KWA MK23 SOCOM NS2 GBB

[Metal]

Well guys, KWA has FINALLY released thier MK23 SOCOM NS2 Blowback pistol!! If you're like me, you've been foaming at the bit and waiting on any news and updates on this gun as the old KSC's usually go for over $200 used on Ebay, and even the non-blowback TM version usually brings at least $165 used. After using Joe's TM the last time I was at SoGo sealed the deal that I for sure was gonna pick myself up a MK23 no matter what. I prefer the blowback for the realism, but Joe's non-blowback was a darn good gun.

Either way, (Non Supporting Retailer) just got the new KWA's not too long ago and is selling them for $182 and some change. That's not a bad deal at all! I'm going to talk to Jon today because I'm heading up with my new team, D9, to enjoy some indoor CQB action instead of getting fried alive in the heat outside. I'm going to see if Jon can nab me one because frankly, I just HAVE to have one.

This gun suposedly weighs in at just under 3lbs! It's also about 10" long and has at least a 6" inner barrel! (Non Supporting Retailer) has clocked these bad boys in at shooting 360-380fps! I'm not sure if that just the first few shots out of a fresh mag or if that's the leveled off velocity. Either way, like I said I AM getting one of these no matter what and I'll update you guys to what it's like.

[Supercell]

hey I went on and sent my guy a message asking about our availability of that gun.  I will let you know when I hear back.  Of course it won't be until after the weekend.  Again, it was great having you out.  Of course the close shot (not so much) lol  Don't sweat it.  Welcome to CQB.  It was all worth it.  I love it when D9 comes up.

Jon
So go Airsoft

[Metal]

I like how D9 plays more as a team or smaller 2-3 man teams rather than everybody just running around lone wolfing it the whole time.

Just keep me posted on the SOCOM. I'm literally aching to get one. lols

[Supercell]

hey I placed my order for this Pistol today.  Hopeing they get it out to me very soon.  But just a heads up.

Jon
So Go Airsoft

[Dragon]

I like how D9 plays more as a team or smaller 2-3 man teams rather than everybody just running around lone wolfing it the whole time.

Just keep me posted on the SOCOM. I'm literally aching to get one. lols

On that note.. I'd like to get everyone comm savvy, and figure out how to be able to use comms in Sogos ( the metal building and speakers interfere with the signals inside) , so that way our smaller " break down" groups, can communicate across the way better as well.. lol.

 I hope the KWA is a quality gun for sure. Been disappointing in our recent KWA purchases that isn't 1rst gen.

[Shifty]

I think the USP line is one of the better lines they make just under the Glock series. The NS2 series seems to work well, I haven't had a problem with my mp7 that wasn't my own fault. My only concern is with most NS2 series guns is that hey shoot fairly hard for CQB distances (which is kind of why you would have a pistol anyways in my opinion). I'm sure it would excel in outdoor games, target practice, and for real firearm training.

Either way you look at it, KWA (usually) makes very nice upgraded guns for the high FPS American airsofter.

[det. mcclane]

If I had the money to drop on one of these, I'd do it in a heartbeat. KWA has only been getting better over the years, refining their products. I've handled the USP's before and really liked them. I actually had one of their Glock 17's a few years ago, and it was as solid as a rock. I actually regret selling that gun, and I'm usually not that way. Guns can come and go, but KWA's are keepers. I really hope they come out with a LAM and Silencer, I might have to rebuild my old Solid Snake loadout.

[Metal]

Yes, their GBB's seem to be great for the most part, but their newest line of 2GX AEGs are total trash. They are in no way shape or form worth their price tags. You could easily buy a better gun from G&G, ICS, VFC, or Ares for the same or lesser price. JTAG and D9 have officially sworn off and will be boycotting all KWA 2GX guns until we hear they've remidied their faults.

I know this isn't only happening to us too, because after a short stent on youtube, there are allot of common and frequent problems.

I have 2 KWA G18C's, and they both work like a dream any time I need them to. Only one has a slight issue and that is when I got it, it was missing a part in the slide that allows it to fire semi auto. So in short, I have one for blazing fire and one is upgraded with a tightbore and I was getting easy head shots with it a couple weeks ago in SoGo.

Yes, most of the new NS2 pistols seem to be right on the edge of not being OK for SoGo or just aren't OK at all. The SOCOM is for sure not a SoGo gun clocking in at 375fps!

[Supercell]

the KWA 226's that we have ordered over the last 6-9 months have all been crap.  Not working at all with all of them seeming to have the same problem

Jon
So go airsoft

[Dragon]

the KWA 226's that we have ordered over the last 6-9 months have all been crap.  Not working at all with all of them seeming to have the same problem

Jon
So go airsoft

Same with our KWA 226 NS2.
The Side-Arms that were KWA NS2 at OKI6 , that Kastway brought, were also all malfunctioning brand new out of the box.
Given the out-cry of folks on You-Tube , having more or less the same experience as we are...
I'm not going to bet on KWA products anymore.
Even my KP8 ( Short USP version) , tends to hang up and not work correctly 100% of the time. It misfeeds, or loads improperly, the slide doesn't always go all the way forward to load properly.  It's done it from day one... it might be a simple thing, like needing a stronger recoil or return spring... , but for the PRICE of the thing, I shouldn't have had to do ANYTHING to it at all in my eyes.
The guys that got KWA 1911 NS2s, seem to have less issues, if any at all.

Still, I'm highly disapointed, from AEGs to GBBs... and I was a advocate of KWA, not now though.

VFC and ICS currently are far superior AEGs, I can't say about GBBs though...

[Metal]

Recon and Bash can sure vouch for ICS now. I got my used MP5SD on ebay in yesterday, fixed the wiring problem, did some slight mods to the air seal, re-shimmed it, and wired it to deans. This crazy thing now shoots around 18rps and has crazy trigger reponse with just an 8.4v NiMh battery. It's also crazy accurate so far. I'll be using it at the Bunker later today, so I'll get to really see how good it is.

Anyway, we're starting to get WAY off topic here. Jon, any luck getting your hands on extra mags? Found out the SOCCOM mags are proprietary.

[Reverandff7]

From my experience the 3 guns released with the NS2 system have been amazing. I am a fan of the m93r but thats just me.

[Supercell]

Hey I got the gun in today.  I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but I don't know if I would have been able to pry it away from Joe Joe when I did have a second to at least get a glimps of it.  I haven't checked on the mags yet.  Totally slipped my mind until I just read this again.

Jon
So go airsoft

[j man 3]

i held it for a bit... its big (0_0)

[Joe]

Jon overstates the situation.  Somewhat.  Kinda.  Well, maybe.

Out of the box?   Full H&K trademarks for those who care about such things.  It shoots well.  The front and rear sights are marked with non-luminescent white dots. sights worked ok for me but another shooter thought the sights were a little off.  We had not adjusted the hop-up so this was just a first impression.  

The gun is big, Desert Eagle big.  It fit my hand nicely but it may be uncomfortable for others. I wear a size 10 or 11 Condor glove.  That gives you some idea of the grip size.  The Mk23 is a hefty piece of hand artillery.  It clocked in too, too hot for CQB (395 +/- fps with a .20).  At that speed, it's hotter than most outdoor AEGs.  In all fairness, that was with propane.  Obviously, green gas will slow it down some.

How about duster gas?  Another gentleman was there, with a KWA pistol that also used their new gas system.  He could not get his KWA to shoot with duster gas.  We suspected duster gas lacked the power the gun needed to function properly.  I did not test duster gas in this gun so anything I would have to say would be pure speculation.

The magazine is a double-stack design.  The website says it holds 25 rounds.  I did not test this claim.  We got about a mag and a half or two mags' worth of shots from a full propane-filled mag.  I don't know if this was an accurate measure or how this compares to the other guns in KWA's new lineup. The magazine release is at the rear of the trigger guard, a tab you push down.  The release is ambidextrous.  The magazine released cleanly and completely each time.

The sound?  Oh baby.  It barks louder than a dog treeing a squirrel.  It's very satisfying to shoot.  The recoil is pleasantly present. 

Here is when a little feature/bug appears.  When firing the gun, you get a shot of the gas propellant blown back into your face.  I have shot other NS2 guns and don't recall that happening.  It could be something with the Mk23 design.  It might even be something unique to this particular example, I don't know.

The barrel is threaded 16mm clockwise.  A TM Mk23 suppressor will screw onto it nicely.  It does not, however, reduce the sound.  That's probably due to the different gun types.  The TM Mk 23 is a gas nonblowback while the KWA is a standard gas blowback.  Lots of noise comes out of the chamber when the slide blows back.

The grip is lanyard-ready. The hole is at rear bottom of the grip.

Please note:  these are first impressions in a controlled setting.  I have not used it in the field.  Jon would not let me use it during last night's Pistol & Shotgun event.  I did have lots of players volunteer to be on my team if Jon would let me use it, though.  Hmmmm . . .

I yield to Metal's comments and observations.  Please check out what he's got say