Maker: Tokyo Marui
Model: No. 69
Release year: 2002
Model name: Beta-Spetsnaz
Model type: Automatic Electric Gun, w/ Hop-Up system
Motor type: EG700 super custom (short type)
Gearbox: version 3
Battery: 8.4v large (sub-c)
Model length: 711mm
Barrel length: 230mm
Model weight: 2750g (w/ 250-rnd magazine & battery)
Calibre: 6mm BBs
Magazine capacity:
- standard: 70 rounds
- hi-cap: 250 round short or 600 round long
Muzzle velocity: 90m/s (w/ lightweight BBs)
Rate of fire: 750~850rpm (w/ 8.4v battery)
Special features: 20mm rail on foregrip
Price: 29,800 yen
Maker: ?
Model number: ?
Gun type: assault rifle
Gun length: 711mm
480mm (estimation from data)
Barrel length: 270mm (estimation from data)
Gun weight: 2850g (estimation from data)
Calibre: 7.62x39mmm (estimation from AK-47)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds (estimation from WG-GS-4)
Muzzle velocity: 710m/s (estimation from AK-47)
Rate of fire: 600rpm (estimation from AK-47)
This was my first airsoft gun. I picked it for a few reasons. It was heavy at about six pounds, it was strong and reliable, it could fit a large battery, it had a huge hi-cap, and it was different from the masses of M4s and MP5s everyone uses. I actually wanted a standard AK-47, but the store owner was out of stock of them (well, he had one, but it was his own personal AK). So I settled for a cut-down AK instead. It's a fantastic gun, I think most players would agree the AKs are some of the best stock weapons available. It's pretty accurate for its size. It's barrel is a little longer than the MP5s but shorter than most of the Armalite guns. So it's long enough to be used in the field but at just over two feet long overall, can be used in CQB as well. And what it lacks in accuracy of the longer rifles it makes up in firepower. With a 600-round hi-capacity magazine, you can keep shooting until you hit something (accuracy by volume). A 800rpm RoF will spit BBs out pretty good, be thankful the gun came with a 250-round hi-cap--which will only last 18 seconds worth of fire--a taste of what MP5 owners deal with. Speaking of, the 250-round magazine is 65mm shorter than the 600-round mag, and does not extend far below the pistol grip and should make shooting from the prone position easier--something AK users complained about with the large banana mag.
I bought a 8.4v 3000mAh NiMH battery when I got the gun, and it lasted pretty much forever. If you don't like to change batteries in the field when you're being shot at, a large capacity battery will help you out greatly. Hell, with 600 rounds you won't need to change magazines either if it's a short "speedball"-type game. I think the gun is well suited for either an assault role because it's so short and easily maneuverable or a support role because of the firepower you can deliver with it.
Overall, the Beta-Spetsnaz is a good choice for a beginning player. It doesn't require a lot of upkeep to keep the gun running, and it can be used in a variety of fields and game types. Other than a lot of ammo, a hi-cap magazine and a big battery, I recommend a sling. I was lucky enough to be given a real Kalashnikov leather sling when I got the gun. In the field the gun will begin you wear on you until you don't even want to lift it to aim (if you're like me you keep the muzzle up, ready to fire all the time when playing), so a sling is a smart purchase if you don't want to lug the thing everywhere. There's a 20mm rail on the foregrip so you can mount a vertical forward hand grip, a tactical light, a laser or whatever else you care to stick there. I was thinking of a vertical forward hand grip myself just to get a feel for one and see if it would make it any easier to hold and aim the gun or just get in my way.
Update: I had a chance to chronograph this gun recently, and it was shooting about 250 fps with Airsoft Elite 0.20g BBs. That's completely stock, but I suspect you could expect slightly greater performance since I think I left the gun with the spring under tension, so it may have weakened a bit. Remember, always fire the gun on semi a few times if you've been using it on full-auto so you can decompress the spring.
Update: I bought a rather expensive Red Dawn Custom PBS-1 suppressor for my Beta-Spetsnaz. It threads onto the end of the barrel when the flash hider is removed. It's very long and adds a lot of weight to the front, but that's a different review for another day. The main thing is the suppressor will wobble, so make sure you tighten the screw located under the front end of the AEG. This will stop or greatly limit the wobble.