Imagine that you are an operator of a USSOCOM unit, you are on a long mission and you run out of ammo in your beloved M4, although you find AK47 ammo everywhere around you, what do you do? This is how the SR47 project by Knight's Armament (KAC) started, all the good things about an M4 but with AK ammo. And like all good things, it happened in airsoft too. This is the new range offered by CYMA.

HANDGUARD

This range offers different handguard options to choose from. But they can be summarised in these three lines:

Picatinny 

(MIL-STD-1913 or STANAG 2324) is the famous toothed rail system for attaching accessories developed by A.R.M.S. in the early 80's. This system can be found in most real weapons and airsoft replicas, which has made us have a large amount of accessories and attachments for this system. And this has forced new systems to launch at the same time the accessories with their coupling system; Picatinny rails to be able to continue using those that we already had.

KeyMod   

This system was developed in 2011-2012 by VLTOR to replace the Picatinny system. The name comes from "Key" due to its lock shape, and "Mod" (modular), a trend that can be found in the name of other models of the American company. The design was launched as "open-source" so that anyone could use it and standardise its use.  The idea was to replace the rail with "holes" that not only made the weapon lighter, but also reduced its profile.

M-LOk   

Tthis system emerged as an alternative to the KeyMod to replace the Picatinny, a system developed by Magpul between 2007 and 2014. It is a free licensed design based on the MOE system (Magpul Original Equipment). The war against the KeyMod is on and both have their followers and their critics, but it looks like the recruitment of the US Armed Forces can tilt the balance in favour of this option.

STOCKS

This is another of the differential features between the models in this range:

 VLTOR style  

This stock reminds us of the EMOD (Enhanced Modular Stock), its design, slightly longer and wider than the standard M4 stocks, is very comfortable in a marksman configuration, with telescopic sight, where the position in which the cheek rests is important. In addition, the lateral tubes enable you to use batteries of several bodies with a greater capacity.

 B5 Systems style  

The look of this design reminds us of the Enhanced SopMod. A stock chosen by the US military to arm its soldiers for its design since it enables to improve the accuracy and adjustability. It fits tightly on the tube and keeps the side bodies to carry a battery of several sticks.

 Magpul style 

Some of the features of this stock takes us to the MOE S.L. although there are major differences such as the lever for adjustment purposes. We liked that, despite not being the widest, it is very comfortable when shouldering and the rubber recoil pad improves its stability when aiming..

MUZZLE

The third major differentiating feature within the models of this series. Surely a more aesthetic than practical feature in airsoft replicas, but which makes the model stand out. 

 A2 "Birdcage” style

This design solved one of the biggest problems the American army had in the 60’s with their rifles; durability. Besides, its low cost and good functioning have kept it active until today. The closed part at the bottom, which many believe serves as a compensator, was made to prevent dust or dirt from getting in.

 Style Knight's  Armament (KAC) 

I am sure the famous H&K Mk23 silencer comes to mind due to the circular splitting finish and its threaded base. In these models, the "silencer" (a rather aesthetic feature than for actually muffling the sound) is threaded inside the handguard achieving a greater aesthetic effect and so it stands out less, making the model more versatile.

 Blackout style 

Its three-tip finish or the creases on the outside reminds us of this brand’s muzzles. Although its design differs from any others, we recognize the manufacturer's traits. This type of Blackout muzzles manage to hide the flash very efficiently when shooting , although this cannot be recreated in airsoft.

MAGAZINES

This series of CYMA models offer two types of magazines.

 Classic style  

Originally manufactured in steel plate with a characteristic curved shape that enables greater capacity, 30 bullets in the real model. Although its actually mid-cap version in this model (the fact that they have dispensed with the Hi-Cap is absolutely awesome) with capacity for 135 BBs.

 Magpul style  

Within the AK’s evolution, the magazines have also played their part. This is an example, with a style similar to the PMAG 30 GEN M3 of the North American company, it is manufactured in polymer, which reduces the weight (and the sound when they clash against each other in the pouch). And it has four dotted grids on each side at the bottom to be able to mark them (the magazine number, or the owner's name). 

 Magazine  Release 

Being an M4 style body, there is a classic button¹  to release the magazine on the outside. However, there is a small lever² in the back of the hollow part for the magazine, AK style, which will allow you to make fast reloads by ejecting the used magazine with the new one (if you have not seen this, search for "fast AK reloads" on YouTube, it is very impressive).

PISTOL GRIP

There are two pistol grip variants in these new models from the Asian manufacturer.

 The classic 

We have seen it in many M4, its rough surface makes the hand grip very good even with wet gloves, and its small spikes helps you place the hand, with the middle finger under the trigger guard and the last one to prevent our hand from slipping.

 The modern 

Another nod to the modernisation of the model, the design of this pistol grip reminds us of the MOE Grip (Magpul Original Equipment). The sides are less rough and has a series of lines at the front to compensate this. The grip adaptor includes provides a more comfortable grip, although the difference is mainly aesthetic.

Design details

These models have design details that we really liked to increase our efficiency in the game. One of them is the oversized trigger¹ guard of some of the models, which allows you to wear thicker gloves (a very interesting option in winter, when the cold makes a ball to the finger lethal). And others like the ambidextrous selector², something we looked forward to be able to use both hands, until we discovered that it was a dummy.

INTERNAL PARTS

Gearbox

It has a version 2 gearbox, typical of M4 replicas, with a solid exterior finish. With a rear wiring in a tamiya connector, although before reaching it there is a small fuse that will try to extend the life of the electrical set. This feature takes up some space for the batteries in the stock’s tube but we still find models that fit without problems in the usual voltages.

 Spring  

It mounts a M100 type spring, which provides an average power of 375 FPS. The spring guide is an own design, which is screwed directly to the body, not the gearbox, and that you may unscrew without tools. It is made of metal and has bearings to facilitate the torsion of the spring, a very useful feature at these power rates, while there are no bearings inside the piston head to complete the upgrade.

Piston

The polymer piston has a full metal toothing. The piston head is also plastic and, although we normally like metal ones better, we must admit that the compression it makes inside the cylinder is flawless and works perfectly fine.

 Cylinder  

It has a standard cylinder with not ventilation, it does not vary in shorter or longer models, so the same amount of air will push the BB in both cases. After testing them in the open, we did not notice that this significantly influences the firing performance of the models, so we assume that CYMA works in intervals that include all these lengths.

 Barrel and Hop-Up 

The hop-up chamber has an interesting design that stands out since it is a mixture of an M4 and an AK. A normal hop-up characteristic of one of these models would be expected, and it has nevertheless a totally different design. Although we must say that, beyond being merely anecdotal, its design works just like the others and you will achieve a tight shot with ease.

KAC manufactured six of these rifles for the USSOCOM, the Bulgarian anti-terrorist unit, SOBT, also carries them and in 2012 Rock River Arms launched the LAR-47, a very similar model. This is, in any case, a model dedicated to elite units, which although it might sound familiar, it is not actually very widespread in the playing fields. Are you looking for an original model without having to give up the most cutting-edge features? You know what to do.