8 minute read
ARMOURY: AW CUSTOM VX9
SHORT AND SHARP!
WHEN IT COMES TO COMPACT HANDGUNS, BILL IS AN ABSOLUTE FAN AND HE’S ALWAYS GOT HIS EYES OPEN FOR ANYTHING NEW IN THIS CATEGORY! WHEN HE GOT THE CHANCE TO CHECK OUT ONE OF THE LATEST FROM ARMORER WORKS, YOU CAN BET THAT HE WAS VERY HAPPY TO GET THEIR CUSTOM VX9 ON THE RANGE!
Imay have mentioned before that I do love a short, compact, small-frame handgun, especially when it comes to airsoft where performance is not governed by the round used, but by the efficiency of the gas system! Whereas “IRL” you generally need a physically larger frame and slide to handle bigger and more poweful rounds, in one particular way all (current) airsoft pistols are equal in that they all fire a 6mm BB. Whilst some may like the look and the “intimidation factor” of a Deagle or a Mk23, the fact is that they fire the same BB as an airsoft derringer, and whilst I don’t like to go THAT small, I see little point in encumbering myself with a dirty great hand-cannon when a well-tuned and well
set-up semi-auto “compact” will give me the same overall result.
Again, I “may” have mentioned before that my approach to a “secondary” is exactly that, it’s secondary to my primary long-gun, and it’s generally only when the sausage butter melts that I even really begin to think of transitioning to my pistol. Okay, I practice regularly with my pistols because a) if I have to use one in-game I need to be effective with it (as the situation is probably dire…) and b) I actually love shooting handguns!
Regular AA readers will probably recall too that I’ve always, up until the last couple of years, been a dyed-in-thewool “Glock” (or a “not” a Glock if you’d prefer) man when it comes to my personal airsoft sidearm, although of late I have been lured back to Hi Capas. For a number of reasons a “Glock” still sings to me though as it’s the secondary of choice for many military and police units so it has that little sense of being “real”, and it just so happens to be the make of pistol I once owned myself, a G17 in 9mm. Sadly being back in the UK these days I can no longer own a real handgun, so having the “same model chambered for” 6mm BBs is as good as it gets!
Now as much as I like a 9mm G17 in real life, and would head back to that immediately if I were somewhere that I could carry “real”, when I attend a skirmish day it’s not a life and death situation, and when it comes to getting many, many BBs downrange in quick time anything that does that seems to suit me well, especially the latest generations of GBB that seem to fill your hand and deliver BBs with great gusto and a real thump in your hand.
The latest “Not Glocks” that I’m seeing, just like in the real world, have moved on considerably in terms of design, and although they still retain the classic feature and control set there’s a lot more to them these days, isn’t there? Although they still retain the classic feature set, acknowledged to still be one of the best around, their overall design means that they’ve been reinforced, tweaked,
ported, vented, lightened, and made more “ergonomic” or extremely functional with highly efficient gas systems. Some models to me seem to be out and out fighting irons whilst others have an aesthetic that could almost be described as elegant and even artistic if such a thing is possible for a replica firearm!
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
Amongst the manufacturers that are really playing with longevity of design, hedging their bets at both ends of the “form V function” debate is Armorer Works (AW). These days AW are no longer the “new kid on the block” as they’ve been around for a few years (they launched in 2015 is memory serves correct) and their products have developed an almost cultlike following worldwide. New models are eagerly anticipated, and seem to be snapped up as soon as they arrive in store; drawing inspiration from the real shooting world, AW pistols are made with precision slides coupled with custom-level looks, AW pistols seem to give their owners something a step above the average GBB, and certainly pleasure and pride in
ownership!
AW’s apparent flair for the unusual yet functional means you are presented with great-looking, greatfeeling products straight out of the box, fully loaded with parts that you would usually have to add yourself as expensive after-market additions and upgrades. However, it would appear that these enhancements aren’t just for show, as AW scrutinise every detail that goes into one of their creations, improving the appearance, efficiency, performance, and usability. I have shot a fair few Armorer Works pistols over the years, and they’ve all been very nice, both in the way they look and the way they perform. I’ve looked at some and gone “I love it!” whilst I’ve looked at others and thought “what the hell were they on when they designed THAT?” but in fairness the former has most definitely outweighed the latter, and when I first saw the “Custom VX9” it was most definitely a “love” moment.
It’s a compact little handgun so for me it’s already a winner, and weighing in at 664g with the 22 BB shortened magazine, it just goes to show that looks can be very deceptive! This is a short, small-frame pistol that’s designed to feel much lighter and be more “pointable” when it comes to engaging multiple targets at speed; the VX9 has all the things that I now expect from a “modern” compact “Not” from the box including a nicely-formed and uber-grippy “stippled” pistol grip, and an extended beavertail. The finish of the frame on the evaluation model was excellent throughout, with the frame and the slide in a complementary metal/polymer satin black; the frame and slide also marry up beautifully, with a continuous series of weight-saving grooves cut into the front of the slide that carry on exactly along to the rear, giving a pleasing yet aggressive look overall. The top of the slide at the sharp-end is also cut away “ported-style” to save weight and aid in fast cycling, and the muzzle is threaded suppressor-ready, although you will need an AW adaptor.
The front white-highlighted sight is fitted directly to the slide as you’d expect so you’re not going to be changing that to fibre-optic without a fight, but the white-highlighted rear “U” looks like it could be changed out for something aftermarket if you wish. Under the front of the frame is a four-slot rail for lights and LAMs, and this will accommodate an X300 style pistol light perfectly.
So, the VX9 does in fact look a bit “custom”, but as it comes out of the box this way, does this make it truly so? That’s a debate for another time, but if you want an attractive wall-hanger or something to look cool in your expensive holster then this fits the bill exactly, totally cool yet understated with no extraneous “bling” in evidence, and it’s all the better for that. However, the VX9 is in no way a wall-hanger but a “get work done” tool, so I want it to be blistering in terms of performance more than anything! Great-looking? Well, beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder, and personally I love it although it’s most definitely not a Mil or LE-styled handgun. Put together to last? Everything indicates to me that AW have done a great job in this respect as everything fits and functions together perfectly, and gives the VX9 a reassuring feel in your hand.
DOWNRANGE
At 10m the VX9 is just fine, thank you and it keeps BBs on target with consistency, and that’s really all that’s important at the end of the day, isn’t it? The VX9 feels like, and acts like an accurate compact secondary from the get go, and in my opinion, where the many “Nots” are good, the VX9 is as good if not better, and is in fact far better than many of the other AW pistols I’ve tried to date, and as good as most models on the market in its category!
The VX9 initially chrono’d in at 0.86 Joule/305fps on .20g BBs and green gas, but it seems to enjoy being fed .28g best. With this weight of BB you get cracking performance at 10m, with consistent power delivery through the entire magazine (just a little drop off towards the end when hammering it), a smooth, quick cycling action, good standard sights that let you get on target fast, and a crisp trigger break that lets you stay on target too!
So, with that in mind let’s recap; is the AW VX9 is a GBB pistol that’s well made, operates efficiently, and put together to last? I would say yes, it most certainly is in all respects, so I believe you will be getting a whole heap of modern compact goodness for your money if you plump for one yourself. This is a great-looking pistol to show off to your mates, but it’s also a pistol that will serve you equally well in a skirmish situation when you really, REALLY need your secondary to perform!
Thanks to www.iwholesales.co.uk for providing the test model; you can check out all the Armorer Works pistols and accessories they have by visiting their website, and keep up with all the latest news by following them on their social media. AA
