Golden Eagle Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom GBB Pistol

If you're into the gold-on-black look of high-end real steel 2011 pistols, you're going to love the Golden Eagle Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom! This full metal Hi-Capa 5.1 platform is based on the Tokyo Marui design and fully compatible with aftermarket upgrades but comes with a pre-installed 6.02mm tightbore inner barrel to give you a head start when it comes to accuracy and FPS.

The set includes the pistol, the magazine, a speed loader and a hard pistol case; a seriously generous package considering the price. With a perfect mix of combat and competition styling, cutting-edge ergonomics, a 20mm frame rail for your flashlight or laser and a threaded barrel for your tracer, this Hi-Capa is ready for action, whether it will be a sidearm or a CQB primary!

Starting at the front, we can find 11mm CW female threads at the tip of the outer barrel, meaning a tracer unit or suppressor can be mounted using the CowCow thread adapter or an alternative 11mm CW female to 14mm CCW male thread adapter. If you are a tracer fan, you can also directly mount the Xcortec XT301 MK2 tracer unit without the need for an adapter.

The barrel itself is finished in gold, adding a nice bit of visual interest in line with high-end modern 2011 pistols and giving this no-frills combat pistol a hint of custom styling. Mimicking the most modern combat-optimised Hi-Capas, the Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom also sports fluting along the length of the barrel and chamber to reduce weight and provide a high-end aesthetic in line with real steel TTI and SAI pistols.

The slide itself boasts front and rear serrations for optimal grip no matter how you choose to rack the slide, along with a pair of small weight-reduction ports on each side. The gold outer barrel is visible through the slide ports, a nice nod to Taran Tactical and SAI pistols which share the same aesthetic. The slide cycles smoothly on the frame rails, with very little friction and a buttery smooth feel; a nice surprise for such an affordable sidearm!

On top of the slide, we are treated to a modern open iron sight setup with a red light-enhancing front sight with an adjustable anti-glare rear sight. This combination means you will never mix the sight dots up when working under pressure, and the red light enhancing insert means acquiring your target at close range is almost as quick as a red dot sight without the worries of it getting shot out! Both the front and rear sight are constructed from steel, and the rear sight can be adjusted for elevation via the screw on top, or windage via the screw on the right side.

Next up, we reach the frame of the pistol, which is constructed in standard Hi-Capa fashion; with a metal upper frame containing the internal parts and a lower pistol grip/trigger guard module made from polymer. At the front of the frame, we are treated to a 20mm Picatinny rail which allows tactical flashlights, laser aiming modules or alternative 20mm accessories to be fitted, should the mission require it.

Moving rearwards, we come to the slide release catch/disassembly lever, which is located on the left side of the pistol. This control features a serrated extension surface to allow easy access to release the slide with no chance of slipping off the control, with a weight-reducing relief cut in its underside to minimise unnecessary weight in the build. To the rear of the slide release catch, we can find the manual safety, which is present on either side of the pistol and sits comfortably within reach of the shooter's thumb when holding the pistol in a firing grip.

The manual safety allows the Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom to be carried "cocked and locked" safely, with only a very slight movement required to remove the safety before taking the shot. Also included is the hallmark 1911/Hi-Capa beavertail grip safety, which protrudes slightly from the rear of the grip. This safety ensures the pistol can only be fired when it is properly gripped, preventing accidental discharges.

Both the hammer and trigger are skeletonised, reducing weight and providing customised race-gun aesthetics which fit the Hi-capa perfectly. The trigger, as with many other Hi-Capa and 1911 variants, has a very small amount of uptake before you get to the wall, and resets with a satisfying click with practically no overtravel. The trigger is what makes real 1911 and Hi-capa pistols so popular with competition shooters, and fortunately for Airsofters, this perk has translated over well to the Airsoft equivalents. If you are shooting for speed, whether in a skirmish or for target shooting, you can't do much better than a Hi-Capa trigger!

The magazine release can be found on the left side of the pistol, ideally positioned for right-handed shooters but also accessible for lefties with a bit of practice. This mag release is a low-profile design, ideally suited to a combat pistol where an accidental mag drop in the thick of it can mean life or death. Obviously, life or death doesn't enter the equation with an Airsoft gun, but gas magazines cost money and they don't really like to be dropped if it can be avoided!

The modular grip assembly is styled after real steel Limcat grips but constructed from high density polymer with an alloy flared magazine well. The grip boasts a stylish dot texture on the front and the flanks with fine pyramidal texture on the rear, providing a great balance of comfort and traction whether you wear gloves or not. The flared magwell is a combat-style flare with a semi-circular cutout on each side, allowing you to carry out speed reloads on the move without missing the magazine well along with allowing you to grab the magazine for a retention reload if you are more sensible!

On the inside, the Golden Eagle Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom has a nice surprise in store for us. The inner barrel is a tightbore 6.02mm example, improving gas efficiency, FPS and accuracy when compared with the standard 6.08 barrel bore. We love it when an affordable Airsoft gun gives us more upgrades than we deserve!

The HOP-up is adjustable and a perfect copy of the Tokyo Marui system, meaning aftermarket HOP-up bucking and nub upgrades are a go as long as you use the GBB/VSR type. The HOP-up can be adjusted by removing the slide which can be done by removing the magazine, cocking the slide, aligning the slide lock lever with the smaller of the two cutouts on the left side of the slide, and pushing it through from the right. After this, you can push the slide forward and off the frame, revealing the HOP-up adjustment gear located on the bottom of the outer barrel.

If you are after a cheap full metal sidearm with a hint of custom styling, the Golden Eagle Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom should be right up your street. The combination of impressive build quality, a 6.02mm tightbore inner barrel and the inclusion of a hard pistol case and speedloader in the set makes this one of our top picks for your first sidearm but equally at home filling the holster of an experienced skirmisher!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.02mm Tightbore inner barrel - Improved accuracy and FPS
• 20mm Picatinny frame rail - Ready for a flashlight or laser aiming module
• Light enhancing front sight with anti-glare rear sight - Modern sight setup, bright red front sight
• Forward slide serrations - Enhanced grip for cocking the slide from the front
• Fluted outer barrel and chamber - Gold finish mimicking high-end real steel 2011 pistols
• Stylish weight reduction ports on each side - Adds a hint of custom looks, improves cyclic rate
• Ambidextrous manual safety - Lock the trigger from the left or right side
• Beavertail grip safety - Prevents the pistol from being fired if not gripped properly
• Trigger guard undercuts - Allows for a higher grip for improved recoil control
• Dot textured pistol grip - Comfortable and grippy, with or without gloves
• Flared magazine well extension - Aids fast reloads on the move, never miss the magwell
• Skeletonised trigger and hammer - Discrete custom looks, reduced weight
• Compatible with most Hi-Capa 5.1 GBB magazines - Golden Eagle Hi-Capa mags are ideal for best performance

Package Includes

• Golden Eagle Hi-Capa 5.1 Custom GBB Pistol
• 25rnd Hi-Capa Green Gas magazine
• Speed loader
• User manual
• Hard pistol case