RED CELL WOLVERINES!

IN AN AIRSOFT WORLD STILL DOMINATED BY AR/M4-STYLE REPLICAS RED CELL ARE RETURNING TO A FAMILY OF FIREARMS, AND AIRSOFT REPLICAS THEREOF, THAT RIGHTLY BEARS THE DESCRIPTION “ICONIC”, AND THAT’S THE CLASSIC KALASHNIKOV IN ALL ITS WONDERFUL, WORKMANLIKE FORMS!

Iam always wary of using the phrase “iconic” to describe an airsoft replica, but when it comes to one single family of firearms I have said before, and I will say happily again, that there is absolutely no doubt that someone with even the most fleeting of interest in military weapons will immediately recognise the distinctive angular, some might even say “agricultural” outline of the Automat Kalashnikova or “AK”.

Throughout the course of post-WW2 conflict, for the right or the wrong reasons, you will see the AK-47 in historical reports and texts, on news reports and on the front page of most daily newspapers. From Eastern Europe in the 1950s to the conflict zones of the current day the AK has been, and is still, the weapon of choice. And that’s not just for the “bad guys” as the AK will quite often be the weapon issued in theatre to private military contractors or “PMCs”, and indeed in these troubled times, to the freedom fighters of Ukraine.

Used around the world, and produced under licence by many communist states during the Cold War era, and now by some former soviet states, the AK proved, and still proves to this day, to be a formidable and highly effective battlefield rifle. Unbelievably rugged and durable it was said that the original AK-47 would fire even after having been buried in mud for considerable periods; incredibly easy to maintain, it was the ideal weapon for poorly trained indigenous forces as well as for trained soldiers.

That said, anyone who has ever fired a real AK (as I have) will tell you that the recoil is also somewhat formidable too, and the rifle is hard to control unless you really put your mind to it. Once controlled though it is accurate out to 400 metres which is more than sufficient for most infantrymen. Changing methods of deployment meant that Soviet troops were delivered to the battlefield in vehicles, so that original AK went through further development to include models with an underfolding, skeletonised stock which dramatically reduced the length of the rifle when used by paratroopers or motorised infantry. The safety mechanism also differed from the traditional “safe, semi, auto” format, becoming instead “safe, auto, semi”. This at first seems unusual, but given the Soviet doctrinal preference to engage the enemy with overwhelming force utilising fully automatic fire perhaps it is not actually so.

The AK-47 was a fine combat weapon, and initial models were actually very, very well made. Unfortunately this also meant it was expensive and involved to produce, so eventually changes were made and the AKM (Modernised) entered service, followed in time by the AK-74 and AKS-74 variant with side-folding stock , and these also heralded a change in calibre.

The AK-74M (again with the M standing for Modernizirovanniy or Modernised), was for many years (and perhaps still is if what we read is true) the main service rifle in use with the Russian Federation forces, and the days of perfectly mated wood and metal have pretty much long gone with new polymer and glass-filled polyamides helping to save those forests!

If you’re a fan of the AK like me, or simply want something different from the slew of “M4 variants” out there, then there has actually never been a better time to own an airsoft AK.

We did mention some of the Red Cell test models last month in the “Nam Special” so we won’t dwell on those again here, but with well-respected companies like LCT, E&L, and Specna Arms now making some righteous replicas, and all the older manufacturers like CYMA, Classic Army, ICS, and Tokyo Marui upgrading their offerings to now include upgraded internals and the “100 series”, the choice of “Airsoft AK” has never been wider. If you want anything from a standard AK AEG, through gas blowbacks, to new and innovative “recoil” models they are all there for the taking.

And of course, in the full spirit of “Red Dawn” with a classic AK you do get to shout “WOLVERINES!” whenever you feel like it!

Bill: As with our first look at this category I’m actually going to start off with my own comments in relation to testing, as I have an admission to make; many of the AK models featured this month are from my personal OPFOR “Kollection” and have seen some action, although ownership of at least one AK variant among the AA Crew has grown! That said, all of them have been left completely stock as personally I don’t change anything in an AEG until it malfunctions, and thus far NONE of the AKs that are my own have failed, and that in itself says something does it not? And what surprised me was how consistent these AK models continue to be… the figures don’t

I’ll kick off here with CYMA who are still one of the biggest manufacturers of RIFs and airsoft products in the world, although they do so quietly. To recap, China, there are actually two separate CYMA factories, with one making “budget” guns and the other making more expensive and advanced models. You really don’t hear a lot direct from CYMA themselves about new models and new advances, instead they leave their products to speak for themselves and be lauded by their distribution partners globally, and their AK models, and especially the AK-74 most certainly sing a song

These super AK replicas have all the usual benefits of other CYMA models including steel and aluminium construction, and internals that are renowned for their reliability, and come with a 500BB polymer magazine so what you get is a superb-looking AEG for not much more than a decent GBB pistol that’s “skirmish ready”! The CYMA “74” is a thoroughly modern airsoft rifle that costs iro UK£200 so what you’re getting is a great bit of kit that looks utterly superb, feels so solid that you could use it to hammer nails, and is perfectly adequate in terms of performance…. From the box!

Dan: CYMA’s AK series are well-regarded for their reliable performance out of the box, while also maintaining a rather attractive price point. The CM.048 model is based off the distinctive 74 series rifle with laminated wood forearm and stock. Another version exists that features the iconic steel folding triangle stock too. This features a stamped steel receiver and full metal construction, adopting the manner of assembly first pioneered by VFC. These are fed from either 500 round hicaps or 140 round midcaps, the latter of which are considered the universal baseline for well-functioning 74 style midcaps. These can typically be had for around US$240 or less, depending on if you catch it on sale, which makes it an excellent prospect for a new airsofter or as a cheap backup.

The lower cost does mean some corners have been cut, namely with the fixtures such as the front sight post, gas tube retainer lever, and so forth. These are made from cheaper castings and have been known to break when hit hard enough on some unyielding surface. Overall, they’re a little more loose compared to the LCT’s and E&L’s out there.

Internally you have the basic V3 gearbox format, fitted with 8mm bushings, an 18.65:1 sintered gearset and many cheaper plastic compression parts, all slathered in a healthy dollop of blue “smurf lube” when new. Depending on the retailer and perhaps some regional specifics, I have seen newer CM.048’s come in with an improved gearbox, which consists of a CNC double O-ring cylinder head, chrome-plated cylinder, a new air nozzle with internal O-ring and neodymium motors. Additionally, many of the plastic parts such as the piston, tappet plate, and trigger switch housing have been updated to the new blue variants which are higher quality. This latter type is certainly the better value proposition as when it comes time for upgrades, it requires less overhaul. In years past, these could sometimes be a bit difficult to upgrade due to the rather loose tolerances with the native parts, but more recently CYMA has tightened things up and they’re significantly less troublesome to improve.

Overall, if you’re on a tighter budget and want to get into the AK game, then this is an excellent first option to consider, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it over the even cheaper Aftermath Kraken and Cybergun Kalashnikov, all of which are basically “disposable” AEG’s that will be cheaper to replace than to repair.

Bill: It’s got to be said that Specna Arms (SA) AEGs are just getting better and better, with levels of personalization and performance that even a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have believed possible in an AEG! With solid performance out of the box, reasonably cheap accessories and magazines should you need more, and the SA-J04 is a great bit of kit; if you’re in the market for something other than the “M4” then I’d really suggest you take a good long look at the Specna J04 as it replicates the AKS-74 very well indeed, and it’s just crying out for a Double Bell GP-25 Kostyor (“Bonfire”) to sweeten the deal; these grenade launchers are easily fitted, and I have to say that although they add significant weight to the front end of the AEG they look downright awesome!

Shorter than the “74” style, the SA-J08 is more a “105” length, and I have to say that it sits beautifully between the full-length models and the stubby SU, and with the side-folding stock it is a more minimalist AEG that’s great for CQB! On the range the first SA AKs gave very respectable performance, so I expected, and have received, more from the new J08, with pretty solid range and accuracy too. First I ran the rifle through the chrono on .20g RZR BBs and recorded and consistent 1.06 Joule/338fps. A 7.4V LiPo battery fits easily under the top cover, but if you’re judicious

Tmaks47 Ngrs

Price: iro UK£399.00

Age: Three Years

Weight: 3155 g

Length: 630mm/875mm

Magazine Capacity: 90 BBs, proprietary for full function

Cold Chrono: 0.84 Joule/300.6fps

Hot Chrono: 0.84 Joule/300.9fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk

G&G RK47

Price: iro UK£150.00

Age: Five Years

Weight: 2300g

Length: 890mm

Magazine Capacity: 60, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 0.93 Joule/318fps

Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

Lct Lckms

Price: iro UK£370.00

Age: Six Years

Weight: 3500g

Length: 660mm/900 mm

Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps

Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331.8fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

E&L AKM PLATINUM

Price: iro UK£385.00

Age: Five Years

Weight: 3485g

Length: 916mm

Magazine Capacity: 120, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 0.99 Joule/327.9fps

Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/327.9fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

Tokyo Marui Akm Gbbr

Price: iro UK£500.00

Age: Three Years

Weight: 3550g

Length: 890mm

Magazine Capacity: 35 BBs

Cold Chrono: 1.12 Joule/348fps

Hot Chrono: 1.12 Joule/348fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.allagesairsoft.com you can squeeze in an 11.1V pack which brings up the ROF quite seriously!

My only quibble with the original J-Series was the top-cover latch, which seemed a little “short, and I felt needed to be a couple of millimetres “prouder” to ensure a solid lock, and I’m pleased to report that SA have taken note of this and made a change to ensure that the new version locks perfectly. I am happy that Specna Arms have given an uplift to their AK AEG platform, and with the inclusion of components like the ASTER™/GCS these are performing as well as you might expect. If you’re looking for an airsoft AK, then Specna Arms are now right up there with the best of them in terms of build and performance!

Miguel: The Specna Arms J08 is part of the brand’s AK model family, more precisely a mix between an AK015 and AK74U. It’s a range known for their solid build quality, advanced internals, and realistic design.

In the case of the EDGE 2.0 model, it comes with ESA2™ Quick Spring Change System, which allows users to quickly adjust the spring without needing to dismantle the gearbox, facilitating easy adaptation for various field requirements.

A pre-installed Gate ASTER V3 MOSFET provides improved trigger response, configuration and reliability, protecting the internals and enhancing performance. The Helium Flat Hop Up, which designed to provide a more stable and precise spin on the BBs, leads to improved accuracy and range. This makes it an excellent choice for players who prioritize precision in their airsoft gameplay, especially when using heavier BBs. Compared with the EDGE 1.0 models it also has the reinforced ORION™ V3 Gearbox; this gearbox is designed for robustness and compatibility with stronger springs, including reinforced polymer pistons and double-sealed

“CYMA’S AK SERIES ARE WELL-REGARDED FOR THEIR RELIABLE PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE BOX, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING A RATHER ATTRACTIVE PRICE POINT. THE CM.048 MODEL IS BASED OFF THE DISTINCTIVE 74 SERIES RIFLE WITH LAMINATED WOOD FOREARM AND STOCK”

Bolt Aks 74u Brss

Price: iro UK£420.00

Age: Three Years

Weight: 3100g

Length: 510mm/730mm

Magazine Capacity: 120 (2), will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 0.98 Joule/325.1fps

Hot Chrono: 0.97 Joule/324.4fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

Lct Lcks74un Ebb

Price: iro UK£330.00

Age: Three Years

Weight: 2685g

Length: 490mm/730mm

Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps

Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: Dedicated Muzzle Brake

Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

JG AKS-74U EBB

Price: iro UK£190.00

Age: One Year

Weight: 2570g

Length: 500mm/730mm

Magazine Capacity: 380, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps

Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331.8fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.davescustomairsoft.co.uk

Lct Lckmsu Nv

Price: iro UK£400.00

Age: Five Years

Weight: 3150g

Length: 500mm/744mm

Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept most AK-style

Hot Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps

Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331.8fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.lctairsoft.com

SPECNA ARMS J-08 EDGE

Price: iro UK£155.00

Age: Three Years

Weight: 3245g

Length: 590mm/825mm

Magazine Capacity: 130 (2) will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 1.08 Joule/341.9fps

Hot Chrono: 1.08 Joule/341.6fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.gunfire.com aluminium cylinder and piston heads. On the con side, some issues with magazine compatibility have surfaced, so try to do a bit of research before getting new magazines. Additionally, battery fitment can be restrictive, requiring specific types of stick batteries.

Overall though, the Specna Arms J EDGE 2.0 series, and in this case, the J08, offers a blend of high-quality materials, advanced features, and enhancements, making it a competitive choice in the airsoft market when looking for an AK model. Whether you are looking for a reliable primary weapon for skirmishes or a versatile platform for customization, this series is well worth considering.

Bill: LCT offer products that are not only cost effective but also reliable in performance and solid in build quality. The LCKMS features the same highquality external build expected of LCT products which will give good, reliable long-term performance. Overall the features are excellent with a full steel receiver and barrel assembly, beautifully achieved wooden foreend, correctly coloured pistol grip and a rock-solid folding stock. Enhanced by high quality externals, scrupulously achieved internals and extreme attention to detail, the LCKMS is a strong, reliable rifle for those that love the AK platform and want a viable “MilSim” alternative to gas for the depth of winter. The LCKMS chronos really consistently so if you like your classic soviet-era gear, are a regular OPFOR player, or just want something different then the LCKMS could be the right RIF for you. It has all the benefits of a full-stocked variant with the added versatility of the under-folding stock, and is a top-quality AEG, so you really can’t go wrong with this one!

Dan: LCT is usually the next station in line when one steps up from the CYMA, and that extra US$150 or so is primarily invested here in superior body construction. The LCKMS is based off the venerable 47-style AKMS pattern sporting the classic laminated wood furniture and the unique underfolding style stock. This comes with 100% full steel externals; from the stamped receiver right down to the front sight post, selector switch, rear leaf sight, gas tube lever and more. This is an AK you can feel confident in taking a beating. Purists will denounce the incorrect markings and wrong exterior finish, but realistically you’re not going to get total authenticity until you get into a Real Sword or redo it yourself. For the player who just wants a good solid AK to skirmish with, these will more than suffice.

Admittedly, LCT’s internals have been a point of contention with many a tech! In 2024, we are still dealing with issues that have plagued the gearbox for years now: oversized gear axles (now on all 3 gears!), brittle motor cages, and unimpressive ferrite motors. Fortunately, LCT does build a good compression set with a nice quality cylinder, piston head, tappet plate and air nozzle. The piston itself features a full metal rack and is reasonably durable. Of the traditional style linear hop up chambers, LCT’s is also one of the better ones out there. LCT has also improved the fit and finish of their inner barrels quite a bit too and they turn in respectable accuracy. The motor cage issue can be remedied by swapping it out with one of LCT’s CNC’d aluminium versions, but just be sure to use some anti-seize grease on the screws! Like all LCT’s, these are easy to work on and upgrade; there is nothing really proprietary here. And despite the concerns with the gearbox side, this does not mean you can’t actually run it as it comes out of the box. Similar to the CYMA, if you don’t let the genie out of the bottle straight away you’ll get quite a bit of life out of the stock components!

All in all (and despite the foibles with the gearbox) I’m a big fan of LCT’s AKMS. It’s hard to deny the aesthetics of the classic AKMS design and the amalgamation of laminated wood and steel! The underfolder in particular has cemented its place in the pantheon of ultimate “bad guy” replicas, having featured in innumerable films and literature over the years.

Bill: Although we mentioned this model last month in our “Summer Special”, the “Platinum” version of the E&L AKM I feel rightly deserves another mention! E&L Airsoft have teamed up with partners known for making very high quality internal parts for the Japanese market, so the internals are interchangeable with others out there. Inside the “Platinum” there’s a Type 3 gearbox employing Japanese technology with super tensile pistons, tappet plates, and high torque motor; not only are the E&Ls beautifully finished externally with extensive use of steel parts, but inside things are equally precise.

BELL GP-25 KOSTYOR (“BONFIRE”) TO SWEETEN THE DEAL; THESE GRENADE LAUNCHERS ARE EASILY FITTED, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH THEY ADD SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT TO THE FRONT END OF THE AEG THEY LOOK DOWNRIGHT AWESOME”

SPECNA ARMS SA-J04

Price: iro UK£160.00

Age: Four Years

Weight: 3240g

Length: 710mm/945mm

Magazine Capacity: 130 (2), will accept most AK style

Cold Chrono: 1.13 Joule/349.7fps

Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/341.9fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

CYMA CM.048 AK74

Price: iro UK£130.00

Age: Five Years

Weight: 3290g

Length: 960mm

Magazine Capacity: 525, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps

Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

ICS IK74 (WOOD)

Price: iro UK£330.00

Age: Seven Years

Weight: 3314g

Length: 960mm

Magazine Capacity: 550, will accept most AK-style

Cold Chrono: 1.13 Joule/350fps

Hot Chrono: 1.1 Joule/345fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

SPECNA ARMS SA-J02 EDGE (GATE ASTER)

Price: iro UK£300.00

Age: New

Weight: 3545g

Length: 960mm

Magazine Capacity: 130 (2), will accept most AK style

Cold Chrono: 1.08 Joule/341.9fps

Hot Chrono: 1.1 Joule/345fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

TM NEXT-GEN RECOIL AK47 (TYPE 3) AEG

Price: iro UK£400.00

Age: New

Weight: 2800g

Length: 875mm

Magazine Capacity: 90 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.82 Joule/298fps

Hot Chrono: 0.84 Joule/301fps

Taclite Compatibility: None

Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW

Available From: www.fire-support.co.uk

With the distinctive slanted muzzle brake along with quality woodwork it almost has that factory-fresh feel about it, the E&L AKM arrives very lightly oiled so you even get “that smell”; E&L go as far as supplying a green plastic oil bottle as part of the deal, which indicates to me that the externals will need to be kept maintained. With a sensible retail price this is one hell of a performer; okay, I am biased because I love the AKM so much as a model, but after owning many I have to tell you that this is genuinely one of the very best AEG versions I’ve ever encountered. The externals are absolutely spot on, the internals are the very best they can be, and the performance is first rate. Lastly I’ll touch briefly on the recoils; I do love recoil in an AEG and both the BOLT and the TM are things of engineering beauty! I’ve been lucky with my own BOLT AKS74U, but then I’m careful with my AEGs and maintain them regularly, as I’ve heard from some techs that they’ve seen some issues with this model as it really does kick! Mine continues to work well, although I’d suggest you take a look at his comments later in this test report; bottom line is that the BOLT is beautifully made and looks stunning! Unlike some I don’t believe that everything that TM make is sheer airsoft perfection, and although there are features in the classic AKS47 NGRS that I love like the cutoff/ recock the AEG feels very fragile to me, and I hate the fact that they still insist on using “fake wood”. With both the BOLT and the TM the battery compartments are small too, the smallest of any of the AEGs on test, and although battery technology has improved vastly, I’d still like to see space in both for a battery that would last me an entire gameday!

KEEPIN’ ‘EM KICKIN’!

Jimmy: As I’ve often said, “classic AKs” are not really my cup of tea in-game, but I have spent some considerable time working on them, and there’s a few things I’ve picked up along the way. The airsoft gearbox comes in many different shapes and sizes, referred to as ‘versions’ a particular form of something different in certain respects. As we are in the subject of AK platforms I’ll focus on the V3 gearbox, perhaps useful information for those that are new to it.

The V3 box has been used in several different platforms over the years but is most common in AK’s, you can also find them in MP5k, AUG, SIG 556, G36, G33, UMP… I could go on… The difference between the versions isn’t related to advances in technology and it doesn’t mean that a V3 is an update over the V2. They have been given different versions due to design of a specific platform as not all real world guns are alike, so manufacturers need to cater for different body designs. While all AEG platforms operate under the same principle, motor driven gears, electronic/ mechanical trigger, spring powered piston, the design and layout can differ massively such as, gear position, bush/bearing size, motor position, tappet design, nozzle length, fire selector position, trigger mechanism.

The V3 gearbox in my professional opinion is probably the better gearbox choice for several reasons. The motor is housed in a cage which attaches directly to the casing rather than sitting loose in a grip. This design makes for a more rigid feel and as a result makes for much better alignment and adjustments so the contact between the bevel gear and pinion gear is a lot more precise.

The gearbox casing itself is much stronger and thicker at the front and as a result is considered a great choice for higher FPS builds; with the front of the case being stronger it can withstand heavier impacts and it’s rare to see a V3 case that has cracked unlike the V2 case which I often see with cracks or completely broken off. Just the other week I witnessed something I had never seen before, the entire front of a KWA 2.5 case had snapped off, and this baffled me as KWA are regarded as some of the strongest gearboxes on the market.

The only real niggle I have found with the V3 is the trigger; if you have ever tried to fit one you will know it can be infuriating at times. If you have never tried to fit one be prepared; it is made up of three components, a spring, the trigger blade and the pivoting section which activates the firing mechanism. Just when you think you have it in… ‘ping’ out it all comes and you have to start again! I have learned several methods over the years but never does it go the way you want it to.

The fire selector on an AK consists of SEVEN parts in total and getting these parts all aligned and then getting the gearbox in the receiver without anything moving or falling off can be challenging as well, especially for someone who is new to tech work. Having the actual selector lever on the right side of the receiver and the selector plate on the left side of the gearbox all the components have to line up correctly in order to work properly. For other platforms utilising the V3 casings the selectors are very different across the board.

There was a time in my early years of teching that I believed the V2 to be the best design purely because that was all I had really ever tinkered with and didn’t fully understand the differences myself; it’s amazing how after you learn and fully understand things that your opinion can change.

Dan: Many of the basic principles for maintaining AEG’s are essentially universal ones, so here the Version 3 AK platform is no different than the Version 2 or anything else. As with any AEG after use, be sure to always remove the battery from the replica and render it safe for storage. If it’s equipped with an ETU, or even an FCU (as with HPA powered builds), these all draw a minute amount of juice to keep the electronics powered on. If left plugged in for extended periods of time, you might find your battery has been overly discharged and cannot be revived.

Some players like to leave their hop up’s set in the adjusted state, but for maintaining optimum longevity you should always store your replica with the hopup in the “off” position. This is to avoid the bucking or nub from taking on a ‘set’, which is a semi-permanent deformation. As a result of a set forming, you might find that you are having to apply more hopup adjustment than usual, and in more serious cases, may even run out of adjustment room altogether and are now unable to achieve an ideal trajectory.

If you’ve played in dirty or dusty environs, I recommend giving the barrel a quick swab with a 5.56mm sized cleaning patch and some isopropyl alcohol. Again, do this with the hopup in the off position. You might also be surprised to see a lot of BB residue coming out with the patch. This is totally normal and a natural by-product of copious shooting. But it’s also a good reason to stay up on the maintenance as heavy accumulation of BB residue will adversely affect your accuracy and can also lead to BB jams in the bore! A nylon bristle brush may be required to break up more aggressive accumulations.

Magazines should be stored unloaded, especially if one is using BIO BB’s which can swell up from humidity and jam in the magazine. I’ve seen innumerable examples of this over the years, many of which have required full disassembly of the magazine to clear out the bad BB’s. Unloading your mags postgame is also good common sense since you never know if you’ll be switching up BB weights down the road and trying to remember what you may have left in the magazine can lead to a frustrating experience as you inadvertently mix weights.

While it is an AK and the temptation to let the exterior get really grimy and “battle worn” exists with these, I’d caution that there’s a strong difference between wilful neglect and natural wear. I’ve seen players literally rubbing dirt and rocks into their AK’s, then later seemingly mystified as they’re paying a tech to fix a contaminated gearbox. No professional army allows its soldiers to neglect the care of their rifle, and neither should you.

Unlike most AR-style replicas which are typically made from cast Zamak or aluminum alloys, the majority of AK platforms now are made from actual steel; therefore rust is the main enemy here. Some brands, such as LCT, E&L and Real Sword will have a blued finish, which is more prone to getting surface rust from moisture and sweat than others. Arcturus uses a QPQ finish, which has better corrosion resistance, while CYMA’s are often finished out with a black paint and do not typically rust unless the finish has been penetrated. Keep in mind, the painted replicas do not often tolerate strong solvents or oils, which may cause the paint to bubble or flake off; as it says on the bottle: “test in an inconspicuous area first.”

For the blued replicas, I rub them down with a good firearms oil. If you do see a bit of surface rust forming, you can usually break this up with a stiff toothbrush and oil. Barrier wipes, which are an oil-impregnated cloth, are excellent for applying a protective coating that holds up for long term storage.

I do not actually recommend storing your AK replica in a gun case or box for long periods of time. In truth, these should only be used for transporting your replica to and from the field. These all trap ambient humidity and moisture within. This can be greatly exacerbated if you’ve come off from a cold, wet, or humid field, cased up your replica and moved it indoors. Condensation will form from the temperature shift, and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll get some surface rust overnight. If for lack of other options, at least be sure to periodically check your replica lest you get an unwanted surprise! AA