TM Glock 17 springer review

TM Glock 17 Spring Pistol
review and images by Arnie

	Stock Specifications
*Model*	TM G17 'Springer'
FPS	180-210fps with 0.2g BBs
Length:	202mm
Weight:	285g
Ammo capacity:	24 rounds

So what's a 'springer'? Please note, that this is not a gas pistol, it's a spring pistol, loveably known as a 'springer'. A spring pistol must be cocked before a shot can be fired. You do this by racking the slide back - as this physical movement of the slide 'charges' a spring-piston assembly inside the replica. When you pull the slide back you compress a spring, which locks back and feeds a BB into the chamber. When you pull the trigger, the spring is released which pushes forward, and drives a piston with it. This motion creates a gas expansion (of air) which pushes the BB out the barrel.

It's obviously more difficult to prime than a normal GBB or NBB - look at it as being much like a simple crossbow (in theory), nothing will happen until you stretch it, and this needs to be done every time you want to fire it.

Having said that a springer is relatively difficult to fire - it's not that bad to rack the slide, but if you don't have fairly strong hands it won't be easy, but it does get easier with practice. A lot of folks haev got used to rapid fire techniques, firing the springer sideways ('gangsta sylee') while simultaneously cocking the slide.

Marui make some of the best spring Airsoft pistols available, and to be honest any Airsoft armoury is incomplete without one. You can expect somewhere between 180-210 fps with 0.2g BBs, although the hopup is fixed/optimised for 0.25g BBs out the box.

This G17 springer is the TM heavyweight version. So what's heavyweight (HW) you ask? Well HW simply means it's of a better build than other non HW models, and is actually err, heavier. So how do they obtain this more realistic feel and weight? Er.. well actually they just bung two lumps of mild steel in the mag, and use better quality plastic for the pistol frame. Not hugely complex, but surprisingly effective.

So what about this replica? Now given that all TM springers (and the licensed copies) use the same system, performance is basically the same across the range. The only differing features, are:

The physical appearance - Obviously the replica is a 1:1 copy of whatever real-steel pistol it's modelled upon.

Inner-barrel length - This is actually associated to the physical size of the pistol, and hence whichever pistol it's modelled upon. The larger the replica the longer the barrel (as TM will fit the longest barrel that they reasonably can). So the bigger the pistol, the more accurate and powerful it will be. Thus the G17 longslide (G17L), the Desert Eagle, and now the new Mk23 springer are some of the best springers you can get.

Magazine size - Again, much like the inner barrel, the bigger the mag, the more BB's you'll get in it. The mags are what as known as 'standard mags' which are very simple in structure. A 'standard mag' simply pushes BBs sequentially out of a feed hole at the top of the mag. The mag has a 'U' shaped tube inside it with a spring inside that. This means that BBs can be loaded into the 'U' shaped tube, and then pushed out until only the feeder that sits atop of the spring is left in the loading hole. This size mag holds about 24 rounds.

So what's it like? The TM G17 is to my mind one of the best out there for several reasons.

Looks - The Glock series feature an internal hammer system, which is a bonus for this replica - sadly on the spring pistols the hammer is simply cosmetic, so looks fairly horrible and 'flimsey'. Much like the real G17, this springer is functional and very tidy, which means it's easy to carry and simple to use. The Glock logos, and markings are faithfully copied.

Safety - As with all ASGK approved equipment, a safety feature is required. The trigger safety system here is therefore fully functional.

In order to full depress the trigger, the 'inner trigger' (shown in the image to the left) must also be depressed. This prevents accidental shots from being released, as the trigger must be fully covered by a trigger finger to pull the trigger.

Sights - The sights on this model are fixed, as you might expect for a model of this price. Even though they are fixed, they are accurate enough for a model of this power and accuracy and are good enough for the job.

More Imagery: Here's some imagery that didn't fit into the review. Just click on any thumbnail below to see a larger image.

Conclusion: Everyone needs a springer, and this is one of the best ones out there. With only about 2/3 of the power of an AEG you won't be winning any huge sustained firefights, but they're simple and effective, and sometimes that's all you need in a tight spot. The lack of adjustable hop-up doesn't matter, and the fixed sights are good enough for the price. One huge advantage is that they're quiet and almost 100% reliable, if they're regularly cleaned (just spray silicon spray on the working parts and feed holes).

External Links:

TBA