Page 31 - Airsoft Action Issue 126 June 2021

a r m o u ry
armoury
K KWA LM4D D
WA L
M
4
AS A COMPANY, KWA ARE NEVER ONES FOR STANDING STILL WITH THEIR PRODUCTS! DEVELOPMENT
OF PRODUCTS IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS AND THE LATEST GAS BLOW BACK RIFLE (GBBR) TO
HIT THE MARKET IS THE NEW AND IMPROVED RIFLE IN THE LM4 SERIES. BOYCIE GETS TO GRIPS WITH
THE LATEST MODEL AND TELLS US MORE!

n the USA there are a large number of Law and a magazine held securely in the foam around the
Enforcement agencies and Military units that have butt of the rifle. When you look at the rifle you can
Iused the original LM4 PTR as a low-cost alternative instantly recognise it as an Armalite Rifle (AR) type
to using their live fire weapons for training. With system and picking it up from the box, the weight
the cost of all types of ammunition sky-rocketing in and balance was immediately familiar to me. All of
the US and the availability of ammo dropping, the the controls are of the AR type and this provides a
use of airsoft replicas is climbing. As a rough guide, very familiar “manual of arms” for any AR user. When
a single round of 5.56mm Simunition is on average you are more usually used to picking up a plastic AEG
US$1.40 (£1.00), plus there is the requirement to magazine, the LM4D magazine feels like a big heavy
make a number of changes to the weapon in order lump but it does, as is intended, replicate the weight
for it to be able to fire the Simunition. Also, there is a of a fully loaded magazine of 5.56mm ammunition.
safety requirement for specialist protective equipment
when using Simunition. Bring the airsoft system into FIELD STRIPPING
the equation and cost per “round” is tiny, with 100 To field strip the rifle it is exactly as with a real AR
BBs costing around US34c (24p). With a can of KWA platform. Pull back the charging handle and lock the
green gas costing US$12.95 (£9.26) and providing bolt to the rear. Check that the rifle isn’t loaded with
enough gas for around 600 shots, this means for a “round in the chamber” and then let the bolt travel
600 shots the cost is around US$15.00 (£10.73). forward. At this point DO NOT pull the trigger as the
As the system is lower velocity the minimum safety hammer needs to remain in the rearward position.
equipment required is ballistic safety glasses. A Pull the rear body pin out to its stop and holding the
huge advantage for the agencies and military is that foregrip, tap the buffer tube and the rifle hinges open.
they can use the LM4 platform in close proximity to Pull the charging handle to the rear and remove the
public areas, for example if they are hostage or active bolt, then the charging handle. If you need to remove
shooter training in a shopping centre as there is no the upper receiver then simply pull the front pin out to
large noise from discharge and little or no damage its stop and the upper will lift clear of the lower.
caused if a BB hits a wall or window. Reassembly is the reverse and after being
The LM4 PTR was designed to closely replicate the assembled it is simple to complete the “drill” with the
standard M4 rifle in both 14.5” and 10.5” variants. AR functions checks, as you would with the real rifle.
As we already know the vast majority of “Real Steel”
accessories can be fitted to replicas and this gives A CLOSER LOOK
the personnel who use this as a training platform
to replicate the exact set up as their live fire “duty” Going from the rear forwards, the stock fitted to
weapon. the LM4D is a new design by KWA which fits the
At SHOT Show 2020 we saw the new generation of MilSpec buffer tube and is of a similar type to a MFT
LM4 on show, the LM4D. This is substantially different Minimalist style stock. It feels really comfortable in the
to the LM4 PTR that within the USA is only sold to shoulder and locks positively into place on the tube.
Military and Law Enforcement agencies. Fast forward It also has a very handy QD point for your sling. If this
to 2021 and the LM4D has been released to the UK sort of stock doesn’t suit you it’s able to be changed
market and I was lucky to get my hands on one of quickly for any multi-position stock that fits a MilSpec
the new rifles for test and evaluation from BZ Tactical. buffer.
I must qualify this by saying I paid for the rifle and The rifle is fitted with a steel ambidextrous sling
magazines and nothing was given free of charge. plate, which can easily be changed for something
like the MAGPUL ™ ASAP ® if that is what you
prefer. Pistol grip is a PTS EPG grip and is fitted using
FIRST IMPRESSIONS the standard single bolt of real rifles so you, again,
When I opened the box the rifle is snugly held by are able to fit most RS after-market pistol grips. The
(the now common) foam that we find on most KWA trigger guard gives plenty of space to allow the user
airsoft rifles. Inside is the warranty card, loading tool

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