Matrix Magpul AK (AK74 Airsoft AEG w/Crane Stock)
Dec 30, 2018 21:38:06 GMT -5
Post by triggs (SABR) on Dec 30, 2018 21:38:06 GMT -5
Full Album Review – Matrix Mag-K AEG
Matrix/Avengers AK74 Airsoft AEG w/Crane Stock by JG
- Real Steel History
- Overview
- Accessories
- Externals review
- Internals review
- Performance
- Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Real Steel History
The Magpul AK, or Mag-K as it has come to be known, was built by well known founder and CEO of Haley Strategic, Travis Haley, who at the time was still with Magpul Dynamics. The Mag-K is based on a shortened Saiga with threads cut into the new SBR to accept an AAC M4-2000 QD suppressor and flash hider, along with custom ambidextrous charging handles, custom Magpul grip, custom rail, sling mount, stock/stock tube, and just about every other detail. Even the magazine received a Magpul touch with the stock Saiga mag having an M4 Ranger Plate attached to them.
Overview
It’s been awhile since I had to buy my own rifle to review. Since reviewing the Echo 1 OCW I’ve been interested in the tactical AK, and when this one popped up on Evike.com for about $100 I couldn’t turn it down. So here we are with a review of the “Matrix” RIS Tactical AK Airsoft AEG in Tan/FDE.
I bought the rifle when it was listed as just “Matrix” off of Evike. However, shortly after ordering it, the webpage changed to “Matrix RIS Tactical AK Airsoft AEG by CYMA.” So in the week between purchase and arrival, I fully expected a CYMA to drop at my doorstep, something I wasn’t exactly happy with since, at the time of ordering, the listing had clearly noted Golden Eagle (JG) as the manufacturer. Much to my surprise, instead of a plain cardboard “Matrix” box. I got a very nice looking “Avengers” box. I have to be honest though, I am starting to lose track of all the names Evike brands products as. “Matrix” is Evike’s in-house brand name for anything coming out of China, and now we have yet another in-house name! Looking at their recent website entries, there are even more names to keep track of as well.
To be clear! This is a review of the Matrix/Avengers RIS Tactical AK Airsoft AEG MADE BY JG. This version is virtually identical to the Echo 1 OCW I reviewed a couple years ago with a plastic body. That said, you may not find a need to read this review. However, if you’re curious what kind of changes have been made by JG in two years, please read on!
Accessories
I was pleased with the included accessories. I have long since switched to LIPO’s and not getting a cheap NIMH battery is actually a positive to me these days.
The rifle comes partially disassembled. The ambidextrous charging handle/bolt assembly was considered too fragile to leave on the rifle during shipping like its Echo 1 counterpart. It comes with the spring and upper receiver/top cover button packed separately.
Also in the box is the typical 470rd high-cap. It is a semi-transparent SAIGA type magazine replica of the one used with the real Mag-K in promotion pictures. However, there is no Ranger Plate attached to the bottom since the baseplate has to have a channel cut into it for the winding wheel.
For whatever reason there are two different types of winding keys included. The black one is for the included mag, but the silver one has no use at all with this particular rifle.
And finally is the cleaning rod. I found it odd it was just thrown into the box on top of the rifle, usually they are laying in a channel cut into the foam packing.
Externals Review
Like the OCW, this JG also has a plastic body. Personally, I dislike plastic bodies, but for $100 it feels sturdy enough to hit the field with.
The front is covered by a very large, and very obnoxious, blaze orange plastic flash hider. It isn’t the correct AAC type flash hider, but it protects the threads, and conforms to airsoft safety laws and then some. Underneath are standard airsoft 14mm counterclockwise threads.
The gas block is solid metal. It almost appears plastic due to the paint, but it is metal, and feels sturdy for being pot metal.
The top RIS is plastic and is held on by a collar around the barrel with 4 hex bolts.
The lower RIS is also plastic and held on by two clips and friction. There is no wobble, but it feels thin, and cheap. And it does have some flex in it if torqued on.
The rear sight base is metal like the gas block. The most annoying part is the pin that holds the base to the lower receiver doesn’t go all the way through the body like most other airsoft AK’s. It makes disassembling the rifle difficult and more tedious. After two years, I’d forgotten just how frustrating this assembly style is.
The upper receiver/top cover is actual steel, unlike the rest of the body. The paint is a very nice shade of tan, and fit tightly over the bolt assembly (note the cutout on the left side for the ambidextrous charging handle).
The lower receiver is plastic. It feels thin like the lower RIS. But it did not crack when checking various mags for compatibility. Unlike the Echo 1 rifle, there were only a couple stickers and a faint serial number printed onto the left side, which is much appreciated!
The pistol grip is a M249 SAW style grip, unlike the Magpul AK grip found on the real rifle. Personally I like the SAW grip, but people with shorter fingers may find themselves reaching for the trigger.
The crane stock is made of the same cheap feeling plastic as the OCW. It does not have texture to it to make it feel of higher quality, but it locks in smoothly and felt solid enough for use. One plus is that it has an easily removable buttplate, so installing and connecting batteries in the stock is much easier. If the rifle was wired to the stock that is, instead the rifle is wired above the gearbox like a standard AK. The rifle should have a Magpul CTR stock, but the crane stock is cheaper to produce I’m guessing.
The metal stock tube is a very nice flat black. For a period of time JG was known by their slightly greenish black paint color used on all of their metal parts (most notably the barrels and stock tubes), this time they seem to have perfected their paint and is a smooth matte black finish.
As mentioned previously, the left side is the only one with any stickers. A basic warning label, and Made in China sticker are applied to the receiver, and come off cleanly if desired. The unique serial number is faintly etched into the lower and is hardly noticeable.
Internals Review
This must be one of the most annoying AK’s to take apart. I really can’t repeat that enough. For a full disassembly guide, Brian at Echo 1 has a full takedown guide. Like the OCW I left a few things out to help ease disassembly the next time.
Once you FINALLY get the barrel assembly free, underneath is a standard AK hopup with a stock 6.08 363mm inner barrel. The bucking is a standard JG black bucking, and will probably work nicely with some careful tuning and a better nub. The barrel like all stock barrels should be replaced with a good quality tightbore to get the most out of the rifle.
The gearbox is the typical black gearbox we’ve come to expect from JG. Like the stock tube, the paint is a fantastic flat black. Not an important performance item, but it’s a nice detail. The motor also displays the common JG “Super High Power” sticker. Despite the sticker, it doesn’t feel very super, neither specializing in speed or torque, it felt like a standard motor.
Unlike the OCW, the wiring harness now includes a 20A car type fuse. It tucks into the lower next to the hopup nicely allowing for maximum room for a battery.
Inside the gearbox was a bit of a shock. There wasn’t the typical insane amount of grease. The piston was a little dry for my liking, but the gears were nicely greased and didn’t spread pointless amounts of it around.
Unlike the OCW, this gearbox is based around standard 7mm bushings instead of bearings.
The gears are unmarked. Not even XYT is cut into them. The bevel gear has an internal bearing, and the sector gear also has a longer than normal delay nub on it. The gears were atrociously shimmed. With additional shims they moved smoothly and should last quite a long time.
The cylinder is a slightly over-volume Type 0 port with a decent sealing cylinder head.
The air nozzle does not have an o-ring and leaked slightly when tested.
The piston head is a cheap plastic type and did not have a bearing. Instead it followed a very old Tokyo Marui style with an integrated bushing that connects the spring to the piston.
The piston has some ups and downs. Like Echo 1, the piston is cast without the 2nd tooth. However, to properly correct the AoE, it required a Sorbo pad, and removing the rest of the cut down tooth, as well as half of the 3rd tooth.
The spring came in shooting a mid CQB engagement limit. Given the amount of air leaks and the feel of the spring it’s close to an M100.
The spring guide does not have a bearing, and was so snug to the spring I thought they might all be connected to the piston as well.
Performance
FPS: 323-334FPS
Range: 150-160ft
This is a very strange rifle. It’s as well built as the OCW from two years ago, but a very low FPS for a modern 2018 AEG. Since FPS accounts for very little, this isn’t a bad thing, and makes it a perfect CQB or close range field rifle straight from the box unlike most other factory rifles out there. Range is a little more limited as a result, but if used as a CQB rifle the range and accuracy are more than acceptable.
Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
The Mag-K gets into that territory of a M4, where you can slap on just about anything and everything thanks to the ample rail space. Without a railed top cover however, it does limit optic placement somewhat, and really throws off the weight balance if you mount any sort of heavy optics in the available location. The side and bottom rails will mount all sorts of things, giving the user almost as much flexibility as an M4.
As with the OCW, the Matrix RIS Tactical does have the possibility of running the wiring to the buffer tube. The rifle comes from the factory wired like other AK’s meant to have a stick battery sitting above the gearbox. However, it has all of the proper holes in the receiver and stock tube to run wires for a battery in the stock. It’s simply a matter of making a custom wiring harness for the rifle, or extending the stock one out if you’re looking for a more common battery type or compatibility with another rifle you may own.
Externals Score: 9/10
Having written the OCW review, I knew what to expect. It feels cheap, but it is sturdy unless you happen to fall on it. Then it will probably break. I continue to take a point away is due to the takedown design. It’s not impossible, but it is certainly annoying to take apart.
Internals Score: 8/10
The inner barrel and hopup are pretty much standard, but I was severely disappointed by the gearbox. Points are lost in the shimming, and the piston would also tear itself apart due to the poor AoE. It is a good starting point and with tuning would run a NIMH stick battery very well. For 2018 though it has quite a bit left to be desired.
Overall score: 9/10
I’m actually quite happy with the rifle. The externals are decent, and I feel like they are strong enough to be my personal rifle. Despite the gearbox, it’s not a bad starting point. I tell everyone that the first thing to do to ANY new rifle is check and tune up the gearbox, so if you take that into account, the rifle is a bargain for the price.
© Copyright triggs 2018
Matrix/Avengers AK74 Airsoft AEG w/Crane Stock by JG
- Real Steel History
- Overview
- Accessories
- Externals review
- Internals review
- Performance
- Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
Real Steel History
The Magpul AK, or Mag-K as it has come to be known, was built by well known founder and CEO of Haley Strategic, Travis Haley, who at the time was still with Magpul Dynamics. The Mag-K is based on a shortened Saiga with threads cut into the new SBR to accept an AAC M4-2000 QD suppressor and flash hider, along with custom ambidextrous charging handles, custom Magpul grip, custom rail, sling mount, stock/stock tube, and just about every other detail. Even the magazine received a Magpul touch with the stock Saiga mag having an M4 Ranger Plate attached to them.
Overview
It’s been awhile since I had to buy my own rifle to review. Since reviewing the Echo 1 OCW I’ve been interested in the tactical AK, and when this one popped up on Evike.com for about $100 I couldn’t turn it down. So here we are with a review of the “Matrix” RIS Tactical AK Airsoft AEG in Tan/FDE.
I bought the rifle when it was listed as just “Matrix” off of Evike. However, shortly after ordering it, the webpage changed to “Matrix RIS Tactical AK Airsoft AEG by CYMA.” So in the week between purchase and arrival, I fully expected a CYMA to drop at my doorstep, something I wasn’t exactly happy with since, at the time of ordering, the listing had clearly noted Golden Eagle (JG) as the manufacturer. Much to my surprise, instead of a plain cardboard “Matrix” box. I got a very nice looking “Avengers” box. I have to be honest though, I am starting to lose track of all the names Evike brands products as. “Matrix” is Evike’s in-house brand name for anything coming out of China, and now we have yet another in-house name! Looking at their recent website entries, there are even more names to keep track of as well.
To be clear! This is a review of the Matrix/Avengers RIS Tactical AK Airsoft AEG MADE BY JG. This version is virtually identical to the Echo 1 OCW I reviewed a couple years ago with a plastic body. That said, you may not find a need to read this review. However, if you’re curious what kind of changes have been made by JG in two years, please read on!
Accessories
I was pleased with the included accessories. I have long since switched to LIPO’s and not getting a cheap NIMH battery is actually a positive to me these days.
The rifle comes partially disassembled. The ambidextrous charging handle/bolt assembly was considered too fragile to leave on the rifle during shipping like its Echo 1 counterpart. It comes with the spring and upper receiver/top cover button packed separately.
Also in the box is the typical 470rd high-cap. It is a semi-transparent SAIGA type magazine replica of the one used with the real Mag-K in promotion pictures. However, there is no Ranger Plate attached to the bottom since the baseplate has to have a channel cut into it for the winding wheel.
For whatever reason there are two different types of winding keys included. The black one is for the included mag, but the silver one has no use at all with this particular rifle.
And finally is the cleaning rod. I found it odd it was just thrown into the box on top of the rifle, usually they are laying in a channel cut into the foam packing.
Externals Review
Like the OCW, this JG also has a plastic body. Personally, I dislike plastic bodies, but for $100 it feels sturdy enough to hit the field with.
The front is covered by a very large, and very obnoxious, blaze orange plastic flash hider. It isn’t the correct AAC type flash hider, but it protects the threads, and conforms to airsoft safety laws and then some. Underneath are standard airsoft 14mm counterclockwise threads.
The gas block is solid metal. It almost appears plastic due to the paint, but it is metal, and feels sturdy for being pot metal.
The top RIS is plastic and is held on by a collar around the barrel with 4 hex bolts.
The lower RIS is also plastic and held on by two clips and friction. There is no wobble, but it feels thin, and cheap. And it does have some flex in it if torqued on.
The rear sight base is metal like the gas block. The most annoying part is the pin that holds the base to the lower receiver doesn’t go all the way through the body like most other airsoft AK’s. It makes disassembling the rifle difficult and more tedious. After two years, I’d forgotten just how frustrating this assembly style is.
The upper receiver/top cover is actual steel, unlike the rest of the body. The paint is a very nice shade of tan, and fit tightly over the bolt assembly (note the cutout on the left side for the ambidextrous charging handle).
The lower receiver is plastic. It feels thin like the lower RIS. But it did not crack when checking various mags for compatibility. Unlike the Echo 1 rifle, there were only a couple stickers and a faint serial number printed onto the left side, which is much appreciated!
The pistol grip is a M249 SAW style grip, unlike the Magpul AK grip found on the real rifle. Personally I like the SAW grip, but people with shorter fingers may find themselves reaching for the trigger.
The crane stock is made of the same cheap feeling plastic as the OCW. It does not have texture to it to make it feel of higher quality, but it locks in smoothly and felt solid enough for use. One plus is that it has an easily removable buttplate, so installing and connecting batteries in the stock is much easier. If the rifle was wired to the stock that is, instead the rifle is wired above the gearbox like a standard AK. The rifle should have a Magpul CTR stock, but the crane stock is cheaper to produce I’m guessing.
The metal stock tube is a very nice flat black. For a period of time JG was known by their slightly greenish black paint color used on all of their metal parts (most notably the barrels and stock tubes), this time they seem to have perfected their paint and is a smooth matte black finish.
As mentioned previously, the left side is the only one with any stickers. A basic warning label, and Made in China sticker are applied to the receiver, and come off cleanly if desired. The unique serial number is faintly etched into the lower and is hardly noticeable.
Internals Review
This must be one of the most annoying AK’s to take apart. I really can’t repeat that enough. For a full disassembly guide, Brian at Echo 1 has a full takedown guide. Like the OCW I left a few things out to help ease disassembly the next time.
Once you FINALLY get the barrel assembly free, underneath is a standard AK hopup with a stock 6.08 363mm inner barrel. The bucking is a standard JG black bucking, and will probably work nicely with some careful tuning and a better nub. The barrel like all stock barrels should be replaced with a good quality tightbore to get the most out of the rifle.
The gearbox is the typical black gearbox we’ve come to expect from JG. Like the stock tube, the paint is a fantastic flat black. Not an important performance item, but it’s a nice detail. The motor also displays the common JG “Super High Power” sticker. Despite the sticker, it doesn’t feel very super, neither specializing in speed or torque, it felt like a standard motor.
Unlike the OCW, the wiring harness now includes a 20A car type fuse. It tucks into the lower next to the hopup nicely allowing for maximum room for a battery.
Inside the gearbox was a bit of a shock. There wasn’t the typical insane amount of grease. The piston was a little dry for my liking, but the gears were nicely greased and didn’t spread pointless amounts of it around.
Unlike the OCW, this gearbox is based around standard 7mm bushings instead of bearings.
The gears are unmarked. Not even XYT is cut into them. The bevel gear has an internal bearing, and the sector gear also has a longer than normal delay nub on it. The gears were atrociously shimmed. With additional shims they moved smoothly and should last quite a long time.
The cylinder is a slightly over-volume Type 0 port with a decent sealing cylinder head.
The air nozzle does not have an o-ring and leaked slightly when tested.
The piston head is a cheap plastic type and did not have a bearing. Instead it followed a very old Tokyo Marui style with an integrated bushing that connects the spring to the piston.
The piston has some ups and downs. Like Echo 1, the piston is cast without the 2nd tooth. However, to properly correct the AoE, it required a Sorbo pad, and removing the rest of the cut down tooth, as well as half of the 3rd tooth.
The spring came in shooting a mid CQB engagement limit. Given the amount of air leaks and the feel of the spring it’s close to an M100.
The spring guide does not have a bearing, and was so snug to the spring I thought they might all be connected to the piston as well.
Performance
FPS: 323-334FPS
Range: 150-160ft
This is a very strange rifle. It’s as well built as the OCW from two years ago, but a very low FPS for a modern 2018 AEG. Since FPS accounts for very little, this isn’t a bad thing, and makes it a perfect CQB or close range field rifle straight from the box unlike most other factory rifles out there. Range is a little more limited as a result, but if used as a CQB rifle the range and accuracy are more than acceptable.
Final Thoughts and Upgradeability
The Mag-K gets into that territory of a M4, where you can slap on just about anything and everything thanks to the ample rail space. Without a railed top cover however, it does limit optic placement somewhat, and really throws off the weight balance if you mount any sort of heavy optics in the available location. The side and bottom rails will mount all sorts of things, giving the user almost as much flexibility as an M4.
As with the OCW, the Matrix RIS Tactical does have the possibility of running the wiring to the buffer tube. The rifle comes from the factory wired like other AK’s meant to have a stick battery sitting above the gearbox. However, it has all of the proper holes in the receiver and stock tube to run wires for a battery in the stock. It’s simply a matter of making a custom wiring harness for the rifle, or extending the stock one out if you’re looking for a more common battery type or compatibility with another rifle you may own.
Externals Score: 9/10
Having written the OCW review, I knew what to expect. It feels cheap, but it is sturdy unless you happen to fall on it. Then it will probably break. I continue to take a point away is due to the takedown design. It’s not impossible, but it is certainly annoying to take apart.
Internals Score: 8/10
The inner barrel and hopup are pretty much standard, but I was severely disappointed by the gearbox. Points are lost in the shimming, and the piston would also tear itself apart due to the poor AoE. It is a good starting point and with tuning would run a NIMH stick battery very well. For 2018 though it has quite a bit left to be desired.
Overall score: 9/10
I’m actually quite happy with the rifle. The externals are decent, and I feel like they are strong enough to be my personal rifle. Despite the gearbox, it’s not a bad starting point. I tell everyone that the first thing to do to ANY new rifle is check and tune up the gearbox, so if you take that into account, the rifle is a bargain for the price.
© Copyright triggs 2018