Golden Eagle 3326 1911 Starburst 4.3 GBB Pistol

If you're committed to the old-school 1911 but want one kitted out for modern combat, the Golden Eagle 3326 1911 Starburst 4.3 GBB Pistol is one to watch. Equipped with a modernised Hi-Capa 4.3-style slide, a 20mm Picatinny frame rail for your flashlight or laser and textured grip panels inspired by real steel Wilson Combat "Starburst" grips, this 1911 has been refreshed for the 21st-century battlefield.

Inside, this full metal build is equipped with a 6.02mm tightbore inner barrel for an accuracy and efficiency boost, along with a steel hammer and steel hammer group components to extend lifespan and improve reliability in the long term. If you're after a 1911 with a modern makeover, the Golden Eagle 3326 1911 Starburst 4.3 GBB Pistol is a fine choice!

Starting at the front of the slide, we can find the front iron sight blade, a fixed combat-style sight which aligns well with the Novak-style rear sight. At the tip of the outer barrel are 11mm CW female threads, meaning you can add a tracer unit or suppressor using an 11mm CW female to 14mm CCW male thread adapter. If you're a tracer kinda person, we recommend the Eshooter Flare-M, as it is packaged with the correct adapter and you can get shooting straight away!

The outer barrel itself is finished in eye-catching chrome silver, adding a touch of contrast to the build without spoiling its military-style look. The profile of the barrel is the "bull barrel" style, widening towards the muzzle end to improve heat management, add weight to the muzzle to control muzzle rise under rapid fire and eliminate the need for a barrel bushing in real steel form. For Airsoft, this is merely for the look, but it pairs perfectly with the aggressive, modernised styling of this 1911 build.

At the front, the slide features serrations, allowing you to rack the slide with ease in all weather, from the front or rear. The angle of the front serrations perfectly matches that of the rear, keeping the design language consistent across the build for a tidy overall look. The design of the slide is very modern for a 1911 build, boasting angled edges and a Hi-Capa-esque look which pairs well with the modernised, rail-equipped frame and Wilson Combat-style grips.

As we move rearwards, we can find the slide release catch, which has checkering on the upper surface to ensure it can be operated when wet or in adverse weather. Likewise, the magazine release is textured and is right where you expect to find it, well within reach of your thumb whilst firing, on the left side of the grip.

Moving down to the frame, we can find a 20mm Picatinny rail on the dust cover, allowing you to mount a tactical flashlight or laser aiming module to kit the 1911 Starburst 4.3 out for primary pistol duty. This is a true Picatinny spec rail with 4 rail slots, ensuring you'll get flawless compatibility and extra versatility in where you mount your accessories.

The grip panels of the 1911 Starburst are a modernised design, inspired by real steel "Starburst" grips made by Wilson Combat, a premium manufacturer of real steel 1911 components and custom builds. The grips are made from high-density polymer, equipped with linear grooves which appear to burst from the rear of the grip, along with a thumb recess for easy access to the mag release. The central roundel is finished in chrome, showcasing the Golden Eagle "IMF" logo.

The front face of the trigger also includes linear grooves to enhance traction and is of a straight travel (aka straight back) design, similar to the 1911's double-stack descendant, the Hi-Capa. This allows for a consistent and accurate trigger pull, taking full advantage of the light and short pull of a 1911 trigger. Being a modernised trigger design, this trigger features 3 ports to reduce weight and add to the unique yet realistic styling.

The safety lever can be found on either side of the frame and sits comfortably under the shooter's thumb, perfect for cocked and locked carry. Unlike the original 1911 safety first designed over 100 years ago, this safety lever is an ambidextrous example, presenting an extended lever on each side, which locks the trigger when pushed up and can be used as a thumb rest when pushed down.

On the rear of the frame, we have what is known as a beavertail grip safety, a hallmark feature of the 1911, allowing it to get away with a super short trigger pull and still be safe by disconnecting the trigger until the pistol is gripped fully and properly. The beavertail safety ensures the trigger cannot be inadvertently pressed when drawing from a holster, which can be quite a painful experience in Airsoft, let alone real steel. The style of grip safety used on the Starburst 4.3 is an extended design, providing a slightly raised surface on the rear to ensure the grip safety is deactivated as soon as the pistol is gripped.

Just above the grip safety, we come to the hammer, which is a modern, angled design made from steel, ported in the centre to reduce weight. The hammer is shaped to allow you to cock the pistol by pulling the hammer back more easily, and while this isn't really useful for Airsoft, it is still great fun to play with and makes the GE 1911 a great movie prop.

On the inside, the Golden Eagle 1911 Starburst is fully Tokyo Marui compatible, which is great news for those of us who cannot touch an Airsoft gun without upgrading it. As it comes, GE saw fit to include a 6.02mm tightbore inner barrel, providing a slight raise in FPS, improved accuracy and slightly better gas efficiency than a standard 6.08 bore barrel.

The base of the frame is cut to allow 1911 CO2 magazines to be inserted, a fantastic edge to have when the frost sets in. We have not yet tested this pistol with CO2, so we cannot provide an FPS estimate currently. The hammer is also made from robust steel, as are many of the internal trigger group components, a considerable reliability advantage compared to stock cast alloy trigger parts. For the price of this pistol, this is quite the surprise!

If a 1911 will be your next buy, but you want a mission-ready setup, the Golden Eagle 3326 1911 Starburst 4.3 GBB Pistol is the way to go. A solid full metal build with pre-upgraded steel internals and ready for a tracer unit, flashlight or laser, this 1911 takes no prisoners!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.02mm Tightbore inner barrel - Superb accuracy potential
• Supplied in a hard pistol case - Great value, professional looks
• 11mm CW Female threaded barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready with adapter
• Chrome-finished "Bull" barrel - Eye-catching and realistic
• 20mm Picatinny frame rail - Ready for a tactical flashlight or laser
• Front & rear slide serrations - Easy to rack from the front or rear
• Fixed combat sights - Novak-style sights like the real steel MEU
• Wilson Combat Starburst-style grips - Comfortable and grippy, with or without gloves
• Ambidextrous safety catch - Easy to use for left or right-handed shooters
• Extended magazine release - Allows for fast reloads under pressure
• Beavertail grip safety - Prevents the pistol from shooting unless gripped
• CO2 Frame Cutout - Compatible with 1911 CO2 Magazines
• Steel hammer & hammer group parts - Pre-upgraded parts for long-term durability
• Compatible with Golden Eagle 1911 GBB Pistol magazines

Package Includes

• Golden Eagle 3326 1911 Starburst 4.3 GBB Pistol
  • 25rnd Green gas magazine
  • Speed loader