Double Eagle UTR45 VS ASG Scorpion EVO - Airsoft SMG comparison
M917G UTR45 VS. CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1 - Which is Best?
When it comes to a face-off between these two advanced Airsoft SMGs, it is a close-run thing deciding which is the best platform. For most skirmishers, it will come down to personal preference and what features you value in your Airsoft SMG over others.
For our comparison, we have an ASG CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1 2020 Revision, with the only modifications being ATEC external parts including the M-LOK handguard and magazine well for mid-cap mags. Internally our EVO is bone stock, meaning we should have a nice comparison between the two as they come out of the box.
Performance
Starting with the important stuff, we hit the Chrono with the UTR45 and Scorpion to check out its muzzle velocity and rate of fire, using 0.2G ASG Blaster Devil BBs. We are using a fully charged 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery from VP Racing for our tests, even though the UTR45 has room for a bigger battery. Since the ASG CZ Scorpion EVO is rather more limited in battery space, we thought it only fair to use the same battery for both guns in our tests.
The result of our rate of fire test was a firing rate of 11.3 BBs per second, which equates to around 700 RPM. A respectable rate of fire from the UTR45, if a little shy of what we were expecting considering how fast the trigger responds in semi-auto. This indicates to us that the speed of the trigger response is down to the FALCON EFCS and not to the motor, leaving opportunities open for an upgraded motor down the line to take even more advantage of the superb electrical efficiency. An impressive result from the UTR45, but how does it compare to the already established ASG CZ Scorpion EVO?
When the EVO is put on the chrono the result is a rate of fire of 12.1 BBs per second, slightly edging out the UTR45 in the rate of fire department. 12.1 RPS equates to 726 RPM, which is a slight victory for the EVO, but this is a marginal victory at best. The trigger response of the EVO is absolutely exceptional, and is slightly better than the UTR45 out of the box, though the UTR does offer the ability to adjust the trigger sensitivity which could level the playing field between the two.
For the full results of our FPS tests, refer to the table below:
| Shot | Double Eagle UTR45 | ASG CZ Scorpion EVO |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 330.6 FPS | 326FPS |
| #2 | 331.9 FPS | 322.8FPS |
| #3 | 331.9 FPS | 323.4FPS |
| #4 | 334.6 FPS | 324.1FPS |
| #5 | 334 FPS | 324.7FPS |
| #6 | 333.3 FPS | 324.7FPS |
| #7 | 334 FPS | 325.3FPS |
| #8 | 330.6 FPS | 324.1FPS |
| #9 | 331.9 FPS | 324.7FPS |
| #10 | 329.9 FPS | 326FPS |
Our FPS readings indicate that across 10 shots the UTR fires slightly hotter, averaging 332.3 FPS with a maximum of 334.6 FPS and a minimum of 329.9 FPS. The EVO averages around 7 FPS lower, coming in at 324.6 FPS with a minimum of 322.8 and a maximum of 326 FPS. The deviation between shots is 3.2 FPS for the EVO and 4.7 FPS for the UTR45, giving the EVO the victory when it comes to shot-to-shot consistency.
Unfortunately, we are not able to compare these two AEGs side by side in accuracy and range due to our firing range currently being closed for refurbishment, but the better consistency of the EVO should give it an edge in accuracy, though the UTR could have some surprising results thanks to its "airflow" type inner barrel. At some point in the future, we will get these two onto the range for a proper comparison, but you'll have to live with pure data for the time being!
Ergonomics
Now we know how they shoot, let's compare these two Airsoft SMGs on the ergonomics front. As they come from the factory, both AEGs are very comfortable and have a strong emphasis on ergonomics, though they both tackle the issue of comfort differently.
The Handguards
When comparing the handguards of the ASG C Scorpion EVO and the Double Eagle UTR45 there are a number of factors to consider. The EVO comes from the factory with a 20mm Picatinny railed handguard, offering built in rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. This handguard is strong and comfortable to hold, and gives the EVO its dynamic looks up front.
This is a nice, functional handguard which is ready to mount any of the wide variety of 20mm railed accessories with no need to purchase adapters or other parts.
That said, the EVO can also be fitted with the ATEC M-LOK handguard set if you want a more modern handguard and compatibility with M-LOK accessories and rail adapters. The MTEC handguard provides M-LOK slots on the sides instead of 20mm rails, reducing weight and making the EVO more ergonomic to handle without accessories mounted, and also includes textured panels on the sides for additional grip.
The UTR45 uses a monolithic receiver, and as such, the handguard is built as a single piece with the upper body of the SMG. The UTR has a longer upper rail than the EVO, meaning more space for optics, lights and lasers on the top, but the UTR uses its own negative space attachment system on the sides and bottom of the handguard, which is only compatible with the accessories included in the box.
Fortunately, Double Eagle includes 2 x 20mm rail adapters in case you want to mount 20mm accessories on the sides or bottom, and a set of 3x rail covers, one of which has a hand stop built-in. This allows the UTR45 to remain faithful to the LWRC SMG.45 on which its design is based whilst still allowing accessories to be mounted. This is a limiting factor for some, as it means you will need to use one of the rail adapters if you want to mount a vertical grip which increases the weight of the platform and looks a bit less integrated, and more cludged on.
The Pistol Grips
When it comes to pistol grips, assessing ergonomics can be a very subjective thing. So we will stick to the facts, and leave the opinion for the end of this section!
The UTR45 is designed to be compatible with M4/AR15 AEG pistol grips, which is a massive advantage when it comes to kitting your AEG out to suit your own preferences. The grip provided on the UTR45 from the factory is an ergonomic grip with rubberised textured panels on either side, and a filled backstrap to help support the rifle and encourage a consistent gripping position. This is one of the stand-out features of the UTR, and means if you don't like the original grip you can swap it out for one that suits you, with the appropriate expertise, of course.
The ASG CZ Scorpion EVO has a much more shallow grip angle, sitting at almost 45° to the stock. This means if you are used to an M4/AR15 you might find the EVO to be uncomfortable at first. When you take a nice, high grip and position your thumb over the fire selector the EVO grip will feel far better and is akin to a slightly more angled G36 grip but with added texture on either side and the front and rear, and a palm rest at the base which pairs with the smooth transition between the grip and receiver to hold your hand firmly but comfortably in position. The design of the EVO grip may seem to be lacking, but it works together with the controls to provide an intuitive and comfortable solution, though it lacks the modularity offered by M4/AR15 AEG grips.
The EVO grip is far more "marmite" than the UTR45, and is definitely better suited to those with medium to large hands, or those who wear gloves when skirmishing. Both AEGs being modern designs means they are both quite comfortable when compared to older platforms, but the UTR45's compatibility with M4/AR15 grips offers a massive advantage, as does the grip installed on the UTR45 from the factory. ASG are held at the behest of the original CZ Scorpion EVO design, and though the grip may not feel quite as nice as the UTR45s, we wouldn't have any other grip in its place.
The Stocks
When it comes to the stocks of these fine SMGs, there are pros and cons to each design. The UTR45 stock is much larger in form and is hollow on the inside to provide space for the AEG's battery. The UTR stock also has more range of adjustment and a cheek piece which can be raised and lowered for increased comfort when not using a full face mask.
The EVO stock is a very slim design, and feels far more solid than the already tough UTR stock as the battery of the EVO is stored above the gearbox, meaning no compromises on the strength of the stock. The EVO stock is adjustable for length of pull, but to a lesser extent than the UTR45, offering an additional 5cm of length when needed, though the UTR can be extended by 8cm, and is shorter in its most collapsed position.
Both stocks provide sling mounting apparatus, with a QD sling socket on the EVO, and a QD socket and two sling slots offered on the UTR45. Both stocks fold to the side, though the UTR45 stock does not lock in position, and its side-folding functionality is better used for storage as a result of this. The EVO stock locks in its side folded position extremely rigidly and takes a fairly hard pull to unfold.
This makes the EVO the superior platform for compressed shooting with the stock folded in CQB, but as with everything, this is a balance. If you have longer arms, or you do more outdoors skirmishing without a full face mask you may prefer the longer length of pull and adjustable cheek piece of the UTR. If you do a lot of CQB and you want a slim, snag-free and simple yet strong adjustable stock, the EVO would suit you more.
Space Efficiency
When it comes to space efficiency these are both modern SMG designs so you won't see any MP40 like antics here. The UTR measures 70cm overall with its stock at its most collapsed position, and has a 230mm inner barrel. The EVO is slightly shorter at 62.3cm overall with a 208mm inner barrel. With the units converted and a bit of maths (ew) we have derived a ratio of overall length to barrel length for each SMG, which can be found below:
M917G UTR45 - 1:3.04
Scorpion EVO - 1:2.99
The result is a photo finish, with the EVO pulling ahead by a hair's breadth with a 1:2.99 inner barrel to overall length ratio against the UTR45's 1:3.04. There is little in this, and though the EVO is slightly more space efficient this is likely to make little difference in the field given the fine margin between these two submachine guns.
The Externals
Externally these two SMGs are designed with different goals in mind, and this will become apparent when they are compared side by side. The UTR45 is intended to provide a lightweight and hard wearing compact weapon, and the Scorpion does this too, but it was not a design priority, it is purely by coincidence as the EVO is intended to be a perfect replica of the real steel CZ Scorpion.
The ASG Scorpion EVO, despite being made mostly from polymer, can boast the "full metal" title due to it mimicking the real steel CZ Scorpion EVO's metal and polymer proportions. The focus of the ASG CZ Scorpion EVO is on realism first and foremost, and its other features sit in line with this.
The UTR, whilst being build like a tank, is not "full metal" as the real steel LWRC SMG.45 the design is based on has an upper receiver machined from aluminium extrusion, just like the SCAR platform. When the two polymers are compared side by side there is a noticeable difference in the feel of the EVO, and whilst the UTR45 has some superb quality polymer used in its construction, the EVO edges ahead in this regard. The EVO feels like a real firearm, whereas the UTR45 feels like a really, really nice Airsoft gun by comparison.
The UTR is designed to be economic and skirmish friendly as a priority, with realism coming a close second. Given the themes Double Eagle's releases take, we are expecting a full metal UTR45 to appear at some time in the future, but until then the EVO takes the crown for the best externals. So it should be, being a chunk more money than the UTR!
Internals and Compatibility
When it comes to internals, both of these AEG submachine guns are well equipped, but each in its own way. The UTR45 uses a standard version 2 gearbox with the FALCON EFCS, meaning if you ever need to source replacement parts or upgrades this should be a piece of cake, as the UTR can take any version 2 gearbox parts.
As it comes, the UTR45 gearbox is basic but well-tuned, and really gains a lot from its EFCS system. This is one of the many reasons the UTR45 is so affordable; it makes use of existing technology on the inside for the most part. This is also an advantage if you are all about pure performance, as the UTR will be easier to upgrade than the complex and advanced Scorpion EVO and there will be fewer factors to consider when choosing parts.
The ASG CZ Scorpion EVO was designed from the ground up, and as such offers a lot that the UTR45 cannot with the original version 2 gearbox design and shape. The EVO gearbox has a unique shell, meaning replacements must be specifically for the EVO. This is unlikely to be an issue, as the EVO gears are hardened and have been positioned for perfect meshing which will reduce strain and provide a longer lifespan than other gearboxes. In the 2018 revision and onwards, the EVO is designed to accept version 2 and version 3 piston and cylinder group parts, and also accept version 2 gearsets which is a nice addition and makes spares easier to source.
Other advantages the EVO possesses are its redesigned cable routing, which helps reduce the wire length for better electrical efficiency, and also makes the EVO easier to disassemble and reassemble. The EVO gearbox also makes use of CNC machining in its shell construction, including the selector plate track, which allows the mechanical parts of the EVO to work more smoothly and have a tighter overall feel.
Battery Space
When battery space is considered, the EVO finds itself falling behind slightly, as its battery compartment is much more restricted in size than the massive compartment provided in the UTR45's stock. The CZ Scorpion EVO is restricted to a 7.4V 1300 mAh stick, whereas the UTR can take a larger stick battery if you are happy to leave your stock extended, and some larger nunchuck batteries if you are very careful when installing the battery. We still recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh stick battery for the UTR as this makes battery installation easy and doesn't risk damaging the battery itself, but there is space for slightly more if you are a risk taker.
This compromise was reached in order to allow for the Scorpion's slim and compact stock to maintain realistic dimensions, and other than its size, the battery compartment in the EVO is well thought out and very well hidden.
Like many decisions to be made around buying an Airsoft gun, everything comes at a price. The Scorpion's smaller battery compartment allows for greater structural strength in its stock, and the choice to put the UTR's battery in the stock allows the UTR to avoid the use of an external battery box and makes battery swaps far easier than a front-wired AEG like the EVO. The stock of the Scorpion can be quickly deployed without worrying about trapping the wiring in the hinge, but for longer skirmish days you may need a second battery to keep the Scorpion doing what it does best.
The UTR45 comes out the winner in this category, and the latest version, the M917C extends the UTR's lead considerably, but if you are leaning towards the Scorpion EVO regardless you can always extend your wiring and run an external battery PEQ box if you want a larger battery which can be swapped easily.
Customisation Options
Customisation options for these two SMGs are prolific, as is the case with many Airsoft platforms. That said, they aren't M4s, so there will be some important things to note if customisation options are a big factor in your decision over which of these SMGs to go for.
The Scorpion EVO benefits from being on the market for longer than the UTR45, and as such it has many options for handguard replacements, stock adapters and other external ergonomic upgrades. The most prolific of these is the ATEK furniture from ASG, which allows you to add a super ergonomic M-LOK handguard and a magwell extension to aid fast reloads and provide a secondary gripping surface for compressed shooting. The EVO we tested for this review is fully kitted out with the ATEK M-LOK handguard and Mid-cap magwell, and it both looks fantastic and feels great in the hands, and is a massive improvement over the original handguard in ergonomic terms.
The downside to the EVO when it comes to customisation is its lack of 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the outer barrel. This means that if you want to add a tracer or suppressor you will need to add a thread adapter before doing so. This is an unfortunate aspect of the EVO design, and the lack of 14mm CCW threading was a sacrifice ASG has to make to keep the barrel length correct and the muzzle device faithful to the real CZ Scorpion EVO.
The UTR45, being the younger design, does not yet have any specific accessories released for it, but its monolithic upper receiver design means we are unlikely to see aftermarket handguards, though the UTR is not without its perks. The upper rail of the UTR45 is a fair bit longer than that of the EVO, offering more space for mounting accessories and making a fully kitted out setup less cramped than the equivalent accessories mounted on the EVO.
The UTR45 also has 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of its outer barrel, making it ready for tracer units and suppressors straight out of the box. The inclusion of a negative space attachment system out of the box makes the UTR lighter and more comfortable to hold without accessories, but the proprietary nature of the handguard attachment slots means you are limited in what you can mount. The UTR comes with a set of 3 rail covers and 2 Picatinny rails for its handguard, so this shouldn't hold you back too much as you can run the UTR slick with all its accessories on the top rail, or make use of the rail sections if you need to mount 20mm Picatinny accessories such as angled or vertical foregrips.
Once again there is no clear winner in this category, though we will give this one to the EVO simply because it is a more mature design and has a dedicated aftermarket for the platform. The UTR may catch up in the future as the platform matures, but for the time being you are limited to universal 20mm rail accessories, though the UTR has plenty of space for them!
Magazines
As both SMGs are based on modern designs, the UTR45 and the CZ Scorpion EVO both take proprietary magazines to keep the designs faithful to the real steel firearms. Being brand new, the UTR45 magazines are only available as 120rnd medium-capacity magazines, but we are sure that high cap mags will eventually come to market, and maybe even drum mags!
The Scorpion EVO benefits from being a more mature design in that both high-capacity and medium-capacity magazines are available. The high-cap holds 375 BBs, and the mid-cap holds 75 BBs and is available in both matt black and transparent-bodied variants.
The UTR magazines are considerably larger than the EVO magazines, being based on .45 ACP-sized magazines for the real steel UMP. This means magazine pouches will be more difficult to source for UTR45 mags than EVO mags, as the compact EVO mid-caps can fit into adjustable pistol magazine pouches or SMG-5 mag pouches, and the UTR mags are restricted to the less common P90 and UMP magazine pouches.
Advanced Features
ASG CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1 - Bolt stop function, 4 position fire selector with 3rnd burst mode
When it comes to advanced features, the ASG CZ Scorpion EVO has more than its fair share. The EVO is pre-fitted with a MOSFET which regulates battery voltage and ensures the gearbox completes a full cycle with every pull of the trigger. The MOSFET also protects the trigger microswitch and allows you to really hammer the trigger on semi auto with no fear of a gearbox lockup or the corrosion which develops on conventional copper trigger contacts.
The Scorpion also boasts what is known as a "bolt stop" function, which prevents the AEG from firing when the magazine is empty. This is a great feature for both in game functionality and realism, as you will never find yourself shooting blanks when it matters. For the realism fans, this allows the EVO to be used with handling qualities and a manual of arms that is as close to the real EVO as possible.
This feature is present in the Tokyo Marui Next Gen Recoil AEG series and the Systema PTW, but very few others. This marks the EVO out as one of few "elite" tier AEGs which offer the "bolt stop" function. Some complain about the bolt stop, but for us, there is nothing quite as cool as your AEG stopping to let you know the ammo is expended, carrying out a swift reload and hitting the bolt catch to bring the AEG back into the fight.
The final advanced feature of the Scorpion EVO is its 4 position selector switch, offering safe, semi-auto, 3 round burst and fully automatic. This matches the real Scorpion EVO functionally and is a great touch for realism. This is another rare feature on Airsoft AEGs and is present on a mere handful of other platforms. When compared to a programmable fire selector this system offers more choice without having to alter your settings, offering all functions with the change between being as simple as a flip of a switch.
UTR45 AEG - Programmable fire controls, Binary trigger and adjustable trigger sensitivity
The UTR45 also packs some serious advanced features, all of which are provided by its on-board FALCON E.F.C.S. The FALCON provides all the functionality and protective features of an active breaking MOSFET, offering battery protection, circuitry protection and ensuring the gearbox completes a full cycle with each trigger pull.
The FALCON also offers a plethora of options when it comes to programming your fire selector modes, and trigger functionality. The trigger can be adjusted for sensitivity, allowing anything from a long and sure press to a super light hair trigger. This is great for CQB engagements, where the speed of your semi-auto fire can be a major factor in suppressing the enemy, and engaging moving targets.
The FALCON also allows the UTR45 to be set up for binary trigger mode, which will fire a shot when the trigger is pulled, and a second shot when the trigger is released; giving you double the semi-automatic firing rate of non-binary trigger AEGs. Binary is banned at many indoor CQB sites as it is often seen as a loophole for semi-auto only rules, but is perfectly fine in the outdoors and allows you to increase your hit probability without wasting ammo unnecessarily.
The final feature of the UTR45 and FALCON E.F.C.S to discuss is its programmable fire controls, offering burst modes of varying duration which you can set yourself using the controls of the gun. This means reprogramming in the field is easy, and requires no additional device, programming unit or card to change the setting to suit your current needs. Bursts of 1-5 rounds can be programmed in, offering you some extra flexibility in game, and a feature that is just cool full stop. This is the kind of functionality you would have to pay at least twice the price of the UTR45 to have in the past, and this is one of the many reasons we are so impressed with the UTR45 and the value packed into this little SMG.
Final Thoughts
Our conclusion is that both of these SMGs may seem comparable looking at them, but they are each aimed at a different type of skirmisher and as to which one of these two is best; it is entirely dependent on what you want from your Airsoft primary and your own playstyle.
The UTR45 would be a fine choice if you are the type of skirmisher that wants emphasis on functionality in game, with a measure of external realism but nothing that will complicate things and make the AEG more challenging to use on the field. If you are a new skirmisher you will find you have less to learn when adapting to the UTR45 than with the EVO, as the EVO sports more advanced features requiring realistic operation, and the UTR works like any other AEG.
The CZ Scorpion EVO would be the best choice if you are a more realism focussed skirmisher for whom authentic features and 1:1 realistic looks. The Scorpion EVO operates exactly like the real deal in Airsoft form, even down to the functional bolt catch which needs to be pressed after inserting a fresh magazine and its 4 position selector switch which offers the same modes of fire as the real thing.
On the outside, it is the same story with the EVO, as it accurately simulates the proportions of metal and polymer in the real steel, and is covered in perfectly realistic markings which make it genuinely hard to distinguish from the real thing. The UTR on the other hand sacrifices a bit of realism to keep the platform lightweight, and despite the superb quality of the UTR45 polymer parts it will lose out as a result of this in the mind of a skirmisher who values realism over in-game functionality.
In the end, it is up to you, but we hope that despite our indecisive conclusion that the information and testing data provided in this article will give you the intel you need to make the right choice for you when selecting between these two super cool Airsoft SMGs. Whichever you choose, we know you will be happy with it!