The Uzi, first produced by Israeli Military Industries in 1950, is probably one of the most widely recognized submachine guns in the world. Its simple, rugged mechanism (few moving parts), foolproof operation, and overall design have all contributed to its long lasting appeal. Originally (and still mainly) produced in 9mm, there are variants of the Uzi available in .41 Action Express and .45 ACP. There was even a .22 conversion kit available for a while. Available with a fixed wood or folding metal stock and a variety of barrel lengths, there is an Uzi to suit most needs - from accurate short-range counter-sniper work with a scope to ultra compact covert carry, such as the U.S. Secret Service uses. Sound suppressed versions are also available, though the Uzi's open-bolt firing mechanism doesn't allow for as quiet an operation as, for example, the H&K MP5SD.

Appearance:

  This Uzi airsoft gun, obtained inexpensively on eBay, is roughly the size of the real thing. The front handguard is orange, and the whole thing is obviously made of plastic. The magazine is a short one (equivalent to a real 20- or 25-round mag - I personally prefer the 32-round mags for capacity as well as looks) and when removed from the gun is obviously intended for an airsoft. This Uzi is a folding stock model with what on the real thing would be a ten inch barrel. A fake silencer was also included (it's not part of the original package - it's sort of a generic model that just happens to fit), and it is of a higher quality than the airsoft gun itself.

Function:

  This is a spring-powered airsoft, and there are two ways of cocking it: by pulling back the operating slide on top and releasing it, or by sliding the handguard forward and then forcing it back into position, sort of the opposite action of a pump shotgun. The pump method allows for faster firing but it's loud and it seems like it would be hard on the gun. Also, with the silencer attached, the pump can't go all the way forward so you have to use the top slide. The stock, though not as sturdy as the real thing, is sturdy enough for casual use and might withstand mild tournament action. Its folding action is fairly close to the original, but the way it locks into position is different. The magazine catch and safety operate the same way they do on the real thing with the exception that, when the selector switch is in the full auto position, the gun still only fires one shot every time you cock it. Sorry. The sights are a little hard to use - I don't know if it's mainly a scale difference between the model and the real thing, but part of it is the fact that the operating slide on top lists to one side and partly interferes with the sight picture. The cocking action is positive but the construction of the magazine is inferior, often causing double-feeds (causing one BB to roll out the end of the barrel), probably because the spring-loaded BB retainer at the top of the mag is tiny and ineffective. Maybe there's a way to modify it so it works better, but that's a project for another day. In order to load the magazine, you have to lock the follower in the lowest position, fill it up, insert the magazine into the gun, and then release the follower. The magazine does have one neat feature, however: at the top, behind the loading tube, there is a sliding hatch where you can pour bulk BBs, probably about 200 or 250. There is also a small port that leads from this bulk chamber into the feeding tube, so when you shoot out your initial load of BBs, you pull the follower back down and lock it, and then turn the magazine on its front side and shake it to refill the tube. After that, reloading the mag into the gun continues as normal. A pretty handy idea, especially since buying extra mags for this model may not be an option. See my review of Marui hi-capacity mags for a couple of caveats on the bulk BB design, though. Overall, the gun is fun to shoot but the magazine is a definite weak point.

Accuracy:

  This gun is fair in the accuracy department - it shoots about three inches low at ten yards, which is acceptable for a cheap spring gun. It groups fairly well, keeping all shots within a 9 inch diameter circle. It's not good, but it would make a fun, cheap casual tournament gun.

Overall Impressions:

  This Uzi is nowhere near as nice as a Marui gun, but it is functional (with the exception of the magazine which may be fixable) and it's fairly accurate. Though it's obviously made from plastic, it's good looking and feels good to use. The magazine is a neat design but it's functionally deficient in that it doesn't feed BBs reliably. For the price ($40), it would make a nice gun to experiment with and possibly modify, and if one could fix the magazine problem, it would be a great all-around shooter as well.