Seems that Prime has somehow taken an interest in the Tanaka Sig P220 and come out with four different metal body kits. My carry .45 is actually a P220ST and I also own a P220 Super Match so I have to admit I am a P220 fanboy. I have a number of Tanaka guns but do not skirmish with them at all. It would be nice to have a metal P220 but although Prime makes nice kits, I am not sure I would get one of these kits.
First of all, the versions are:
1) Commercial (really old) European Version - with US Sig markings:
2) JSDF version
3) Japan Maritime Version
4) Japan Air Force version
The Maritime and Air Force versions are supposedly a short run of special editions.
Unfortunately, they don't make the exact version that I would like to have. All of the versions are double action with frame mounted decocker and heel magazine release, since the Tanaka has these features. The commercial version is a copy of the original production version from the 1970's. The front of the slide was rounded but the current versions have squared slide fronts. The Japan versions all feature the current version squared slide fronts, but Japanese markings.
Ideally, I would like to have a newer version (like the Japan versions) with the English Sig markings. The mag release on the heel does not bother me, but moving that would really require Tanaka to make a new model P220.
Which brings my next point, in that since it is based off of the Tanaka, it probably should use duster strength gas. I do run a Tanaka P229 with green gas, but it is a spare and I won't mind if it breaks due to this. So I don't know if putting Tanaka internals into this MBK would still require lower power gas and give it an anemic blowback.
Of course, another reason is just the price. MSRP is around $1,000 USD for the MBK but they are for sale (at boomarms) for around $700 USD.
April 20th, 2012, 12:31
