by Blake Abe Photos by Pat Ohta The latest in the G3 series of AEG's from Tokyo Marui, the G3 SAS is also the smallest. Sporting an MP5K PDW type front end along with a brand new front handguard and end cap, the G3 SAS fits all the firepower and performance of the MC51 into a more portable package.

Releasing a compact MP5K type variant of the G3 makes a lot of sense from a player's perspective. The G3 is a massive rifle, but has a correspondingly large magazine that holds 500 BB's in the hi-cap version. Creating a smaller, more compact gun with the same BB capacity allows more active players to have a lot of firepower without sacrificing ease of manuverability.

The G3 SAS is definitely the smallest of the G3 variants. At 487 mm in length and 2200 grams in weight, the G3 SAS is 138 mm (5.4") shorter and 300 grams (10.5 oz) lighter than the MC51. There is only so much that can be chopped and removed from the G3 to reduce its size and weight, and the only thing that can really be done to further shorten the G3 SAS would be to use an MP5K muzzle to get rid of the flash hider.

The end cap is a new piece from Marui. It features a sling mount and is drilled to accept the PDW style stock Marui recently released for the G3 SAS. For those who prefer a solid stock, any of the Marui or Classic Army G3 stocks will bolt on in place of the end cap.

Internally, the mechbox is the same setup used in the MC51, right down to the same hole spacing in the cylinder. The inner barrel is 210 mm, just 75 mm shorter than the MC51. An EG1000 motor is standard, providing a bit of boost to the rate of fire over previous G3 variants. The G3 SAS uses a mini battery located in the front handguard assembly. Due to the tight spacing in the front of the gun, the fuse is located behind the mechbox under the end cap.

The new selector lever has a solid and much smoother feel to it. A plastic nut on the set screw that adjusts the motor height.

The G3 SAS does feature a few improvements over previous G3 variants. Perhaps the best improvement is to the selector lever. Previous G3's used a selector lever with a brass rod that runs through the body and is secured using a tiny screw on the opposite side. With enough use, the lever becomes loose or the threads on the screw are stripped. Either way, the selector lever setup wasn't very good. The SAS uses a selector lever assembly similar to the M16 series, with the lever secured to a plate on the inside of the body. The new selector lever has a solid and much smoother feel to it. The next improvement is the addition of a plastic nut on the set screw that adjusts the motor height. This is actually something being added to all the new Marui guns, but it is still a definite improvement. On the older guns, the set screw would work its way out, resulting in the motor moving out of adjustment and the pinion or bevel gear being stripped. The finish of the G3 SAS is also improved over previous releases. The dark gray matte finish of the lower receiver with the well defined painted lettering shows just how far Marui has come since the original G3 was released 8 years ago. All the exterior parts have a matte finish and are well secured to the gun. Nothing creaks or rattles. The overall feel is solid and hefty.

Accessories included with the gun are the standard AEG items: a cleaning rod, manual, Marui catalog, and red muzzle cap.

Considering the cost of the G3 SAS is in the same range as the MC51, you get quite a bargain when you factor in the high cap mag, improved cosmetics, and solid performance.