In this video by Elementary Airsoft, the Gate PTX HPA pistol arrives in a sturdy hard case that, while not quite a high-end protective vault, does its job of keeping the CNC-machined aluminum components safe. The unboxing reveals a package including a single magazine, spare O-rings, and an adjustment key for the trigger and hop-up. The olive finish gives off a certain space marine aesthetic, though the selector switch requires some finger gymnastics to reach unless you have hands the size of a catcher's mitt.

Despite the impressive build quality and the cool factor of a ground-up HPA design, the performance out of the box is a bit of a letdown for Elementary Airsoft as he notes that the accuracy is somewhat of a guessing game, and the air efficiency is low enough to make one wonder if the gun is just incredibly thirsty. The main culprit for the poor groupings seems to be a lack of BB retention in the bucking, which leads to inconsistent backspin and a fair amount of vertical variance that would frustrate anyone trying to hit more than the broad side of a barn.

The technical deep dive, complete with endoscope footage that feels almost like a medical procedure for airsoft guns, suggests several design tweaks. The engine and barrel assembly currently sit in the frame with more wiggle room than a loose tooth, which doesn't help with stability. There is hope for the future, however, as the manufacturer is actively engaging with the community to develop a version 2 kit. For now, it’s a platform with a lot of potential that just needs a bit more time in the oven before it's ready to be a reliable primary.