You may cringe that there's another M4 in the airsoft market, as the market is already saturated by a lot of variants of this AEG.  But we don't mind, as the variety of M4s in the market just makes aftermarket parts for the M4 AEG widely available, sort of like having a “Toyota” around. If you think that the Top Tech TM4 Carbine is just another “variant” that will make everyone say “Hohum!”, better think again.

There is a growing trend in the airsoft market for over a year now --- an increasing number of airsoft manufacturers are implementing the blowback feature.  So far, only two M4 airsoft replicas have this feature: the Western Arms M4 CQB-R Gas Blow Back and the Top Tech TM4 Carbine which is about to hit the retail stores anytime now.

Now, economics dictate your choice here, especially if you prefer M4/M16 variants for your airsofting needs. While the Western Arms M4 CQB-R GBB is all the rave these days with its more realistic dimentions, great blowback and recoil effect, it is not the most economical of the lot. The magazines actually do the trick for the GBB effect, just like your usual GBB pistol. But what will set you back is the 50-round magazine price, at US$100, you'll need to spend an extra US$500 just to have 500 rounds. If you want hi-cap games, then it's worse, you'll need to spend US$1000 just to achieve it. With the credit crunch and people trying to save a few bucks on everything, then this is not a good proposition. You will still be outgunned in hicap games, so better save that for milsim and low/midcap games.

Then we have the Top Tech TM4 Carbine AEG with G&G's patented Pneumatic Blowback techhology which is much more affordable as it can utlise TM-compatible M4 magazines, which suffice to say is much cheaper than the WA M4 GBB magazine, and come in high capacity. In a nutshell: THIS IS A STRONG BUY!

So what make us say so? They sent to us last week a sample of their product and here's our story (Bulletproofmike's story that is):

Christmas came early to Bulletproofmike as the package arrived earlier than usual, courtesy of Jack Tsai of G&G Armaments. The package arrived in less than 4 days since G&G sent it to us here in the UK. The packaging is well made, in black colour background, with the Top Tech name and a colourful M4 illustration on the box cover. On the bottom of the box, you'll see the pneumatic  technology description, other Top Tech products, and their Patent certification to warn those who plan to copy the technology that they have no chance of doing so as the patent's already been granted.

Also included in the bottom of the box the various markings that can be expected on receivers from Top Tech's AEGs with the new pneumatic blowback.

The packaging is really well-made, as it's not the usual styrofoam products that tend to get undone while being shipped. So what will you expect in your own package when you get this AEG?

• The AEG
• Front end tool
• Sight-adjustment tool
• Bag of sample bbs
• 450-round High capacity magazine (1)
• Cleaning rod
• Orange muzzle cap
• And a well-written manual in English

The goodies, sans the battery, are more than your money's worth, the thought that went into the packaging is really good. We'll give Top Tech 5 stars for this.

One of the first things that Bulletproofmike that came out of his mouth was, "yeah, it's another M4". But that "hohum" comment ended there. Upon removing the AEG from its packaging, the build quality in Top Tech products just made it more obvious, the material is basically made up of AL6061, Aluminum Alloy, Nylon-Fiber, Steel and Plastic. The ovverall length: 780mm and weights almost 3kg and an inner barrel length of 357mm, typical of M4 AEG inner barrels.

It has a collapsible M4 stock, and with adjustable front and rear sights. The carry handle is the M4 removable, and the handguard is what you will expect in M4 AEGs -- it is where you place the batteries inside. Sling mounts are in the rear and front, and the dust cover is open, showing some good quality material inside.  The receiver on the left side shows the fire selector switch for safe, single, and full-auto firing, the US Special Forces 1ST SFOD-D marking, and manufactured by Top Tech Taiwan information. On the right side of the receiver, you'll just see a simple "TOP TECH Made in Taiwan" marking. The photos themselves can attest to the to our first impression of great build quality. We'll give 4-stars to Top Tech here, as we could have preferred that Top Tech names a little bit more subtle rather than being too obvious, in the spirit of realism.

When you move the fire selector switch, it also moves on the right side of the receiver as well and indicates it so so you will be able to check it on the right side what your firng mode is, but this is not an ambidextrous switch. You'll just see it pivot when making the selection.  Now, inserting the battery requires you to remove the handguard. You'll notice the wiring is of high-quality and silver-plated. Just insert the tamiya connector and you're good to go. Using Li-poly 11.1m which fits well inside, the chrono readings were consistent at 321fps.  Pull the charging handle and the dust cover opens. Pulling the charging handle again, the hop-up adjustment is revealed, which is basically green in colour.  Firing the AEG, it was consistent and no misfeeds with the high-cap magazine that came with it.

The Pneumatic blowback mechanism really does wonders, it provides some force feedback, but not unlike the TM recoil engine, as the latter do actually generates the recoil kick. When compared to the King Arms blowback mechanism, it is actually superior since its patented blowback technology works wonders.  This technique is explained by G&G/Top Tech:

"True to the faith of mimicking real life firearms, Top Tech is proud to present its new Pneumatic Blow Back system to its line of airsoft guns.Conventional airsoft blowback utilizes tow hook springs to mimic real life bolt actions, which often lead to excess wear and tear and poor reliability in the gear box.

To alleviate the problem of conventional systems, Top Tech has independently developed the Pneumatic Blow Back system; a piston driven, gas operated mechanism to better mimic real life bolt actions.

This new technique utilizes compressed air to move the bolt, which enables the action without adding extra stress to the gearbox."

While Top Tech's pounding on the Pneumatic Blowback technology as the main selling point, they seem to have not totally stressed on the materials and parts that they used for this technology, save for a line or two. In our takedown, we were actually surprised even more with these than their pneumatic blowback, and this discovery for us, is the main reason for the high marks for this AEG.

Take down is still the usual M4 TM-compatible type approach --- you always start with the stock, then slowly work your way to the pistogrip, motor housing, detaching motor, then removal of the upper and lower receivers, so there's nothing much new for you to learn, if you already have worked on taking apart M4 AEGs.  But please take note that you cannot totally remove the pins, which we don't mind at all, since you won't lose the pins once you put everything back together again.  When you remove the M4 carry handle from the upper receiver, you'll notice the nicely marked G&G markings, just a reminder for you who is the big daddy of Top Tech.

The gearbox, is what we'd rather call a a Camelback Version 2 Gearbox, since it has a hump which reminds us of a camel. The hump is actually the housing for the Pneumatic blowback, so that means opening the gearbox requires you to know a little bit more, it's not the usual version 2 animal.  The Pneumatic blowback is connected to the  dust cover which of course, provides the blowback effect.

The gearbox is hiqh quality and in black colour. Now it takes getting used to having version 2 gearboxes presented in black.  It has G&G markings and you'll find the piston release mechanism.

Now time to open up the gearbox after removing the blowback mechamism. Now, as we mentioned above, the gearbox is of the highest quality that we've found in any stock AEG. Bulletproofmike stated that this is comparible to the build quality that Systema follows, which means a lot. So what do we see here? Grease is good and evenly spreadout, wiring is topnotch, and here is our list further:

• 8mm gearbox
• Rubber at the top of the gearbox to minimise airleak from cylinder
• CNC'd AL6061bearing piston head and it is nice and vented
• Copper cylinder head
• Piston has the first teeth out, polycarb
• Steel gears
• Steel selector plate
• Bearing spring guide
• Spring and piston release mechamism
• One-piece plastic hop-up with G&G markings
• Anti-reverse latch is good
• Brass inner barrel

Bulletproofmike reshimmed the gears, and expecting that upon test the velocity remained constant, it actually went higher at 336 fps.

Overall, we are mightily impressed by the Top Tech TM4 Carbine. The competition is heating up and the pricing of the TM4 carbine will surely make its nearest competitors such as Classic Army, G&P, and SRC quiver. Even with SRC's Gen III gearbox being well made, the Top Tech with its pneumatic blowback just made G&G  the top innovator from Taiwan.  For the price of US$399 retailed, then it is actually good for the wallet. And when compared to the Western Arms M4 GBB, it does make it lot of economic sense to have this. You get features that you may think are cosmetic, but for us we think that the airsoft playing experience is now being brought to the next level.

G&G/Top Tech just raised the bar higher. Time for rest to try and catch up.

Here's a video made by Bulletproofmike for you to see and appreciate the Pneumatic Blowback technology. Our thanks to Jack Tsai of G&G Armaments/Top Tech for sending us a sample to review. And please, our dear readers, better prepare your wallets for this, watch for it at your favourite retailers.

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