Airsoft Canada - View Single Post - Bar-Sto Precision Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa (4.3 to 5.1 Conversion)

Blackboard · February 21st, 2010, 15:35

When I initially decided to do a Hi-Capa build, I had decided I wanted a 5.1 length gun with integrated rails. After a fair amount of browsing and researching, I concluded that such a project would be impossible to do on my limited budget. The high costs of a frame that would meet this requirement presented a major obstacle. Enter Bar-Sto Precision.

Bar-Sto has long been known as a precision barrel maker and had only recently begun manufacturing complete pistols. This project was based on a tactical pistol built for Jeremy Clough of American Handgunner by Bar-Sto. This is the link to an article on this pistol: http://www.americanhandgunner.com/Ft...8c/Barsto.html.

As can be seen in the pictures above, the lower frame is identical in length to a Hi-Capa 4.3 frame. This gave me the idea of using a stock 4.3 and replacing the whole slide assembly with a 5.1 length system, thereby making a pricey aftermarket frame unnecessary. After that decision, it was a simple matter of ordering parts and building the pistol. Fortunately, Shooters Design had recently begun production of a long dust cover Bar-Sto Precision slide that would be ideal for replicating Jeremy’s pistol.

For the most part, there were very few problems with the build process itself. One thing to note for anyone else wanting to do a conversion of a 4.3 to a 5.1 length pistol is that 5.1 slides require adjustable BoMar type rear sights and these can be very difficult and expensive to source. The only other problem (not caused by builder error) was that the slide catch did not engage with the Shooters Design slide, this was easily fixed by filing off excess material.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend a big thank you to Brian (aka ILLusion) for his patience in replying to what must have seemed like thousands of pm’s as well as for providing some of the components that went into this build. His reputation as the resident Hi-Capa expert is well deserved.

Base Pistol: Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 4.3

External Aftermarket Parts List:

- Shooters Design Bar-Sto Precision Long Dust Cover Slide
- Shooters Design Bar-Sto .45 Chamber
- Shooters Design Tapered Outer Barrel
- ILLusion Kinetics Adjustable Trigger, 3-Hole
- KM 5.1 Guide Rod
- King Arms M3 Replica Light

Internal Aftermarket Parts List:

- Shooters Design POM Nozzle and Valve Blocker
- Firefly Hop Up Bucking (soft)
- Guarder 150% Recoil and Hammer Spring
- Tanio Koba Twist Barrel

The magazines I use for this pistol are Tokyo Marui 4.3 magazines upgraded with KM High Flow Valves. Comments and questions are welcome, onto the pictures:

February 21st, 2010, 15:35	#1
Blackboard Trader rating Join Date: Sep 2009	Bar-Sto Precision Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa (4.3 to 5.1 Conversion) When I initially decided to do a Hi-Capa build, I had decided I wanted a 5.1 length gun with integrated rails. After a fair amount of browsing and researching, I concluded that such a project would be impossible to do on my limited budget. The high costs of a frame that would meet this requirement presented a major obstacle. Enter Bar-Sto Precision. Bar-Sto has long been known as a precision barrel maker and had only recently begun manufacturing complete pistols. This project was based on a tactical pistol built for Jeremy Clough of American Handgunner by Bar-Sto. This is the link to an article on this pistol: http://www.americanhandgunner.com/Ft...8c/Barsto.html. As can be seen in the pictures above, the lower frame is identical in length to a Hi-Capa 4.3 frame. This gave me the idea of using a stock 4.3 and replacing the whole slide assembly with a 5.1 length system, thereby making a pricey aftermarket frame unnecessary. After that decision, it was a simple matter of ordering parts and building the pistol. Fortunately, Shooters Design had recently begun production of a long dust cover Bar-Sto Precision slide that would be ideal for replicating Jeremy’s pistol. For the most part, there were very few problems with the build process itself. One thing to note for anyone else wanting to do a conversion of a 4.3 to a 5.1 length pistol is that 5.1 slides require adjustable BoMar type rear sights and these can be very difficult and expensive to source. The only other problem (not caused by builder error) was that the slide catch did not engage with the Shooters Design slide, this was easily fixed by filing off excess material. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend a big thank you to Brian (aka ILLusion) for his patience in replying to what must have seemed like thousands of pm’s as well as for providing some of the components that went into this build. His reputation as the resident Hi-Capa expert is well deserved. Base Pistol: Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 4.3 External Aftermarket Parts List: - Shooters Design Bar-Sto Precision Long Dust Cover Slide - Shooters Design Bar-Sto .45 Chamber - Shooters Design Tapered Outer Barrel - ILLusion Kinetics Adjustable Trigger, 3-Hole - KM 5.1 Guide Rod - King Arms M3 Replica Light Internal Aftermarket Parts List: - Shooters Design POM Nozzle and Valve Blocker - Firefly Hop Up Bucking (soft) - Guarder 150% Recoil and Hammer Spring - Tanio Koba Twist Barrel The magazines I use for this pistol are Tokyo Marui 4.3 magazines upgraded with KM High Flow Valves. Comments and questions are welcome, onto the pictures: Last edited by Blackboard; February 21st, 2010 at 15:40..