| Originally published in The NAM: National Airsoft Magazine Issue #13 Q1 2007. The NAM: National Airsoft Magazine Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved. |
Specs:
Manufacturer: I Chih Shivan
Length: 15.25in
Weight: 1.25lbs
Build Material: metal and ABS
Fire Selection: single shot
Mechbox Type: N/A
Power Source: gas powered grenade
Motor: N/A
Hop-Up: no
Blow-Back: no
FPS: varied
Magazine Capacity: varied
Manufacturer: I Chih Shivan
Length: 15.25in
Weight: 1.25lbs
Build Material: metal and ABS
Fire Selection: single shot
Mechbox Type: N/A
Power Source: gas powered grenade
Motor: N/A
Hop-Up: no
Blow-Back: no
FPS: varied
Magazine Capacity: varied
Package & MSRP:
For an MSRP of $150-200 USD, this
kit comes standard with the full
size 203 launcher, adaptors for
attachment to RIS and RAS assault
rifles, a full metal frame to assure
a secure mount and a 40mm 72rnd
grenade.
For an MSRP of $150-200 USD, this
kit comes standard with the full
size 203 launcher, adaptors for
attachment to RIS and RAS assault
rifles, a full metal frame to assure
a secure mount and a 40mm 72rnd
grenade.
Pros:
Obviously, the first pro would be the cool/intimidation factor. This thing just looks mean strapped beneath
your assault rifle. The simplicity in design, as in the real steel version, make this item nearly idiot-proof.
With the push of a lever, the tube slides open and stays open for easy loading/reloading. Weighing in at less
than half the weight of other 203s on the market means that you’re not adding a lead weight to the front end of
your gun. The ICS M203 is compatible with nearly all of the 40mm grenades on the market, so you’re not limited
to the 72rnd grenade that’s included in the package, which is also another pro as many manufacturers expect you
to drop more cash on a grenade after spending the same amount. As far as price goes, it’s also extremely
reasonable and has a surprising amount of durability to the build for such a comparatively low cost. The
RIS/RAS adaptor makes it easy to attach to any rifle possessing a Picatinny rail system. This also means that
if you don’t want to lug it around, you aren’t going to worry about some major disassembly as it’s easily
removed with the twisting of the two RIS adaptor knobs. The rail adaptor can also be removed for traditional
attachment to an M16 if so desired. It’s also reversible if you need to trade sides with the adaptor knobs so
that they don’t interfere with any mounts you currently have on your rifle. The safety switch, as on the real
steel version, is a nice feature assuring that if it’s set, the grenade won’t get wasted by any accidental
fumbling of the trigger but is ideal in it’s location for quick setting and releasing. The trigger guard
marries flawlessly to the magwell of any M16 series rifle and is easily removed with the extraction of a pin for
usage with other railed assault rifles. As with the real steel version, ICS has supplied a handy “catch” which
allows you to either open the 203’s slide and have the shell fall into your hand after use, or by pressing the
catch release beneath the magazine, the shell will stay in the barrel. For those of you, like me, who are into
custom painting, the ICS M203’s grip can easily be removed for painting, so you don’t have to worry about taping
off the many nooks and crannies for painting.
Obviously, the first pro would be the cool/intimidation factor. This thing just looks mean strapped beneath
your assault rifle. The simplicity in design, as in the real steel version, make this item nearly idiot-proof.
With the push of a lever, the tube slides open and stays open for easy loading/reloading. Weighing in at less
than half the weight of other 203s on the market means that you’re not adding a lead weight to the front end of
your gun. The ICS M203 is compatible with nearly all of the 40mm grenades on the market, so you’re not limited
to the 72rnd grenade that’s included in the package, which is also another pro as many manufacturers expect you
to drop more cash on a grenade after spending the same amount. As far as price goes, it’s also extremely
reasonable and has a surprising amount of durability to the build for such a comparatively low cost. The
RIS/RAS adaptor makes it easy to attach to any rifle possessing a Picatinny rail system. This also means that
if you don’t want to lug it around, you aren’t going to worry about some major disassembly as it’s easily
removed with the twisting of the two RIS adaptor knobs. The rail adaptor can also be removed for traditional
attachment to an M16 if so desired. It’s also reversible if you need to trade sides with the adaptor knobs so
that they don’t interfere with any mounts you currently have on your rifle. The safety switch, as on the real
steel version, is a nice feature assuring that if it’s set, the grenade won’t get wasted by any accidental
fumbling of the trigger but is ideal in it’s location for quick setting and releasing. The trigger guard
marries flawlessly to the magwell of any M16 series rifle and is easily removed with the extraction of a pin for
usage with other railed assault rifles. As with the real steel version, ICS has supplied a handy “catch” which
allows you to either open the 203’s slide and have the shell fall into your hand after use, or by pressing the
catch release beneath the magazine, the shell will stay in the barrel. For those of you, like me, who are into
custom painting, the ICS M203’s grip can easily be removed for painting, so you don’t have to worry about taping
off the many nooks and crannies for painting.
Cons:
The cons for the ICS M203 are pretty straight forward. We’ve already established that this item is primarily
for appearance as what it’s attached to in most, if not all cases, out-performs this item. So let’s get
critical. First and foremost is the trigger guard. While it does mesh perfectly with the magwell, it’s easily
bent out of shape. If this happens, forget about bending it back into its original position. While it can
come close, you’ll never get it back to perfect. With mainly an ABS construction, this item sacrifices some
durability in construction. This will add a pound or so to the front of your rifle, so keep that in mind. If
you’re running a battery in the foregrip, it will, in most cases, make your rifle unbalanced. Additionally,
with said imbalance, if you have a plastic bodied rifle, you may want to seriously consider investing in a
metal body as the additional weight can lead to stress fractures and eventual breakage. While entirely
compatible with shorter guns like an M4 RIS, it looks a little awkward and downright ridiculous when mounted to
CQB rifles. This is easily remedied with the purchase of ICS’s carbine-length M203.
The cons for the ICS M203 are pretty straight forward. We’ve already established that this item is primarily
for appearance as what it’s attached to in most, if not all cases, out-performs this item. So let’s get
critical. First and foremost is the trigger guard. While it does mesh perfectly with the magwell, it’s easily
bent out of shape. If this happens, forget about bending it back into its original position. While it can
come close, you’ll never get it back to perfect. With mainly an ABS construction, this item sacrifices some
durability in construction. This will add a pound or so to the front of your rifle, so keep that in mind. If
you’re running a battery in the foregrip, it will, in most cases, make your rifle unbalanced. Additionally,
with said imbalance, if you have a plastic bodied rifle, you may want to seriously consider investing in a
metal body as the additional weight can lead to stress fractures and eventual breakage. While entirely
compatible with shorter guns like an M4 RIS, it looks a little awkward and downright ridiculous when mounted to
CQB rifles. This is easily remedied with the purchase of ICS’s carbine-length M203.
Efficiency:
In testing the ICS M203, its performance was literally flawless. We tried several different brands of grenades
including MadBull, King Arms, Classic Army and Moscart with ideal results each time the trigger was pulled. The
only malfunction that occurred was the result of a defective grenade. Loading and unloading was hassle free as
well, which again, is mirrored in the real steel M203.
In testing the ICS M203, its performance was literally flawless. We tried several different brands of grenades
including MadBull, King Arms, Classic Army and Moscart with ideal results each time the trigger was pulled. The
only malfunction that occurred was the result of a defective grenade. Loading and unloading was hassle free as
well, which again, is mirrored in the real steel M203.
Durability:
While a majority of this piece is constructed
from ABS, and not metal, it still feels solid
and appears to be a high-impact ABS. Where
other manufacturer’s M203s rattle when shaken,
everything on this piece is tight. The barrel
is 1/8 of an inch thick and assures one of it’s
durability. The solid design assures that the
M203 will stand up to years of use and even a
little accidental abuse here and there
While a majority of this piece is constructed
from ABS, and not metal, it still feels solid
and appears to be a high-impact ABS. Where
other manufacturer’s M203s rattle when shaken,
everything on this piece is tight. The barrel
is 1/8 of an inch thick and assures one of it’s
durability. The solid design assures that the
M203 will stand up to years of use and even a
little accidental abuse here and there
Final Thoughts:
As with the ICS CQB reviewed in Issue #12, this piece provides an extremely high quality showing that ICS has
listened to their customers and are definitely cleaning off any tarnish remaining on their reputation from
their earlier releases. I have to say that I’m entirely impressed by this piece and by ICS. Let me close with
a comment for all of you Blains out there in the airsoft world who think chewing tobacco makes you a “sexual
tyrannosaurus.” “Strap this on your sore ass!”
As with the ICS CQB reviewed in Issue #12, this piece provides an extremely high quality showing that ICS has
listened to their customers and are definitely cleaning off any tarnish remaining on their reputation from
their earlier releases. I have to say that I’m entirely impressed by this piece and by ICS. Let me close with
a comment for all of you Blains out there in the airsoft world who think chewing tobacco makes you a “sexual
tyrannosaurus.” “Strap this on your sore ass!”
Design:
The overall design is also straight forward. Push in the lever, slide the cocking tube forward, load the shell,
cock it back, deactivate the safety and pull the trigger. Again, this item is, for the most part, idiot proof.
The RIS/RAS Picatinny rail adaptor assures longevity with a cross-rifle utilization so long as there is a rail
to mount it to. The metal frame on the RIS adaptor assures for a tight marriage to your rifle. Being capable
of taking most 40mm grenades on the airsoft market also gives one the security that if they’re not pleased with
the grenade included with the M203, other options are entirely available. This also means a worry free purchase
if picking up this item as a replacement. The streamlined 1:1 scale of the item makes for a nice intimidation
factor no matter what rifle it’s attached to. The fact that the rail attachment can be removed from this item
for a traditional attachment to an M16 was an added touch of class.
The overall design is also straight forward. Push in the lever, slide the cocking tube forward, load the shell,
cock it back, deactivate the safety and pull the trigger. Again, this item is, for the most part, idiot proof.
The RIS/RAS Picatinny rail adaptor assures longevity with a cross-rifle utilization so long as there is a rail
to mount it to. The metal frame on the RIS adaptor assures for a tight marriage to your rifle. Being capable
of taking most 40mm grenades on the airsoft market also gives one the security that if they’re not pleased with
the grenade included with the M203, other options are entirely available. This also means a worry free purchase
if picking up this item as a replacement. The streamlined 1:1 scale of the item makes for a nice intimidation
factor no matter what rifle it’s attached to. The fact that the rail attachment can be removed from this item
for a traditional attachment to an M16 was an added touch of class.
Let’s face it. As far as airsoft is concerned, the M203 is pure eye candy and intimidation factor strapped to
the bottom of a rifle that out-ranges it, shoots faster than it, and has considerably more accuracy than it.
But hey, it’s just that damn cool! For most people, introduction to the M203 occurred in a little piece of
notorious film history called Scarface when Tony Montana violently whips out his M16A2, with the M203 nestled
sweetly under the barrel, and aiming it at the Columbian intruders who’ve just breached his office yells, “Say
‘ello to my leel’ frien’!” Apparently, I was too focused on the book to movie comparison, which really wasn’t
that bad, to realize this. For me, the formal and more memorable introduction would come later, in the form of
the movie Predator in an exchange between Blain and Poncho about a sore ass, while enroute to their point of
insertion, deep within the highland jungles of Central America…
the bottom of a rifle that out-ranges it, shoots faster than it, and has considerably more accuracy than it.
But hey, it’s just that damn cool! For most people, introduction to the M203 occurred in a little piece of
notorious film history called Scarface when Tony Montana violently whips out his M16A2, with the M203 nestled
sweetly under the barrel, and aiming it at the Columbian intruders who’ve just breached his office yells, “Say
‘ello to my leel’ frien’!” Apparently, I was too focused on the book to movie comparison, which really wasn’t
that bad, to realize this. For me, the formal and more memorable introduction would come later, in the form of
the movie Predator in an exchange between Blain and Poncho about a sore ass, while enroute to their point of
insertion, deep within the highland jungles of Central America…
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