Detail Round Up: Milsig’s 2012. Part 2 - M17
The biggest earth-shaker out of Milsig last week, was the announcement of the upcoming M17 marker. A total show-stealer, the M17 can select fire from semi-auto mode to a true mechanical full-auto fire mode. No e-grips. No batteries. No joke. It’s legit!
(This is part two of a multi part story. Click here for part one.)
Combined with their new direct pressure HEAT core, The M17, with it’s mechanical full auto, is not just a head-turner, it’s a game-changer. We are sure there are quite a few marker manufactures that would love to take a peek under the hood of this beast. They are gonna have to wait like the rest of us though. The M17 is not due till this summer.
Want to be a sniper? The M17 is First Strike ready. Milsig has also developed a new 10-round First Strike magazine and new mag-well that accepts both the new FS and standard 20-round mags interchangeably.
It’s not just cool on performance. Milsig put a lot of work into the esthetic too. True MilSim nuts will love the M17’s compatibility with real AR grips and fronts. The improved design also takes full advantage of the space saved by their new HEAT system.
Previous Milsig markers have a gap between the trigger frame and the mag-well to make space for the air line connection to the blow-back valve (similar to an A-5). This gap put the mag-release slightly out of reach. So to compensate, Milsig had developed a mag-release extenuation to bridge the gap and make for a more efficient operation. As effective as it was, the gap was not ideal for those players trying to achieve a more “true” MilSim look. With the M17, this is no longer a factor.
“The M17 eliminates 1) the side air system, 2) the gap between the mag and the trigger…and therefor 3) the mag release extension”
- Doug Brown, Owner, PsiOps (US Milsig Distributor)
“For the first time in MilSim, you can actually achieve sniper quality with a light weight, mobile, and also modular rifle. That is going to be a really big feature for a lot of the milsim players out there.”- Jacky Chan, CEO, Milsig Canada
Some might be leery of Milsig using a composite body instead of aluminum. The “poly polypropylene” shell might sound like “plastic” but there are poly polypropylene configurations that are actually bullet proof. So don’t slouch on it. This thing feels solid yet also comfortable. Light enough for improved mobility but still enough weight to not feel like a toy. The body compares to that of an HK MP5 or a Glock.
“The only thing plastic on the M17 is the body. I know that a lot of the MILSIG fans are dedicated real steel folks, but having built many a gun in a real steel weapons facility I can tell you what works well when making guns with peak chamber pressures of 10,000 psi is often not what works well when making paintball guns. The air nozzle in the MILSIG is a classic example. The new PP air nozzles are vastly superior to the old aluminum one. Besides. You can always get a Paradigm.”
- Doug Brown, Owner, PsiOps (US Milsig Distributor)
With a price tag starting around $599, the M17 is no entry level marker, but it definitely has the bells and whistles (and looks) to justify the price. If your ready to pick one up, PsiOps has started a pre-order list for the US. You can email Doug Brown here psiworx@gmail.com. Otherwise, if your not quite ready to drop that kind of coin, Milsig still has a lot of K-series deals going on right now on their site.
SPECS: M17
- .68 Caliber
- Magazine-fed
- Hopper conversion option
- Pneumatically achieved Full Auto. (no electric)
- Semi and Full Auto switch
- ROF adjustable 10-15 BPS (estimated)
- Two adjusters, Velocity and ROF
- Real AR front ends
- Real AR grips
- Takes standard 20 round mag
- Also takes New 10 round FirstStrike mag.
- HEAT Core (High Efficiency Air Technology)
- - Blow forward spool valve
- - 500-600 PSI operation
- - Integrated air line.
- - Illuminates Blow back!
- - Less maintenance
- - More consistency
- - No more side or bottom air lines.
- - Direct pressure
- - Less leak risk
- - No cocking/charging required
- Poly Polypropylene shell. compares to HK MP5 or Glock material
- Date: Late May or early June
- Price: $499-599 (pending final configuration)
Necro looks at the Milsig M17 - from SASWOODSBALL
