ARMOURY: ICS DDMK18

from Airsoft Action - September 2022

AA LEGION: SWEDEN

IF YOU’RE GOING FOR A THOROUGHLY MODERN “SEAL” OR GENERIC USSF LOADOUT AND YOU WANT ONE OF THE VERY BEST PLATFORMS TO COMPLETE YOUR “LOOK” THEN YOU NEED SEARCH NO FURTHER THAN THE MK18 CQBR! AS A HUGE FAN OF THIS PLATFORM, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS TESTED JUST ABOUT EVERY AIRSOFT REPLICA OF THIS ESTEEMED AR DESIGN AVAILABLE IN AIRSOFT FORM, BILL NOW TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE VERY LATEST REPLICA TO (JUST ABOUT!) HIT THE MARKET, AND THAT’S THE DD MK18 FROM ICS!

It’s going to come as no shock to anyone that I’m a HUGE fan of the MK18 CQBR as I’ve tested and reviewed many of them in airsoft form, and thus far I haven’t found one that I’ve not liked! Over the years I’ve had many, many AR AEGs through my hands both

in game and on the test range, and although I do own a number of mid and fulllength models these days, I still have a profound love for a “shorty”. And the MK18 really is, at least to me, the absolute epitome of what makes a good “shorty AR”, as of course IRL this is exactly what the platform was designed for, and as Daniel Defense (DD) don’t do things by halves at any point, their “shorty” has undoubtedly become one of the most successful “SF” AR designs out there! Yes, again of course we do still see the MP5 and the MP7 in the hands of USN SEALs for CQB purposes, but it’s the MK18 that really sets the tone for USSF hard chargers and door kickers!

As I’ve commented before, the MK18 is even shorter-barrelled than the M4A1 carbine with that 10.3 in (262 mm) barrel, and upon introduction the upper receiver was designated the Close Quarters Battle Receiver

(CQBR), while the entire weapon system was designated the MK18 Mod 0 by the United States Navy, and became a common sight amongst the USN VBSS units, NCIS, and USN SEALs. The purpose of the CQBR was to provide operators with a weapon of compact size, but one still capable of firing a rifle cartridge, intended for urban warfare and other close quarters battle (CQB) situations; one of two proposed “special mission receivers” that were planned for inclusion into the SOPMOD Block II kit, the CQBR has proved incredibly popular amongst its users.

Even though I’ve also said this before, there is still confusion amongst many, as for some reason Daniel Defense also made the decision to call the RIS II the “MK18”! It’s beyond doubt that the RIS II was designed at the request of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the Block II program, as they had a specific requirement

“THE MK18 REALLY IS, AT LEAST TO ME, THE ABSOLUTE EPITOME OF WHAT MAKES A GOOD “SHORTY AR”, AS OF COURSE IRL THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PLATFORM WAS DESIGNED FOR, AND AS DANIEL DEFENSE (DD) DON’T DO THINGS BY HALVES AT ANY POINT, THEIR “SHORTY” HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL “SF” AR DESIGNS OUT THERE”

for a free float M203 solution, and Daniel Defense responded, designing a revolutionary product to meet the government’s and user’s need. Don’t get the two mixed up; it’s possible to have a “MK18 RIS II” on any AR platform, but that does not make said platform a “MK18 CQBR” as the latter is an entire carbine that is the sum of all its constituent parts, and all the more effective for that!

It could be said that the MK18 AR15 style firearm is unrivalled when it comes to size, weight, and performance, and even the civilian spec model that you’ll see on the Daniel Defense website features the exact-same unique quad rail that they provide to USSOCOM; the RIS II, CNC-machined of 6061-T6 Aluminum and Type III Hard Coat Anodized, features a Bolt-Up System that has been rigorously tested at the sharp end by some of best military personnel out there, and the 10.3 inch Cold Hammer Forged barrel is the same length as that in use for the MK18 upper most commonly used for CQB operations. The civilian carbine also comes with the latest ergonomic Daniel Defense Buttstock and Pistol Grip, and the last time I visited SHOT I spent some time on the DD stand checking these out, but up until the ICS take on the MK18 I hadn’t seen these replicated in airsoft form (more on this later!), even though other manufacturers have created their own MK18’s under licence.

REAL STEEL DD MK18 ON THE RANGE IMAGE FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCE

SPECCED RIGHT

As anyone who reads my reviews and articles will know, I’m also a huge fan of ICS, and indeed have been an honorary “ICS Captain” since 2015, but as much as I love their AEGs my own tastes have changed a little over the years, and I’ve become incredibly picky about the AEGs and GBBs that I add to my personal armoury. I like my “replicas” to be exactly that, replicas of real world firearms down, if at all possible, to the smallest detail.

Now it is beyond doubt that ICS make some of the finest, high-performance AEGs out there, and their split gearbox has now become part of “airsoft lore”. They also go their own way when it comes to design, and as much as I love to see this (I mean, their ARK is a beauty!) as it’s a healthy direction for any airsoft manufacturer, it does mean that it is not always to my own personal taste, although I love it when they create something like the PAR Mk3/PROARMS ARMORY rifles. Every ICS AEG though is built with masses of QC and a lot of love, and they shoot brilliantly, it’s just that I do like my own platforms to be “real” these days… and their new certainly MK18 certainly ticks all my boxes, and more!

ICS could have decided to make a replica of an out and out “mil” carbine and called it the “SpecNavWarrior” or some such, but they haven’t, and another point of interest here is a collaboration with EMG ARMS in the USA; the new ICS DD MK18 has been created under the EMG Daniel Defense Licence and as such is 100% fully-branded, and I do mean FULLY, even down to the correct font in the trademarks! It’s genuinely, drop-dead gorgeously RIGHT, and I’m basing this on those real rifles and carbines I saw at SHOT.

Everything is where it should be on both the upper and lower receivers and 9.55” RIS II rail, right down to the NSN numbers, and along with these the overall finish of the AEG is just splendid, replicating the “chocolate tan” of the receivers and furniture that

“THE NEW ICS DD MK18 HAS BEEN CREATED UNDER THE EMG DANIEL DEFENSE LICENCE AND AS SUCH IS 100% FULLY-BRANDED, AND I DO MEAN FULLY, EVEN DOWN TO THE CORRECT FONT IN THE TRADEMARKS! IT’S GENUINELY, DROP-DEAD GORGEOUSLY RIGHT”

I was so taken with when I first saw it on the real models, and the “SF Bronze” of the rail is impeccable. Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder, and to me this is just gorgeous, although Jimmy is drooling just a little over the grey version!

I said I’d come back to the furniture later, so here it is… and this is definitely a first in the airsoft world to the best of my knowledge as the ICS AEG features some super replications of the latest ergonomic DD Buttstock and Pistol Grip, both of which are colourcoded to the receivers, but with a two-tone black

inset that frankly looks the absolute business.

On the real civilian-spec carbine these are “Glass Filled Polymer with Soft Touch Overmolding”, whilst on the ICS they are very high-grade polymer. Once again the finish if these parts is splendid, but with the grip accommodating the motor and the buttstock giving lots of battery space that is easily accessed via a “twist and turn” buttpad; the MK18 is rearwired with Deans. ICS call their take “ZETA” and the newly-designed “20°-Vertical” pistol grip offers both comfort and control; the QD bottom cap allows you to perform motor maintenance more easily too. With the real deal “iron” sights are sold separately, but ICS have been kind enough to fit their excellent flip-ups as standard so that the AEG just needs a battery to be field-ready.

INSIDE TRACK

What can I tell you about the internals that we also haven’t talked about before? Both Jimmy and I have sung the praises of the latest ICS internals from different perspectives, but the fact is that with minimal attention these days they are solid, reliable, and perform very, very well from the box.

However, let me run down a few facts on what’s going on inside the MK18 as there’s a few points worth of note here. The unique ICS-designed Split Gearbox is still at the heart of this new AEG, and many of us have loved this since it was first introduced; it’s now a thoroughly tried, tested, and trusted setup that mimics the disassembly of a real AR but also allows easy disassembly for maintenance and upgrading if you feel that is necessary. It also makes it supereasy to access the QC spring function if you need to, so it’s easy to change to adapt to different field and game-day requirements.

Inside you get what ICS refer to as “Performance Grade Reinforced Internals”, and these are composed of a Metal Cross Air Nozzle, Master Hop Tensioner Nub, 6061 Aluminium Cylinder and 6061 Aluminium Piston Heads, Full Steel Teeth Piston, and MIM Pinion and Bevel gears, and everything is driven along efficiently by an EVO motor that has high heatresistant magnets and ball bearings; ICS tell me that this has greater heat dissipation, offers increased power savings, and is able to achieve a higher RPM than before.

The MK18 I received for testing also benefits from the ICS SSS.III (Self-diagnostic Shooting System) E-Trigger that looks after all manner of internal functions, and protects your AEG from accidental

“THE MK18 I RECEIVED FOR TESTING ALSO BENEFITS FROM THE ICS SSS.III (SELFDIAGNOSTIC SHOOTING SYSTEM) E-TRIGGER THAT LOOKS AFTER ALL MANNER OF INTERNAL FUNCTIONS, AND PROTECTS YOUR AEG FROM ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE.”

damage. The “smart trigger” is also able to distinguish whether it is time for Burst Mode (light touch) or Full-Auto Mode (long, deep press), and it’s also shortstroked with a pre-cocking mechanism that makes your shots-away lightning quick; I won’t dwell on the full functionality of all this clever wizardry, as although I’m most definitely a “greybeard” I am no “internals Gandalf”… I have “men for that” these days!

Now I have to admit that I’m not usually an EBBfan as I had some horrendous experiences with older AEGs that frankly convinced me that EBB was a “bad thing”; I’ll just point you to the original ARMY L85 that would strip its piston during the first game you used it in… you hear what I’m saying? However, I’ve been monitoring this technology and it would certainly appear that it has come on leaps and bounds, and ICS are one of the manufacturers at the forefront here. Their EBB system does indeed bring a little more realism to your shooting experience, but these days without sacrificing durability and performance; as the MK18 now enters the long-term test pool we’ll see how that continues over time, but Jimmy assures me it is now a more robust system altogether.

DOWNRANGE

So, externally lovely, internally sound, but how does the ICS DD MK18 actually shoot?

In use the MK18 is every bit as good as I expected it to be, with performance living up to the promise offered by the stunning externals and solid, workmanlike internals. The MK18 comes with an ICS “Metal Mid-Cap Silent Magazine”; this is a super design as well as the magazine features a sound-suppressing mechanism that is just perfect for sneaking about in tight quarters quietly. Loaded up to 120 BB capacity with .20g RZR BBs and with an 11.1V LiPo battery fitted into the buffer tube I chrono’d the MK18 through my Xcortech at an incredibly consistent 1.03 Joule/334fps.

With the hop set for .28g BBs the BB trajectory was incredibly, and I do mean utterly, incredibly, flat; at 10m I was easily hitting small spinner targets and at the maximum of the 30m range I was hitting “dinner plate” metals unerringly. There was zero drop-off at 30m so in my mind I think you’ll be hitting targets at far greater distances than that, and that’s with the gun straight out of the box. Switching up to full-auto saw BBs heading off downrange with alacrity and that “soft-touch” trigger function is just awesome!

After each session of test-firing was completed I used the built-in ICS Spring Release mechanism; this actively protects the spring, piston and your hardearned buck! Whenever the SAFE mode is selected, the spring is automatically released, reducing wear on the spring and other internals, and I have to admit this is an ICS feature I have always loved.

Overall I am massively impressed with the ICS DD MK18. Although I’m yet to see a retail price at the time of writing I expect this to be competitively placed in the market, and it looks, feels, and shoots like something that will be worth the money whatever that may be! ICS replicas have always been good “bang for your buck”, but I honestly believe that the MK18 takes this to a new level. It’s got a cracking story behind it, and would be equally at home in a woodland setting as on a CQB site.

Some airsoft companies seem content to just follow a single line of progression in relation to their designs but I have to say in the past few years ICS have not done this in any way. I’ve always been a fan of their split gearboxes which are reliable and easy to work on, and personally I’ve never had an AEG from them that has been anything other than exemplary. ICS have pretty much always provided attractive and sturdy full-metal performance AEGs with first-rate internal parts and mechanisms.

But as I commented earlier, ICS could have easily gone down a route and created something to look “similar to a MK18” in house, and they are 100% more than capable of this; it would have been a great little AEG. But they decided that indeed “the only easy day was yesterday” and have done things right rather than easily with their thoroughly-of-the-moment DD MK18, and it is, like the real deal better than just the sum of its parts! By working with EMG and obtaining permission to work under the Daniel Defense Licence the externals are completely righteous, and their internals, as ever, are as good as ever if not better than those we’ve seen before!

I have to commend ICS for once again for creating something that sings to me in every way possible, and if the need for “NavSpecWarGru” is strong with you, then this is one AEG that you will most definitely want to own. If you’re in the market for a new AEG generally though, then I would certainly take a very good look at the ICS DD MK18; if this is the shape of things to come from ICS in the future then I’m superexcited to see what they come up with next!

My sincere thanks as always go to the lovely team at www.icsbb.com for providing the test sample as early as they did, and it is genuinely a pleasure to work with people that have such a passion for airsoft! AA