Golden Eagle 3701 EU17 Gen.5 GBB Pistol

If you're working on a military-style loadout seeking a sidearm to suit, the Golden Eagle 3701 EU17 Gen.5 GBB Pistol is a safe bet. A full metal replica of the Gen.5 model of the most common sidearm for Military and Law Enforcement worldwide, this affordable sidearm boasts a precisely machined aluminium slide and enhanced Gen.5 frame, complete with an ambidextrous slide lock/release and an enlarged mag release for rapid reloads.

Inside, things get even better! The hammer/trigger group is almost entirely made from robust steel, enhancing reliability and extending lifespan considerably. The aluminium slide cycles phenomenally smoothly compared to standard cast alloy equivalents, and the 6.02mm tightbore inner barrel provides a boost in accuracy when used with high-quality BBs.

Starting at the front, we can find mock rifling at the tip of the 4.3-inch alloy outer barrel. The mock rifling gives the enemy team a more realistic view as you send them back to spawn, but also makes the EU17 Gen.5 a great photography or film-making prop. If you want to mount a suppressor or tracer, you'll need to add an aftermarket threaded outer barrel.

At the top of the slide, we can find our front and rear sights, a simple set of open combat sights which are intuitive to align. The set also includes a red light-enhancing front sight with a rear sight with green light-enhancing inserts, ideal for fast target acquisition, and a set of classic white dot sights, allowing you to choose the sight setup you prefer. We recommend proceeding with caution if you're switching your sights out, and if you're unsure how to do it, contact us for advice.

On each side of the slide, we have flawlessly engraved slide serrations at the front and rear, matching the style of the latest MOS version of the real pistol. The serrations provide superb traction and control over the slide, ideal for wet weather conditions and gloved users. The high standard of machining present is what separates this from other EU series builds, promising a flawless form and crisp details throughout.

On the right side of the slide, we can see the mock ejection port, through which we get a glimpse of the outer barrel with its contrasting colour scheme, adding visual interest to the overall build. The outer barrel is also visible through the ports on the sides of the slide, completing the discreetly upgraded look.

Moving to the frame, we can find a 20mm Picatinny pistol rail on the dust cover, allowing pistol lights, lasers and other 20mm Picatinny accessories to be mounted. On the rail itself, we can see the serial number plate, which is finished in silver, just like the real thing. This plate doubles as a trigger lock safety, primarily for transportation, and can be pushed backwards to engage or forwards to release.

To the rear of the frame rail, we find the trigger guard, which, in classic EU series style, is shaped to aid the use of a "European grip" shooting style, with checkering on the front face for added grip. Within the trigger guard, we find the two-stage trigger (where else?). This trigger works similarly to the real pistol, and cannot be pressed if the separate centre section is not also pressed. This serves to reduce the chances of an accidental discharge and means that unless your finger is on the trigger, the pistol will not fire.

Above the trigger, we can see a small catch which is mirrored on either side of the pistol. This is the disassembly catch and can be used to field strip the EU17 for maintenance. To remove the slide of the pistol, simply remove the magazine, cock the slide so the hammer is back, pull down the disassembly catches on either side and push the slide forward to remove it from the frame.

With the slide removed, you can now access the adjustable HOP-up unit, which can be used to apply backspin to your BBs, extending their range. The dial can be turned to apply additional HOP-up effect and can be tuned to your chosen BB weight to extend the effective range of the pistol. We recommend running 0.25g BBs with this pistol, as they're great for practically any environment.

Behind the disassembly levers, we can find another of the "Gen.5" EU series enhancements: its ambidextrous slide lock/release catch. Matching previous EU series generations in terms of shape, but now mirrored on either side to allow for left-handed use, the slide lock allows you to release the slide when it locks back on an empty magazine or manually lock the slide open for chamber inspection.

The enlarged Gen.5-style magazine release can be found on the pistol grip, on the left side, sitting comfortably beneath the shooter's thumb for fast access and a fast reload. The mag release is textured for additional grip, ensuring you never mess up your reloads under pressure. The Gen.5-style mag release is very easy to access under pressure, ideal for skirmishers who like to move fast!

The grip itself matches the Gen.5 design, skipping the front finger ridges of previous generations in favour of a wrap-around dot texture, which provides plenty of traction for wet weather conditions, with or without gloves. At the base of the grip, the magazine well flares out slightly to allow for faster reloads under pressure, a welcome addition to this no-frills combat-optimised setup.

If you're after a cutting-edge combat-style sidearm with impressive internals and robust steel pre-upgraded parts inside, the Golden Eagle 3701 EU17 Gen.5 GBB Pistol is a fantastic option. As impressive in looks as it is in terms of performance, this affordable EU17 build is great value!

Features

• Full metal construction - Aluminium slide
• 6.02mm Tightbore inner barrel - Superb accuracy potential
• Supplied in a hard pistol case - Professional presentation
• Gen.5 slide design - Bevelled front end for easier re-holstering
• Front slide serrations - Easy to rack from the front or back
• Open combat iron sights - Simple yet effective
• Gear-adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible with the slide removed
• 20mm Picatinny frame rail - Ready for a tactical flashlight or aiming laser
• Gen.5 frame design - Finger ridges removed, dot texture for extra traction
• Ambidextrous slide lock/release - Great for left or right-handed users
• Two-stage safety trigger - The central blade must be pressed to shoot
• Enlarged magazine release - Easy access for fast reloads
• Steel hammer/trigger group components - Improves reliability and lifespan
• Compatible with Golden Eagle EU Series Green gas magazines

Package Includes

• Golden Eagle 3701 EU17 Gen.5 GBB Pistol
  • 23rnd Green Gas Magazine
  • Speed loader
  • Light-enhancing sights set
  • White dot sights set