One thing that we 'will' discuss though, is the 'REALISM' aspect of the magazines.  Now, I don't want to start an argument, but I do have to address the fact that some airsoft players get a little too 'heated' in their arguments about 'MIL-SIM' and 'REALISM'.  When the fact remains that airsoft is a GAME and we are using TOYS to imitate what our military and law enforcement do everyday.

First off.. a 'REAL' M4 actually weighs less than many airsoft AEG's and that is mainly because of the battery.  Don't get me wrong.. it will differ from time to time and please don't send me hate mail trying to prove me wrong.  I'm just saying that if we are going to talk about 'REALISM'.. then we need to account for ALL THE FACTORS.. and weight is one of those factors for the equation.

I'm not going to get into the weight of an AEG.. that's not what this article is about.  What I am going to get into is the weight of the MAGAZINE.  Yeah... even a 'bigger' argument within the airsoft community.  'Realcaps' vs. 'Standards' vs. 'Midcaps' vs. 'Hicaps'... oh.. the joys of arguing this one over the many years... hold on.. let me drift in my thoughts.  Okay, I'm back.  The argument currently on the table about airsoft magazines is all about 'capacity' and the 'REALISM' of using a 'realcap' magazine.. aka the '30' rounders.

Let me quickly address this issue and say this... I'm pretty dame sure.. that 'IF' the Military could fit 300 rounds in the current size of a 'realcap' magazine.. that they would.  I'm also pretty damn sure that if 'WEIGHT' wasn't an issue... then each military soldier would be carrying about 12-16 "HICAPS" out on to the battle field.. SO... when the argument about carrying a 'realcap' vs. a 'hicap' comes into the picture.. that's just a personal choice on how that person wants to play the game. 

I don't want to spend too much time on the 'capacity' issue... this is really a 'weight' article.. so let me stop rambling and just show you what we found.  For weight measurements, we took several different magazines and weighed them full and empty.  We used .23g Excel BB's for all except the hicap and the 'real' magazine (obviously).  For the hicap, we used .20g BB's.. so do the math.  For the real magazine, we used American Eagle .223 Remington 55 grain, FMJ BOAT-TAIL rounds.  I didn't weigh them individually.. so if you 'need' to know the weight.. again, do the math.

The magazines we used for this review are:

- Tokyo Marui - 'VN' standard 70 round magazine
- Tokyo Marui - Standard 68 round magazine
- STAR - 30 round 'realcap' magazine
- MAG - 100 round 'midcap' magazine
- Tokyo Marui - 300 round 'hicap' magazine
- 450 round BB loader - Excel I think..??
- REAL 30 round .223 M4 magazine

So.. here is what we found:

- Tokyo Marui - 'VN' standard 70 round magazine


* EMPTY weighs in at 5.1oz.
* FULL weighs in at 5.7oz.

- Tokyo Marui - Standard 68 round magazine

* EMPTY weighs in at 6.9oz.
* FULL weighs in at 7.5oz.

- STAR - 30 round 'realcap' magazine

* EMPTY weighs in at 3.1oz.
* FULL weighs in at 3.3oz.

- MAG - 100 round 'midcap' magazine

* EMPTY weighs in at 4.5oz.
* FULL weighs in at 4.9oz.

- Tokyo Marui - 300 round 'hicap' magazine


* EMPTY weighs in at 7.0oz.
* FULL weighs in at 9.4oz.

- 450 round BB loader - forgot the maker


* EMPTY weighs in at 2.9oz.
* FULL weighs in at 6.3oz.

- REAL 30 round .223 M4 magazine

* EMPTY weighs in at 3.9oz
* FULL weighs in at 16oz. (1.0 lbs.)

** For reference >> 16oz. = 1 lb.

 Now that we've done the weighing of the magazines, let's get back to the 'REALISM' argument for a moment.

If the AVERAGE airsoft player carries 10 AIRSOFT magazines (to make it easy) then with the following loadout... he would be carrying:

- '30' round 'realcap' mags - weighing in at a back breaking 33oz. -or- 2lb. 1oz.
- '68' round TM Standards - weighing in at 75oz. -or- 4lbs. 11oz.
- '70' round TM VN Standards - weighing in at 57oz. -or- 3lbs. 9oz.
- '100' round MAG midcaps - weighing in at 49oz. -or- 3lbs. 1oz.
- '300' round TM hicap - weighing in at 94oz. -or- 5lbs. 14oz.
- '450' round speed loader - weighing at 63oz. -or- 3lbs. 15oz.

AND THE FINALE...

- '30' REAL .223 MAGAZINE - weighing in at 160oz. -or- 10lbs.

Now.. given the numbers and weights... 'REALISTICALLY'... which is more REALISTIC?  That's right... the hicaps.  But that's only if you're going for weight.  I know there are only things in the argument.. but.. I keep hearing people say.. "I carry 16 '30' round standards for realism" (3lbs. 4.8oz.).. yet.. when you do the math, they need to thrown an extra 6lbs. into their rigs to make up for the lost weight.  It all adds up.

So, if you 'really' want to go "MILSIM".. please don't yell at the other people about 'realism'.  This is airsoft... IT'S A GAME... have fun with it.

Some additional notes:

* A real magazine will not fit into an airsoft receiver without 'forcing' it.. which is not recommended to do.

* A real magazine is 'longer' than an airsoft magazine, but that's only because the bolt is higher in the receiver than your hop up unit.

- GOOD LUCK