First off, this is a re-write of an old review. I will be using most of the old review and added things I have learned since. That being said, WAY back in 2003, I had been obsessed with the P90 since I had used it in a (GASP) online FPS game (Infiltration, As real as it gets). So when I first started researching airsoft in 2001, I was all about getting a Tokyo Marui P90. In fact... it was my search for information on the real steel P90 that introduced me to modern airsoft.

When I first got my hands on my P90TR from a private sale, it already had some upgrades installed. Problem was, they were poorly chosen and poorly installed upgrades. Luckily I got it before the previously installed spring and battery could do damage to the gearbox.

When I got it, the spring it came with was making it shoot at over 1.75 joules (about 435 fps). It had a custom 9.6V J type battery and had not had its plastic bushings replaced with metal ones. Even WITH the battery upgrade, it was shooting at a VERY slow rate of fire...

The first thing I did when I found out the state it was in, was go and order a Systema M100 spring, and a set of Systema metal oiless bushings. I had to wait a while before I could play with my new baby. But it was worth it.

A week later I had the parts I needed in hand... but wait... I had never upgraded an AEG before! This was the first AEG I had ever seen, let alone opened up and performed surgery on! I scoured the net for a version 6 Gearbox tutorial and found one, that combined with the manual helped me perform the spring downgrade and bushing replacement. My first re-assembly was inccorect... I hadnt gotten the anti reversal latch in place properly, I opened it up again, fixed that, put it back together and WOW!

The first burst out of the P90 after the changes I made was drastically different that when I first got it. The Rate of Fire was BLINDINGLY fast. I had never heard a normal AEG at this point, so it wasn't until later that I found out exactly how fast this thing was shooting.

But hey, now that I have the backstory on how it got into the state I used it in, I will begin the review.

Specifications
as tested:

Power type: AEG (Electric)
Battery Type: Custom 9.6v J type
Gear Box: Version 6
Fire modes: Semi Auto, Full Auto
Magazine Capacity: Standard: 68, High Cap: 300
Upgraded Muzzle Energy: 1.25 joules (368 fps w/.20)
Real Steel counter part: Fabrique National Project 90
Real Steel Manufacturer's website: Fabrique National

The P90 is small, very small. I'm a little guy (5'8" and 130 lbs) and it fits me perfectly. It is mostly plastic but does have some metal parts including the silencer, flash hider and weaver mounts. The mainly noticable difference betweent he P90 and the P90TR is that the lower reciever/stock of the TR is dark grey rather than black. I like the contrast it gives the gun myself, but I have read that some dont like it.

The most noticeable feature of the P90 is the standard magazine with the fake metal bullets that can be seen through the transparent plastic. It gives the gun just one more point towards realism. The realsteel manufacurers trademarks are present on this gun but arent too noticeable. It has the Project 90 label and weapon caliber printed on the side and has a Fabrique National serial number on the reciever. Its tight ergonomics make it a joy to handle in combat.

Bringing it from tactical rest to sight level is as natural as breathing. With the use of a tactical sling like the Black Hawk Industries Chalker Sling or the BHI P90 sling, this gun is so easy to carry around on the field you wont even notice the wieght.

The BEC Miradot scope pictured above is the PERFECT sight for the triple rail. Its size and shape fit the P90 like a glove and the T reticule is easy to sight with. The High cap mag that is available for the P90 carries 300 rounds and is one of the few high cap mags that doesnt rattle when you run. I personally dont like using high cap mags because of the lack of realism, but was forced to buy one when I had monetary issues before my first skirmish. I didnt have the finances to be able to buy the number of standards I wanted or the leg pouches to carry them.

The Triple Rail model has... (drumroll please) 3 rails. The top rail is by default used for adding optics (as opposed to the standard P90 that came with its own small diameter red dot sight) But the 2 side rails could be used for many things, I have seen some people even throw a Mosquito Molds Mini launcher on the side rails... or even one on each. I wouldn't go that far though. The most common things to put on the side rails are Lights and Lasers.

And lastly, the P90 TR comes standard with a SOCOM silencer. I didn't especially like using the silencer, because it added to the lenght of the gun, and I liked it short and tight. I was happy then to find that it ALSO came with the stock metal flashhider.

Rate of fire:

The stock P90 itself has a nice rate of fire compared to other AEGs. But add the 9.6 volt battery to it and even with the M100 spring it SCREAMS. I had been told many times on the field that everyone knew I was shooting at them by the sound of my gearbox and the fast flow of bbs flying their direction. In full auto mode, one quick trigger pull means 10 bbs...

Safety and fire selector:

The fire selector and safety are directly under the trigger. The P90 is by design completely ambidextrous, right down to the shell ejection port, while though it isn't used in the Airsoft version... if it WAS, it would be dropping the shells straight down to the ground. OOPS.. tangent there. Anyway, the fire selector has 3 positions, center is safe, left and right select either full or semi auto.

Battery changes:

Though I never had to do battery changes in the field, I am glad I didn't have to. With the 9.6 volt battery, even though you have to cut out part of the stock to get it to fit, it still doesn't quite fit. It was a pain every time I had to take the battery out of the gun. With the STOCK battery, this is definitely not a problem though.

The Hi Cap mag:

The P90 high capacity magazine in unique to all other guns. For one, it doesn't rattle around like a baby rattle when you run. Since the P90 magazine is in a top down orientation, the bbs didn't have to be lifted up into the breech like they do in a "normal" hi-cap. Instead they are dropped in by a rotating wheel like you would see on an old fashioned mill. It also has a "push plate" that is spring loaded that keeps the bbs held solid against the feed wheel. Now this is where the well known P90 hi-cap helmet tap comes in. Occasionally, the push plate would jam up, making the bbs inside stop rolling down into the feed wheel, which in turn would make the gun misfire. Sometimes you could make the push plate un jam by slapping the top of the mag in the gun, but often you had to remove it from the gun, and tap it on your helmet, knee or ground to make the plate move. This problem is easily prevented though by "simply" taking the magazine apart, and using dry silicone or graphite lubricant to lube the track the push plate rides on. The good thing is, if you have your P90 hi cap properly lubed, and take care of it... you never have to wind the hi-cap in the middle of battle. One full wind takes care of the whole 300 rounds. Just make sure when you store the gun, to manually push the bb release in the feed hole, so you unwind the spring. Or the spring will wear out. (Which is what usually causes so many problems with hi-caps running out too soon.)

Magazine changes:

There is some disagreement it seems on the ergonomics of the P90 magazine changes. Some people say that the mag changes on the P90 are awkward, slow and difficult. I don't agree. Its simply something you have to get used to. I started out with a P90, and as such, I was quite capable of fast mag changes.

Ergonomics:

This gun is the epitome of ergonomics, BUT.... If your a big guy, your not gonna like it. This gun has to be held close and tight, and the bigger you are, the harder time you will have getting your eyes behind the sights. That being said though, this is the most comfortable of the PDW sized SMG's I have ever held. Its grip and foregrip design put your hands in the most natural position possible for holding a 2 handed firearm. Its mag change design is ambidextrous, the safety/fires selector is ambidextrous, and even though you don't use it on an Airsoft P90, the charging handles are ambidextrous.

The BEC Miradot was the perfect addition to the P90 TR. Its shape and size match the P90 style very well and the 40mm lens is much much better than the sight on the standard P90. Special thanks to nextmayor of Airsoft Ohio for pointing me towards the Miradot. I actually had a hard time finding mine and the place I got it from I wouldn't recommend. I had to call the BBB on them. SO if you are looking for the BEC Miradot and find it at www.sksman.com, don't go there. Unfortunately, the square tube Miradot, which is no longer made by BEC, is almost impossible to find, if at all now. If you ever manage to get your hands on one, let me know where you found it.

This AEG is no more, nor no less durable than any other Tokyo Marui AEG. Though I would say that because it is so compact, and the fact that its entire body is self contained, you would have less chance of snapping your barrel off, or snapping your stock off in an accident, than you would on say... an AK or an M16. Assuming your not using the included silencer, I would say this is the best gun available for those guys who like to dive tuck and roll all over the place to evade enemies :)

There are of course all the normal gearbox upgrades available for the P90. Then there is of course the custom 9.6 volt J type battery (which requires modification to the inside of the stock) Plus a large line of after market modifications and accessories, like the Hurricane rubber stock extender (which helps out the big guys who find the P90 uncomfortable), the RIGHT P90 battery box that adds on to the end of the stock, making room for the AUG 9.6 volt battery. The Nitro.Vo Rail Handguard, and of course any number of silencers and rail attachments.

I had the P90 for about a season and a half, and when I had it, it was my baby. I was FORCED to sell it for reasons I wont get into here. (sniff sniff) but I wish I never had. Even now, with my new found love for GBB pistols I would still not mind having my old baby back. But that is in the past. Regardless, I wholeheartedly can recommend this AEG to anyone who wants a compact accurate bb hose (even in stock form this thing rocks) I would chose this over an MP5 of any kind...any day.