Marushin HW ABS MP40

Hi guys - Cerwin was asking about a review of the Marushin HW MP40, so here goes.......

As a newcomer to replica guns, I did not know what to expect after ordering an MP40 from Modelguns Worldwide.
Looking at the website and videos convinced me that the MP40 was the one to have.

I paid about £350 including shipping, and delivery was in 3 days!

The version I have is the pre-built "modified" version from Modelguns, which I understand has a few parts replaced/adapted to improve reliability and longevity........

On opening the box, I was immediately impressed with the authentic look and feel of the gun, with more metal parts than I imagined.
The weight is about 6 1/2 pounds unloaded, which I guess is a couple of pounds under an all metal version??????
Can anyone confirm what parts Modelguns change on this version?
There is about 3mm of free play/rotation between the hand grip and top receiver part, but this must be normal I guess.

The gun has a general feel of precision about it and the release actions for the stock and mag have a satisfiying "click".
The finish is not too shiny, I feel, although the various replicas and original guns that you see around are of varying types of finish.
Dismantling the gun is very easy and the supplied instructions, although in Japanese, have clear illustrations.

At first I was afraid of firing the 5 cartridges that came with the gun, especially indoors, but then the little boy inside me took over.
I followed the instructions that Modelguns had e-mailed me to load the MP40 and went upstairs to the bedroom and shut the door.......
Cocking the gun tentatively and wondering where to point it, I squeezed the trigger and it was all over in 1 second.......but what a second!!!!!!!
Smoke, flashes, nice recoil and 5 spent cartridges strewn around the room!
That first firing was fantastic, with the sound reverberating around the bedroom......
Then I had my first experience what all cap firing enthusiasts have come to loathe - finding the used shells!
Straight away I had lost one of them.....
This will not do, I thought and started thinking about where to fire it.
Then I saw the chunks chipped out of the walls by the flying shells and then the other half ran in to see what all the noise was about and she saw the chips in the wall...........oh dear.

After some experimenting, I have settled on the garage for firing, hanging up sheets to allow the shells to hit them, thus taking the sting out of them.
Also, I have carpet in the garage to allow soft landings for the brass cases, as they can get chipped very easily.

I have fired in excess of 200 rounds so far and have found the gun reliable.

As you are all aware, I know, the preparation of the shells is the most important part of firing - you quickly learn that re-charging them without checking for damage/deposits, will result in jams.
I have had no problem letting rip with 25 plus rounds in one go, although I find trying to get all 32 rounds in the mag a bit tough.....

I also spray a bit of WD40 on the firing pin, to get more smoke when firing.

Overall, I love this modelgun and with an authentic strap fitted, it looks the biz!

I have read some threads about these versions being fragile in use - does anyone have any tales about this?

How often do most of you guys fire your MP40s, or are some just ornaments?

What type of oils do you use to lubricate/clean the cartidges, as I have found that "3 in one" Silicone spray is very good.

A couple of final questions:
With regards to the magazine developing that rust coloured muck - do you need to dismantle the mag completely to clean all of the inside or is it ok just to push down the top part and wipe where you can?
And have any of you used genuine MP40 magazines with these guns and do they work ok with the Marushin cartidges?
Also - can you get shell loaders for these magazines and do they work better that sore fingers????!!!!!!

I look forward to your feedback guys.


Kezza

Hi Kezza,

It's always nice to read about impressions of a model, thanks for the writeup :-)

I have an ABS version that I like to fire. Firing vs decoration is a complex thing, I guess. When I first bought a modelgun, I fired it often because I thought it's made to last. Only after learning that they're not so tough I am more careful. It's partially a matter of price and repair possibilities. Once I get over the fact something has cost so much, I am not that afraid of breaking it ;-) Models that seem easier to repair get more exercise from me - psychology at work here.

For care I use a silicone oil, same as for airsoft models. Various brands, initially Loctite, but recently a local brand, easier to find in shops.

Red residue from caps is quite hard to remove from mags for me too. If left for longer period it eats into coating, then metal, and becomes more permanent, so I try to clean insides immediately after firing by poking with cleaning tips and then scrubbing with a toothbrush. It is not easy with follower catching it, so from time to time I disassemble magazine for a more thorough maintenance.

Back to your experience - I keep now a box of gypsum (not sure right name in English) to fill out any holes ;-) White spot on painted wall looks much better than indentation.
A couple of times I was so convinced that firing does not result in any projectiles, that I completely forgot about empty cartridges. Then a few times I underestimated how far/forcefully they would fly, or even direction. Yup, Walther P38 ejects to the left.

I load cartridges by hand, usually fewer and fewer as I get tired ;-) There are mechanical tools to aid loading, I have one made for STEN, but I still haven't learned to like it enough to use ;-)

Glad you enjoyed the review guys.

One thing that I had not done since owning the gun was to get the firing pin out..........or at least I tried to.......it was stuck solid.
A few taps with a hammer freed it up and I could then see why it was stuck.
A lot of corrosion and muck.
After a lot of cleaning and polishing it went back in easier - but it still needed tapping with a hammer to seat it completely.
Should it be a snug fit, or be pushed in by hand, or do I need to do a bit more cleaning and buffing?



Kezza

Hi Kezza

The Detonator Pin should be a snug fit in the plastic chamber. The ABS model which I'm familiar with relies solely on a snug push fit to secure the pin, there are no grub screws for instance locking it in place as you find with several other modelguns.
I'm assuming the HWABS version has no grub screw either.
If the Det.Pin is a loose fit in the chamber it'll most likely pull out of the chamber during firing so don't rub it down too far with abrasive paper.
The muck and dirt you've seen is residue build up from firing. Left uncleaned, it'll cause persistant jamming during firing and corrode and pit the Det.Pin.
Best thing is to thoroughly clean it after every firing session to be sure.