ICS CXP TOMAHAWK
ICS has designed and produced this new spring sniper rifle while thinking about how to improve all the defects that it saw in the other sniper rifles on the market. This began by casting aside the limitations which are associated with conventional designs, both regarding outside appearance and mechanical structure, and bringing forward a design which permits improved performance. One example of this philosophy is the bullpup design which makes it possible to maximize the length of the barrel or the resized cylinder measuring 61 cubic centimetres which provides the model with enough pneumatic force. And if we go on to talk about quality of the parts, we come across inner components of Master Mods, R-Hop rubber, a special TDC hop-up chamber for heavy calibres, and much more that we will tell you about below.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 2963 g
Total length: 910 mm
Inner barrel length: 510 mm
Velocity: 393 FPS
Magazine capacity: 50 BBs max.
Body material: Nylon fibre
Spring: M120
CNC machined receiver
The receiver of this model is made using CNC machining, but ICS also uses an anodized treatment on it which means that it better resists scratching and wear and tear, ensuring that our replica withstands more when recently purchased despite the intensive way in which it may be used.
Spring operation
A bolt-action sniper might not be something new, but here we’re talking about an open bolt. It’s surprising how smoothly it operates, allowing us to bolt it with hardly any effort to be able to keep the target on the reticle of the sight while we reload.
Top feeding magazine
Another feature which sets this bolt-action rifle apart from others on the market is its magazine with a top feeding system. This means that BBs go into the hop-up chamber through the top rather than the bottom, without having to block the shooter’s vision. This maximizes the performance of each one of its 50 BBs
New trigger safety design
The flat trigger design is interesting, but what has really caught our eye is the push/pull design of the safety. If you’re someone who always fails at a door, here it is much more intuitive and it makes the action simpler as you use your shooting finger, meaning that a lot of accidents are also prevented.
A hop up design that will make people talk
This three-way adjustable TDC (Top Down Centre) hop-up chamber design has a roulette on the top part (accessible from both sides) which allows us to adjust the height of the BB’s trajectory, but it also has screws on both sides to adjust the horizontal drift of the BB. This means we can be even more accurate when adjusting the trajectory of BBs.
Quick change barrel and hop up
The detachable system of this replica makes it possible to remove the outer barrel, inner barrel and hop-up chamber at the same time, just by loosening a screw on the side. This is handy for maintenance of the model.
Inner barrel and MASTER MODS RHop rubber
Seeing the logo of this brand is synonymous with quality of inner parts. This model has an AEG-type barrel (which makes it easier to find alternatives: TM-type AEG barrels) measuring 510 mm and an R-Hop Master Mods rubber. This combination offers a better performance in the accuracy of BB trajectory.
The stainless steel 61 cc cylinder
How many cubic centimetres is a normal cylinder? What other materials are cylinders made of? The main thing when talking about this piece is that it allows us to use heavier BBs, therefore effectively increasing the stability and range of the BBs. What’s more, the vacuum metalizing treatment makes the surface harder and smoother, meaning not as much force is needed when pulling the loading lever.
Antivibration components
The hop-up chamber is made of one CNC machined metal piece, the construction of which helps bring about an effective reduction in vibration when shooting. It also includes new stabilizers of the inner barrel designed to keep the inner barrel centred and to also prevent it from vibrating.
Quick Change Spring System
The fact that the replica includes a quick change spring system not only makes it handier for us to maintain, but we can also adjust the potential of the rifle according to what is required by the game that we will play in, if the power is not in line with the requirements of the field when the timer is up.
UPGRADE KIT
ICS has developed a full kit of owner parts to adjust the power of the replica. You can use the QR code to see the testing of the various configurations (a total of 64) in which variations are achieved, with an M120-type spring, a 6.04x510mm barrel and 0.2 g bags, ranging from 87 m/s (0.76 J) to 132.8 m/s (1.76 J).
MT-93/Variable Mass Piston
It includes three sets of flyweights: 5 steel, 5 aluminium and 5 polyoxymethylene or acetal (POM) and a piston in the barrel of which these are threaded. We can therefore accurately adjust the joules using flyweights that ballast the piston (from 80.6 g to 176 g) according to the type of barrel, spring, bbs and shooting range.
MT-92/Piston Cup with Air Brake
These three “air brakes” block the air flow while the piston operates, giving rise to a vacuum condition in the cylinder which lowers the impact noise when the piston hits the cylinder. Depending on the length of the “brake” there will be a lower air flow and also a reduction in the output power of the bb.
MT-94/Variable Capacity Ring
This set of up to three rings is installed between the piston and the piston head to make the piston longer, which will make it cock earlier and result in a reduction of the air volume (6 cc per ring) and therefore the FPS.
MT-95/Steel Spring Guide with Thrust Bearing
Made with CNC machined carbon steel, the thrust bearing is able to countervail rotational stress which occurs when the spring is stressed. This effectively reduces spring deformation and allows smoother piston operation.
MT-96 & MT-97/TMH Twisted Fluting Outer Barrel (20.7” & 15”)
Made with CNC machined aluminium alloy and anodized in matt black on its surface, there is a short version (15 inches or 381 mm) and a long version (20.7 inches or 525 mm) available.
Summary
Bullpup design
M1913 Picatinny Rail
CNC machined aluminium outer barrel
Inner barrel stabilizer
Three-way adjustable TDC hop-up chamber
Quick detaching of the outer barrel and the entire hop-up
CNC machined receiver
Spring operation
Stainless steel spring guide
61 cc stainless steel cylinder
Top feeding magazine (capacity 50 BBs)
Quick-detachable rubber butt pad
Conclusión
The idea of the model is clear: try to save everything that has been failing up to now, according to ICS, the sniper rifles on the market. Have they managed it? They have certainly tried and they have identified the main problems while suggesting new operational solutions which are not only aesthetic. Will this be enough? The truth is that just having got to this point deserves recognition because it is with things like this that R&D in our hobby continues to move at a fast pace. But let us leave the answer to this question up to you. Try it out, play with this superb rifle and tell us if what ICS is now offering us is the sniper of the future.