The IWA trade show is one of the largest shooting industry events in Europe, while also being an opportunity to explore new products from brands from Europe as well as the rest of the world. One of the bigger companies presenting its new products is Umarex, known for its wide range of licensed airsoft replicas. This year something special was also prepared, where alongside already announced premieres (Official H&K P7M13 pistol replica announced) several hot new products also appeared.
One of them is a gas-powered replica of the Ruger Mini 14 rifle, an American design that is a smaller brother of the M14 and most commonly known from the TV series “The A-Team”.
Ruger Mini-14
With this proposal, Umarex focused on realism, which is reflected in the frame made of solid wood and numerous aluminum components with a very pleasant finish. Metal elements such as the outer barrel, folding stock, and bolt carrier mock-up (unfortunately without a replicated locking mechanism) were painted silver to imitate stainless steel construction. Of course, full manufacturer and model markings placed on the receiver are also present.
In terms of internals, we are dealing with dedicated gas-powered magazines that closely resemble those used in AR-15 replicas, but with a different, more uniform curvature and a locking system similar to that of the AK platform. The replica features a factory TDC (Top Down Center) hop-up pressure adjustment system, built-in NPAS adjustment in the nozzle, and declared performance around 1.6J.
The replica itself represents the civilian variant, lacking a fire selector. The overall appearance is complemented by polymer elements such as the pistol grip and a dummy heat shield. The entire design and manufacturing were carried out by Vega Force Company from Taiwan.
HK P7M13
Alongside the new Ruger Mini 14 replica, another previously announced replica of a German pistol was also present. Of course, this refers to the HK P7M13, a rather unique design. At the Umarex booth we were able to take a closer look at this design (which we naturally examined in considerable detail).
The replica itself, aside from its high level of build quality, surprises with its simplicity visible in the photos. All elements of the replica are functional (including the firing pin tension indicator at the rear of the slide). A fixed barrel and rotary hop-up pressure adjustment may provide the basis for an accurate replica with a rather unusual character. The design also reproduces the hammer cocking element via the lever in the grip, although it turns out that it also functions as the slide release.
Walther PPK/S
Among other new gas-powered proposals, new variants of already known replicas were presented, including the James Bond pistol model Walther PPK/S in a silver finish. This variant will not be available, as before, with a suppressor or a threaded barrel.
Glock 19X MOS Gen.5
Another pistol on display was the Glock 19X MOS Gen.5 replica in a variant featuring raised iron sights, a slide adapted for mounting optics, and an additional barrel thread for muzzle devices.
Heckler&Koch G33
A longer variant of the Heckler&Koch G53 rifle was also prepared in the form of the G33 model. Apart from the change in barrel length and a different handguard, all previous elements were retained and no further changes were introduced.
HK416 A7/ HK G95
This year AEG replicas were definitely in the background, however an interesting proposal also appeared there. Just before the IWA trade show, Umarex and C.A.T (the Arcturus/MOS group) announced cooperation, the result of which was the AEG replica of the Heckler&Koch G95 rifle (also known as the HK416 A7) presented at the exhibition. In the original firearm, the design derived from the iconic HK416 model shares many of its elements and concepts, while also introducing new ones.
One of the more characteristic elements is the selector that operates at 45 degrees intervals rather than 90 degrees (which was also replicated in the airsoft version), along with a quick-detach handguard featuring the HKey mounting system. As befits a licensed replica, other elements were also faithfully reproduced, such as the new pistol grip, selector shapes, stock, and a different magazine design (in the airsoft version available with mid-cap inserts with variable capacity up to 30 BBs). The entire replica is kept in a very similar sand/tan color scheme with minor differences.
Inside, solutions known from other C.A.T series replicas were retained, including a split gearbox frame, standard gears (without mechanical precocking), an ETU control unit, and additionally a steel inner barrel and a rotary hop-up chamber.
Photos: WMASG, Shooting Media
