The masterpiece, for which we had to wait for (too) long, and it is none other than the TM M4 MWS. Perhaps the only M4 GBBR model that managed to break the hegemony of GHK at the time of release.

It took many years for the Japanese to realize that they, too, have to get with the times and take advantage of the market trends by improving their build quality. Now we have metal receivers and Cerakote surface treatment. The mechanism of the replica is stable and reliable, just like a Swiss clock. The usual Japanese quality and then some…

Surprisingly, the Marui M4 is (almost) full metal and there is very little sign of plastic. The external build quality is excellent, the surfaces are clean and clear everywhere. The markings and the Cerakote paint is the icing on the cake. It does not give off any feelings of being a toy gun whatsoever, and the shooting experience is amazing.

Inside the lower receiver, the trigger group is a completely unique and in-house design with dozens of parts and an overly complicated layout. Despite the many parts inside, it works much like a precise clock. Even after years of use, there are no known issues to the trigger group. The bolt catch is a unique design, it helps reducing the wear and tear of moving parts, which I like very much. However, if you are one of the people who appreciate realistic GBB operation similar to the real steel weapons, you will find this trigger group lackluster.

On the other hand, the upper receiver is more exciting. The bolt carrier is made of multiple pieces, the nozzle is full of moving parts – moving bolt head imitation, moving gaskey – although one annoying issue is the frequent breakage (or simple failure) of the nozzle spring.

The hop up can be accessed through the shell ejection port. The factory parts are unable to hop heavy BBs and even mid-range weight BBs pose a challenge. There is a regular VSR-compatible inner barrel and hop up bucking inside. While the inner barrel is fine for operation, it is recommended to swap out the bucking and the hop up nub for better performance. According to user experience, high-end nubs are worth it, so I recommend brands such as Maple Leaf or Laylax (or any similar brand). Interestingly, the inner side of the hop up setting mechanism is prone to wear and tear.

The handguard and the front set is designed very differently from other manufacturers. It is held together by screws and other gadgets. While these are not visible from the outside and do not affect the replica, realism enthusiasts will see this as a disappointment. The magazine is excellent, it is not heavy but still massive. The gas inlet valve, however, does not work well with regular green gas. Many users unscrew the valve from the magazine, and then remove the brass pipe attached to it. This way, they can fill much more gas into the magazine and dramatically increase the number of shots per fill.

It has a distinct sound while operating, you can hear each and every part of the bolt carrier moving. As the sealing tenses up inside the piston, as the nozzle smashes into the breech with a plastic-like sound etc. Every MWS has this sound profile, interestingly they are all the same in this regard. It handles cold weather like a champion. The roller bearing placed onto the bolt is leading and positioning the system very well. After swapping out the original hop up parts and using heavy BBs with the replica, the range improves significantly.

In my opinion, the TM M4 MWS is the perfect choice for players who want to buy a gas rifle and use it on the long run with minimal modifications. It is a reliable and low maintenance companion.

Text: Batmause
Photos: Batmause
Translation: Yssomru