AIRSOFT:sitrep: NBB overview-- Review: Marushin P38 Maxi

Overview: Non-blowbacks

From what I've observed, a lot of people turn their heads away from most NBBs. Much of the negative things said about NBBs are true, but inflated. The most common turn-off is the trigger pull. Although NBB triggers are indeed inconvenient, I find it possible to fire consecutive shots fairly accurately with most of the ones that I've fired. Now, I am not the most handy with the steel, and I assume that most other airsofters can control the double action trigger better than I can.

Another gripe I often hear is the lack of realism, and that they sometimes have too much power to be safe to skirmish with.

If you want realism, a GBB would be the right choice, but for those who want a no-BS skirmish backup, even a cheap NBB would do just fine. Ironically, many of those who put down NBBs because of the lack of realism proudly own and skirmish with AEGs.

Now, onto the matter of FPS. My first NBB was the HFC M1911a1. It was well worth the thirty dollars I spent on it. The trigger was stiffer than anything I'd known, but a few drops of silicone spray solved that problem. The range was not great because it lacked hop up, but it would send a .2 gram BB well over 200 FPS, which is sufficient when you're shooting at people at little more than 15 feet away. On the other end of the spectrum, my Marushin P38 Maxi shoots .2s through both sides of a soda can. It can also deliver a .2 through the bottom side and dent the top. According to the poor-man's chronograph on www.redwolfairsoft.com, this would mark the FPS at over 400 FPS. The Digicon NbBs have also been known to clock in at this speed. Seeing as these high powered pistols would mostly be used at close ranges because of poorer accuracy in double action, I would not recommend them for use in games, as they may prove to be unsafe. Both the 1911 and the P38 were tested using Taiwanese green gas.

Nbbs are also known to have quite an advantage over GBBs as far as gas consumption goes. I've found that most of the GBBs that I've owned have only been able to discharge two or three mags on a full charge. Both NBBs that I've owned could put out 5 or 6 mags worth on one charge. Both the NBBs and GBBS were fired properly in warm weather with a short delay between shots.

Now, here's my favorite part: Degredation. Anybody who knows airsoft knows that stock GBBs will crap out faster than you can say "Where'd my money go?". High stress and complicated operation make for a relatively low lifespan. Of course, all airsoft guns are prone to failure after a given amount of use, just as all mechanical things are. Logically though, the common TM AEG, high quality springer and NBB will outlast your typical GBB. In order to greatly increase the life span on your GBB, a high quality metal slide and frame set (if available) is almost always necessary, as well as a generous amount of oil on various rubber and metal parts. In many cases, reinforced internals are sold on the airsoft market, such as stiffer recoil rods/springs. This is where the NBB really shines. The simplicity of its operation can be considered ingeneous. I would'nt doubt that a cheap HFC NBB would outlast one of many stock Western Arms 1911 variants. Though comparing the two would be like comparing a 91' Accord to a Ferrari Testerosa, it again comes down to what purpose your new toy will serve.

The Marushin Walther P38 Maxi:

I really had high hopes for this pistol. It can be found for a reasonable price, under $100 at WarGameClub. Cosmetically it looks beautiful. The gun itself is relatively heavy, and comfortable to hold. The sights are your usual pistol sights, with no fancy dots or colors. The safety is marked with the usual S and F. On the left side of the slide, "P38 AC 43 1002b" is engraved. I assume 1002b is the artificial serial nuimber, as it is printed twice on the gun. And on the left, "MFG. Marushin".It has a functional safety and disassembly lever. All external moving parts on the real version move on this replica, but not all of them work. The magazine, slide lock, trigger, rear sight and slide spine, hammer disassembly lever, safety, and magazine release are all metal. The entire gun is black, with the exception of it's dark brown grips.

The gun field strips quite easily. The disassembly lever is functional, and when pulled down, allows the user to take the slide off of the frame, just as the real gun would be taken apart ( I read the instructions in a real firearms book). Inside the gun there is a peculiar brass bar which is shaped like a pencil on the right side near the top of the frame. I'm yet to find its' purpose. The gun fires in both single and double action. Internal operation is extremely simple, as I suspected. It appears as if it will remain functional for many years to come, which is why this gun appealed to me.

The hop up is adjusted with an allen key. Apparently, Marushin did not supply one packadged with the gun, which is strange. Another odd thing about the model I recieved is that the barrel was slightly rotated to the left. However, I've yet to see any problems due to this.

The power on this puppy really surprised me. At point blank range with green gas, my P38 shot through both sides of an empty Coca Cola can with a .2 gram bb. It also shot through the bottom of the same Coke can, and dented the top. According to the Redwolf can chronograph, the gun shoots at about 420-450 FPS. A bit dangerous at the range it is meant to be used at, I admit, but you still can't help but smile at the sight of the demolished Coke can!

The thing outranges my stock TM AK 47, which is more than long enough. However, I cannot judge its' accuracy simply because I oiled the gun before I fired it, causing silicone to splash all over the hop up ( We all know what that does). With oil all over the hop up rubber, my shots were random and inconsistent. I expect accuracy to improve after a number of shots, after the oil has been completely wiped off the hop up.

Overall, I am very happy with my P38. As far as what it's meant to be, I see absolutely no faults in this awesome pistol. It looks beautiful, it performs like a dream, it hits harder than Mike Tyson's punch, probably stings more than his bite, and is built to last longer than the person who buys it. For skirmish performance, I recommend HFC 134, as it is less powerful and will probably bring the FPS down below arena limits. And if the Artheritis-like trigger puts you off, rest assured that this gun's got a lighter trigger than most NBBs. I recommend the P38, as well as the rest of the Marushin Maxi series, as I hear they are all of very high quality.