TM type 89 Review

[Classicx]

why is the fire selector on the right side anyways? Giving us leftys a break finally?

Edited August 7, 2006 by Classicx

[Jagdraben]

From what I can tell, it's supposed to be operated with the right hand thumb. In all likelihood, it isn't located in a horribly ergonomic place to be operated by either lefties or rights, even with an ambidextrous selector.

 

And that Carrot bayonet makes me wish I had gotten a Type-89 instead of my RK-103. My one regret.

[shcurti]

I placed my order today so hope all the good vibes where right!

[Jagdraben]

My Japanese is a little bit on the rusty side... how and from where is one supposed to order that Type-89 bayonet?

[sekiryu]

The reason the selector switch is on the right side is because all Japanese are taught to use their right hand, since it's difficult for them to write in their language with the left.

 

As for manipulating the selector switch, I copied how the JGSDF does it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOH6VWZHvNU

[Jagdraben]

That explains why Japanese shooters would typically use their rifles right-handed.

 

It doesn't explain why the selector is on the right hand side. (Or, not fully to my liking.)

[Marlowe]

Nice review. Have you added it to the review database?

[sekiryu]

I really like the selector switch....but I'm a bit of an oddball anyway. There is that left-hand selector switch available.

 

The pistol grip is also molded for right-handers: there's a thumb groove on the left side, but not the right.

[Jagdraben]

I don't suppose anyone would know if TM is planning on launching a folding stock version of the Type 89...?

[That_One_Person]

I don't suppose anyone would know if TM is planning on launching a folding stock version of the Type 89...?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Not yet dude, I would rather have them just release the stock seperately for us Type 89 pre-orderers. Everyone knows that buying another AEG for a different stock just isn't cool.

[Jagdraben]

You mean that the stock that they released for the SPAS-12 that makes the gun cost twice as much as it retailed for when they had one that came with the stock?

 

®

[sekiryu]

Here are some nice real steel pics, Type 89F included:

 

http://www15.tok2.com/home/lttom/military-...owers_rifle.htm

[sekiryu]

Update on the "sturdiness" of the 3-round burst--I used only 3-round bursts today in a game with 0% failure.

[Shinden]

The 3 round burst mechanism is sturdy enough to handle a large 9.6 battery. Shoots at a faster ROF, but a larger battery is definitely a plus. I use the First battery sling to use the larger battery. In fact, you can also add another wire from the gearbox to the stock (need to drill a hole for the wire to the stock) to allow you to use two 8.4 stick batteries at once. It's been done already and proven.

[sekiryu]

Running two at the same time worked? Hmm, one of our local guys said that wiring two batteries at the same time was a bad idea...wouldn't that give like 16.8V?

[freq88]

if you parallel the 2 packs you keep the voltage the same but double up the mAh. And if you put the packs in serial the voltage doubles but mAh remains the same).

 

Parallel = wye connecting 2 packs - to - and + to +

Serial = wye connecting 2 packs - to + and - to +

[sekiryu]

Is there a guide to running them in parallel?

[Jagdraben]

Got my Type 89 today.

 

My first two thoughts:

 

w00t!

 

and

 

Oscar Mike Foxtrot Gamma, this is a small rifle. It's as short as my G36Kv with the stock in the middle position. So small, in fact, that I half believe that Tokyo Marui makes a kid-size version and that's the one that I got.

 

It's got some heft to it, about as much as the RK-103. Only problem with it, IMHO, is that the MAG mid-caps look kinda funky in the mag well.

 

Also of note is the manual. Best airsoft manual EVAR. Too bad none of it is in English!

 

The plastic is, somewhat depressingly, typical Tokyo Marui. The ergonomics, other than the short stock, are very good. The pistol grip feels somewhat small, but I suspect that with gloves, it will be less noticeable. (Of note, the pistol grip is much larger than the RK-103's. Do Japanese men have larger hands than Russian men?) If one were to wear a flak jacket or other thick vest, the stock length would cease to be a problem.

 

Because the rifle is so small, I doubt that it would prove to be very difficult to use in all terrain.

 

Eventually, I'll get around to shooting it. But not until someone buys one of my other AEGs!

[sekiryu]

I love the feel of the plastic on the pistol grip and stock. The plastic on the foregrip is a bit "heh". Actually, the light gray plastic on the foregrip is metal on the real gun...and those seam lines are actually on the real thing too.

[Jagdraben]

I don't really like the plastic. It feels like cheap plastic rather than high-end plastic, like the stuff on my CA36 and G&G RK-103. Not that it's horribly surprising... I used to own a TM SiG SG552.

 

EDIT: Turns out that the Type 89 at 916mm is just under two and a half dentimeters shorter than the AR-18. Which makes me go, "Huh?" because my father owns an AR-180 (Semi-Atuo-only model AR-18) and I don't recall it being that short. Odds are that most, if not all, of the length lost is in the stock. So I guess you could say that the Type 89 is a mountain rifle version of the AR-18....

 

EDIT2: Aha. Japanglish moment in the manual: The Bayoent Lug is labelled as a Bayonet Rug.

Edited September 14, 2006 by Jagdraben

[sekiryu]

Don't forget "code" instead of "cord". They did that in the M14 manual to. And alot of "noted" randomly placed in sentences.

 

BTW, if you're trying to figure out why the takedown latch isn't working....they forgot to translate "ダーミー"

 

I was fooling with that thing for hours before I finally read that.

Edited September 15, 2006 by sekiryu

[Jagdraben]

Can't aim the thing with my goggles on.

 

More incentive to sell off one of the other guns so I can get RX shooting glasses....

 

EDIT:

 

I think the measurements in the manual are off. The Type 89 is recorded as being 916mm (just over 36") long with a 420mm (just over 16.5") barrel. The AR-18 is down as having an overall length of 940mm (a touch over 37") and a barrel of 464mm (a little over 17.25") in length.

 

The difference between the AR-18 and Type 89 in OA length: 24mm (.944").

The difference between the AR-18 and Type 89 in barrel length: 44mm (1.732").

 

If the Type 89 had the same length stock, reciever, &c., then shouldn't the barrel only be 24mm shorter on the Type 89, not 44mm? Odds are that the stock is not as long, but I find it incredibly hard to believe that the reciever would be longer on the Type 89 than on the AR-18.

 

I think that somewhere along the line, Tokyo Marui got its numbers wrong. Probably on the AR-18. If I get a chance, I'll try to take some rough measurements of my father's AR-180 and see if I can get some side-by-side shots of the Type 89 AEG alongside the AR-180 (and a ruler, of course).

 

EDIT2:

 

Illustrating how size of the Type 89 alongside various other AEGs (my roommate's SG552 and M15A2, and my CA36Kv):

Edited September 15, 2006 by Jagdraben

[sekiryu]

I think the only similarities between the Type 89 and the AR18 are the gas system and bolt.

 

It's kinda tough to aim with goggles on--I found a certain space on the stock that allows a nook in my goggles to settle in.

[Jagdraben]

From looking at the Type 89 and AR-18 it looks like the recievers are nearly identical. The foregrip is slightly different, as is the stock and front sight, and the pistol grip is identical.

[sekiryu]

Isn't the magwell a different shape?