Renegade Recoon News

[Satsch]

Ab heute stell ich, wenn ich sie bekomme, die Renegade Recoon News rein.

********News Nummero 2 ********

Inside: New Marushin M1887 Terminator 2 gas shotgun impressions, Talk on the street

Renegade Recon Email Exclusive

** From the editor **

Big thanks to all of those subscribers who sent in feedback about our first RR Email Update. It was all supportive and encouraging so here we come with the second RR Email Update! It?s been hectic here at Renegade Recon HQ with efforts to build up the site on side of so many other things. I have to apologize the delay with Marui G18C AEG review that we?ve been working on. The review has grown in detail to such extend that we needed another week to work on to complete the four part review ? having taken the additional time we are confident it answers all the questions people have been having about this pistol.

I have piece of good news for you all and that is that we have assigned reporter to biggest outdoors and gun fair in United States, the SHOT Show 2005, and will be reporting in detail from the show. I?ll let it remain surprise who that reporter is!

Michael ?BD?
Editor, callsign admin

Marushin M1887 Terminator 2 gas shotgun impressions

Marushin recently released the officially licensed airsoft shotgun M1887 based on the 1991 movie Terminator 2, which featured Arnold Schwarzenegger. That generation who grow up with Terminator movies will probably recall the movie cover that features Arnold wearing biker leather jacket and sitting on motorcycle holding the shotgun cockily. Who could forget the scene where Arnold cocks the shotgun in one single-handed action. That wasn?t apparently easy:

?Cameron reveals how Schwarzenegger repeatedly brained Eddie Furlong with the shotgun when attempting his photogenic spin-reload. "T-2: On The Set" is kind enough to provide footage. ? Adam-Troy ?

So having put that mandatory movie scene out of the way I must say this shotgun is even more cool to use than what it looks like in the movie. You get five well-built shotgun shells with the M1887 Terminator 2 shotgun and they are loaded inside in intriguing way. One-by-one they are pushed inside the chamber that has shell locking position. Once locked in position you push the shell so that it?s moved inside the lower barrel of the shotgun. Then you load the next and so forth. Perhaps sounding simple in concept, but more difficult to realize in the gun. The system is, however, working well without malfunctions or other annoying mechanism related issues and its pleasure to operate this shotgun. Each reloading action sees the shell ejecting in glorious arch and with beautiful metallic cocking sound. You?ll love this mechanism action if you are into this type of weaponry.

One of the great features of this shotgun is that it uses the 8mm BB that we are already used to see from Marushin. This heavy 8mm BB fits well with the shotgun theme and indeed the retailer that I bought this gun from warned me about the power of the gun.

I guess I have had my brain exposed to way too movies, so I started to play around with idea to customize this shotgun with Spec Ops type paintjob and maybe sawing off some of the barrel. It would be great to pack for ?close encounters? in best Hollywood movie style (I know ? hardly practical but looks cool).

Materials used for this M1887 shotgun are plastics and metal. The metals are not heavy weight type but more lighter type and ?wood? furniture are the parts that are made of plastic.

Do you want to see full-size review with photos? If you do please email me because right now there is way too much on the plate and we have to limit what features we do. Enough emails will see it going to the full review list?

Talk on the street

We are talking about Marushin so let?s stay on that manufacturer a little longer while we are at it. Marushin recently announced M1 Garand Gas Blowback rifle that took even Japanese by surprise. I bet guys at Smokey?s are pulling their hair off as we speak. The price of Marushin is almost three times lower than Smokey?s plus it has blowback while Smokey?s is fixed slide type. The Japanese retailers I?ve had chance to speak with are expecting Smokey?s not to do well with this release. Bad luck? Maybe?

Hudson M21?what can we tell you? while veteran people on this hobby still remain bit skeptical of the release or its prospects for success there is a couple major surprises on store. Is Hudson moving to a surprising direction? Keep watching the site for details!

[Satsch]

********News number 3*********

** From the editor **

I hope you?ve been enjoying our news from SHOT Show 2005. Unfortunately our people at the show were not exactly allowed to take photographs despite our best efforts as SHOT Show organizers have imposed strict control over photography and media presence. Some of the SHOT Show reports are yet to be published and we hope to bring them online gradually.
Since this small column presents my chance to do some ranting I have to ask what Systema and especially G&G were thinking in taking their guns to SHOT Show 2005, the biggest outdoor and gun fair in United States. Their products are replicas, or in other words knock offs of real guns and as we now know companies like H&K went ballistic seeing airsoft ?versions? of their XM8 and UMP series. It is understandable that the SHOT Show 2005 represents big biz op for airsoft manufacturers too given the size of the show, but none of the other Japanese companies (besides Systema) ever put visible booth in SHOT Show even as they have been going there in droves for many many years.
If this trend continues, unlicensed airsoft gun manufacturers displaying their wares openly in SHOT Show, I?m predicting bigger troubles in the horizon. Folks, common sense please!
Michael ?BD?
Editor, callsign admin

Big Japan Airsoft Releases. What?s going on?

It?s been a while to seen major new model from Japanese airsoft manufacturers. With G&G pushing their new AEG models and few others announcing impressive big gun projects (like GB-Tech?s heavy weapon projects) it?s odd that there isn?t major releases coming from Japan. What?s going on? Here?s a low down how things stand as of Feb 2005.

TOP MP40
A apparently never-ending project that is becoming a source of frustration for many Japanese who?ve been waiting for affordable and skirmashable MP40 airsoft gun. Some custom shops sniffed the problems that TOP has been having with this release and created their own custom AEGs based on Marui gearbox. TOP has been pushing for release since December, January and now February. There were even big ads appearing in the magazines. All has went quiet since and there is no fixed date as of writing this. Some Japanese retailers that I had chance to talk with were even predicting mid-2005 as far back as December 2004 when TOP started to indicate January release. Verdict: Frustration is the key word.

KSC HK33
KSC has been shifting the release time quietly and skillfully. It?s quite strange because what we?ve seen they had perfectly working model as early as August 2004. Then again this is first direct competition AEG against Marui in Japan , so there might be some powerplay behind the scenes. Verdict: Apparently ready, what?s taking so long?

Smokey?s M1 Garand
On-off project of many years that is coming out soon, hopefully. Marushin stabbed in the back with intention or not by announcing their ?under-development? M1 GBB just on the eve of the release. Verdict: Coming out hopefully soon, but Smokey?s was shot in the back by Marushin.

Marushin M1 Garand
This was a surprising airsoft release announcement. I feel almost bad to add this right after Smokey?s, but they?ve announced it so it has to be included. Nothing fixed when it comes to release time or price meaning possible lengthy waiting period! Verdict: Promises a lot, but how long we got to wait?

Tokyo Marui M14
Marui has been informing pretty well about the release date of their M14 AEG even if it might appear otherwise. They handed out few ?warnings? that if they can?t make it by Christmas 2004 the next date will be around mid 2005. Recently Marui said that ready model will be finally shown on May. Verdict: Delayed slightly, but will be released in all likelihood. Rumors of cancellation completely unfounded.

Systema MP5 PTW series
Little is expected at the moment, but Systema has been speaking about this release for a year or so. Verdict: Unknown

Hudson M21
Out of the somewhat frustrating group Hudson appears to made lot of progress for a difficult project like theirs.
Preview now online: http://www.renegaderecon.com/article_details.php?id=78

Verdict: Surprise package of this group.

All of the above mentioned releases are expected to come out on 2005, but at the same time TOP MP40, Smokey?s M1 Garand and KSC HK33 have all been seriously delayed in comparison with the original plans. It just goes to remind how difficult it is to manufacture and release complete airsoft gun and it will be hats off to the newcomers if they can stay in their original release schedules. As it is, it's almost too easy to show dummy models and fancy posters to excited airsoft hobbyists, so it is always refreshing if someone comes up quickly with the actual release.

[Satsch]

 ***********Fortsetzung von News 3**********

So will 2005 be so good year for releases as it looks like? Hopefully yes or otherwise it will be the most frustrating ever.

Western Arms is coming out with two interesting gas blowback pistols on 02/19/05. We?ll try to give you more detailed report on these at next RR Email Update. Uups, we almost forgot to tell you. If you haven't entered our website mini-contest for LayLax/ANGS collaboration AN/PEQ-2 Limited Edition go do that before the end of the month. You have nothing to lose!

[Satsch]

Und wieder gibt es News von den Jungs von RenegadeReccon.

********News Nr.4********
This issue contains:
Smokey?s Gun Factory M1 Garand first impressions

Renegade Recon Email Exclusive

The Smokey M1 Garand rifle D-Day was delayed by few days, but at last we received our Smokey?s M1 Garand rifle on yesterday evening. We bring you here our first impressions of the very first purpose-built airsoft M1 Garand rifle.

It took several years for Smokey?s Gun Factory to convert idea of airsoft functional M1 Garand gas rifle to a reality. In process they had many difficult obstacles to overcome such as the operating system and keeping the cost of the rifle in reasonable level. Real M1 Garand?s furniture is mostly from wood and there is only two ways to replicate it in the airsoft versions. One is to replace the furniture with plastic replica and the other is to use real wood (either reproduced or real gun stock). Plastic is difficult option for smaller manufacturers like Smokey?s because it takes specific machinery and skill, so we usually see this only from major manufacturers like Maruzen or Marui. In Smokey?s M1 Garand rifle one of the main features is real wood furniture, but use of real wood always means high cost and this is something that has been unavoidable in this Smokey?s creation dubbed the ?Smokeyfield Armory M1 Garand? (what a funny fellows at SGF?). The real M1 Garand is mostly
from wood with top receiver and barrel being metal, so even the Hudson?s mass produced model gun M1 Garand commands respectable price tag. In Smokeyfield version the wooden parts are well finished and real oil-finished walnut has been used. Even with the use of wooden and metal parts the gun weight only 3kgs in total, which is somewhat light for M1 Garand rifle. It seems the receiver?s lightweight metals account for the majority of the weight difference. Barrel is, however, from steel. The assumption is that this has been made in order to make the rifle skirmashable for average airsofter who is not, honestly speaking, so used or prepared to haul heavy weaponry around. Some companies have gotten complaints of too heavy weapons (literally) such as Systema. Having explained this, it must be said that Smokey?s M1 Garand weight is ideal for airsoft gaming use and has to be considered as an advantage after all. What overseas players will say about the weight will be seen, but I fully expect Marushin's M1 Garand (if released) not be any heavier and probably lighter given Marushin's tendency to use lightweight materials such as plastics and fiberglass. For the comparison Hudson M1 Garand model gun rifle weights 3.6kgs while real M1 Garand weights 4.32kgs.

The rear sight is adjustable and is steel made (by wax). The operating mechanism features rotating bolt system and dummy .30-06 cartridges that increase the realism a great deal. Thankfully Smokey?s designed the clip to eject like the real thing! The magazine holds 12 BBs, which is good for the realism and should please those who are looking forward to play World War II airsoft games with realistic ammo capacities. The receiver metal is Marushin like, but has realistic type markings although the ?Smokeyfield? can be noticed there.

The first impression upon receival was of slight disappointment in overall realism and feel (such as the weight) considering that the Smokey?s M1 Garand costs a hefty 149,310 Yen including tax. The gun is of solid construction without wobbling parts and the weight is ideal for airsofting, so from the point of gaming the rifle has been built right. Yet to be tested are the actual shooting performance and functioning of the clip ejection, so I will at least return to report them on later RR updates once we?ve had to chance to test them.

The rifle is delivered in neat Smokey?s carton box and comes with US Army Field Manual type instruction booklet. Oil and oil dispenser are provided with the gun along with the magazine, clip and dummy cartridges.

If you would like to see full review of this rifle to appear at our site please email your vote in.

[SecuriTUX]

Danke f?r die Info.

Kurios ist, das ein AS-Gun, die wohl eher im RA Bereich zu Hause sein wird nicht zu schwer sein darf ....

Die ewige Lamentiererei, das Holz & Stahl so teuer zum verarbeiten ist, ist im Anbetracht des Preises eine bodenlose Frechheit. RS Garand's im neuwertigen Werkszustand bekommt man um ca. ? 800,-

Am allerliebsten w?re mir wenn Springfield selbst die Teile herstellen w?rde ... die h?tten die Erfahrung und die Maschienen dazu und auch die "Markings" w?ren dann korrekt.

[ac!d!us]

Tux, denk doch an die kiddies, da? sich die nicht so abschleppen m?ssen, wenns in den wald gehen und passanten erschrecken *ggggg*

[SecuriTUX]

... die wollen "eh" lieber ein Delta/SWAT/usw. sein und eine plastifiziertes G46XYZ oder MP9SDQDHJKS herumzeigen ... *gg*

[Satsch]

Kinder geht wo anders spamen
Heute gibts es wieder mal eines zum Besten von RR.

*************News number 5************

Here are the this week?s Email Updates from RR. Main focus is on Magpul?s Ranger airsoft magazines. See the end of the email for quick updates on TOP MP40 and KTW M1903A3.

Magpul PTS Ranger Pull M4/M16 magazine impressions

The Magpul PTS Ranger Pull mags have already landed in Japan apparently ahead of US release schedule and we had chance to inspect them briefly the other day. This magazine is made by Magpul to fit standard AEGs and this itself is an interesting, if not groundbreaking, development among equipment makers in US.

So how does the first airsoft simulation mag look like? The main frame of the magazine and the top cover is almost same as in Marui magazines with difference being the industrial grade, anti-scratch coating. This coating is said to be much stronger than standard airsoft magazine paint treatments. The color and external appearance of the magazine are almost identical with Marui ones. Below the centerline and just on top of the magazine bottom plate there is red-colored Magpul PTS marking. The focal point of this magazine is the ?Ranger plate? that is located at the bottom side of the magazine. Ranger plate works essentially as integral Magpul unit and allows quick draw of magazine from its storage position in personal equipment.

The ?Ranger plate? is well made and looks cool to be honest. Not only it looks cool, but the integral Magpul does make things convenient and faster without need to hassle with the position of the separate, traditional Magpuls. It also serves as a buffer against damage that could be caused when the empty magazine is dropped to the ground.

The only negative impression was the price. At 6,000+ Yen this magazine is pricey to be packed in serious numbers, but if early indications are anything to go by they should be available in reasonable price in US where it is manufactured (you can pre-order the magazine from Airsoft Arms). The lack of hi-capacity variant might hinder its sales in Japan and among general airsofters, but that will be soon found out.

The PTS stands for Professional Training and Simulation division, which could be also read as more Magpul products to airsofters.

Ammo capacity is standard 68. Color black.

TOP MP40 news

While we all wait for the release some interesting news have surfaced about TOP MP40. The gearbox is fit inside in neat tubular type case with motor positioned sideways (!) under it. Muzzle velocity is reported to be averaging at 85m/s with Marui 0.20g BBs.

KTW M1903A3

Often erroneously reported to been already released this rifle is still under development at KTW and is scheduled, according to Japanese retailers, to be released within March. Expect highly realistic, but expensive airsoft rifle well in excess of $1000 USD.

[Satsch]

Und wieder gibts was Neues von RR

**** Vol. 6 contents ****

1. Tokyo Marui M14 unveiled. We were there ? first impressions.
2. TOP MP40 first impressions
3. Marui Sig Sauer P226 Rail first impressions
4. What happened to the G18C review?
5. Win free S-System AEG

**** Tokyo Marui M14 unveiled. We were there. ****

Tokyo Marui had the much-awaited M14 electric gun finally on display at this weekend?s Gekishin fair in Japan. Shielded by plexiglass, probably to protect it from over excited players, it looked liked a finished version. Tokyo Marui reps did confirm that it will be released this summer, but they would not go into details about what will be the pricing and whether or not it will come in three versions (Olive Drab, Black and Wood stock). This unveiling was a subdued one compared to the other releases and normally this kind of event would not be the place to display their major release. Did G&G M14 release have a effect? That is unknown because it still haven't been sighted here besides few individual auctions. Going to the important part what the photos of Marui M14 can?t show is the actual finish of the gun and this was something of small surprise.

Having played with Marui and other electric guns for so many years almost to the point of exhaustion one tends to quickly notice the model specific features, specific patterns of each series has and any new/old materials. The photos that will soon spread around the Internet show the general look, but close examination live does in fact reveal the M14's overall plastic look. This is the typical downside for serious players, but actually only few parts of the rifle are plastic (stock and upper front assembly, everything else is metal). What is a major reason for the plastic look is the ?wood stock? that is typical Marui wood replica as seen in AK series and Thompson M1A1. The M14 wood stock appears to be of good quality with sharp finish, but easily recognizable as plastic and not so believable as in AK and Thompson series ? perhaps because the M14 stock is that much larger. The plastic build will not be such a downside in a black and OD versions, but it was obvious in this woo
d stock version. The plastic stock makes it look obviously like a toy gun, which it is of course. This should not be taken purely as negative observation BECAUSE real wood stock would jack the price of the gun at least twice higher since they are that expensive to make. The use of plastic allows Marui to make an affordable base gun. If I would be a betting man I would put wager for a real wood stock to appear around release time as a aftermarket part for those players who demand more real gun feel with wallets to match.

M14 is a rifle of old era and thus quite long. The weight balance will most likely be even as possible because so many of the expected users are young and might not be able to carry heavy and unbalanced rifle (this is fairly common issue with makers considering the majority of typical airsoft users!). The butt plate, trigger assembly, magazine and receiver are metal, but since the stock is plastic the overall weight should probably stay significantly lower than the real rifle.

Overall the first impression, gazing from behind that protective glass, was of plastic appearance and more so than expected or guessed. There might be some changes between now to the release date, but all points to Marui M14 being a platform gun for custom work when it comes to serious players and MilSimmers. What new features the mechanism contains, how solid the build is and what will be the selling price will all be critical information when the gun will be finally available.

Also displayed was the Marui G18C Weapon System that was reported here for the first time: http://www.renegaderecon.com/recon_details.php?id=491

*** What happened to the G18C review? ****

First things first, it should been already on the site, but it has been caught in the constraints of time and equipment. But nobody here forgot it?!! LayLax finally released the NineBall Hexlobe Driver.4 (1,200 Yen, check your retailers) for the mechabox so we can now complete the final part of the review that concerns about the gearbox (without prying the gearbox open with DIY techniques...).

[Satsch]

**** TOP MP40 AEG out ? believe it or not! ****

TOP did it? they released the MP40 just a week ago and it is intriguing electric gun being a first TOP AEG that is not a LMG. I have been playing with one and my first impression is that it is a Maruish electric gun (not a typo, Maruish indeed), which can be a compliment if you wish. It has that mass production AEG feel which is good, but I?ve had the pleasure to handle realistic MP40s before and there is distinctive difference in weight balance. The gun is all metal except for the frame group side plate. The metal in certain areas like receiver and magazine housing is thin and Maruish in comparison with the real steel, which might have been done to comply with ASGK regulations and to avoid any problems.

Weight balance, frame solidness and functions are generally very good, but there is a minor complaint about the awkward battery positioning that takes some time to get in right position for the receiver to `lock` back in position (battery is positioned behind the gearbox and the wires are hold in the back)

The TOP MP40 seems to be a carefully made airsoft gun and considering to how limited space they had the gearbox fit into, it's not a big surprise that many delays were experienced in release. MP40 has been a ambitious project from TOP and it has to be said that any reviews of this gun, from wherever they might come, will have to judge carefully what the gun delivers and to who and at what cost.

**** Marui SIG Sauer P226 Rail first impressions ****

The SIG Sauer P226 Rail is standard Marui gas blowback pistol albeit with stronger blowback and better accuracy than the first ones in their series. It is said to have same features as the Hi-Capa 5.1, but I for one haven?t yet been able to test the accuracy as I got this model just barely 24h ago. Hand guns are something of a cars really, everyone has their own preferences and tastes, but I think this P226 model will find fairly large user base. Thanks to the well-accessible is pistol is very straight forward to use and is pleasure to handle. It comes with de-cocking lever that I found little surprising for budget GBB pistol (it?s quite expensive to make from what I?ve heard). The take down action is done with a help of lever that is a handy to the extreme in comparison with some other take down functions that I?ve come across in GBBs. The frame is completely plastic from outside and has metal structure inside the lower frame. The numerous and accurate details in the frame o
ffset somewhat the plastic feel, but not entirely. The Marui SIG Sauer P226 Rail is indeed a budget GBB and as a such is of trusted quality that adds an new option to the growing Marui GBB series. Well worth a look if you are looking for practical and affordable sidearm, but with more MilSpec feeling than what Hi-Capa 5.1 didn?t deliver.