You want a Real Sword RS Type 56? I want a RS Type 56-2 and, finally, I've got the fcuking money too. Our problem is that nobody in the UK has any of either, not even Redwolf who are based in HK but have a UK operation. I spoke to Calum @Land Warrior and he told me that they paid for their restock order months ago but have had no word from RS and all emails have been ignored. Fire Support are out of stock too, as are Airsoft World.
If anybody has a lead on another RS stockist, please let us know!
I recently bought a
LCT AKMS NV which I really ought to get round to reviewing, but long story short, I sent it back. Some things about it were truly excellent but others were so bad that it just wasn't worth taking the risk that the minimum GBP100-ish that I could tell would need to be spent, on top of the GBP219 + GBP8.99 P&P asking price, just to have a woodland skirmishable AEG, would actually sort out
all the problems I could immediately see and not reveal or create any that I couldn't.
Here's a few alternatives that I'm considering (in no particular order of preference):
1)
ICS AK74 RAS
2)
G&G RK103
3)
G&P AK47 Tactical
4)
ICS AK74M Folding Stock
5)
CYMA AKM47 (AK103) RIS Tactical
6)
G&G GK99
Comments
1) The ICS guns I've seen and held have been very solid and well put together. I have an ICS AKS 74U and I'd be prepared to bet that everything on it, apart from the folding stock, can take as much abuse as the real steel without breaking. They are also powered by the ICS Turbo 3000 Motor which runs a reinforced gearbox designed to cope with such godlike power. The only problem with it however is in breaking it down - in short I don't know how. I'm by no means un-handy nor an idiot (most of the time), it just doesn't break down like a Tokyo Marui or TM compatible, nor in any obvious way. I've been told that all ICS AK's break down the same way... In my mind there remains a question mark above the stock barrel and hop rubber.
2) G&G have one of the best reputations I've heard, but strangely enough I've never met anybody who has one of their guns on her/him. I'm concerned that the extra money this would cost, compared to a cheapo AK, may purchase better quality parts which last longer, but nevertheless add up to an averagely good gun, and would therefore have to be replaced to get the kind of range and accuracy I want, constituting a waste...
3) This is basically the same gun as the CYMA AK47 Tactical w/Trades which I already have, but made by a company based in HK rather than mainland China and with a better reputation. I'm concerned however that this may be pure prejudice. Especially considering how good CYMA AK's are (see below).
4) See above.
5) My CYMA Tactical AK47 had amazing range and accuracy right out of the box. If I had left it alone, I dare say it would still be excellent, but i had to mess with it, if for no other reason than to satisfy my curosity. As it happens it was slightly too hot for sites that hard limit @350 fps, and I wanted to use it at woodland and CQB so I began tinkering. I messed with iut so much that I damaged parts of the plastic receiver and the gearbox shell. This generation of CYMA AK's, the CM.028 versions, were direct TM clones, but some reviews said they were better than the originals. They do come with a medium-tight bore barrel (6.08mm) as standard and a hop rubber with a divided nub which ensures even contact across both left & right sides of the BB as it is fired. These new CYMA AK's, the .048 versions, are full metal and, where needed, wood, so should be that much more resistant to damage by learner aeg-smiths...
6) Well just look at it, ffs! That it has no RIS is a problem b/c my left wrist doesn't do well without a vertical grip, but I feel sure I could bodge something on there, possibly one of those Magpul angled foregrips. I'm tempted to think that details such as the slash hider, iron sights, charging handle & sprung folding stock may be enough that if it also needs a TBB and new hop rubber, I won't mind.
Regarding loadouts, others have said it: get/don't get whatever you like. If you want to join/form a team, you may get some pressure to match camo with the majority, but certainly not initially.
I realise that this selection of AK's are not the stained-plywood-&-scuffed-steel that we're used to seeing in the hands of poor people, promoting their cause by other means, the world over, but if that is the look you're after, most of the above have metal & wood versions.Finally, would those of you with more experience please comment on my comments so I and Somnophore may learn a thing or two
