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Marui Glock 17 Vs KSC
Glock 17 (metal slide) Review
The
Glock range of Airsoft pistols are amongst the most popular you will see today
on the Airsoft battlefield. With so many variants available, manufactured
by many different companies, the choice that is available to the end consumer is
vast, and sometimes daunting. The variations you will most frequently see
at any skirmish site will be the Glock 23F, 19 and 26 models. But one
version out ranks them all in the popularity stakes... If it were a
contestant on X-Factor, it would have won the competition, released more number
1 singles than The Beatles and Elvis put together, and be played on every radio
station 24 hours a day... We are of course, talking about the Glock 17.
The real steel version of our
all time favourite Airsoft pistol has too shared this seemingly endless
admiration. Austrian in origin and first conceived in the early 1980's it
has been used by Special Forces, Federal Agencies and the Military world wide.
The most striking and recognisable feature of the Glock series of pistols is the
trigger safety. Whilst on the real steel, there is no manually user
operated safety, the trigger safety requires you to fully depress the trigger
with your index finger, avoiding accidental discharge. Glock pistols are
also extremely rugged and durable, making them ideal for Special Forces use.
Moving onto the Airsoft version
of our beloved pistol, the same qualities and features are also apparent.
The same trigger safety mechanism (although manual safeties are also included)
and durability are amongst the selling points of this pistol which makes it so
popular for skirmish use. Target pistol the Glock is not, but tough,
reliable and dependable make this the ideal side-arm of choice.
Tokyo Marui recently bought out their
version of the Glock 17, to compliment their already hugely successful Glock 26,
26 Advance and 18C AEP models... Where KSC have been mostly dominating the
market with their Glock 17 replica, all of a sudden, the new guy is in town.
In reviewing the new Marui model, we thought it only right to compare it against
some pretty tough competition, in this case the KSC Glock 17 Metal Slide
version, already hugely popular... So how does the Marui version compare?
We've written this in-depth
review in a table format, allowing side by side comparison of the two models.
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KSC Glock 17
(metal slide) |
Marui Glock 17 |
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Statistics |
Price: £130
Length: 202mm
Weight: 740g
Magazine Capacity: 23
Adjustable Hop: Yes
Materials: Metal Slide and
Outer Barrel, ABS and some other metal parts.
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Price: £95
Length: 186mm
Weight: 703g
Magazine Capacity: 25
Adjustable Hop: Yes
Materials: Mainly ABS, some
metal parts.
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Presentation |
The KSC Glock 17 comes in a
white polystyrene box, with printed lid marked 'Glock 17 Railed Frame' on
the top with a picture of the model in question. The box also details
this is 'gas blowback system', with 'adjustable hop-up' along with some
further small pictures of the Glock, fitted with a tactical flashlight.
Inside the box you are
presented with the pistol itself, a 31 page manual which is mostly in
Japanese with the occasional English translation, a small bag of around 100
rounds (we presume 0.2g, they are not marked), the hop-up adjustment tool
and a BB loading tool.
The box lid has a target
which can be used for adjusting the pistol's hop-up, this is pressed into
the cardboard and can be removed. We felt that the presentation is
fairly basic, and it's obvious that the box has been moulded in such a way
it can be used for other models. Certainly not to the standard of
Marui's offerings, but then, is presentation everything?
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The
Marui Glock 17 is presented in a black polystyrene box of slightly higher
density than the KSC version. The wording on the box reads 'Glock 17 -
Model: 3rd generation', it also advertises 'Hi-Kick, Hi Grouping and Gas
Blowback'. Further pictures detail the 'night sights' which are also
included in the package.
Opening the box you are
presented with a nice layout. The design is purely for that model,
with a separate moulding for the magazine to be stored outside of the gun.
Included are the 'night
sights' contained in their own plastic box, a bag of 100 or so rounds
(again, we presume 0.2g), a cleaning rod/un-jamming tool and a set of
instructions which also include targets (5 of ) and a Marui catalogue.
As per the KSC version, the Marui instruction leaflet is almost entirely
Japanese, and includes some information on the real steel pistol on the back
page. There is also a separate instruction sheet detailing how to
install the 'night sights'.
The Marui model also comes
with a red 'barrel plug'. This is used to identify the pistol as safe,
and also to avoid the accidental discharge of the weapon. A feature
the KSC version does not have.
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Key
Features |
The main
selling points on this version of the Glock 17 pistol are the metal slide
and outer barrel which add to the weight and realism of the gun, especially
the sound when firing.
The safety catch on this model
is built into the trigger. The smaller 'inner' trigger found on all of
the Glock range, on the KSC, hinges forward. When in this position, it
stops the trigger from being pulled. We found it difficult to activate
this, and with a strong trigger pull the safety disengaged. Not
particularly brilliant. |
On
the Marui version of the Glock 17, they' bundled a set of 'night sights' in
with the package. These are simply replacement front and rear sights
with 'glow in the dark' markers, in place of where you'd find the white
dots. Whilst a good idea, the main problem is they need light to
charge them initially. How long they would last in a night game is yet
to be proved, but in lower light conditions they make pointing the pistol at
the target a little easier.
The safety feature on this
model is hidden in the metal bar on the underside of the barrel which has
the serial number stamped into it. This catch slides forwards to
activate the safety, and backwards to deactivate. We found this easier
to use than the KSC's safety catch, plus there is no chance it could fail.
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Quality & Markings |
The
KSC Glock 17 displays all of the Glock trade marks apart from on the grip
panel. The slide which is of metal construction reads 'Austria' along
with '9x19' and on the reverse side a serial number stamped into both slide
and ejection port cover. As the slide and outer barrel are both metal,
I found the KSC version to make more of a rattle than the Marui Glock 17,
which would give the impression that there is a certain amount of play in
the parts. This is only caused by the free floating outer barrel
making contact with the slide. The actual tolerance between the outer
barrel and slide is the same on both models. The sights are identical
to the Marui model, and are made of plastic, they also have high visibility
white markings to aid in quick target acquisition.
The ABS parts of this
pistol form the lower frame, and is constructed of good quality with a very
low 'plastic shine'. The grip panels and finger groves are very
comfortable and the ergonomics of the pistol mean that features such as the
magazine release, and slide lock back lever are all easily accessible.
The trigger and magazine catch, like on all Glock models are made of
plastic, whereas the slide lock back lever, and take-down lever are both
metal. Metal parts are also found on the recoil spring guide, and
metal rails for the slide to move along.
With the magazine out, the
pistol still retains a lot of weight thanks to the metal slide and outer
barrel. My only criticism of these metal parts is that they are not
anodised CNC Aluminium, they are cast metal, which has been painted.
The paint had started to chip where the ejection port cover met against the
slide after only a few magazines worth of ammunition. The outer barrel
also displayed signs of scratching. Whilst these 'battle scar' looks
make the pistol look a little more authentic, it's a shame the black finish
is spoilt so quickly.
Both models sport a 'rail
frame' system which will accept standard 20mm mounted accessories such as a
laser or tactical flash light.
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Like the KSC version, the
Marui model features all of the Glock trademarks, including the one found on
the grip panel. The slide also features identical markings, although
they appear to be stamped a little deeper into the plastic, making them easy
to read. As the Marui version is made entirely of their usual high
quality ABS plastic, the pistol weighs slightly less than the KSC
counterpart. The overall construction is very sturdy, which much less
noticeable rattle, thanks to the plastic components.
The only metal parts on
this pistol are the slide lock back lever, the take-down lever, the manual
safety (more on this later), the spring guide and the plate at the back of
the slide. There also reinforced metal guide rails which the slide
moves along, something missed on previous Marui pistols (such as the SIG
P226) but not entirely necessary, they do however make the pistol more
robust if the end user chose to upgrade it somewhat.
Again, as per the KSC
version, the Marui Glock is very ergonomic and comfortable to hold, something
which is testament to the real steel version, which is transferred to every
replica produced.
The sights on this model
are identical to the KSC version, with one major exception. Marui have
included some clever 'night sights', which when fitted allow better
acquisition of targets in lower light conditions. They glow really
brightly, but unfortunately have one down side, they need light initially to
charge them! How they would function in a night game scenario would be
interesting to see, but not something we can test at the moment.
The Marui version also has
a hole on the lower part of the grip to allow a pistol lanyard to be fitted.
A useful addition as it helps to avoid losing the pistol if it falls out of
your holster. The KSC version does not have this feature. |
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Magazine |
The
KSC magazine holds 23 rounds, 2 less than the Marui. On the back it
shows the fake 'markers' which indicate how many rounds are still left in
the magazine. The rubber seal on the top of the magazine is
rectangular and flat, with the gas escape hole vertically aligned. The
magazines are not interchangeable on either model.
Loading the KSC magazine is
very easy, and uses a system which has been on their guns for some time.
Pulling down the BB follower, it locks into place towards the bottom of the
magazine, keeping the spring compressed and giving you a free hand.
The BB's simply fall into place and require no pressure to push them into
the tube. Simply pressing the BB follower in allows it to release and
decompress the spring, simple, effective, we love it.
Charging the magazine with
gas is equally as simple. KSC have an ingenious system which means the
base plate requires sliding off to expose the fill valve. Whilst some
may feel this is a bit of a pain, it means the valve is kept dirt and dust
free. To allow access, simple pull the lever upwards, which is located
at the bottom of the BB tension spring, and slide the plate forwards enough
to expose the valve. Caution, the plate can be removed entirely.
The magazine is also of one
piece construction making it sturdy, and hopefully leak free! |
The Marui magazine holds 25
rounds, two more than the KSC, which could potentially equal two more
'kills'. Like the KSC version, it too shows the fake bullet indicators
and displays the same Glock trademarks. The rubber seal on the top of
this magazine is also rectangular, but has a slide rounded indentation making
for a better seal with the gas expansion chamber at the top of the pistol,
the gas outlet being horizontally aligned.
Loading BB's into the Marui
magazine is slightly more fiddly than the KSC. The BB follower needs
to be pulled down and held in place, something which is not overly easy to
do, especially if like me, you bite your fingernails. The BB's also do
not simply fall into place, there is some resistance at the opening, so they
have to be pushed through.
Although the base plate is
removable by pressing in a small catch, you do not need to in order to
charge the magazine with gas. Although it makes this process a little
quicker in the heat of battle, it does expose the charging valve to dirt and
dust easily picked up whilst skirmishing. A feature which KSC cleverly
avoid with their sliding base plate.
On the Marui version, the
base plate is also extended slightly further than the KSC. |
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Barrel
Assembly |
Removing the barrel assembly from the KSC Glock 17 is very easy. Simply
cock the pistol after first removing the magazine. Now pull down on
the two 'take-down' tabs located on either slide of the gun, whilst sliding
the top of the pistol forwards. Once the slide is removed from the
frame, take out the recoil spring and guide, and the outer barrel simply
slides forward and lifts out.
As mentioned previously the
outer barrel on the KSC version is metal, which adds extra weight to the
gun, and also a bit more realism in operation.
The barrel itself is
stainless steel in construction, whereas the Marui version appears to be
brass. We measured the internal barrel tolerance, which came out at
6.05mm, which is exceptionally good, and should allow for decent accuracy.
The hop-up mechanism is
what really lets the KSC Glock 17 down. It is the same system used on
all KSC models, and is something of a sore point for me (both my Glock 19
and Glock 17 (ABS) had problems in this area). To adjust the hop-up,
you need a special tool, which whilst it allows you to adjust the hop
without removing the slide, lose this tool and it becomes difficult.
The hop mechanism is held in place by the plastic BB ramp which feeds each
round into the barrel. This is also another weak point in the KSC's
design, as on my Glock 17, a BB jam caused this ramp to break. The
pistol wasn't entirely useless, but it would jam every 5 or so shots as the
rounds could not feed properly into the barrel. I would have thought
KSC would have at least re-enforced this part by now, or better still
construct it of metal. I found it very hard to get a replacement part.
I also feel the hop-up has
too much play in it, and as it is like a ratchet mechanism, there is not
enough adjustment. The assembly is very easy to take apart, but for
me, a big no thank you to KSC.
Another point which wasn't
really noticed until I removed the slide from the Marui Glock. There
is virtually no sign of lubricant on any of the working parts, including the
gas chamber / piston assembly. It is very noticeable on the Marui,
plenty of it in all the right places. If you purchase a KSC model,
check yours for this, and add some grease if it's not apparent. Apply
it to the piston seals, the along the slide rails and on the recoil spring
guide. |
On the Marui version,
disassembly is exactly the same as the KSC version.
I found it slightly more
difficult to get the recoil spring and guide out of the frame to allow
access to remove the barrel assembly. Not only is it tightly wedged in
there, with little play to lift it out, it was also well greased making it
slippery to keep hold of!
The outer barrel on the
Marui is constructed of plastic, which is fairly thin in comparison to the
rest of the pistol's construction. Doesn't appear to be a problem, as
not much stress is imposed on this part. The barrel and hop-up unit
don't just slide out of the outer barrel like on the KSC, you have to lift
them clear of a slot cut into the outer barrel which locks the entire unit
together.
The barrel on the Marui
version appears to be brass. Measuring the tolerance of the barrel,
like the KSC version it too comes out as 6.05 mm.
The hop-up unit on the
Marui Glock 17 is the same as appears on all of their latest pistols, and is
truly an excellent piece of engineering. Although the slide has to be
removed in order to adjust, which can sometimes be a pain if you don't get
it right first time, the 'dial' system used allows for much finer adjustment
and it stays exactly where you put it. You also don't need a special
tool to adjust it, just a fingernail (I really must stop biting mine!)
On the Marui, the BB ramp is made of metal and is moulded into the hop-up
unit's casing, which means it's not likely to fail like the KSC. I've
always found the hop-up on Marui pistols to be excellent, and if I'm honest
is the number one selling point to me when buying a GBB. I'd chose
Marui over KSC everyday, simply because of this.
Unlike the KSC version, the
Marui had plenty of lubrication in all the places that needed it.
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Power |
It's time to put the KSC Glock
17 through the Chronograph has see what it has to offer. All test
shots were at about 12-15 degrees centigrade, using 0.2g Excel BB's with
Cybergun Winter Gas. We took ten shots, allowing several seconds
between each one to avoid 'cool down' effects, at the bottom we have
recorded the average.
1. 335
2. 292
3. 325
4. 317
5. 266
6. 321
7. 322
8. 319
9. 313
10. 316
Average: 312
Total number of shots from
one gas fill: 60
As you can see, the KSC Glock
17 seems to have some problems with consistency, in fact, severe problems.
Looking at the stats we gathered, the difference between the lowest and
highest recorded velocities is a whopping 69 feet per second. What
kind of impact would this have on accuracy? Read below to find out!
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The Marui Glock 17 was tested
in exactly the same way. Using 0.2g Excel rounds, Cybergun winter gas,
at the same temperature. The results were as follows:
1. 293
2. 295
3. 294
4. 293
5. 289
6. 291
7. 289
8. 291
9. 289
10. 288
Average: 291
Total number of shots from
one gas fill: 68
Whilst the difference
between the KSC and Marui average figure is about 21 feet per second, the
Marui has a far more consistent power output, with a gap of only 7 feet per
second between the highest and lowest shots. This should indicate
accuracy will be far better than it's KSC counterpart, will it? Read
on. |
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Accuracy &
Shooting Experience |
As I have said at the top of
this review, the Glock 17 is not a target pistol, it is a rugged combat
pistol. But what is the point of having that pistol if in combat you
can't hit a barn door? To test the accuracy we used a standard pistol
target placed at 5 metres, firing 10 shots. Whilst this range is
extremely close you may feel, it gives a good indication of the kind of
groupings you will get at distance.
With both guns, we fired a
single 'test' shot, to see whereabouts the impact point landed on the
target, followed by 3 three rounds shot groupings. You can see
recorded on the image below the impact points of these shots.
You can see from the image
that the shot pattern is pretty spread out. 4 of the rounds did go
within a grouping the size of a two pence piece, which is pretty good.
The remaining 6 were spread out in a diameter of about the size of a compact
disc.
The shots seemed to go to
the left slightly. As the sights are not adjustable, this is something
the user would have to compensate for.
When testing the gun at a
distance of 20m (we found this to be where the hop-up started to drop off)
'out of the box', e.g. not adjusting the hop-up to compensate, it was clear
to see the inconsistency in the gun's output. Several shots would hit
the target (in this case a wheelie bin) fairly central. The remaining
shots would either hit very low, almost to the ground, or go over the
target. The windage was pretty consistent, meaning this was no
problems with the barrel or hop-up, but the elevation of the shots varied,
something we can only put down to the changes in velocity. How are you
ever supposed to adjust your hop-up accurately, if the figures can show a
massive 69 feet per second difference?
As for the shooting
experience. The noise was nice and realistic, thanks to the metal
slide. The blowback action was crisp with a fair kick to it. The
slide locked back after each empty magazine without a problem. We only
managed 60 shots from a full charge, at that point the slide would not
return fully, leaving the hammer partially engaged which vented some gas.
Once we removed the magazine, we manually pressed in the valve and a fair
amount of gas was expelled from the magazine. Obviously not enough to
cycle the slide, but had it been the ABS slide version, we felt you would of
got around another 10 rounds from this.
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In testing the Marui Glock 17,
we set up the same sized target at a distance of 5 metres, and fired the
same 10 shots. Looking at the diagram you can see where the first shot
landed, slightly to the left and fairly low. Taking careful aim again
at the target we proceeded to fire our 3, three round shots. The
groupings we achieved on each 'burst' we pretty excellent. Two
of these groupings being about an inch in diameter, with the largest being
1.5 - 2 inches. You can see how the groupings seemed to climb the
page, this is a common problem with target shooting with any gun with some
recoil. Your arm never fully returns to the position it last was,
without careful concentration. In this respect, you can end up
'climbing' the page, with each shot going higher than the first. We
may have seen this on the KSC target if the power output had been the same
with each shot, instead the impact points are spread all over the page.
A similar 'out of the box'
test at 20 metres found the Marui pistol hitting the target every time
without fail.
The shooting experience was
the same as with most of Marui's pistols. Strong, crisp blowback
action, much stronger than the KSC but then the Marui is using an ABS slide.
We had one instance where the slide did not lock back after an empty
magazine, but this only occurred once throughout our testing.
We managed 68 shots from the
Marui Glock 17, with hardly any gas left in the magazine afterwards.
That is not bad, considering this pistol holds 25 rounds, that is two BB
refills and then a further 18 shots, certainly not something to be laughed
at. |
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Conclusion |
Whilst the KSC Glock 17 has
been around for a little while now, lets face it, up until now there has
been little in the way of real choice for an alternative. The Marui
Glock 17 has been the first real contender in the popularity stakes, which
gives the KSC model quite a struggle to maintain it's hold on the market.
Some people love KSC, some
people hate them. I personally fall into the latter category. If
their hop-up design was a little better, and if their pistols showed greater
consistency they would be fine, as the general construction quality is quite
good. In my opinion, I would choose Marui every time, they tried and
tested, and as a company, have been around since almost the beginning of
Airsoft as we know it.
For £130 you are getting a
metal slide and outer barrel, which to purchase alone would be far more than
the difference between the ABS and Metal versions of this pistol.
The decision as to which
one you buy, is entirely up to you, but I hope this review has been useful
in helping you decide which one is best for you. |
Marui have really thrown a
curve ball into the path of KSC. Their new pistol is not only
extremely capable of out ranking the competition, it's made by the company
we all know, love and trust. Tokyo Marui have really developed their
gas pistols over the past few years. Back in 1998 I owned a Steyr GB
pistol, no hop-up and non-blowback. The gun was, well, pathetic.
It was an extremely poor purchase and of no use in a skirmish whatsoever.
Nearly 8 years on, and after many attempts their pistol range is now up
there with the best. The Hi-Capa range are being used as a basis for
custom weapons in place of Western Arms infinity range, they're cheaper and
you get a lot more for your money.
The Glock 17 is no
exception to this. For £95 you are getting an extremely well
engineered pistol that is durable and more importantly reliable.
Bundled in the package you get a set of night-sights, which appear to be a
useful gimmick, only time will tell if they are of any real use.
I choose Marui every time
without fail. You know what to expect, and you are hardly ever
disappointed. If we look at some of their most recent models, the
1911, P226, Hi-Capa range etc... They all share that same quality and
performance that is Tokyo Marui. |
Both the KSC and Marui versions of the
Glock 17 are available from Fire-Support. Available for:
KSC £130 -
Marui £95. Both these pistols were kindly loaned to us by Fire-Support
for review purposes.
Click on the
image below to be taken to their pages.
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