Recently I was reviewing Japanese bulletin boards and blogs on Airsoft and noticed something interesting regarding what the Airsofters in that country think about replacement inner barrels, esp., PDI and Laylax/Prometheus.
The prevailing opinion about these premium barrels appears to be: "They are good, but not that good."
Quite a few comments were found comparing the Marui stock brass barrels with the PDI and/or Prometheus barrels, and the most common was: "Did not notice any difference." In a few (likely unscientific) tests performed by bloggers, the Marui stock barrels in fact were found to perform better than PDI and/or Prometheus, notably in grouping.
It was not easy to find reviews from non-Marui users, since just about every Airsofter in Japan seems to own a Marui. I saw some Maruzen owners, however, and their feelings regarding replacement barrels pretty much echoed those of Marui users.
Please do note that these user comments were generally about the brands, not necessarily about particular types of barrels such as IDs and subtypes like EG, Raven, etc., although I did not see any particular enthusiasm for the higher-priced subtypes, either. When I did find something about high-end barrel models, it was usually "Should not have spent that kind of money." This included Orga.
Rather amazingly, the stock Marui barrels are in such high demand in Japan that used Marui barrels are sometimes auctioned off at higher prices than brand-new PDI and Prometheus barrels. (Marui does not sell its barrels as aftermarket parts in Japan and only provides them as service parts when performed by themselves)
I can theorize as to why the appreciation for those premium barrels is more muted in Japan than elsewhere. But I will leave such discussion for some other time.
The prevailing opinion about these premium barrels appears to be: "They are good, but not that good."
Quite a few comments were found comparing the Marui stock brass barrels with the PDI and/or Prometheus barrels, and the most common was: "Did not notice any difference." In a few (likely unscientific) tests performed by bloggers, the Marui stock barrels in fact were found to perform better than PDI and/or Prometheus, notably in grouping.
It was not easy to find reviews from non-Marui users, since just about every Airsofter in Japan seems to own a Marui. I saw some Maruzen owners, however, and their feelings regarding replacement barrels pretty much echoed those of Marui users.
Please do note that these user comments were generally about the brands, not necessarily about particular types of barrels such as IDs and subtypes like EG, Raven, etc., although I did not see any particular enthusiasm for the higher-priced subtypes, either. When I did find something about high-end barrel models, it was usually "Should not have spent that kind of money." This included Orga.
Rather amazingly, the stock Marui barrels are in such high demand in Japan that used Marui barrels are sometimes auctioned off at higher prices than brand-new PDI and Prometheus barrels. (Marui does not sell its barrels as aftermarket parts in Japan and only provides them as service parts when performed by themselves)
I can theorize as to why the appreciation for those premium barrels is more muted in Japan than elsewhere. But I will leave such discussion for some other time.
