Wait, what exactly is a Hi-Capa? ,all i kjnow is that they have different names and come in all different types. is it just a name so they have different manufacturers or something?
Hello, yes mate hi-capa is the name, basically a high capacity 1911 style race gun, they are many different types and style with a few different manufacturers, I'll not go into aftermarket manufacturers and custom guns etc it could just confuse you. So the most well known and mainly chosen airsoft manufacturers of the Hi-capa are Tokyo Marui (TM), Kj Works (KJW), WE (WE-tec) and Amorer Works (AW).
Like I say there are many types/styles, but manufacturers wise right out of the box, I personally think TM make the best Hi-capas, due to performance, tolerance, accuracy and reliability and upgradeability, but they are made more from plastic then metal, which can put some people off and I'm not going to lie, years ago I was one of them people, I shoot many other types of guns including RS so years ago I thought I would never want a half plastic half metal guns, then I got a few and never looked back, I have a lot of guns airsoft wise most are TM based, they out perform most others, without making this post too big lol, I'll just give you a quick run down, and I will stick with the standard form of hi-capa the 5.1 just to make it easier and faster.
TM 5.1 hi-capas for example right out the box, have a plastic slide and plastic barrel, and grip, the upper frame is metal as are the controls so is the magazine, but like I say in my opinion are the best due to performance, tolerance, accuracy, reliability and upgradeability. Also out the box they perform good all year round, even in cooler weather, due to having a lot if plastic they cool down a lot less then full metal gas blowback pistols, so perform better in the cold.. (my TM hi-capa hold match for example out performs any other airsoft pistol I've owned or own, this includes standard TM hi-capas and custom built guns)
Also another thing to bare in mind hi-capa aftermarket parts and manufacturers work they parts around TM.
KJW, are very good pistols too, they are full metal apart from the grips, they are co2 or green gas compatible, quality is pretty good as is reliability, as is fit and finish, and they are compatible with a good few TM based aftermarket parts and upgrades but not all.. But your starting to see less and less KJW hi-capas, due to TM I believe. (original spares are harder to get then TM ones too)
WE hi-capa, again mostly full metal apart from the grips and grip frame, and they are OK, quality can be a bit of a hit or miss to be honest same goes with reliability and performance, they will not perform as good as a TM hi-capa, I have a good few Hi-capas but a WE is hi-capa is not one of them (lol I'm not a WE hater though, I have had and have a good few WE guns) quite a lot of parts are TM aftermarket and upgrade compatible, but not all and some parts will need modification and depending on the version on WE hi-capa you get will also effect compatibility. (original spares are also harder to get then TM one too)
Armorer Works, I must admit are doing some good things with Hi-capas, (armorer works are still basically WE just posher and better quality more expensive versions) but like I say AW do have some good versions of the Hi-capa, they are full metal once again apart from the grips and grip frame/trigger guard etc, BUT unfortunately they do have some of the standard WE hi-capa downsides, and are less TM aftermarket and upgrades compatible too, next year I will probably be buying myself a AW hi-capa, the AW black ace as I like the style.
But I still prefer TM then the rest, and when it comes to me wanting a full metal Hi-capas I go for TM based and then just build my own, it works out more expensive but you can do as much or as little as you like and spread the costs out over time and end up with an all round better full metal hi-capa at the end of it..
LOL this was a mission typing out on my phone, hopefully there's not to many typos lol, but I hope it has been of help to you, check out my YouTube channel if you want I have many many hi-capa related videos that you will find interesting and helpful.
ATB Marc
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