6 minute read
RELOADED: WE EU17 CUSTOM
WHEN CUSTOM COMES AS STANDARD
STEVE T CHALLENGES HIS GLOCK PREJUDICES WITH A CUSTOM MODEL TO SEE IF MOST AIRSOFTERS HAVE IT RIGHT, MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER ALL...
Yes, I see you, Glock aficionados. I see your Gen 3/4/5 knowledge and raise you an I-don’t-givea-damn. They’re all just so blocky-Glocky that unless you really want to run a standard issue sidearm, they’re easy to dismiss. Even the Gen 5 update amounts to little more than a finger-bump delete and beveled edges to the slide. Hardly ground-breaking now, is it? But maybe that’s the point.
The real arms manufacturer has done very well out of incremental upgrades - thank you very much - as well as a long history of blocking “Glocking” in the airsoft world. But that eased recently in a trade agreement with Umarex, which saw fully-licensed Glocks finally reach the airsoft market, manufactured by long-term makers VFC.
Which is great. Unless you a) don’t rate VFC, or b) don’t want to pay extra for the licence. And while we think the latest range of Umarex/VFC Glocks are brilliant, we can understand why you might look for a more affordable alternative. Check out our very own Red Cell roundup from the November 2020 issue for more Glock options.
WE ARE FAMILY
I really don’t think we need to recap the history of Glock pistols, do we? Think of a military or law enforcement situation in the last couple of decades and the chances are that they use a Glock. That explains why they’re so popular - omnipresent almost - on airsoft fields today.
It is understandable that players want to replicate the firearms they see in use. Many of the longestrunning and most oft-recommended “Glock-a-likes” at skirmish sites everywhere must be from WE. Originally a TM clone, over the years, the Taiwanese manufacturer has established a reputation for affordability, reliability and parts availability whether you want to repair, replace or upgrade its offerings.
But, to be honest, they do tend to be a bit… vanilla. However, when an experienced new recruit to my squad said how much she has loved her EU17 Custom over a couple of years, I felt obliged to investigate further.
CUSTOM AS STANDARD
Yes, this is a Glock you can purchase new - just as I did for this review. No, it isn’t “standard”. Unless you qualify “standard” as supplied by the manufacturer, in which case…
Just look at the thing! It’s basically a hundred
quid all-in and looks like a completely custom pistol! From the flared magwell and engraved slide to the aggressive stippling on the grip and the red safetyscissor trigger, there’s no mistaking this for a standard Glock.
But it isn’t all about the looks. This is based on WE’s platform that has been in use for years now and has proven its worth in skirmishes everywhere. It’s high time to see whether tried and trusted tech can match newer releases with the latest trade markings to match.
FLASH FORWARD
The WE EU-17 Custom will feel instantly familiar to anyone that’s used the platform before - it just works! Previous models may have lacked the flashier touches, but it’s all based on the same old tried-and-tested formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, after all.
This legacy system is still as effective now as it was on first release. Umarex and VFC may have the rights to the Glock trademarks now - and their later releases feature a much more convenient hop adjustment system too - but is this WE every bit their match in terms of FPS and accuracy?
At the risk of deflating the build-up? No. It’s really - REALLY - good but WE’s aging EU17 Custom just can’t measure up to more recent releases. It’s such a shame because it looks so Gucci. More “PMC with a slightly sci-fi flair of the Mandalorian” about it. But, as ever here at AA, appearance takes second place to performance.
If first impressions count, then the WET Force wins big. With its aggressively stippled Gen 3/4 grip, deluxe trigger and cut-down slide, this feels like a sidearm to be proud of from the moment you pull it out of the ever-so-slightly-underwhelming cardboard box.
There are truly luxurious - albeit fictional - markings on the slide, outer barrel, flared mag well and more. This is not mil-sim territory but it doesn’t half look the part of a sidearm for the very richest private operator that any quarry would fear. The trademarks are suitably specialist and don’t give the game away that this is an airsoft replica at 20 paces.
PRACTICE MAKES NOT PERFECT?
Putting the luxurious EU17 through its paces, we achieved two magazines out of each gas fill, averaging 300FPS, which is about on par for a GBB pistol. The high was knocking on the CQB ceiling at 349, with the lowest at 280 at the end of the second full mag. The remaining dozen or so viable shots from mag three averaged 250 FPS, which is exactly what we’d expect.
The “fiber-optic” sights work really well and remain clear to see even after dark. It’s easy to ignore the functional safety under the barrel - unique to WE’s airsoft incarnations - while the conventional Glockstyle scissor trigger safety still works just great.
In terms of accuracy, the WET does… OK. With the hop set for .25s at 25 metres, it hits an A4-sized target more often than not. But with its wibblywobbly outer barrel, this EU17 Custom is not the match of other, more exacting pistols in the same price range.
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: UK£109 (approx) Weight: 820g, inc mag (tested) Length: 202mm FPS: 300 average (tested) Hop: Adjustable Construction: Metal/polymer Full auto: No Recoil: Yes Power source: Green Gas Magazine type: Metal/Polymer Capacity: 25 rounds
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AFTER ALL
I’ll readily admit that I’m not a Glock fan but I fell in love with the officially licensed Umarex G19X by VFC last year and I’d field one all day long. But it also costs half as much again as this “Custom” model from WE, which feels more special, while costing less.
If you want to wow people in the safe zone, then the WET EU 17 is a safe option. It’s very cool and works just fine. But I’d choose the officially licensed version from Umarex as the better performer, despite the additional cost - which as it turns out, is not just for that expensive license after all... AA
