(click for a larger image) Maruzen M1100 Short-Review by Darren-Jon Ashmore (aka Nautilus) images/edited by Arnie

Stock Specifications Model M1100 Defender FPS 0.8J (3BB's per shot) Length: ???mm Weight: ???g Ammo capacity: 6 shots per magazine

M1100 Defender short review Come on, everyone likes Shotguns. Well OK not everyone likes shotguns. In fact they are a bit of a niche (within the CQB niche) gun in airsoft, but as I keep telling anyone who will listen, they have so much style factor that they have to be considered.

However, any shotgun that you can name is not really perfect. The Marui ones, though being super stylish, are effectively 3 barreled sniper's weapons, a bit pricey and prone to problems IMHO (though the new M3 Shorty is certainly worth a look for the Marui fan). The Marushin Mossberg series suffer from a lack of power in the gas version, and higher prices (still, heavy guns and super styleeeee loaded). Then we have Maruzen with their lovely action, pathetic power and shells going everywhere.

Hmmm.....

Not any more. The Maruzen M1100 Defender semi auto uses much of the same mechanism of the full stock M1100, but with one key feature that changes everything - magazine fed. A cheap (680 yen) 18 round (6 shot) box mag sits in the shell well but other wise the gun cocks and fires as before.

It cycles faster than the normal M1100 we used for comparision (the airsmith at Sannomiya muttered something about not needing to waste gas on throwing a shell out) and produces around .8 joules with 3 rounds (this number is not changeable as with the shell guns though). Thus, with the pretty strong fixed hop, the gun is a very reliable CQB option IMHO, being easily capable of engagement ranges of 20 meters.

There are a few downsides to the gun:

I don't know as yet if any of the M1100 power upgrades will fit in this new beast (though it seems reasonable to assume they will), so don't count on it....

Well there she is. Short *and* sweet and the answer to all your Gangsta Styleeee problems. Nah just stuff the cash in yer pocket and say everybody's happy!

Have fun,

Darren-Jon Ashmore

Price as of July 11, 2001: 19,980 yen RRP. Maruzen.

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