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Review – Tokyo Marui M733 by Alpha
There was a lot of speculation when Tokyo Marui announced it would be an M733 replica – the common question was “What’s so special about this replica? How is it different or better than the other Armalite variants that TM produces?”
If you’re looking for this review to say “The Tokyo Marui M733 is the best AEG ever produced by Tokyo Marui!” then I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed if you keep reading.
Instead, I’m going to say “The Tokyo Marui M733 is a solid AEG, in a compact size, which would be ideal for beginner looking to save money or a veteran looking for a backup or CQB weapon.”
Before moving on in this review, I want to take a moment and thank Redwolf Airsoft (www.redwolfairsoft.com) for providing me with an M733 to review. They shipped me this weapon just as soon as it was released so that I could bring you one of the first reviews on it. Unfortunately, my life has been really hectic recently and I’ve been just a bit lazy, so this review is being posted under the thought – “Better late than never!” Be sure to click on Redwolf’s banner ad on the front page of Airsoft Retreat – they’re an awesome retailer with a great selection of products and excellent customer service.
Aesthetics
Now, on to the good stuff – I’ll start off with the question on everyone’s mind: “What does the receiver look like?”
As you can see, this review sample came to me with trademarks intact – while I’m not normally too keen on importing replicas without proper trademark covering, it is great to have unaltered trademarks since they look so nice in pictures! Taking a look at the trademarks, I first thought that these were an exact copy of those found on the Tokyo Marui M16A2; however, after a chat with Jack Ma of The Q Project (www.theqproject.com), I learned there are very subtle differences. The color, texture, and build quality of the receiver is identical to the TM M16A2 and very much what one would expect from a Tokyo Marui AEG.
Now, I’m not normally a fan of fixed carry handles – however, I think that the fixed carry handle on the M733 looks pretty spiffy. I look at the carry handle as a built-in high rise scope mount -- I’ve got a large 50mm red dot scope and a carry handle scope mount on order that I’m just dying to stick on this weapon.
One of the biggest improvements over existing designs that is introduced with the M733 is the redesigned front barrel assembly.
The joint between the receiver and outer barrel assembly has been significantly strengthened and the infamous barrel wobble problem decreased, if not solved completely. You should also see the new gas tube which runs beneath the handguards, not only mimicking the look of the real M733 but also adding another strengthening element.
Gone from the front barrel assembly is the clunky fuse assembly of the M4A1 and M4 RIS. Instead, Tokyo Marui has chosen to use an inline fuse holder, painted black, which is held in place with a reusable zip-tie. This was necessary because of the smaller internal space available for battery storage in the M733’s slimmer handguards.
Performance
In stock form, the Tokyo Marui M733 performs just like any other unmodified TM AEG. Accuracy is roughly on par with the M4A1 despite the M733 using a CAR-15 length inner barrel. Rate of fire using a 8.4v mini battery is acceptable at around 650 rounds per minute.
Upgrade Potential
Just like any AEG based on a Version 2 gearbox, there are a myriad of upgrade options that can be installed in the M733. For my M733, I’ve put in ZS-02-10 Systema Standard Ratio Flat Gears, Area 1000 metal bushings, and a PDI 150% spring. Muzzle velocity is around 375 fps with .20g BBs.
The biggest issue with upgrading the M733 is battery life. Because of the slim size of the handguards, batteries larger than a 9.6v 1100 mAh nun-chuck battery just won’t fit without a fair bit of electrical tape holding the handguards together. I’ve got two 8.4v 1000 mAh NiMH mini-batteries that seem to power the weapon well, but I imagine I’m at the upper threshold of upgrades for this weapon until a more effective battery solution is introduced while retaining the “stock” look.
Of course, if maintaining the original appearance of the replica isn’t your thing, then a number of other alternatives for batteries exist, including AN/PEQ-2 kits, Ready Mag systems, and of course, adding a M16 series full stock to conceal a large battery.
Conclusion
I’ve used, abused, tortured, and beaten my M733 within an inch of its life-- it’s a tough little weapon. Compact and lightweight, I find myself carrying the M733 instead of my uber-heavy upgraded SR16 during these extremely warm Texas summer months. The M733 would be a perfect compliment to a woodland ‘softer’s kit for a backup gun. Alternatively, the M733 is the perfect size for a CQB/CQC environment.
At a price of around $210 from most overseas retailers, the M733 is definitely a great gun for the beginner, looking to save money, or for the veteran, looking for something different.
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