Marushin Dolphin

Post by 2sharp

Thought i'd throw in a review on the Marushin Dolphin "Machine pistol".
I bought this quite some time ago i blew out the barrel the firstt ime i fired it, i had a really hard time to find myself a new one until i stumbled upon this forum and francky
I really like the look of this model gun, i've never seen or heard of a real steel Beretta in the x-act configuration as the Dolphin.
I've seen the thick, re-inforced slides marked with the Phrobis/Dolphin trademark (which is a.. Dolphin!) But never in selective fire.
Nevertheless, this model gun looks very nice, i really like the matt black finish.
I enjoy quite a lot of handling any of my model guns, they are very nicely crafted and executed "toys".
Not much to say regarding the looks of this model, the feel is somewhat disappointing, it feels solid but as it is plastic it feels: plastic
Same with the decocker and slide, not the solid "clang" as with metal guns.
Which is to be expected of course!
Very neat that the dis-assemble sequence is the same as real-steel Berettas, very nice.

I haven't fired more then 3-4 magazines with it, but so far it has proven to be reliable, nothing like emptying a magazine in a few, rapid bursts in front of the tv
My conclusion is that the Dolphin looks great, handles great and quite realistic and true to any real Beretta.
That's about it, now some pictures.

(oops, edited 'cuz i messed up picture wise..)
Weapon related stuff added for fun

Hello,
Thanks for your review, it's always good to see what others think.
I hope you'll forgive my ignorance here, but I hadn't realised the Dolphin fires in full auto?
I tend to go for WW2 era stuff so that's my excuse for not being clued up! (Sounds better than Clueless I hope)
My interest suddenly woke up when FullAuto comes to the fore,
I noticed your AK47 in the background... is that PFC too?
Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by 2sharp

Not to worry!

The Dolphin is selective, the right side of the de-cock lever ins't attached to the left side, the left side is de-cock only and the right side is the selector.

The Ak47, really an Ak74M, is a dummygun, nothing can be fired or cycled through it's action.
It is made by the same factory (Izmash) that turns out the real-steel Ak-74M's, so it has the correct factory markings, i'm very pleased with it.

Thanks for that, I might be tempted to looking for a Dolphin now!
I've taken a fancy to the AK47, I'd prefer a PFC one really but they're so expensive.
Enjoy your modelguns!

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Reemo

"........The Ak47, really an Ak74M, is a dummygun, nothing can be fired or cycled through it's action.
It is made by the same factory (Izmash) that turns out the real-steel Ak-74M's, so it has the correct factory markings, i'm very pleased with it."

I have the same gun, but fires bb's.....Co2 powered. It was VERY hard to get it into the US. I found a seller in Germany who shipped one to me - it took FOREVER tp get here. I kept thinking, "Oh well, there's $500.00 down the toilet!"

I finally got it - NO full auto
I assumed it was full auto like the DROZD.
Semi only - Im going to eventually part out a DROZD to scavenge the electronics and put the system in the AK.

Only downer on the AK was a HORRIBLE factory "orange peeled", black finish - right out of a spray can!
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"This is your life......and its ending one minute at a time."

Post by 2sharp

Neat, i've been looking into buying one just for fun, it is a pity it isn't full auto, that'd rock!
I wouldn't mind a Drozd either really..
The finish on my dummy isn't too bad really, then again the Ak series has never been known for their high quality finish
I've seen quite a few with horrible finish.
And cerwyn, do get one of the Dolphins, they are really nice

Reemo wrote:

I have the same gun, but fires bb's.....Co2 powered. It was VERY hard to get it into the US. I found a seller in Germany who shipped one to me - it took FOREVER tp get here. I kept thinking, "Oh well, there's $500.00 down the toilet!"
I finally got it - NO full auto
I assumed it was full auto like the DROZD.
Semi only - Im going to eventually part out a DROZD to scavenge the electronics and put the system in the AK.
Only downer on the AK was a HORRIBLE factory "orange peeled", black finish - right out of a spray can!

Post by Madmike

Hello Reemo!

Yes, in Germany all Airsoft players are limited to SEMI AUTO ONLY! Every BB gun has to be changed to fire only in semi auto before it can be sold on the German market. It is due to a war weapons control act. Hard to explain and to understand, even for us Germans ...

Post by Illuminati

@MadMike - i think the AK that Reemo was talking about is a metal bb firing gun, basicly a CO2 pistol in rifle form. (correct me if im wrong) i believe we can get full auto versions in the UK

shown here:

http://www.surplusstore.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/23_24/products_id/1553

Post by allenb

2Sharp - nice quick review mate - I too have the Dolphin and its a good gun, but mine doesn't like having the slide racked and dry fired when the mag is empty.

The mag follower jumps over the slide lock and gets jammed. The mag is then stuck and all I can do is take the slide off and take the slide lock lever off to release the mag.

Does yours do this? The problem is that the slidelock is allowed to move away from the frame of the gun...

Reemo - Which version is your Junker ?

First version uses a Baikal pistol that fires through the cleaning rod below the barrel (I saw this version on sale briefly in US), the second version (which I have) fires using a modified pistol mech inside the mag and shoots thru the barrel.

I think its a great gun, (if a little underpowered) but like you, I prefer the Drozd auto action!

Would be cool to make it an auto - but thats not allowed here...

Thought the Junker receiver was classed as a firearm in US and that was why you cant get em there??

Illuminati - unfortunately only semi auto metal bb guns are allowed here - the Drozd for the American market is an auto at up to 600rpm unmodified but the Euro version is semi only

Post by 2sharp

allenb wrote:

2Sharp - nice quick review mate - I too have the Dolphin and its a good gun, but mine doesn't like having the slide racked and dry fired when the mag is empty.

Nope, just checked, no problems in racking and dryfiring.
You sure nothing is loose or broken?
Glad you like it!
Need to find a Yunker i beleive.. just for the fun of it.
A shorty Yunker and one of these: http://www.rusmilitary.com/html/pbs_silencer.htm

Post by allenb

Yeah the Junker is fun. I like the silencer idea tho they're pretty expensive.

I like mine so much I bought a russian Kobra red dot sight for it!

Looks great!

Now back to the dolphin... on mine with the slide removed I can stick a finger nail under the front of the slide lock lever and pull it away from the frame very easily - can you do that with yours?

I used to have a real 92SB and I'm sure it wouldn't do that!

Also my KSC M93R's won't allow this to happen.

I've checked the retaining spring and it seems to be seated correctly.

Post by 2sharp

allenb wrote:

Now back to the dolphin... on mine with the slide removed I can stick a finger nail under the front of the slide lock lever and pull it away from the frame very easily - can you do that with yours?

No, i have a small "lip" that "sticks" into the slide release, pointing in the same direction as the muzzle. Thus preventing it to slide out, i just packed my camera for a trip so i can't shoot a pic....

Post by allenb

I think I know the lip your talking about. Its the one at the rear of the lever yeah?

This doesn't stop the front of the lever moving out tho. If you grab it in the area above the trigger (nearest the take-down lever) it can move out away from the frame. Or at least it does on mine..

Post by 2sharp

allenb wrote:

I think I know the lip your talking about. Its the one at the rear of the lever yeah?
This doesn't stop the front of the lever moving out tho. If you grab it in the area above the trigger (nearest the take-down lever) it can move out away from the frame. Or at least it does on mine..

Oook, i think i know what you mean, i was thinking that it moved out in the back so to speak.
I can pry gently at the lever and it'll pop out sligthly, but nothing besides that happens really.
I did dig up the camera, now it wasn't the issue i thought it was, but maybe you can see if anything else seems weird?

Just disregard the red ring on the second photo..

Post by allenb

Here's how far I can pry the lever away from the frame...
(please excuse the piss-poor photo! )

Post by 2sharp

allenb wrote:

Here's how far I can pry the lever away from the frame...

I can reach about as far if i pry a little, but it won't just skip over there.
Maybe you could try to get a new slide lock?

Post by allenb

Thanks 2Sharp

To stop filling this review I'll post any fixes I find under 'modelgun problems'

Post by LDR

Wow! This looks nice, and it fires full auto!

I have been looking for a beretta like the ones in Underworld that fire full auto. I was told the only ones that did were the Wa Shan ones.

Right, time to start looking for one!

Lewis

Post by Spencerman

The only ones that do that look like a 92 ARE the Wa Shan models. This one has a full solid slide with only an ejection port to eject the spent cartridge. Dont get me wrong, it is nice, very much like the Cougar, but not accurate as for what you wanted for the Underworld thing.
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Post by LDR

Cheers spencerman! I might have to do with this though.....either poor markings like on the Wa Shan, or descent marking but not so accurate gun like the Marushin.
Is that correct?

Lewis

Post by Mark

Well, I suppose that with some careful dremel work on the Marushin Dolphin's slide, it could be an "open" top M92F slide. Are you sure that the Underworld gun isn't a M93R? Although, I have seen and I have handled a true M92F that had been converted to fire full auto so, they do exist.
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MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by MT01

Got to say I love this gun. It fires and handles so well.
I swapped out the standard barrel for a shorter Silver CQB barrel (courtesy of shazhib) and silver return rod. I think this makes the dolphin look so much better - makes a nice departure from the standard look of the 92F models.
Here are some photos for anyone interested (various angles as I tried to use natural lighting, but there wasn't much daylight left)
From top:

Right a bit...

Right a bit more...

You can see the effect of the shorter CQB barrel:

Those are mulberry rounds:

Non standard firing position:

Subtley different lighting:

Post by shazhib

MT,

Looks real, like having a metal barrel.
Nice one.

Post by MT01

Thanx for feedback guys,

Actually, I wasn't too keen on the base model's looks either - I bought this model with full intention of swapping out the barrel - which I did with my silver marushin CQB. (Got a replacement barrel later)

The real revelation though was firing it on full auto. Was not sure what to expect from a handgun. I haven't fired a KSC 93R or a Wa Shun beretta on full auto so I guess I can't really compare, but full auto on this baby is sweet and faultless. The slide is obviously heavier than normal marushin 92F's and the recoil is pretty good for a PFC.

This is one of my fave handguns now, but then again I am fickle.