Introduced in 2004, the real steel X4 is a polymer pistol with many components and layout features seen on older weapons but is itself a radical departure from the manufacturers other pistols. Most recently it was seen in the Movie Inception used by the character Cobb played by Leonardo DiCaprio.
This new generation pistol features a rotating barrel system and removable grip back-straps just like the real steel!
The pistol comes bundled with 2 extra back plates so you can pick out your preferred thickness and shape. The options allows for tighter grips for smaller hands or wider options for larger ones. The pistol is entirely polymer on the outside just like the real steel but has significant heft and robustness during operation with the metal internals.
The X4 uses a proprietary magazine; it is fully capable of taking Green / Top gas as is the pistol itself. With a capacity of 25 rounds, it has more than enough gas to clock in at around 280 fps all with crisp cycling and good kick.
With a double action trigger the hammer can be locked back for a trigger pull release or trigger double action pull for non-cocked shooting. The safety is on the slide and when activated it de-links the trigger from the mechanism completely and it also de-cocks the hammer. The iron sights are fixed with a white dot up front and two white dots on the rear for a very clear set of sights. Another interesting feature, even when cocked the weapon will not fire unless in full battery; only when the slide is in the correct fully forward position will the weapon fire.
This means you can gas and load your magazine, load the magazine in the weapons and than cock the weapon but then engage the safety to de-cock the weapon. Although de-cocked, if there is a loaded magazine and still a BB in the chamber you can disengage the safety and then pull the trigger for a double-action hammer back and release to complete a proper shot from a hammer down position. With the right handling protocols, this is a very safe and tactical pistol.
Even more remarkably, with slide locked to the rear you can adjust the hop-up via a small grey dial just to the left of the ramp. This means not only can you adjust the hop-up without opening the gun but you can even adjust it in the field in the middle of a game with the weapon still loaded.
