Double Barrel Comparo
Steyr TMP (KSC gas-blowback airsoft) vs. Steyr SPP (real deal!)
Back in 1991, I spotted an early description and photo of a prototype
machine pistol Steyr had been developing. Three years later I purchased
the civilian version known as the "Sporting Purpose Pistol". While
waiting another four years I kept busy researching the military/police
version Steyr dubbed as the "Tactical Machine Pistol". Lo and behold,
an airsoft version was discovered and acquired by my girlfriend. Now
the two are together and a lot of interesting things have surfaced which
required the presence of other airsoft models to help the comparison.
"Sobriety Test"
Looking at the SPP and TMP together is like seein' double without the
beer and tequila chasers. KSC has produced what I consider their
flagship gun with the TMP. Everything on the outside the SPP has, the
TMP has excluding the obvious vertical foregrip, caliber and metal
magazine. Other petty differences in appearance is the SPP's trigger
guard that is specially contoured for the index finger of the supporting
hand. As for the gun bodies, someone at Steyr must have slept with
someone from KSC because the two are exactly identical. Both guns are
designed like a clam shell of upper and lower halves for disassembling,
and there exists a mold seam running atop and bottom sections of both
guns as if they were poured and lifted from the same mold. The high
impact black plastic of the TMP matches that of the SPP in both density
and texture. There's no evidence of that toy-like semigloss or shine in
the TMP body. Dull gunmetal tones were also matched on the metal bolt
and barrel sleeve and to accent the overall appearance, the metal thread
protector jacket is finished in a polished deep black. The SPP's
magazine is made of similar dull plastic material as it's body unlike
the TMP's blue-black metal mag which houses and protects the airsoft
vitals. If you do things by the numbers then KSC won't disappoint you
because they've placed them in their exact locations.
"30,25,20,15,10,5" are marked on the magazines (9MM rounds left in the
SPP), and the serial numbers as well as the "9 X 19" caliber ID are fine
touch ups to the TMP's reciprocating bolt.
"Please Hold"
Gripping either or by the pistol grip is indistinguishable. Contours
follow contours and surface detail follows detail. There's one thing
that Steyr excels at and that is grip comfort. I've handled the AUG,
MPi, GB and now the SPP/TMP and I gotta tell ya, they fit in the palm of
your hand. Foregripping is a different story. The SPP has horizontal
cuts along the front of the body to aid a firm horizontal grip. The
vertical grip of the TMP is positive but the mysterious flat-surfacing
along the sides gives a bizarre yet unique feeling. I must be too used
to the MP-5K foregrip. When gripping the gun with both hands it
definitely feels like the mid-gun between the "Thumbs-wrestler" hold of
the Berreta 93R and the "hands-apart" feel of the MP-5K. The TMP has
that balance and compact feel of the MAC-10 yet not as nose-heavy as
the 93R or MP-5K when held with one hand. Believe it or not, KSC's
version is slightly heavier than the real SPP providing that you don't
eject the airsoft TMP mag and in turn not load the 9MM-firing SPP mag.
The weight distribution is in the TMP mag while the SPP distributes it's
weight along the gun body and barrel.
"Passin' Gas"
Gas-charged airsoft has come a long way from JAC's 1989 hose &
tank-dependant AR-18 to the more sophisticated "blow back"
self-contained models such as this speciman of a TMP. I'll admit, this
is the first gas gun I've fired in a long time simply because my earlier
gas-dependant guns had rubber o-rings for gas seals and over time with
the combination of hot arrid desert air of Southern Cal and studio
lights, those rubber o-rings deteriorated like a condomn in a wallet
and you know what that means.............no fun with your gun. But
after inspecting the mechanism's gas hookup points, KSC has done away
with the exterior O-rings and have redesigned the gas couplers from the
old methodsof yesterday. When locking a fresh mag into the gun, this is
where the TMP functions close to the real deal. The rear charging
handle is pulled back with the thumb & index finger readying the gas
charge and firing mechanism. Firing was typically Steyr, light trigger
gives singles and heavy trigger pull is full on the rounds. After the
last round is shot the bolt is held back. After inserting a fresh mag
the bolt release can be depressed releasing the bolt to go forward and
ready the mechanism for firing, again as in the real SPP.
"Short of Assortments"
Unfortunately the SPP/TMP is a still a fresh new gun designed from the
drawing board up which means accessories are specifically designed
solely for the TMP unlike the MP-5K which has an almost 10-year
development leap and is based on the old G-3 dimensions where
accessories are abundant. KSC has however provided an exclusive peice
of accessory that changes the overall gun lines and sound dispersions of
the TMP and that is a metal screw-on silencer. Nicely machined, this
silencer has a polished "blued" finish nicer than that of the
rubber-coated MAC 10/11 series and is 3" shorter than a folded stock H&K
-5SD model. Taking a look inside there are functional sound baffles and
expansion chambers within the silencer's end section. This attachment
also acts as a horizontal forgrip as your personal preference.
According to the KSC owners manual(picture-wise of course), another type
of silencer is offered and a Weaver style slip-on site base appears to
be available. The TMP "spinal" mounts between the front and rear sights
match perfectly with the original SPP spinal mounts so that any future
product from Steyr or other aftermarket manufacturer comitted to Steyr
will fit the KSC TMP. The TMP has an integrated sling loop at it's rear
for a multitude of set-ups and carry/draw rigs. KSC also offers a soft
field carrier for two magazines and the silencer. If my illustration
readings are correct, a non-folding skeletal stock for the TMP is in
development. This may be a KSC design and not a Steyr feature since the
original prototype was designed with a folding stock similar to the
Polish Wz-63 machine pistol. Since this is a gas-charged pistol, custom
motors, gears, batteries, and possibly springs don't apply but upgraded
barrels or gas expansion variables have a potential for TMP performance
upgrades.
"Face the Case"
Ever since I fell in luv with the boxy Ingram MAC-10 in 1980, I've
considered it #2 on my top five SMG's. That's probably why I
considered the SPP/TMP to be the next hi-tech evolutionary step of the
cheap and compact SMG. The TMP would be an ideal side arm for the
paintballers. It's sights are the open post & notch for a better and
faster target/field view as opposed to the -5K diopter & ring sights.
It's only disadvantage is the long magazine extending from the grip when
the weapon is holstered. If you're looking for that CQB gun, the TMP
has better "feel" than a 93R and a little less top-bulky than an MP-5K,
and mag changes instinctively seem quicker when housed in the pistol
grip. The silencer is inarguebly a bonus for silent ops and with it's
metal construct and mount, this silencer was built to bounce. Even if
the TMP becomes a wall peice, that silencer add-on will accent the
MP-5SD next to it.
Of course the highest value of KSC's TacMP is it's uncanny resemblance
to it's operating counterpart, the Steyr SPP. I had a much harder time
with these two than I did with the two FA MAS'. In the process of
writing this review I must have grabbed the wrong pistol dozens of times
mistaking one for the other, holding both I must have spaced out a few
of times on which gun I was referring to if hadn't been for that
vertical grip! Time for that wet chaser.
Doubling the pleasure, double "mint" guns!!
Thanx for loaning the gun hon',
ARTsenal
&
BLADEbabe
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