Expensive. That's the one over-riding view of Tokyo Marui's new(ish) range of blow-back recoil system based AEGs. But I have to say that I'm slowly becoming more interested in TM's 'GBB' killers.

I am not a fan of the new trend towards GBB rifles in airsoft - I do not trust gas. It's not consistent, it's over complicated and it has several technical and practical disadvantages for use in the field. BUT, it does have that lovely blow-back effect. TM's new recoil-system is supposed to be the AEG answer to the GBB onslaught.

Aside from this TM is very much trading on it's reputation for quality, it's excellent hop-up design and reliability. The Popular Airsoft review of it's AKS74U is very interesting as it does confirm that Tokyo Marui do continue to be the innovative driving force within airsoft - but the question is still, does this innovation justify the extraordinary high price?

Link: Popular Airsoft review of the Tokyo Marui blow-back AKS74U

My thoughts...
Well, it's all very positive - with the caveat regarding the small battery - and this isn't an isolated view of the TM recoil system AEGs either. But, again, what would induce you to pay the premium to own one of these guns?

For me the argument is exemplified by the views about this gun - and it's bigger brother, the TM AK74MN - on the RED ALLIANCE forums. The Red Alliance members are hard core Soviet/Russian milsimmers whose primary goal is authenticity in their loadouts for airsoft, as such the AEGs of choice are VFC and Kalash brands. Despite TM's well deserved reputation for quality, the *fun* aspect of the blow back system and the almost legendary reputation of their 'out of the box' hop-up system the members of Red Alliance spurn the new TM AKs as 'counter revolutionary', preferring the superficial accuracy and steel construction of the VFC/Kalash replicas!

This serves to highlight one major division among airsoft players - those that enjoy the out and out *fun* nature of the game, and those for whom it is less a game and more a serious hobby for which portraying historical accuracy of loadouts is the primary goal. And never the twain shall meet?

Well, I have always called myself a 'milsimmer lite' - yes, I have an interest in the authenticity of loadouts, but I am also aware that military authenticity is sometimes counter-productive when it comes to playing a game of mainstream airsoft. While my Kalash AEGs have allowed me to have my cake and eat it - being both reasonably accurate replicas and sturdy and reliable - they are hardly cutting edge technologically and have internals which do put you at a disadvantage when running along side a TM made model.

Both Kalash and the expensive VFC replicas need a resonable amount of upgrading to achieve a comparable level of reliability, efficiency and accuracy to the Tokyo Marui models.

My view is that I would rather spend the extra money to buy a AEG that has the kind of reliability, accuracy and quality of internals out of the box that I desire than to buy an AEG that I will have to tinker with in an attempt to achieve an exemplary performance. As testament to this almost every review I have read on the new TM AK74 series has pointed out that the lower power Maruis have outshot more powerful AEGs in terms of consistent accuracy and range due to their superb hop-up quality.

I play airsoft to *play* and not to spend my spare time as an airsoft mechanic. TM AEGS - like the new AK74 range - give players like myself peace of mind without messing about. Is it an extra premium worth paying for - in truth that comes down to whether you have the money to spend...

Once again - as so many things in airsoft - you pay your money you make your choice!

Alternative reviews of the TM AKS74U:

> Digital Wastlands (nice photos)
> Sacairsoft.com (again, some nice close ups)