Marushin AR Kits

Has anyone had experience with Marushin’s model gun “kits?”

These kits seem to be unassembled model guns, offer the distinct advantage of modifying and coloring the parts before assembly.

Some sites charge far more than standard assembled version of the same AR guns. But I found that www.redwolfairsoft.com offers them for less.

ARs are largely plastic, but do the Marushins have real metal (zinc) receivers, barrels, and bolts?

Check this review:
http://arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filnavn=/reviews/marushin_xm177e2_pfc/marushin_xm177e2_pfc_review.htm

There is also a whole section about Marushin M16/XM177 kits right on this forum:
https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/marushin-m16-xm177-series-modelguns-f20/

Short answer: barrel is zinc (though flashhider is plastic), bolt is aluminium (zinc was used in a short run of factory-assembled version, but was too heavy).

I am just finishing my Marushin XM177E2 kit.
I have used some real steel AR parts b/c some Marushin parts did not fit right, but no major problems with the Marushin kit.
One problem I had was fitting the barrel, I stripped and broke off a piece of the barrel, however, forum member Shazhib was able to find replacement parts in Japan that work better than the original parts and improve appearance by adding a bayonet lug and M16A1 barrel length and flashider.
I am just fitting the gun with locktite and working on actually firing a few rounds.
There is alot of really good info in the Marushin M16/XM177 series forum area.
I would be happy to answer any questions to the best of my limited experience/ability.

They sound good except for the plastic flash hider. Why'd they do that? Can I simply attach a real AR flash hider?

So the bolt is now plastic?

What real AR parts did you use? Does a real AR mag fit in the well?

Dollanganger,

The bolt of XM/M16 kit from Marushin is aluminum alloy.
Actually, they offer metal flash hider for XM, but it is another 35-4000 JPY.

I think there are many review and comments about XM/M16 of Marushin you can refer.

Regards,

shaz,

Dollanganger

You can buy a metal 5.5 inch flashider from airsoft suppliers.
Airsoft 14 mm metal flashiders will fit on the Marushin barrel.
I used some real steel springs and pins, as well as real steel trigger guard.
I also attached real steel stock, grip and handguards with minimal modifications.
The Marushin kit really is mostly metal- except for the flashider and stock/grip/hanguards.
Real steel 30 rd mags will fit into the mag well, but the mag release hole needs to be opened up on the mag to stay in place.
I am currently trying to get a modified real steel mag to feed properly with limited success.

-Mogear

The bolt is alloy metal, not plastic. Only the "XM177" style screw on flash hider is plastic. The "A1 - bird cage style" flash hider is alloy metal and comes with the end of the barrel (permanently attached).

You can replace the XM177E2 with a Mulberry field metal flash hider (available in Japan, just ask Shazhib or Francky) or a Guarder steel part (clean and oil well, may rust from fire cap residue!), # M4A1-09, 14 mm positive thread.

Or you can make a M653, 14,5 inch barrel carbine by using the Marushin M16A1 barrel and A1 flash hider.



(Note that I have changed the front sight too as the XM177 front sight is missing the bayonet lug)


If you like to keep the Marushin plastic flash hider, flat black spray paint will make the finish of the plastic flash hider much better anyway.

Marushin's kits are available from forum member Francky at good prices too.
You'll find them on his website http://franckys-modelgun.com/

As smootik kindly pointed out, should you decide to build from a kit, there's plenty of helpful info in the forum's pages and there's always advice at hand if you need it