[ILLusion]

Originally Posted by Aceofspades

The outer barrel jams up in the slide and the end of the outer barrel chamber doesn't fully connect/seal with the back end of the ejection port. So basically - upon pulling back the slide, it moves freely, but when I let the slide go it slams home and gets stuck, leaving a gap between the aforementioned areas. When I say "Locks up" I mean it REALLY locks up - I have to grab a flat screwdriver to unjam the outer barrel/slide.

Would the easier route be to simply pick up a Guarder outer barrel to go along with the Guarder slide? I noticed that the AS outer barrel says that it's for the TM hicapa 4.3, but that might mean that it's meant for the stock TM plastic slide instead of this Guarder Kimber metal one.

EDIT: Here are a few more pictures. Upon further investigation, I've found that it is indeed the recoil rod bushing causing the problem.

Here is the outer barrel installed without the recoil rod/spring/bushing. Notice it's sitting flush, as it should


Upon my attempt to insert the recoil rod bushing only, I noticed resistance at this point


If I try to install all of the components together, this is the result



So, it appears that the bushing is jamming itself into the outer barrel, and the force of the recoil spring is shoving itself against the flare of the outer barrel, shoving the entire assembly forward as you can see in the pictures. Have you ever seen or heard of an issue like that before?

Like I said earlier, it is always recommended to match brands. I've never mixed Guarder slides with these barrels before, so I can't comment on what the specific reason for your problems is. I have tried Shooters Design slides with these barrels, and similar problems arised given certain conditions. The lug placement is different for each brand, hence the problems.

For what it's worth, these barrels are manufactured to work specifically with Tokyo Marui's Hi-Capa slide, and the matching slides for this barrel were also original machined exactly to Tokyo Marui's specifications. I know Guarder and Shooters Design is a bit different in this regard, so again, I do not recommend swapping.

I'd actually recommend you get a matching slide for the barrel, as the Guarder outer barrels are known to suck big nuts and still cause problems with the Guarder slide (despite being matched brands.) I've had some headaches with it. On occassion, they will fit with no problems. About 50% of the time, some fitment is required.



Based on your description regarding the recoil rod bushing, the original Tokyo Marui bushing has a ramp on one side to allow clearance of the bull barrel. Performing the same thing on your bushing may help to alleviate this problem.

Originally Posted by intinerious

Hi Brian,

Can you tell me what is the highest FPS (+bb weight) you've reached with a modified 5.1 length barreled hi capa on green gas? I just want a feel of what a 5.1 Hi Capa can achieve.

I've been planning to install the following:

Nine Ball hop rubber
Nine Ball mag rubber (on CO2 mag)
PDI 6.01mm 112.5mm TB
Action Aluminium Piston Head
RRC power up bulb
Nine Ball stiff floating valve spring

on a KJW 5.1 hi capa clone (kp-05). I'm hoping (with CO2) to get over 2J (yes above HK's limit) with the setup above and if it does get over 2J, I'll replace the RRC valve with an RATECH NPAS to keep it legal.

Using the KJW clone because its 95% compatible with the TM hi capa (from what I've gathered with my local sources) and anything that's not compatible can be remedied when I decide to further upgrade to another metal kit meant for TM hi capas. Plus the cost of everything should be the lowest possible for a dependable, hard hitting sidearm at ~HKD1500.

Sorry, I don't have much data on hand to recall specific numbers for you, but I have one performance readout here still:

312.9fps is the max velocity, with 0.25g BB's.

Originally Posted by HKGhost

Quick question, is the outer barrel suppose to rattle and move forward an inch, while the slide is in the lock back position?

Yes. This linkless design is about 90 years old:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power

The actual concept itself is 100 years old this year:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1911_Colt_pistol

Thank John M. Browning for this innovation. It serves no purpose for airsoft, except to emulate the mechanics of the real thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoil_...coil_operation

Originally Posted by simohayha

is nine ball recoil spring guide and plug for 1911 is made by casting or CNC? what material is it? steel or aluminum or pot metal? thanks

My guess is CNC steel... but I've been wrong about their products in the past. The pot metal they use and their process on it is very high quality. Among the highest die-cast products in the industry. I also would not be surprised if it was TN coated brass.

I personally prefer the Firefly spring guides. Plugs, I just use whatever is available and fits best with the spring guide I choose. Depending on my build, I may pick a (lightweight) aluminum one over a (heavy) stainless steel bushing for faster slide cycle speed versus harder kicking blowback or vice versa.

Originally Posted by simohayha

any suggestion on a good or the best rec spring guide and plug? will there be any performance difference between buying cheaper ones like guarder and expensive one like prog4 guide/nova plug?

There is a difference in manufacturing quality between the cheap ones and the more expensive ones.
Whether there's a PERFORMANCE difference or not, that may be subjective. As long as the internals is smooth and the entrance way is crowned to allow a smooth and easy movement of the recoil spring, then it should be fine. Cheaper quality ones generally have a rougher surface finish.

Originally Posted by TaroBear

Anyone know of any aftermarket metal bodies that have a left handed mag release?

None available. The magazine shells would also have to be completely re-tooled to accept a left handed or ambidextrous release.

Originally Posted by simohayha

quick question guys, for those who own a nova kit, from what material is the outer barrel made of? is it any good? i heard thats its aluminum? will prog4 steel non-tilting outer barrel works with nova kit(the slide and nova barrel bushing)? drop in fit or need work? thanks

Aluminum. My guess is aircraft grade 6061 or 6064. It's okay... does the job. But I prefer more weight in my barrels...

I will confirm non-tilting outer barrel with Nova kit in a few weeks.