Yeah, I totally agree, that's why I said the fact that it's not realistic per se doesn't offset the fact that MP5 is up there along with my other favorite SMGs such as MP7 and QCW-05. I still might get it just for the ease of reselling a popular gun.

Even if its unrealistic, if I were to really put it under scrutiny, PLA don't carry QBZ97, or especially QBZ97B's. So there is really not much a difference between my choices right now.

MP7 is a horrible choice for a starting weapon it lacks the power of a AEG because it is a Automatic electric pistol. It has a scaled down AEG mechbox and will at most shoot 200-300fps I've heard upgraded ones shoot 350fps if you can source upgrade parts. Getting replacement parts if something breaks will require parts from TM. TM doesn't give a flying fuck about sales outside of Japan so have fun sourcing replacement parts. The other MP7 is a Gas Blow back but I heard it's hard to get. The MP5 would be the better choice it has a Standard Version 2 gearbox common in ARs so replacement parts won't be hard to find. As for realism if you can't afford around $550 for the cheapest real sword rifle you should just get something else so you can at least play at operation rino this year.

Can't go wrong with a MP7 GBB. But all aegs including the TMs are horrid. Honestly you can get a good cheap MP5 for 300+. I know JG MP5s are like 250 ish or something like that, plastic body but I think the internals are good still (aka metal) so egh honestly I'd keep it and then once the type 88 comes out use your mp5 as a back up for the type 88.

You can look at the following link to plan what kind of aeg/gbb you want....
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=93431

It IS outdated though, and some prices are a bit cheaper now.

PLA doesn't use 97/97B, thats true, however they are the export version of the issued 95/95B( 95B are being used as the on board weapon by the PLA Navy, kinda like the CQB-R/MK18 in the US navy), so if you wanna cosplay PLA then they are the best choices. Again, PAP IS NOT PLA, PLA don't use any MP5 and their variants( my friends in PLA told me their SF tested MP5 and despised it).You can use MP5 when you cosplay PAP,SWAT and HK SDU.

As your first airsoft gun, I'd suggest something not too cheap but with decent quality, do not start with any GBBR/GBB-SMG, once they broke down its hard to fix by yourself. G&P/Classic Army would be a good choice, not very high end stuff, easy to find spare parts. My personal preference would be a RS product anytime, their price is not expensive and the quality are the best(even compare with systema, I can imagine the RS m4/m16 AEG kicking Systema PTW's ass when they came out), on the other hand, their weapon for choice are not as many as G&P/Classic Army. my advice, if you don't have enough money for a RS weapon, save it and don't waste it on other crappy guns.

Better save up on a Inokatsu then.

why inokatsu?

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/DSCF1183.jpg

Shot some random commies and got a free hat. Yes that's red string tied to that red star.

Also Iskaryot, stop being a hobo get money so you can cosplay as your non PLA elite super awesome swat :)

Also from Gato:
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/2/ask1d.jpg

NO It's COSPLAY!

If you want to get a real top of the line gun, get an Inokatsu. That shit makes even RS and Systema look mediocre.

Also Cooney, Airsoft = Hipsters, Cosplay = Nerdy Losers Durp

lawl, by end of june hopefully I'll have $600 to spend =/

wow thats enough for a very decent mp5. heck you made it sound like you make barely any money.

Wrong, RS would be even to inokatsu if it is not better. As a matter of fact, RS use real steel producing standard and techs to build their airsoft guns, it is so unique that no one can compare to it in this industry.

Real sword makes the best externals that's for sure. Considering the fact that they used to make real steel guns for Norinco (according to rumors)

@Cooney, you said what i wanted to say a long time.

@Najohn, in my honest opinion, ino is no more than a bunch of people with somewhat machine skills with access to some good material. But they are lack on the engineering part. Considering most products they made, it is no more than a high quality clone with good material, external wise.

@Iskaryot, can you name the source of the rumour?

No, they use the same Workshops that Norinco used to make real steel weapons ( take machines who made real steels, and mod them to make airsoft replicas)