Airsoft Basics: What is a Hi-capa?

The Hi-capa 5.1 was the original Hi-capa pistol, and is a full size pistol, matching the frame, slide and barrel length of the original 1911 pistol on which the design was based. The Hi-capa 5.1 is by far the most popular Hi-capa and forms the basis for many custom built Hi-capas, including our own Bolster Armouries QUARTZ 2.0 Precision GBB Pistol. 

Hi-capa 5.1 pistols generally have more access to aftermarket parts than the shorter versions, with a extremely wide range of frames, slides, grips and other bits and bobs offering the opportunity to make your Hi-capa truly one of a kind. The Hi-capa 5.1 is also the chosen pistol of most competitive shooters thanks to its great ergonomics, superb accuracy and the various speedy upgrades available for the 5.1.

The Hi-capa 4.3 is slightly shorter in overall length than the original Hi-capa 5.1, being close in size to the 1911 Commander models. This makes the 4.3 slightly quicker to draw and slightly more efficient with gas use than its bigger brother, with the balancing factor that the accuracy potential will be lower due to the shorter barrel and less access to parts on the aftermarket. 

With the advent of more recent releases, the Hi-capa 4.3 is now available in many new styles, with the most notable examples being VORSKs ultra-modern angular styled 4.3s with a built in red dot sight, and the WE Europe WET Force Allosaurus. The 4.3 is also offered by our very own Bolster Armouries in the form of the MOONSTONE [Special Edition] made from the best upgrade parts money can buy by our highly experienced in house techs. Upgrades for the 4.3 are becoming more and more common, and this more compact Hi-capa is hot on the heels of the 5.1 variant! 

The Hi-capa 3.8 is affectionately known as the "baby Hi-capa" and it really is! This Hi-capa is equivalent to the 1911 Detonics, the pocket-sized 1911 designed for concealed carry. For obvious reasons, concealed carry is not a thing in Airsoft, but as a last ditch backup, you couldn't ask for more firepower in such a compact package.

The 3.8 variant is a fine choice for those who already carry a primary and a sidearm, and want something extra for frantic situations where both weapons have run dry and the enemy keeps on coming! Equally, a Hi-capa 3.8 would be a good choice for those with smaller hands and less space for their sidearm within their loadout, such as Support Gunners. While the Hi-capa 3.8 does not have as much access to upgrade parts as the bigger variants, the 3.8 still has the same frightening Hi-capa performance as the big boys and is compatible with the same magazines. 

Hi-capa AEPs are a recent innovation by CYMA in the form of the CM.128 and CM.128S and are based on the Tokyo Marui Automatic Electric Pistol system, with a tiny metal gearbox inside just like the bigger AEG platforms on the market. AEPs are generally more affordable than their GBB counterparts to run, needing no gas and comparatively little maintenance, though they are a bit boring to shoot if you are used to GBBs as the slide stays fixed in place.

It's not all yawns though, Hi-capa AEPs have a hidden full auto fire mode so you can hose the enemy down with a torrent of BBs when needed and are well known to perform far better than GBB pistols in cold weather. At temperatures approaching freezing, GBBs are very inefficient due to reduced gas pressure, but AEPs continue doing their job as they always have done. Many snipers choose AEPs as a sidearm due to the combination of having full auto, ultra-compact magazines and a far less dramatic and noisy muzzle report than a GBB, but you won't find an AEP in the hands of a Speedsofter as they simply aren't fast enough!