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Maruzen MP5K Review

by Arnie

 

 

(click
for a larger image)

review by
Chris Yue
(aka
Deunan on ASZ
& Gugesmk3 – Everywhere else)

images by DJ
Ashmore
(aka Nautilus)

(includes
stills from ‘The
Matrix
‘)

Stock
Specifications
FPS
389fps
(0.2g BB / HFC22)
Length: 315mm
Weight: 1160g

Ammo capacity:

30 rounds (standard
mag)

50 rounds (long
mag)

It’s
here!
The GBB from Maruzen
that we expected is finally here!

First off you notice as soon as you get it out of
the box that the GBB is very solid. The shell is completely ABS, no metal
body will be readily available in the near future – too much of the internals
slide on the ABS and there are a few slotted attachment points and I am
guessing that will drive the price of these items up. I will get to why
I was already inside one of the good GBB’s later.

Performance
– This gun is hot! In many ways, the detail is very authentic and the
action works in the exactly same way as the real-steel.

The charging handle
moves the firing mechanism into the ready position, then when you fire
the door opens and closes at a rate close to ~20 rounds a second.

If the charging handle
is locked back, it will not fire. It emptied the stock mag in under 1.5
seconds. In semi mode each shot gave a distinct snap. In full auto the
GBB just twitches and blows bb’s through both sides of a TNT box. Chrono
speeds of 289fps with .25’s, .20 netted speeds over 330fps. These are
rough readings and more accurate reading will come later. The radar chrono
I was using is kinda ummmm naff.

Features:
There is a hop-up, it is rated for .20 gram bb’s as optimal
rounds. The barrel is ~4 inches long. The mags are wider then Marui AEG
mags. You will not be able to put them in double mag clamps.

Reliability, this
will be questionable. Popping the three retining pins will break the GBB
into 2 pieces. Grip/Trigger and body. The grip falls away and the guts
could be emptied out the back. This is a one piece mechanism and the design
is so simple and fragile in a way.

Well the first one
I was using to chrono had a problem. First, when inserting the mag, it
DOES not have a distinctive click and one sometimes wonders if the mag
is completely in. I was slapping the bottom a lot and yes it was definately
in. In semi-mode the snap would sometimes drop the mag out of the gun
in a few shots. It left me wondering if I had put the mag in completely
and repeated tests showed that semi-mode firing in a rapid sucession will
shake the mag loose. It happened to me on a few occasions and it happened
to Mirage once while playing with the GBB.

Problems:
After approximately one hicap mag full of BB’s the first
GBB stopped chambering rounds. I noticed by looking in the mag well that
the firing mechanism wasn’t staying back (I used one that did work as
a comparison).

After quick disassembly,
I was able to locate the spring that holds the firing mechanism back.
It turned out that the spring slipped of a guide rod and thus jammed the
firing mechanism.

Reseting the spring
fixed the problem for one shot, disassembly again deemed that the ends
of the spring were to big. I took a pair of pliers and crimped the holes
at the end down, reassembled the MP5K, problem fixed.
Of
the four that I got two of the other GBB’s exhibited this problem.

Overall it is a very
nice GBB, powerful, realistic and not to spendy at $150.00 with HiCaps
running at about $40.00.

The action is simple
and tolerances are not exactly tight, thus that may be why it is easy
to misalign and “jam” in the action areas. Not a good impression
for me to be a primary backup weapon for airsoft, but then that first
few could have been a fluke.

The front grip comes
off with light tapping after the retaing pin is popped off. Nothing is
under there that I know of. I have replaced the Maruzen rear sight
with a Marui MP5 rear sight, it fit perfectly. The Maruzen sight
was a simple spin on sight that showed no difference between the four
settings.

I was also trying
to take off the front sight end cap and replace that with a PDW front
sight endcap. To date I have not been able to coax it off. If I could
swap it off the threaded Marui front could accomadate a Tracer
Unit or a flash hider. Also I took a folding stock from a Marui
MP5K
and put it up to the back. One could get it to fit with a
little filing.

Accessories:
You
can already get a silencer for the Maruzen MP5A4 made by GuayGuay.
RRP for this product as of 20/11/2001 is 65USD.

Checkout
either DEN or
GuayGuay‘s
website for more information

Update
4/12/2001:
As you know I have been monkeying with the Maruzen
MP5K’s. Well I was finally able to mate the Marui MP5K PDW front end
to the maruzen and it was simple really (glad I did not force it to
much).

The
front unscrews just like the Marui MP5K flash hider assembly. Then the
front sight just slides off. Though the dimensions are simular the depth
of the internal thread depths are different between the TM and Maruzen
parts.

TM
thread depths for the front sight is about 3/4 of an inch, while the
Maruzen thread depth on the front sight is about 3/8’s of an inch. The
reamaining depth is actually in the ABS plastic body.

Maruzen
was very smart in making their parts with the exact same thread depths
as Marui’s. Essentially TM parts will fit Maruzen’s, but not the other
way around. So leave the Maruzen front sight on. My next project is
getting the stock on from a TM PDW.

Update
24/02/2002:
Well
I’ve finally managed to get the stock fitted. Here’s an image of the
completed MP5k with the silencer and stock fitted (click on the image
for a larger version)


Another
available accessory is the shoulder holster sling/rig. The images to the
right are courtesy RedWolf
airsoft, and depict exactly what you get from them.

You can normally find
these types of slings being used by most of the ‘evil’ henchmen
in the major Hollywood films and blockbusters (‘DieHard’ and ‘Lethal Weapon’
come to mind).

I’ll quote directly
from their site, as I haven’t got one here to look at (yet), and I don’t
think RedWolf will mind me putting a little advertising their way

“Fully
adjustable shoulder mounted sling strap for concealed carry of the
MP5K or similar compact machine guns (works perfectly for the TMP
as well!). Constructed in black nylon, this sling is fully size adjustable
and comes with a quick release mechanism so you may release the MP5K
from the sling for higher degree of movement. When not in use, a strap
keeps the MP5K in place – smack against your body. On the other side,
two magazine pouches allow for quick reloads. Entire harness can be
attached firmly to the wearer. Lower part of harness fastens to your
belt to keep things nice and snug …”

You can get the sling
from RedWolf
for $60, or (a better version) from EagleIndustries
for about $80.


Conclusion

Fit and Finish – Superior
Reliability
– Fair

It’s a Ferrari of
Airsoft GBB’s, when it runs watch out. When it jams you will be dissapointed.

review by
Chris Yue
(aka
Deunan on ASZ
& Gugesmk3 – Everywhere else)

Appearance

4/5
it certainly looks the part, although it is
100% ABS plastic

Build
Quality

4/5

Performance

3/5
– kinda 50/50 here, great when it works, but a real pain if it jams

Value
for Money

5/5
– possibly the best f/a gas SMG out there

Overall
Potential

5/5
– with the few niggling problems fixed it’ll
be the dog’s danglies.

Fred of Sanko
Sannomiya
proudly holding one of their newly stocked Maruzen
MP5k
‘s

MP5k video:
Bulldog was kind enough
to send in this video of the MP5k firing. Erm.. well all I can say is wow! I
don’t think I’ve ever seen a magazine emptied so fast. The movie is about 900k
in size, and in Windows Media format. Click the image below to view the
movie:

External
MP5k Links

HK
Pro MP5k page
– a site for for the uncompromising Heckler &
Koch enthusiast
AirsoftGuide
– read SLB’s great review of the Maruzen MP5k

Comment
on this review in our forums


This page
last modified on
Sunday, September 15, 2002 2:32 PM

Copyright
2001 ArniesAirsoft
Matrix
Images copyright WarnerBros




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