UMAREX/VFC GLOCK19X Review

This time, I'll be reviewing and customizing the UMAREX/VFC GLOCK19X gas blowback.

It's been a while since its release, so it might seem a bit late to be introducing it now, but it's my absolute favorite at the time of writing, so I'll share it.

Actually, this is the first time I've properly introduced a gas gun on this site.

This post marks my 60th article, so it's a perfect milestone (at the time of writing this article, I only have one product from Tokyo Marui, the largest manufacturer on this site).

Unlike electric airsoft guns, I try to buy gas guns from domestic manufacturers whenever possible due to their power source, but I will only buy overseas-made products if there is a specific model I really want (I generally prefer KSC products).

One of my favorites among them is this UMAREX/VFC GLOCK19X.

Box and exterior

Let's start with the feeling of taking it straight out of the box.

Outer case

Let's start with the box. It has a sticker that proves it's officially licensed and the Japanese version.

I looked to see what was written on the side.

It's explained quite thoroughly. I think it said on the back that CO2 is absolutely forbidden.

Now, let's take it out of the box.

Unlike domestic manufacturers, the packaging is quite simple, and the product itself is in a plastic bag.

It's covered in silicone oil?

The viscosity is quite thin, and it can be easily removed by wiping it with a cloth or something similar.

Main unit exterior

Let's take a quick look at the main unit.

The slide is the size of a Glock 19, but the grip is the size of a Glock 17, so it's quite comfortable to hold despite its compact size. I have average-sized hands, and the Glock 19 is a little cramped for me, so this is just right.

Since it's a military model, it has a lanyard ring at the bottom of the grip.

Reverse

Let's take a look at the markings on the slide. They are the official markings. I'm not particularly picky, but I do feel more of a sense of ownership with the official markings than with fakes.

Next, let's look at the magazine release button.

This isCompared to other Glocks, it's larger and much easier to handle than it looks.This is a subtle but very good improvement. Also, it's possible to switch the left and right sides (though I'm definitely right-handed, so I probably won't change it).

Next, let's take a look at the area around the extractor.

It's surprisingly made of separate parts, which adds to the cost. However, if they're going to go to this much trouble, I think they might as well paint the extractor lady red (though you could just paint it yourself).

By the way, the slide release lever is ambidextrous.

Next is the appearance when the slide is stopped.

The barrel doesn't seem to have much of a short recoil action.

Next is how to adjust the hop-up. There is a hexagonal hole at the tip of the recoil spring guide, and turning it clockwise will engage the hop-up. Alternatively, you can adjust it by engaging the slide stop and turning the spring guide shaft by hand, which is quite convenient.

Next is the site picture.

This is one of my favorite spots.

I'm not a fan of the recessed sights on Glocks, so I was relieved that the Glock 19X came with a 3-dot type sight from the start. I also appreciate that it's made of aluminum instead of plastic. Plastic sights deform easily when bumped. While I could replace them myself, it's nice to have metal sights as standard, saving me extra expenses.

The Glock markings and the model name MH3 on the sights are subtly reproduced using molding.

The frame has a very noticeable parting line. It seems that Japanese manufacturers pay more attention to this aspect. I've never seen the real thing, but since it's an industrial product, I imagine the real thing also has a lot of visible parting lines (based on my experience as an engineer).

Unless it's a commemorative model or a custom item, I think that even genuine parts, if they're molded using a die, will have parting lines. This is especially true for military use (because mass production and cost are prioritized).

Another point of concern is that it lacks a safety mechanism like Tokyo Marui's; it only has a trigger safety.

A backstrap can probably be added later, but it's not included. I'll check its compatibility with Tokyo Marui later (I have a Glock 17 GEN4, so I'll introduce it then).

Finally, let's talk about the weight of the unit.

It's quite light at about 380g (without magazine). The HW resin version is definitely heavier. I prioritize functionality, so I don't really care about the weight.

Magazine

It's a magazine.

I think the material is probably aluminum, but the specific gravity feels different, so the casing might be aluminum with zinc parts inside.

The crucial magazine lip is made of a hard resin and its shape is almost identical to that of Tokyo Marui, so feeding problems due to the magazine itself are unlikely.

The magazine release button is ambidextrous and has notches on both sides that catch on the magazine catch.

Incidentally, the rubber gasket in the gas route connecting the magazine and the main body is curved, a design feature that reduces gas leakage from the blowback engine. It's clear that attention has been paid to even the smallest details.

The back is surprisingly stylish and cool.

The magazine valve size is almost the same as Tokyo Marui's. The shape is slightly different, but it's practically identical. Since the screw size is likely the same, there's a high probability they're compatible.

The magazine follower just keeps going down. Ideally, it would be great if it had a mechanism to lock the follower in the lower position, like KSC's.

Next is the gas inlet. Push the spring that holds the bullet upwards and slide the bumper to reveal the inlet.

I think some people will like the mechanism of shifting the bumper to fill with gas, but personally, I like it. Most gas inlets have holes in the bumper, and BBs can get stuck in those holes. It was often difficult to remove them, making it impossible to fill with gas, which was a real hassle. So, it's helpful that it's hidden.

Unfortunately, the gas inlet is a difficult-to-use valve designed for overseas gas. I have replaced all of my magazines with ones compatible with domestic gas. The photos have also been replaced.

Finally, here's the magazine weight with no gas (not completely) and no ammunition: 261g, which is normal.

Actual firing performance

Let's take a look at its actual firing performance.

Fill the magazine almost to the brim with gas.

Subtracting the previous weight from the 279g, it seems to hold about 18g of gas. That's quite a lot!

The magazine surface temperature is 27.6°C. This is for reference only, as the amount of gas entering the magazine changes with temperature.

Here are the results of measuring the muzzle velocity with Tokyo Marui Bio 0.2g BBs under these conditions.

If you fire at a rate of about two shots per second, the velocity will drop to around 63 m/s by the time you run out of ammunition.

This is what it looks like when dry-fired under these conditions. (It has already been slightly customized.)

VFC GLOCK 19X (This is a video. Please be aware of the sound.)

It operates quite smoothly.

Next is the weight of the magazine after firing 22 rounds at an interval of two rounds per second.

Since it weighs 276g, 22 shots consume 3g. Therefore, it consumes 0.14g per shot, which is quite fuel-efficient (the average for a handgun is 0.2-0.25g).

These numbers are a little hard to believe, but the conditions might have been too good to be true. Please consider them only as reference values.

Theoretically, it should be able to hold 6 magazines, but considering the gas pressure drop and other factors, I think it might only be able to hold 4.

The actual trajectory, as seen when shooting at a paintball field range, is fairly straight, and it seems to reach approximately 30m with a low trajectory, possibly even reaching 40m.

The hop-up is a bit weak, and I'm concerned that it doesn't work even with 0.2g BBs unless it's set close to the maximum. However, for those who mainly use 0.2g BBs, I think it performs quite well as is.

G&G Bio-Bullets 0.2g
It's inexpensive and accurate, so I use it for a wide range of purposes, from performance testing to airsoft games. It's been my favorite since it first came to Japan (around 2008). It lasts a long time for a biodegradable product.

G&G Bio-Bullets 0.25g
It's 0.25g. I generally use 0.25g BBs when playing airsoft.

Summary and future plans

Good points

The appearance is almost perfect, as you'd expect from an official product.

The handling is excellent, just like the original Glock 19X, and I think it's been faithfully reproduced. The hop-up adjustment, unique to airsoft guns, is fantastic; you can easily change it while shooting.

The operation is quite good. The recoil isn't too heavy, but it's sharp and quick. The ammunition consumption also seems good (0.3g per shot is excellent for an aluminum slide).

The only thing I'm unsure about is its cold resistance, but given the magazine's material and size, it's unlikely to be at a disadvantage in terms of specific heat, so I think it's not much different from domestic manufacturers' products (aluminum and zinc).

Regarding the important factors of price and availability, this product, despite its quality, actually sells for only 13000 to 15000 yen. The magazine is a bit pricey at around 4500 yen, but it's not much different from or even slightly cheaper than domestic manufacturers, which is amazing.

It seems that there's a good amount of stock available, so I'm unlikely to end up without a copy of the magazine. I experienced the KSC magazine shortage a while back, so I'm extremely afraid of that happening again. Back then, they were so hard to find that I felt like I'd never see them in stores again if I didn't buy them the moment I saw them. Recently, KSC has been doing more reprints, so things seem to be improving a bit.

Interesting point

The hammer spring is strong, but the hammer and sear are made of flimsy materials, so it will probably break if you dry-fire it.

Also, the hop-up is weak. Furthermore, it has the same difficult-to-refill valve as other overseas-made gas canisters.

And it's an aluminum slide.

The law states that metal parts should not exceed 50%, but this is considered a gray area. I'm not sure if the slides exceed 50% of the total (though I don't think they do).

It also states that the hardness must be 91 or less on the HB (Brinell hardness) scale. Some argue that the hardness regulations only apply to model guns, but personally, I believe they apply to all handguns, regardless of whether they are model guns or airsoft guns.

Based on my experience, the aluminum used for the slide in this product is likely AC or ADC cast aluminum. Judging from the price of the main unit, it's probably the cheaper AC1 or AC2 grade, and the heat treatment grade is likely quite low.

Under these conditions, the hardness of the ADC is less than 40 on the HRB (Rockwell hardness) scale, which translates to about 80 on the HB scale, so I think it's highly likely to fall within the acceptable range. I could measure it properly, but I'm hesitant because I can't measure it without breaking it.

So, personally, I think it's a gray that's close to white.

However,Even if it's cast aluminum, high-grade AC or ADC aluminum with heat treatments like T-6 is unacceptable. Of course, duralumin and iron are absolutely out of the question.

Also, even if something is in a legal gray area, if Field or the operating organization prohibits its use or bringing in, we should comply.

That concludes my review of the VFC/UMAREX GLOCK19X.

Next time, we'll customize it based on the points that caught our attention.

・UMAREX/VFC GLOCK19X GBB
I highly recommend it; it's ready to use right out of the box. What's even better is that the price is comparable to or even lower than domestic brands.

・Le Pair Magazine
The magazines are a bit more expensive compared to domestic ones.

・Injection valve for domestic gases
I recommend it (but be sure to use genuine O-rings).