Action Army’s AAP-01, which is supposed to be the airsoft equivalent of the lesser-known Ruger MKIV pistol, has become a popular model.

To sum it up, it is a replica with an entry-level, beginner friendly price tag, an excellent hop up, great effective range and a unique external design. As it (vaguely) resembles the original pistol, it will remain a special sight on the battlefield for a long time. I consider it a good choice due to the abundance of aftermarket parts offered by the manufacturer, and due to the replica being compatible with practically all (TM-spec) magazines.

The external quality is solid and robust, even with polymer dominating most areas of the replica. The lower and upper receiver, the outer barrel, the barrel end and thread protector are all plastic but they are strong and hold up well. There is one unusual feature on the pistol: the bolt (which is one of the most significant parts of the replica in terms of weight) is located at the end of the upper receiver. This bolt can cause a nice surprise when it comes to sound, rate of fire and kick. Thanks to its position, the bolt bobs backward and forward between shots and when used in fully automatic fire mode, it is near impossible to control the replica due to the extreme rate of fire – all while the opponents are running terrified from the speed that resembles an Ingram model.

The hop-up adjustment knob can be accessed easily through the shell-ejection port and resembles the newer generation of Marui hop units. The hop up chamber is being screwed into the outer barrel and the outer barrel is screwed into the upper receiver while the inner barrel has a small o-ring that acts as a spacer / centering piece. Even with the anodized aluminum inner barrel and the basic AAC hop up bucking that comes with the replica, the grouping and range of the AAP-01 is shockingly good. A good operator will achieve nice long-range hits with this pistol, assuming they swap out the hop up bucking. This platform can achieve astonishing things not only with out-of-the-box versions, but also when it comes to upgrade builds.

Inside the lower receiver, the trigger group is located in a huge metal frame. This trigger mechanism is mostly made out of pot metal alloy and uses parts from the Tokyo Marui G18c model, with the exception of the auto-sear. Among these parts, the hammer is the most dangerous one, as it has a roller bearing that eats into certain parts of the bolt. This can be remedied to an extent by gluing a piece of rubber on the affected area. Another issue is that the hammer itself may break at the knob that holds the rotor in place (the purpose of which is to smoothen the cocking and bolt movement). Installing a circular roller bearing with a diameter of 9mm will make the pistol even better. Since the replica uses the G18c trigger group, there is a hidden full-auto switch at the back of the bolt. This switch is sticking a lot, it isn’t particularly difficult to switch fire modes, although it can be a little problematic.

Regarding magazines, I tested the replica with TM, Army, Bell, WE and KJW mags so far. If you own any other Glock replica, you can share the magazines. However, if you only have an AAP-01, then I recommend you to buy AAC magazines, they are specifically designed for the AAP-01, will not wiggle and are more stable than other brand magazines.

Using this replica is a cool experience, its sound and performance will dominate in CQB scenarios while also challenging AEG replicas in outdoor fights. Thanks to its price, it is a must have pistol, especially with a budget of 85-90 euros.

Text: Batmause
Photos: Batmause
Translation: Yssomru