We reviewed the Elite Force MP7A1 AEG, manufactured by VFC, in our first review. At the time, the Airsoft community was divided over this brand new release. As a result, we were unable to compare it to its predecessor, the MP7A1 Gas Blowback SMG by KWA.
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We revisited that idea this week after taking a look at the KWA MP7 A1, which is distributed by Elite Force.
This gun is very similar to its electric counterpart from VFC at first glance. It has a monolithic front grip and top rail. Its controls and sights are also similar. What’s the difference?
Most of the differences are due to size. The MP7 from Heckler and Koch is significantly smaller than the MP7 from KWA. The KWA rifle is also 1:1 scale, making it smaller than its VFC cousin. This scale also applies in other ways. KWA has fewer stock adjustments (on the top rail) and less rail space than a VFC MP7, but it does have side rails (a feature we disliked on the MP7), which more than makes up for the MP7’s shortcomings.
Weight is another obvious difference externally. Due to its gas blowback components and magazine weight (40 versus 110 for the KWA), the KWA MP7 is significantly heavier than the AEG MP7. Due to this, the gun feels smaller and heavier in the field.
We provide an example in the form of a picture. What are its advantages and disadvantages?
It does not have a gearbox.
When powered by green gas, we measured an average velocity of 390 to 410 feet per second. In CQB or indoors, there are several products available to lower the velocity. It might be a little difficult to shoot on certain fields, but it does produce enough power to make it a good choice for outdoor games.
The KWA is capable of shooting 200 feet using high-quality heavyweight BBs. Weights between .28 and .32 grams were found to be optimal. Even though it has a little recoil with each trigger pull, it is still as powerful as the VFC AEG. We found it to be less substantial than the LMS4 we reviewed, but this can be attributed to its size.
In spite of the cold weather, we did not experience any cycling issues with this rifle during our testing. A testament to KWA’s quality is its reputation as a manufacturer of Gas Blowback Airsoft Guns that always work well in cold temperatures where others struggle. The gas guns did have problems with lubrication out of the box, but as long as you don’t lubricate them yourself after buying them, you aren’t really taking care of them properly. In our review of the VFC MP7 AEG, we stated that despite liking the weapon, the $400 price tag could not justify itself unless you were an explicit collector or fan of the MP7. Can the KWA MP7 live up to the same expectations?
The answer to this question is twofold.
KWA is much cheaper, costing $269.99, but the design is flawed. Gas blowbacks are more niche products by definition, so this product is also more specialised. Whether this gun is worth the purchase depends on whether you want a gas blowback gun, as well as the difficulties associated with them as well as the extended maintenance required.