Review: H&K MK23 GBB, NBB & Springer Shootout
By Snowman
Heckler & Koch Mk23 SOCOM
KSC GBB Vs Tokyo Marui NBB & Springer
I'd always been intrigued by the H&K Mk23. Its association with special forces and H&K's general reputation for making excellent weapons being the main factors.
When it was first announced, I was quite excited about the fullset Tokyo Marui NBB, but as I saw it and read the reviews, I felt I didn't want to spend all that money on the silencer and toy LAM (OK, it's not a lot if you feel you want them, but I didn't really), but then I spotted Den Trinity selling the NBB and case (without the Silencer and LAM) for about half the full kit cost, which was hardly any more than a springer would cost in the UK.
Some time after buying the TM gun, someone offered a swap of a KSC GBB version (which I'd always fancied, but never been prepared to spend over $200 on) and I obtained that, too.
The Tokyo Marui Mk23 SOCOM is widely touted as 'the best spring airsoft pistol available' (in tandem, often, with the KWC Ultra Grade Desert Eagle). When I managed to get hold of one of these, it was inevitable that I would compare it with the gas versions available.
In the Box
TM Mk23 Springer
The typical TM springer box comprises the gun, a few BBs, some leaflets and a separately fitted magazine. The TM spring SOCOM is no exception.
Being a HGHU (High Grade, Hop-Up) version, the box art is a fairly bland beige/khaki, with a profile shot of the gun. There are also High Grade Non-Hop up (Silver box) and Under 14s (colour photo on a black background) versions, the latter having a weaker spring.
Inside, the gun is held in nice rigid polystyrene, similar to that used on KSC's latest guns.
TM Mk23 NBB
First off, the finish of case and gun are both very good. The cut outs in the case look tight and certainly hold the gun and mag well. You can fit the mag to the gun and store a second one in the mag cutout, which is nice (to coin a Fast Show phrase).
There is space for the gun, with a magazine and the LAM fitted, plus a slot for the silencer. The foam in the lid drops down to reveal the manual, a target and a few other bits of paper. There are also a few BBs, but no hop-up adjustment tool as this is set via a rotary wheel in the underside of the slide.
The case itself is enclosed in a printed cardboard slip case and features a heavy 'military style' embossed lid bearing the legend "SOCOM Mk23 Tokyo Marui Co. Ltd" - There is also a place to put a padlock through, although whether this would really provide any security is doubtful.
KSC Mk23 GBB
The KSC box is the traditional style. There is a very detailed front cover over a polystyrene base, which holds the gun, hopper, tube and rod loading tool (like the KSC Berettas and some WA guns), a few BBs, a manual and a hop-up adjustment tool. As my gun is pretty new, it features the new(ish) rotary hop-up and there's an addendum sheet to explain how this is adjusted.
There's a slot in the box, too, for a silencer, which is a good idea.
First Impressions
TM Mk23 Springer
Lying in its box, the Mk23 is an impressive pistol. It's big and nicely detailed.
Pick it up, however, and you are struck by how light it is....Being a big gun, the lightness is particularly unsettling, although the balance is fairly good. The gun is actually slightly lighter than the, much smaller, PC356, whereas you'd expect a weight more like an HFC USP.
What are impressive, though, are the trademarks, being both numerous and (as expected of TM) finely engraved. The whole gun looks a quality piece and the seam down the gun is more forgiveable in this case, as real steel polymer grips often exhibit such marks (can't vouch for the SOCOM, though).
TM Mk23 NBB
The gun itself is beautiful moulded, as expected of recent TM products, but very lightweight without the all metal mag. With the mag it rises to lighter than you'd expect, but not too bad. It's basically the springer with gas mechanicals (to my eye), but the springer looks great, so this is no problem.
The hammer cocks nicely and it works well as a single action gun - It's also cool that the slide moves to let you chamber a BB, even if it doesn't blowback. I'd be very interested in getting a metal slide (as some have speculated on) for this gun as it'd really help with the heft of the gun in the hand.
Exterior metal parts include outer barrel, hammer, magazine.
KSC Mk23
The KSC Mk23 really takes your breath away if you've been used to the TM. It's VERY heavy (well over a kilogram) and the grip has a nicely rubbery feel to it (you can picture a Navy Seal gripping this fresh out of the sea).
The details which seemed good on the TM, suddenly seem superficial and half hearted as you take in the working decocker and all the extra (and more accurate) trademarks on the KSC. Even to the eye, the KSC gun looks like a replica, rather than a toy, but the TM really only looks poor when placed against the KSC.
Exterior metal parts include trigger, safety, decocker, hammer, magazine, front and rear sights,
Closer Look
TM Mk23 Springer
Unfortunately, by the time the spring Mk23 came into my possession, I'd sold my NBB SOCOM, but the finish is similar, being a bit too shiney to look real. As with the NBB, however, this is only really noticeable in contrast to the KSC Mk23, which is a truly excellent gun. The plastic on the slide, interestingly, exhibits a kind of graininess which looks like machined steel - Very effective.
Interestingly they replicate different versions of the gun, so the NBB is not just a springer with a different mechanism inside, as the springer is the production version of the gun, as replicated by KSC in their HW Hardkick GBB version.
The gun cocks nicely, with little effort and no notchiness in the slide, and the hammer DOES cock (working double action when the trigger's pulled).
The trademarks on the gun are well defined. On the left of the slide is the HK logo, followed by the legend "MK23 USSOCOM Cal. .45", a serial number 23-0499 (the same as on the NBB barrel and plate, but not slide) and a small B in a circle. The grip is marked with the HK logo and .45. On the right hand side, the slide is bare, with the HK logo, Cal. .45 and 23-0499 and the B in a circle on the chamber part of the barrel. On the bottom of the right hand side of the grip is US SOCOM Mk. 23 whilst, where the KSC gun bears Heckler and Koch markings at the top, this gun is marked Tokyo Marui Co.,Ltd. Made in Japan. Above the trigger is an ASGK logo. Under the barrel is a small silver plate with the serial number 23-0499.
The sights are unmarked, making them hard to use in low light, but fine in daylight.
The magazine is, like all TM springers, a full size replica, rather than the KWC thin mags, and is reckoned to hold 26 BBs. Again like all TM springers, these must be loaded one at a time. Realistic, but tiresome...
None of the switches and levers work. The metal slide lock works as a safety, but the slide (as on all TM springers) cannot be locked back manually or automatically after the last round, whilst the hammer safety and decocker are simply mouldings. Presumably, the standard slide lock modification would work on this gun as well as an M9.
TM Mk23 NBB
The real steel SOCOM is, like many modern pistols, polymer framed, and TM have done a reasonable job of replicating that, although the overall finish, by comparison with the KSC is plasticky, too dark and overly shiney (it's much like a KSC Glock 17 or 18C). The slide (although ABS) feels a bit like really smooth steel and has excellently engraved markings.
Those markings, though, by comparison with the KSC, are not terribly realistic. Where the KSC bears references to Heckler and Koch, the TM sometimes bear Tokyo Marui markings. If you'd not seen the KSC or a real Mk23, you'd be impressed by the detailing, but it doesn't stand the kind of close scrutiny the KSC does.
To be fair, though, the TM replicates the original prototype version of the Mk23, wherease the KSC is a replica of the military production version. - Thanks to the H&K Mark 23 Owners Guild website for the information.
The slide is marked "HK US-GOVT. Cal. .45" and "23-042" (followed by a small capital B in a circle) on the left side. On the right, the chamber is marked "HK Cal. .45" with 23-0499 and the B below it. The grip is marked "Tokyo Marui Co., Ltd Made in Japan" at the top right. and "US SOCOM Mk. 23" at the bottom right. On the left, the grip is marked "HK .45" on the lower part. Under the front of the frame is a silver plate with the id "23-0499" on it.
I gassed the gun and loaded a dozen BBs (the provided ones, so .2s I guess). The trigger has a very long and dead pull to start with, followed by increased resistance as the firing takes place. Once fired, though, the gun is impressively fast and incredibly accurate. My Marushin Mauser M712 is my benchmark for accuracy, but with my first shots the Socom was right up there.
As an example, the first 9 shots were all in a single hole about an inch across from about 15ft. This was taking a pause between each shot and checking where the shots went. The next magazine I fired almost as quick as I could and the hole was probably about 1.5" across, which I thought was very good.
The power was good too, punching a number of BBs through BOTH sides of a fairly thick cardboard box - I was wondering where half the bbs went, until I picked up the box BEHIND the one I was using as my target and found them there!
The frame is nicely made but there is a prominent seam line down the middle of the underside. The decocker is simply moulded in, but the hammer safety is operational and, typically Marui, the slide lock works a trigger safety, but doesn't lock the slide open.
Wisely, TM have made the majority of the outer barrel from metal, which means the threaded end (for the silencer) is strong - nice touch.
KSC Mk23
As this is the Heavyweight version, the slide has a slightly metallic feel and look, amazingly, to it and racks suprisingly easily and smoothly.
Details abound on this gun. One notable, but easily overlooked one, is the green o-ring on the outer barrel. This is correctly replicated on this gun, but just a moulded black detail on the TM ones. As is often the case with KSC, though, the trademarks are not especially deeply engraved and look a little indistinct in places, compared to the excellent crispness of the TM markings.
The slide is marked "HK USSOCOM Cal. .45" and "23-0747" (followed by a small capital B in a circle) on the left side. On the right, the chamber is marked "HK Cal. .45" with 23-0747 and the B below it. Ahead of the slide lock on the right is the serial number XK202100.
The grip is marked "Heckler & Koch GmbH Made in Germany" at the top right. and "US Pat.5.309.815" at the bottom right. On the left, the grip is marked "HK .45" on the lower part. Under the front of the frame is a silver plate with the id "23-0747" on it. Either side of the plate is "Heckler & Koch Inc." and "Sterling VA". Ahead of this is a small JASG logo.
Underneath the trigger guard is "Warning Refer to Owners Manual". When the decocker is pressed down, a KSC logo is visible.
The slide lock is fully functional (obviously, perhaps, as this is a GBB), as is the decocker (The absence of which I find really annoying on 1911s, meaning you must drop the mag to decock the gun) and the thumb/hammer safety.
The outer barrel is all ABS, unlike the TM gun, although there is a (very expensive) metal slide/barrel kit available.
Stripping the gun down reveals the lengths KSC have gone to. The recoil rod on a Mk23 is quite complex and unusual (it's supposed to dampen recoil) and the KSC one looks a perfect replica, whilst the TM NBB one is part of the big assembly of barrel, breech, hop-up adjustment and recoil rod/spring.
Shooting Impressions
TM Mk23 Springer
Initial impressions are much as for any recent TM springer (The PC356 is another example of this generation), with good power and excellent close range accuracy.
Carrying out my standard 5m/6 round, off hand test, the Mk23 springer was able to produce a 2.5 inch (6.5 CM) diameter. This was made unrepresentatively poor by a snatched shot producing a high outlier. The remaining 5 shots were placed within a 1.5 inch (3.5 CM) diameter, making it very comparable to the performance achieved with the TM S&W PC356 and the UHC Beretta M9.
Interestingly, though, the SOCOM I have is not very accurate over greater range. Shooting .2g BBs the length of my garden (around 20m/70ft), my PC356 will hit within 6 inches of the aim point, but the SOCOM's BBs veer dramatically upwards in the latter 3rd of that range, ending up 2-3 feet above the original aim point. I might put this down to a rogue gun, except for the fact that I've heard similar reports from other reviewers.
Using .25g BBs, this problem is eliminated (as far as my garden permits), again, as reported by other owners of the gun. This might suggest that at even greater ranges, with the correct weight BBs, the Mk23 is actually more accurate than other springers.
TM Mk23 NBB
All testing of the gas guns was done with .25g BBs, AE Winter gas at a temperature of 22 degrees Centigrade.
As I've already mentioned, the TM NBB is very accurate and powerful and has performed excellently in all the accuracy tests I've undertaken with it and also when just plinking.
I carried out a back to back test when writing this review and, as expected, the TM NBB put all 6 rounds in the centre target, within a 1.75 inch (5 cm) diameter with one of those an outlier.
Disappointingly, the TM Mk23 sights are completely unmarked, making them hard to use in low light. I painted mine white to address this problem, which is an easy fix.
KSC Mk23
The KSC GBB is a big heavy gun with, on AE Winter gas, a notable kick (not unlike the WA Infinity 6" Ltd), so it was some surprise to find that, on my first serious attempt to target shoot this gun, it pretty much matched the accuracy of the NBB version.
All 6 rounds were, again in the centre area, with a grouping just 4cm across.
I fired off another 8 rounds quickly, placing 6 of them within a 1 inch (2.5cm) diameter. Impressive stuff.
The KSC Mk23 has white dot sights (made to replicate night sights, I believe, although I've not tried to see if they glow in the dark...), which are quite nice to use, but not as bright as, say, the sights on a KSC Glock.
SOCOM Silencer
I managed to obtain a Tokyo Marui silencer, as usually provided with the full set. I was amazed at how huge it was. Some people state it is metal and it does feel cold to the touch, but it's so light it feels like plastic ("Sgt Bojangles" reports, however, that he sanded his down to repaint matt and it IS metal - Thanks for that.). The paint finish is very shiney, which isn't a positive, in my opinion.
The silencer fits the accurately dimensioned thread on the Mk23 without any adaptors (this means it will ONLY fit the Mk23, TM or KSC) and doesn't upset the balance too much (it's too light for that and most of the gun's weight is in the magazine).
I had two main questions. Firstly, did it affect the accuracy.
As you can see, at 5m the answer is a clear no. On the downside, however, it does seem to reduce the FPS quite dramatically (and presumably range) as shots with the silencer (although grouped as tightly the unsilenced group) failed to penetrate into my polystyrene target backing.
In terms of silencing, the REAL reason you buy a silencer and my second question, the Mk23's is extremely effective. When I find some suitable software, I'll measure the volume with and without and place it here, but I would say it's half as noisy (maybe less than that) with the silencer, than without and it's not very noisy to start with.
It fits and works well on the KSC Mk23 and TM springer Mk23, too, but there's extra sound from these gun, from the slide and spring respectively, so if silence is your thing, the NBB TM version should be your choice.
Take Down
All 3 guns take down in the same, realistic, manner.
After removing the magazine, slide the slide back until the disassembly notch in the slide (furthest forward on left side) is aligned with the front part of the slide lock and push the slide lock through the frame from the other side (you might need to get a finger nail under the slide lock and pull it through), completely removing it from the frame.
Once this is done, the slide, barrel and recoil rod will slide off the frame. On the TM NBB, the recoil rod, barrel and chamber are all one part and further disassembly requires tools.
On the TM springer and the KSC GBB, the recoil rod can be removed by pushing it gently forward and down and then back. The barrel should be slid forward and down, once clear of the nozzle. It's pleasing to see that TM have replicated the complex recoil rod accurately on the springer, making this a more accurate replica than the NBB.
Conclusions
Overall, the Mk23 is a good springer, but not quite, in my view, deserving of the reputation it has.
Certainly, its accuracy with .2g BBs over typical skirmish range is questionable and the gun's large size/light weight combination makes it a disconcerting weapon at first encounter (although probably one you'd soon adapt to).
I, personally, would choose the TM PC356 or (quite probably) the UHC M9 over this gun for accuracy with .2g BBs and overall feel and balance. Having said that, if you (like so many) are sold on the SOCOM before you even see it, you won't be terrible disappointed, unless you've handled the NBB or GBB version of this gun.
The TM NBB SOCOM is pretty good for the price, especially if you are looking for the silencer and LAM (which add considerably to the KSC gun's cost). Accuracy and power are good and it's simplicty and robustness (combined with its low price) make it a good choice for a skirmish sidearm.
However, direct comparison with the KSC GBB version is not flattering to the TM gun. The finish is hard, overly shiney and plasticky. The trademarks which look so good in isolation are very different (and excessively Marui related) by comparison to the KSC. Although the slide is different to the springer, it's clear TM skimped a bit and used the same frame, where all the serial numbers are those of the springer, not those shown on the slide - A bit poor.
The KSC SOCOM, however, has faults, too. First off, for some, it's sheer bulk will be a problem. It's not just big, but VERY heavy.With 134a gas, the blowback is sluggish for those used to, say, a KSC Glock and mine is prone to strange misfeeds from time to time, although it does seem to have got better since I lubricated it.
On balance, though, if you can afford it, the KSC GBB HW is the one to choose. The grip finish is excellent and the action is smooth and surprisingly smooth and light. The controls, including working decocker, are excellently reproduced and the attention to detail leaves the TM far behind.
If you're a real Mk23 fan, there's much to be said for having both gas guns. They replicate different versions of the gun, will operate better under different conditions and the NBB is virtually inaudible from a few feet away with the silencer. The completist will also want the LAM, although all reports suggest this needs modifying to be useful in CQB skirmishes.
Real Steel link at World Guns
The H&K Mark 23 Owners Guild website - loads of information on the real Mk23.
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