First impressions of the CYMA CM.030 Airsoft Electric Pistol - £49.99 (Airsoftworld.net)

It became very obvious on my last airsoft outing that my beloved SIG P229 gas blowback (GBB) pistol was finding the onset of winter not to its liking. So, time for a seasonal change and I packed away my SIG for a winter hiberation and turned my attension to the CYMA CM.030 AEP replica of the famous Glock 18C.

Now, this is amusing. You see, I don't actually like the Glock - I think it is one of the most hydious pistols produced. Having said that, when it comes to AEPs (Airsoft Electric Pistols) its a bit like trying to spot the talented one in Girls Aloud. Your choice is Desert Eagle (yuck!), Beretta Model 93R (bleeegh!), H&K USP (oh dear lord!) or the Glock 18c...

Hmmm, let's see - well, basically I tossed a coin...No, actually I didn't. What I really did was try out a CYMA CM.030 AEP that belonged to a friend and was actually impressed with it's performance. What pistol it was supposed to actually be a replica of didn't come into it.

Left: What's in the box? Just exactly what you need to get started; pistol, magazine, some BBs, battery, battery charger, speedloader, barrel cleaner and a thin manual. Biggest shock is perhaps the custom battery and charger - so you can't charge these batteries with your normal smart charger. You can buy a spare battery for about £12.98 (Land Warrior).

The CYMA CM.030 - winter warrior

You can’t really get past the initial shock that the CM.030 is a plastic gun. But why this should be a major practical problem I don’t know – it’s more of an aesthetic niggle. I deliberately compared my KJW SIG P229 with the CYMA Glock, weighing them up in turn in either hand, and admittedly the metal SIG does feel better. The coldness of the metal pistol and its weight make you believe you are totting a real pistol.

But I easily put such thoughts aside, as my primary purpose – and the main reason that anyone would buy an AEP – is practicality over realism. Having said that, I don’t see why – in theory - an AEP can’t be manufactured in metal. But when one examines the way the battery system works – the main reason that the slide is fixed – plastic is perhaps far more practical material for AEP construction.

Aside from this niggle regarding the material of manufacture; the plastic construction does have a major impact on the look and finish of the pistol. The CM.030 has a flat or semi-satin black finish to it – I actually like this, as it’s very tactical – but when compared once again with my metal SIG the gulf in the richness of finish becomes apparent. Though, this is only an issue if your personal taste lets it become one.

Down to more practical elements, the CM.030 is a very well made replica. It’s well thought out and satisfyingly ‘tight’ in the way its put together (but as a very close clone of the Tokyo Marui model you would expect this). I was impressed with the way the slide can easily be detached for insertion of the battery, and yet once fitted is firm and has absolutely no rattle.

CYMA (and therefore TM?) have taken some artistic licence in their construction of this AEPs trigger in that it doesn’t use the integral trigger safety system that the real Glock is famous for. Again, this may only offend the pistol purist (but as they would probably buy a GBB version of the Glock for realism, this issue is perhaps a mute one).

One irritation I found with the Glock replica is to do with the ergonomics of the original design (not a fault of CYMA). I simply didn’t find that the Glock a naturally aiming pistol – what I mean by this is that a pistol should aim as instinctively as you point your finger. When pointing the Glock, however, the muzzle has a tendency to point slightly higher than the rear sight, so you have to readjust to aim slightly. Now whether this was my big hands or – what I suspect – the angle of the grip in relation to the receiver I cannot say for sure. The Glock aims perfectly naturally using a two handed Weaver Stance, but I found I had to practise a correct one-hand stance until it became natural.

One final minor gripe is that the Glock 18C – unusually for a pistol designed specifically for the military – does not have a lanyard loop.

Overall, in the end, there are more practical ‘pros’ than obvious ‘cons’ when you ask the fundamental question – does the CM.030 do what it’s supposed to do?

This pistol is a marvellous piece of utilitarian frugalness of design. There are no concessions over and above functionality, it is manufactured precisely to do the job it is meant to do, push BBs out reliably no matter what the weather. If you are seeking anything other than this then you will have to consider spending a lot more.

For me, and I suspect anyone who expresses an interest in an AEP in the first place, the CYMA CM.030 ‘does what it says on the tin’. Moreover though, it does so with a certain air of understated quality that does make you ask why you would pay for the considerably more expensive TM version. Incidently, a big plus point is that the CYMA clone is completely compatible with the plethora of after-market accessories that there are for the TM Glock.

Above: The battery slips very neatly into the space between the lover reciever and the barrel.

A proper field test will follow in January - after my 'Xmas airsoft break'. My thanks to AirsoftWorld.net who supplied my new CYMA CM.030 very promptly the day after I ordered it!

----------------------------

> Power: Approx. 220 FPS
> Magazine: Standard 30 Round Mag
> Battery: 450 mAH 7.2v Battery*

* Comes with propriatory charger.

Useful links:-

> Arnies Airsoft user submitted review of CM.030 for comparison
> HubPages review of CM.030 for comparison

> Glock family of handguns (Austria) from world.guns.ru