Here is the list:
TOKYO MARUI
Tokyo Marui then came out with their AK74MN which have a reliable blowback feature. But then TM not only included a blowback feature, they threw in another which has left many manufacturers dumbfounded --- the recoil engine. TM has patented the technology and will seem to strictly enforce its intellectual property now, which will it even harder for others to copy through legal means. Optimus Prime has fallen in love again with Tokyo Marui and the AKS74U is now his favourite. He'll be getting the TM SOPMOD M4 with the bolt catch mechanism which will give Systema a run for its money. Another standard set by the venerable airsoft company.
Here are the TM products that come with a blowback feature (and recoil engine):
TM AK74MN
AKS74U
TM MAC-11
TM M4 SOPMOD
G&G'S TOP TECH BRAND
One of the more solid AEGs with the blowback feature. Top Tech has the pneumatic blowback technology which is also patented. There is a divergence now of blowback technologies among the different manufacturers and we found the M4 series to have this technology so well utilised.
TM16 M4 Carbine
TM M16 A3
TM M4 Carbine Light
T4-18
KING ARMS
King Arms is now into blowback technology and they also have a reliable approach to implementing feature that they are having it patented. So far, only two AEGs from King Arms now have this implementation, and on version 3 gearboxes.
British L1A1 SLR
GALIL SAR
VEGA FORCE COMPANY (VFC)
VFC is now also into releasing blowback feature, but what is known is the AK-105 release they had. There's not much detail yet on this technology (since Popular Airsoft has reviewed it yet). But the attention to detail is much to be praised about.
AK-105
WESTERN ARMS
The realism of the blowback feature of the Western Arms M4 GBB series is much to be admire --- the blowback itself provides a recoil effect and even real steel M4 external parts can properly fit into it. But the drawback of this series is the magazine, it costs US$100 to get one, and it's just a 50 round magazine. This might be more ideal to military and reinforcement training, rather than the regular "shoot and scoot" airsoft games. They have released the M4A1 Delta, M4 CQB-R, M4 Patriot, M16A RIS, and M4A1 PDW.
CLASSIC ARMY
As reported by Airsoft News EU, Classic Army is about to release an M4 AEG with its own blowback feature. Not much details yet, but here's a video as posted in Youtube.
Have I missed others? Just place it at the comments page and I'll add these to the list. Thanks.