Non-Blow Backs
The guns selected were :
- 3PSA (Possibly HFC) Colt .25
- Marushin Mauser M712
- Tokyo Marui H&K Mk23 SOCOM
- Tanaka S&W M29 Revolver
- Marushin Taurus Raging Bull Revolver (8mm BB)
- Marushin AMT Automag (8mm BB)
The ammunition used for this test was .2g BBs - Temperature was around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The first guns selected were the 6mm ones (Colt, Mk23, M29 and Mauser).
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First shots, aimed at the Aim Point as were all the others, were from the Colt. As expected, this little peashooter is difficult to maintain a steady position with and sprayed the rounds fairly widely (Practice with different techniques of holding the guns may improve accuracy achieved). 3 of the shots hit the target, mainly low and to the left (probably caused by lack of hop-up and my pulling the shots to the left). Two of the remaining shots fell BELOW the target (an inch or so), whilst the final one went left.
Next up was the Tanaka revolver. As probably the highest quality airsoft gun in my collection (at any time), I had quite high expectations of this gun.
I wasn't disappointed. 5 of the 6 shots fell within a 7cm (3 inch) diameter (the sixth being wide to the right - My fault, no doubt). 3 of the 5 were within a 3.5cm (1.5 inch) diameter and dead centre on the target.
All of the 5 'on target' shots, hit within the centre of the target, which was pretty impressive. The sights on this gun are very sharp (certainly not true of most of the other NBB guns) and that helped no end. The double action mechanism didn't seem to cause any noticeable problems, so I didn't bother trying a set of single action shots, beyond the first shot.
Next was the gun that I felt might be the most accurate - My Mauser. For a long time this was my benchmark for accuracy and it proved to be so.
5 of the 6 shots fell within a 7.5cm (3 inch) diameter, with 4 of those in a 6cm (2.5 inch) diameter. The vertical grouping of these 5 shots was very close with only 2cm (0.75 inch) separating highest from lowest. The 6th shot was high and right, but on target - Again, I suspect this was due to me, rather than any inherent problem with the gun.
Final gun in this set was the Tokyo Marui Heckler & Koch Mk23 (commonly known as "The SOCOM"). This is a big hefty beast, but seemed to be very accurate in casual plinking.
The grouping was a little odd. 5 of the 6 shots (one was a right pulled outlier) were within 4cm (1.5 inch) diameter, grouped in or around the central target section. However, these fell into a group of 2 at the top in a 2.5cm (1 inch) diameter and 3 lower down in a 3.5cm (1.5 inch) diameter. All these shots would have to be considered 'accurate', but I'm at a loss to explain the way they grouped. Overall, though, a good result.
Then I turned to my two Marushin 8mm pistols - The Taurus Raging Bull (8.375" barrel version) and the AMT Automag.
BBs used in this test are the .34g 8mm ones.
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First shots, aimed at the Aim Point as were all the others, were from the Raging Bull.
Results were terrible! Three BBs were on target, another two went right and I couldn't ascertain where the 6th was! The three on target were two near the centre in a 4cm (1.5 inch) diameter and one on the right of the target (which was actually about the same distance from one shot off the target, forming a second group).
Disappointed, I moved onto the 8mm Automag. The power of this gun has deeply impressed me, even if the finish is a little disappointing.
The accuracy proved to be as impressive as the power. With my first attempt, pausing between each shot, I grouped all 6 shots in a 5cm (2 inch) diameter (The Red circles), a little low of the aim point (I have no touched the Hop-Up on this gun). I wasn't 100% sure that 3 rounds HAD entered the 4,5,6 area, so I tried another 6 rounds, this time aiming a little higher than the aim point (The Blue circles).
Firing very rapidly (the long trigger pull only seems a problem on the first shot, with a much lighter action on subsequent ones), 5 of these 6 rounds were in a 7cm (2.5 inch) diameter all dead centre. The 6th round went slightly high and right, into the chest of the target (certainly an effective shot).
I was amazed at how poor the Raging Bull results were and decided to try again.
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Firing double action, I achieved better results than before, with all 6 shots on target, but still widely spread left to right, although within a 6cm (2.5 inch) high band across the target. This grouping is shown in red on the target.
I then fired single action and produced the more closely grouped black grouping. 4 of the 6 shots are within 6cm (2.5 inch) diameter, low and to the right of the aim point, whilst the other rounds are low, but in line (a group of two 5cm (2 inch) diameter) and high to the right. The 5 low shots are within a 9cm (3.5 inch) diameter, which I think is as good as I can get without a lot of practice.
Conclusions
Unsurprisingly, the Colt .25 fared poorly, but this is a pocket pistol and at the range fired, would have hit a man sized target with each shot, which is probably more than can be expected from a cheap gas gun with no Hop-Up.
The big, TM Mk23 proved impressively accurate as did the Marushin Mauser M712, but the big winner in the 6mm selection was the expensive, but beautifully made, Tanaka M29 .44 Magnum. This was much as to be expected, but good to see.
The 8mm guns split widely. The Automag backed up its huge power with impressive accuracy, whilst the Raging Bull's spongy grip and notchy trigger led to disappointing results, even in single action.
All of these guns were capable of hitting the target with some care, but the Tanaka revolver and Marushin Automag stood out as exceptionally effective, although the neither would be my choice on a skirmish (Automag too ungainly, Tanaka too valuable!). For that, I'd choose the solid, cheap and cheerful Mk23 from Tokyo Marui.