Airsoft Innovations 40 MIKE
Oct 28, 2020 1:36:23 GMT -5
Post by triggs (SABR) on Oct 28, 2020 1:36:23 GMT -5
Full Album Review – AI 40 MIKE
Airsoft Innovations 40 MIKE
- Real Steel History
- Overview
- Accessories
- Externals review
- Performance
- Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Overview
Anyone that has tried to become a airsoft grenadier will know that finding good airsoft 40mm grenades, that aren’t expensive, is almost impossible. The older style multi-port grenades that hold around 120~ BB’s are known to develop leaks in the many o-rings that are used to make them function. A number of years ago Madbull was the first to bring out a single port grenade that held about a handful of BB’s. Both shells functioned as large shotgun shells with limited range and no accuracy. Great for a laugh, but never very useful.
Airsoft Innovations (as the name implies) is well known for creating many of the commonly used airsoft gas grenade products. Their newest lineup is a high velocity, long range, and decently accurate 40mm grenade that is meant to be a 150 shot BB hose. I couldn’t help myself and decided to pick one up. They aren’t the cheapest grenade on the market at $65, but they also aren’t the most expensive grenades I have ever used.
Accessories
The box includes everything required to operate and maintain the grenade which is a nice touch.
AI is nice enough to include a small bottle of 100% silicone oil to maintain the rubber seals used throughout the grenade.
Also included is a protective cover plate that slides over the activation plunger so you don’t accidently press the button while loading and shoot yourself in the face with it.
The instruction manual is clear and concise about the do’s and don’ts of the use of their product.
I can appreciate the DO NOT USE WITHIN 30FT warning as 40mm grenades, even the older shotgun style ones can be dangerous at close range. Given that the FPS of the BB’s coming out of the 40MIKE are close to that of a gas pistol this can be extremely dangerous to use up close.
Externals Review
The grenade itself is fairly simple looking on the outside, however, judging from the cut-away drawings on the box and manual, this is definitely not an easily repaired grenade should anything go wrong. It is worth noting that it is quite a bit longer than normal grenades so some purchasers will need to consider their launcher’s opening to load grenades.
The build quality is very nice and is made from what looks like aluminum. Compared to the standard 40mm grenade size, this is a noticeable and unique grenade.
Performance
Operation and performance are exactly what the box describes.
Loading was a simple matter of gassing up the grenade and slipping the safety cover over the plunger to prevent accidental firing.
Loading the BB’s is like any midcap magazine, simply place the speed loader against the port and press BB’s into it until full.
Load the grenade into the launcher (or just hold it in your hand) and hit the plunger and off it goes. My only complaint is, despite everything, it empties the internal magazine a little too quickly for my taste. I would like to see it a bit slower to give me more control, or opportunity to hit multiple targets.
Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Overall I am impressed by the grenade, I have sometimes criticized AI for their products as, while they do have their uses, they have sometimes limited applications, and only useful for that once and very rare occasion. The 40MIKE is no exception to that rule either, with a 30ft Minimum Engagement Limit, these are definitely not CQB friendly, arguably dangerous. However, if you are at an outdoor field they still hold some limitations. As I mentioned in the performance section, they empty quickly and don’t leave much time to readjust aim once the trigger has been pulled.
The flip side is, they are very intimidating. The sound alone is fantastic and just plain fun. I would describe it as similar to a minigun (which in a sense is what it is). There is a certain level of fear it can instill and that can be more effective than actually hitting the target. However, being hit by 150BB’s will certainly get your attention or your squad’s attention and serve the same purpose.
Externals Score: 9/10
The only reason I can take points away is due to the oversized nature of the grenade. Being longer than a standard 40MM means it might not fit your launcher, which limits the number of users. However, AI does make a shorter and lower powered variant that should fit every launcher out there.
Overall score: 8/10
Overall I think it’s a fun product with a fair number of uses. At the same time, I take away some points as the price for usefulness is questionable. I don’t regret the purchase and am looking forward to using the grenade for (hopefully) a very long time.
© Copyright triggs 2020
Airsoft Innovations 40 MIKE
- Real Steel History
- Overview
- Accessories
- Externals review
- Performance
- Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Overview
Anyone that has tried to become a airsoft grenadier will know that finding good airsoft 40mm grenades, that aren’t expensive, is almost impossible. The older style multi-port grenades that hold around 120~ BB’s are known to develop leaks in the many o-rings that are used to make them function. A number of years ago Madbull was the first to bring out a single port grenade that held about a handful of BB’s. Both shells functioned as large shotgun shells with limited range and no accuracy. Great for a laugh, but never very useful.
Airsoft Innovations (as the name implies) is well known for creating many of the commonly used airsoft gas grenade products. Their newest lineup is a high velocity, long range, and decently accurate 40mm grenade that is meant to be a 150 shot BB hose. I couldn’t help myself and decided to pick one up. They aren’t the cheapest grenade on the market at $65, but they also aren’t the most expensive grenades I have ever used.
Accessories
The box includes everything required to operate and maintain the grenade which is a nice touch.
AI is nice enough to include a small bottle of 100% silicone oil to maintain the rubber seals used throughout the grenade.
Also included is a protective cover plate that slides over the activation plunger so you don’t accidently press the button while loading and shoot yourself in the face with it.
The instruction manual is clear and concise about the do’s and don’ts of the use of their product.
I can appreciate the DO NOT USE WITHIN 30FT warning as 40mm grenades, even the older shotgun style ones can be dangerous at close range. Given that the FPS of the BB’s coming out of the 40MIKE are close to that of a gas pistol this can be extremely dangerous to use up close.
Externals Review
The grenade itself is fairly simple looking on the outside, however, judging from the cut-away drawings on the box and manual, this is definitely not an easily repaired grenade should anything go wrong. It is worth noting that it is quite a bit longer than normal grenades so some purchasers will need to consider their launcher’s opening to load grenades.
The build quality is very nice and is made from what looks like aluminum. Compared to the standard 40mm grenade size, this is a noticeable and unique grenade.
Performance
Operation and performance are exactly what the box describes.
Loading was a simple matter of gassing up the grenade and slipping the safety cover over the plunger to prevent accidental firing.
Loading the BB’s is like any midcap magazine, simply place the speed loader against the port and press BB’s into it until full.
Load the grenade into the launcher (or just hold it in your hand) and hit the plunger and off it goes. My only complaint is, despite everything, it empties the internal magazine a little too quickly for my taste. I would like to see it a bit slower to give me more control, or opportunity to hit multiple targets.
Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Overall I am impressed by the grenade, I have sometimes criticized AI for their products as, while they do have their uses, they have sometimes limited applications, and only useful for that once and very rare occasion. The 40MIKE is no exception to that rule either, with a 30ft Minimum Engagement Limit, these are definitely not CQB friendly, arguably dangerous. However, if you are at an outdoor field they still hold some limitations. As I mentioned in the performance section, they empty quickly and don’t leave much time to readjust aim once the trigger has been pulled.
The flip side is, they are very intimidating. The sound alone is fantastic and just plain fun. I would describe it as similar to a minigun (which in a sense is what it is). There is a certain level of fear it can instill and that can be more effective than actually hitting the target. However, being hit by 150BB’s will certainly get your attention or your squad’s attention and serve the same purpose.
Externals Score: 9/10
The only reason I can take points away is due to the oversized nature of the grenade. Being longer than a standard 40MM means it might not fit your launcher, which limits the number of users. However, AI does make a shorter and lower powered variant that should fit every launcher out there.
Overall score: 8/10
Overall I think it’s a fun product with a fair number of uses. At the same time, I take away some points as the price for usefulness is questionable. I don’t regret the purchase and am looking forward to using the grenade for (hopefully) a very long time.
© Copyright triggs 2020