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But for the more firearms savvy hobbyist, something will always feel like it’s missing. While using an AEG, your shoulder might naturally brace for the impact of recoil, though none will come. You might instinctively hit the bolt catch after reloading magazines, then realize that action was fruitless. As you aim down your sights, the rifle doesn’t seem to kick upward after each shot like it does in your favorite first person shooter. Is this really the experience you’re looking for?
If the simplicity of an AEG doesn’t quite scratch the itch of what you’re looking to get out of your airsoft experience, then it might be time to go gas. Running a GBBR (Gas Blowback Rifle) in airsoft isn’t for everyone. It requires a certain dedication to the platform that not every player is willing to put effort towards. As your opponents take advantage of their high capacity magazines to shower BBs upon you, you will have to carefully place shots with your realistic round count. When your hammer drops but no round is fired, you must be ready to reload as quickly as possible, lest your enemies take advantage of your moment of weakness. Real steel controls come with real-steel goals. You’re more than just playing airsoft with a GBBR; You’re getting training experience in rifle manipulation.
Unfortunately, the premium GBB experience in airsoft can be incredibly expensive. Some of the highest performance GBBRs on the market can cost well over $600 for the rifle alone. With spare magazines typically being priced at $50 each, achieving that proper training experience can be outside most players’ budget. Though there are a handful of airsoft brands with GBB offerings, one in particular has gained a reputation for its impressive price/performance ratio: WE-Tech. If you’ve ever looked at the budget end of gas blowbacks, WE is a name that’s sure to have propped up. Generally, I advise those who are looking to get into gas-blowbacks to not “cheap out,” since a poor platform can easily destroy any enjoyment to be had about the system. WE might fall into that category of inexpensive gas-blowbacks, but for what they offer I realistically can’t consider them “cheaping out.” They’re the everyman’s GBB, and with constant improvement over the last decade they’ve cemented their place as a perfect starting point for those who want to step foot into the GBBR world without too much damage to one's savings.
Opinions on WE Tech can vary wildly depending on who you ask. Some may have had an entirely negative experience, while others not so much. In this article, we’ll approach WE’s catalog as objectively as possible by breaking down the pros and cons of buying a GBB from this budget brand. Is a WE gas blowback the perfect new addition to your airsoft collection? Let’s find out!
Choosing an M4 for your first GBBR is a spectacular idea! Sure, it might be the most overused platform in the hobby, but that only ensures you’re more likely to have access to the parts/tools you need to get the platform running at its best. For those who’ve never operated a real AR, the instructions for operation are simple: Insert a loaded magazine and pull back the charging handle to chamber the first round. Once the magazine has been emptied, the bolt should lock back, allowing you to efficiently insert a fresh magazine. Next, hit the bolt catch to chamber a round from the newly inserted magazine. That’s about all there is to it!
But how effective is the WE M4 at this process? Let’s take a look:
WE M4 Pros:
- Snappy Snappy:Compared to other gas blowbacks, the WE M4 is impressively snappy. Its recoil puts a bit more into your shoulder than a Tokyo Marui or Golden Eagle, and the cycle time is pretty quick.
- Amazing Parts Availability: As one of the oldest and most prolific gas systems in airsoft, many airsoft companies have produced both replacement and upgrade parts for the WE M4. Should any part wear out or go down, picking up a spare is relatively simple to find.
- Heavy Metal: This could be a pro or a con depending on your preferences, but the WE M4 is rock solid. Out of the box, nothing except the stock and sling loops have any play. Over time, certain areas will loosen up due to the system’s recoil. Tightening these parts every now and then should be a regular part of maintenance (eg: barrel nut, castle nut, hop-up grub screw)
- Good Real Steel Parts Compatibility: Rails, stocks, buffer tubes, grips, you name it! Most of the furniture on this M4 should be compatible with real steel, allowing you to set up this rifle according to your comfort preferences.
- Impressive Range and Accuracy: The stock REAPS style bucking paired with WE’s well polished 6.03mm inner barrels gives these rifles an out the box shot-to-shot consistency few AEGs can ever aspire to. Definitely impressed me!
- It’s Half the Price of a Tokyo Marui MWS: Yeah. This heading speaks for itself.
There’s a lot to like about a WE M4. It’s impressive build construction and confident recoil impulse is wonderfully immersive, making the rifle a joy to operate. But, there are also some concessions to be made.
WE M4 Cons:
- Every WE M4 is a Little Different: As someone that’s held and shot a plethora of different WE M4s, each one seems to have its own individual quirks. Some have tighter magwells than others, and some have smoother bolts. Sometimes the nozzle can reciprocate freely, and other times it’s super sticky. Usually these case by case defects aren’t anything too major, but do keep their existence in mind!
- The Bolt Locks Back on Empty… Sometimes: The bolt catch design on WE M4s isn’t ideal. Since the metal of the bolt and bolt catch are soft, they will slowly wear down over time, reducing your bolt’s chance of properly locking back on an empty magazine. This is one of the system’s most glaring issues.
- Temperature Tantrums: Gas guns do not like the cold. Comparatively, WE M4s are on par with most other GBBRs when it comes to cooldown resistance. Not any better, and not any worse. If it’s under 70 degrees, this rifle is going to struggle getting through all the BBs in a magazine.
When it comes to WE, you get what you pay for. Their guns do work, but they aren’t an unstoppable monster under all conditions like the Tokyo Marui MWS is. Are you willing to put in effort to maximize the performance of a WE for half the price of the competing M4? It’s up to you!
Looking for an M4 with a bit of a different style? WE has a plethora to choose from!
Over the years, WE has done well to diversify their catalog. One of my personal favorites from their wide selection of GBBRs is their AK platform, which continues to astound me with its out-the-box realism. A problem many GBB AKs have is a lack of a fully traveling bolt. Instead of the bolt traveling the full distance in the receiver when reciprocated, they typically stop about 2/3rds the way in an attempt to reduce wear and improve gas efficiency. However, when it comes to the WE AK, this impressive piece of engineering is blessed with full travel realism without that supposed decrease in gas efficiency. Perhaps it’s because of how much gas that AK mag can contain, but these AKs can keep sending BBs down range shot-after-shot-after-shot. Each time the big heavy AK bolt is sent flying back to chamber another round, it sends a wallop of recoil and muzzle flip into your shoulder. Looking for a platform with the most amount of recoil possible? The WE AK is probably the best pick for you!
Not an M4 guy or an AK guy? That’s perfectly fine with WE! Check out some of their other GBB models!
GBBRs are cool and all, but what about sidearms for your average working man?
When it comes to gas blowback pistols, WE is probably the single most prolific name on the market. They’re an industry benchmark for price to performance ratio, offering decently reliable airsoft replicas at some of the lowest price points airsoft has to offer. I’d recommend a WE pistol to just about anyone looking to pick up their first GBB sidearm.
Especially this one:
In all respects, the “best” option is the one that will fit your needs the most. Simply saying something is the “best” choice without context for what one hopes to achieve and how they're trying to achieve it will usually net you some criticism. Nothing should be considered the “best” too lightly.
That being said, I think the WE Allosaurus 4.3 is the best airsoft pistol of all time. For only $135 at the time of writing this, the pistol comes with far more features than just about any of its competitors. Its metal frame, slide, and barrel immediately give you a bit more weight and durability compared to its more popular Japanese based alternative. Since it’s based on the Hi-Capa design, we sell just about every replacement part you’d need for this pistol right here on Evike.com. You’ll never be out of luck if any part decides to break down! Magazines for the Hi-Capa are not only some of the highest capacity on the airsoft market, but are also the most prevalent and inexpensive to source for spares. More magazines can keep you in the fight longer!
Like most WE pistols, the inner barrel is threaded for any suppressors or tracer units you’d like to add on right out of the box. A threaded barrel adapter is included to ensure you can fit any standard 14mm- muzzle device.
To top it all off, the WE Allosaurus includes an optic plate that allows a red dot to be mounted on the back of the slide. That’s quite a lot of features of $135!
And if the Hi-Capa design isn’t quite the type of pistol you’re going for, feel free to check out WE’s cornucopia of other GBB pistol options!
While GBBRs, particularly from WE-Tech, require a higher level of commitment both financially and in terms of maintenance, they provide a more immersive and satisfyingly challenging experience. WE-Tech's diverse catalog ensures just about all tastes can find a fitting option for a first GBB. Ultimately, whether opting for an AEG or venturing into the world of GBBRs, the best choice depends on the individual's goals, budget, and willingness to invest time and effort into their airsoft experience.