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Python890, M4alltheway, CAPAIRMAN, gunner2292, GRSniper24, stew_b_10, Parabellum, 3r1c_, wizwad, Mooktown09, ravsuh, Cheezin
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Meatball's Featured Reviews |
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Airsoft Core |
By Paco
Published: December 6, 2003
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I had always had my eye on a sniper rifle. Originally, I did some research on the few available: Maruzen's APS2, APS2-SV, Sporter, PDI M24, CA M24, SP M700 and the SP M40A1. For my first rifle, I ended up narrowing it down to the APS2-SV and the SM M40A1 but ended up going with the APS2-SV ONLY because it was almost half the price of the SP M40A1. Then the version 2 CA M24 came out and I got one of those simply for the look. The M24 v2 overcame 90% of the faults of the v1 M24, so I went with that. Now that my M24 is a gas sniper rifle, I wanted a spring one to go with it - something that I could always use that didn't depend on an external power source (gas or battery). I wanted something unique (seems that there are a lot of M24's and even more APS2-SV's out there), so I began my search and research again, when lo and behold Chase found me a great deal on a SP M40A1 - the one I always wanted. I read every review to make sure that it had what I wanted. I went ahead and ordered it along with the scope mounts.
It arrived the day before the game in February. I anxiously opened the green Sun Project box and couldn't believe my eyes: it was AMAZING! The gun looked great! This purchase was the STD version (not the DX version) so it didn't come with the scope mount or the sling mounts, but it WAS pre-drilled for them. For ease and simplicity, I just bought the $40 SP scope mounts since the pre-drilled holes were non-standard sizes. It was a good quality part and fit right on. I had a few spare sling studs in my toolbox and the stock already had pre-drilled holes for them, so it was pretty easy to get them on. I used a wood screw sling stud on the rear stock and a metal screw sling stud w/bolt on the front. I used that on the front since I will sling the gun barrel-up when I use it, and it makes it MUCH stronger - and completely removes the possibility of stripping the front one. I bought a Butler Creek sling to go on it with Quick Detach sling mounts... that way, I don't have to buy a second for my M24 - I can just swap it with this setup.
 
I borrowed the scope from my M24 (a 3-9X50 w/illuminated reticle and Butler Creek flip up scope covers) to put it on. It has Tasco high-rise scope mounts that are necessary to use the 50mm objective w/o it touching the barrel. It fits on *okay* but I will probably be getting a different scope for the M40 - I think I'd prefer a 3-9X40 with standard scope rings and no sunshade.
 
Anyway, the gun's stock power was rated in the manual at .7J... which is the rating of the M24 in its stock form. A .7J gun (like my M24 when it was stock) chronoed in at 280 FPS using .25g BB's - not bad, but WEAK for a sniper rifle. However, I had read reviews and info that the M40A1 was actually 1.7J out of the box, so I was anxious (and hopeful) that this was the case of a bad manual. I pulled out the magazine... which is 100% metal. It looks similar to the APS and M24 mags, but doesn't have the spring loaded 'upper sheath' part of the mag. The M40 can use APS and M24 mags - I tested them out - but the M40 mag is of MUCH better quality as - like I said - it's all metal whereas the M24 and APS mags are all plastic. I loaded it up using the BB loading tool from my M24 (strangely, the M40 didn't come with one). It held 24 rounds - just like the M24/APS mags. I put .25g Excel BB's in it since that's what the fixed hop-up is rated for in its stock form. The hop-up is actually an "O-Ring" hop-up. It's not adjustable, but is very effective and lends itself to accuracy very well.
Anyway, curious to see the power of this gun, I set up my chronograph in the backyard and also got 2 soda cans and set them up - one standing up, and one with the bottom of the can facing me. I loaded the mag into the gun (had a satisfying 'clink' upon loading) and pulled the bolt back. The bolt came back VERY easily - much like the stock M24 and APS2... this lead me to think it was indeed only .7J like the other 2 guns. I pushed the bolt forward, chambering the first BB and fired it at the upright can from 1 foot away. It went through both sides of the can very cleanly. Hmmm... so I fired another from 1 foot away at the bottom of the other can... it went right though the bottom of the can leaving a nice, clean 6mm hole, and made a good-sized dent on the top of the soda can - but did not go through. Of course, I didn't expect it to go through since the top of a soda can is VERY tough... I was even surprised that it made it through the bottom of the can. At this point, I knew it wasn't .7J stock. I fired a few more BB's through the chronograph. It was reading from 355-372 FPS - using .25g BB’s, which meant it, was in the 400-420 FPS range w/.20g BB's. Indeed it was 1.7J bone stock. Very nice. I decided that I wouldn't upgrade it, as it was a very accurate gun and I didn't want to mess with that. After all, for power, I had my gas M24. It was nice to have one gun that was neither gas powered, nor electric powered.
 
The magwell is visible and is closer to the action than on the M24 and APS2. It has a metal guard plate around it. The pic on the left is the QD sling mount connected to the Harris bipod.
The down sides of this gun? Well, I'd have to say the trigger pull is less than superb. The trigger mechanism (yes, I took the gun apart) is somewhat antiquated, as this gun is old and hasn't been produced by SP for years now. I may have to buy the upgraded Japanese trigger for it to lessen the trigger pull weight and make it smoother. The safety switch is often pulled back by accident when cocking the gun, but I just need to be more careful. It sucks to have a target in sight, then realize the gun isn't firing because the safety's on...
Good points? Pretty much everything else! The weight of the gun is about right - not as heavy as the M24 (whew) but the workmanship on the stock - at least the one I got on mine - is great. It has a 'worn, battle-used' look to it - which I like. It's very smooth and the butt pad is done very well. The cocking handle and mechanism is VERY smooth - more so than the APS and M24 by FAR. The stock bolt is chromed as well, which is cool. The M24 bolt it flat black (decent) and the APS bolt is a dull aluminum color (ugh).
 
The bolt on the stock M40 is chrome. On the right, you can see the trademarks.
Well, overall, I am VERY impressed with this purchase. I got it for a great deal and am pleased with it. I don't know if I can bring myself to use it much in skirmishing in the future, but we'll see... My future plans for it are to get a 35X215 ANGS suppressor and PDI threads for it, to make it look just like Chavez's M40 in the movie "Clear and Present Danger". By the way, Sun Project did in fact mislabel this gun - it's an M40 and NOT an M40A1. The M40A1 had a synthetic stock while the M40 had a wood stock as this one does. Oh well. I did buy some bow-flauge to use on my guns, and I may - if I can get the guts - go ahead and paint this bad boy into a woodland camo color... the bowflauge won't hurt the gun at all and is removable. I almost forgot... the trademarks: The M40 has "Remington" stamped into the left side of the receiver (nice!) and "Model 700" just under it - so all you realism freaks can relax as that part is pretty much true to life.
 
- Paco
Airsoft Arizona
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