CYMA CM.052 RPK-74 AEG

CYMA has gained an outstanding reputation for their line of premium AK47/74 replicas, known for their upgraded internals, strong steel receivers and superb real wood furniture, as well as their impressive attention to detail and realism. This RPK is no different, boasting the superb quality of CYMA's other all-metal and wooden furniture. The good stuff isn't all on the outside either, this AEG has some premium internals as well that make shooting this RPK a delight!

Starting at the tip of the 24-inch outer barrel we can find a birdcage style flash hider, but thankfully it isn't the M4/AR15 birdcage, but rather the RPK-74M birdcage flash hider, matching the real RPK-74M perfectly. The flash hider is constructed from steel and conceals 14mm CCW male threads beneath, offering the opportunity to mount a tracer or suppressor to the CM.052A if you want to stray away from the authentic Russian military look. 

Immediately behind the flash hider, we can see the front sight, which is appropriately shaped to match the real RPK-74M and can be adjusted for elevation using a front sight adjustment tool. The finish on the front sight, as well as the trunnion block and gas block, is a textured paint finish, appropriately simulating the external finish of the real rifle.

As we move down the lengthy outer barrel we can find a mock cleaning rod running parallel with it, retained by alloy rings and the front sight body. Surrounding the barrel and cleaning rod we can find the steel folding bipod, which mounts over the barrel and allows the RPK-74M to be tilted when set up on the bipod to deploy it on uneven ground. The bipod legs are spring-loaded and are deployed by unhooking the retaining catch from the right side bipod leg, after which the bipod will spring open. Including a bipod was a generous move by CYMA, though for an RPK it is all part of the "big boy AK" look. The bipod also features wide and flat feet, granting additional stability when set up on a solid surface such as concrete or a wall.

Moving rearwards we start to notice some more familiar AK features, including the gas block, gas tube and handguard arrangement. The gas block is finished with the same texture as the trunnion and front sight, adding realism and avoiding the tell-tale signs that this is an Airsoft AEG and not the real deal! The gas block also follows the correct form for an RPK-74, meaning the AK worshippers will be satisfied with this rifle. The gas tube is constructed from steel, as are both the upper handguard caps and the rear lower handguard cap, another nod to realism from CYMA with the added benefit of increased strength. The first of our sling points is also located on the handguard cap, on the left side of the AEG, and allows the RPK-74M to be set up with a two-point rifle sling when combined with the rear sling point.

The handguards of the CM.052A are constructed from real wood, this sacrifices some handling in wet weather, but the gorgeous aesthetic of the plywood makes up for the reduced grip. This furniture doesn't take any shortcuts and matches the real RPK-74 wooden handguards perfectly. The handguards are a bit chunkier than standard AK handguards, giving the CM.052 a substantial feel in the hands and a better feel in the palm of your hand.

As we arrive at the receiver we come across the trunnion block, which is the part which connects the barrel to the receiver on a real rifle. This part is constructed from alloy with a realistic textured surface finish and also houses the RPK-74M rear sight. This sight works similarly to a standard AK tangent sight but is longer to provide additional graduation marks for the increased range of the long-barrelled RPK, and also includes an adjustable open aperture which can be moved left to right without the need for tools. To adjust the rear sight for elevation, simply press the two textured buttons on either side of the sight, and move this piece to the position which corresponds with your chosen range. The sight is marked in 10s of meters, but this is mostly for realism and we recommend you experiment and find the best elevation that works for you. 

The iron sight has an adjustable windage, to change it, simply pull outwards on the knurled drum on the right side of the sight notch, turn it anti-clockwise to adjust the notch to the left, and turn it clockwise to move the notch to the right. With the adjustment complete, release the drum and it will lock into place and secure your adjustment. The drum can be adjusted in increments of half a turn each time, making this sight easy to use whilst providing a level of precision that other AK variants don't!

Next up we reach the receiver itself, which is constructed from steel, as is the receiver top cover. This receiver includes the hallmark reinforced sections near the front that mark this out as an RPK receiver, sacrificing low weight for increased strength and resistance to heat build-up. In Airsoft terms, this makes little difference other than pleasing those with an eye for the details and a passion for realism. The top cover is a smooth design without ribs, matching that of the real RPK-74. On the left side of the receiver, we can see an AK style Russian side rail mount, which is compatible with standard AK style side mounts and PSO optics designed for the AK side rail, but will not fit accessories designed for the SVD side rail. This is a nice touch for even more realism, but also opens up DMR possibilities for the CM.052, which would suit the role well with its massive barrel!

Over on the right side of the receiver is where the fire controls for the RPK-74 are located. The fire selector switch is constructed from steel and is directly taken from the AK47/74 series of assault rifles, meaning if you have experience with the AK platform your slick operator skills will transfer straight over to the AK's bigger brother. The fire selector uses the standard AK platform layout, with the selector options being as follows; safe, full-auto and semi-auto. Many believe this was put into the AK design due to Russian doctrine favouring full auto over accurate semi-auto fire, but the truth is this design was intended to allow a user to select semi-auto more easily with a simple sweep down of the hand and allows the selector to be operated with thick winter gloves. The added benefit is that full-auto cannot be selected accidentally, and must be intentionally moved upwards into position. Each selector marking includes authentic Russian Cyrillic lettering to denote the fire modes which are engraved deeply and boldly into the right side of the receiver.

The pistol grip of the RPK-74 is an AK74-type pistol grip with diamond checkering on either side to provide a comfortable but effective gripping surface. This grip is constructed from polymer, matching the furniture issued to the Soviet military in the mid-1980s and sitting in line with many real RPK-74 support weapons currently in service with the Russian military. The trigger guard can be found just ahead of the pistol grip and is constructed from steel for realism and strength. The trigger guard assembly also integrates the magazine catch, which is centrally positioned allowing for ambidextrous operation. This magazine catch also allows for the ultra-slick "mag flip" AK reload, though we don't recommend doing this as it will damage your mags!

The magazine insertion method of the AK platform is a "rock and lock" style operation, meaning you must first index the front of the magazine inside the magazine well, and then rock the rear of the magazine to interface with the magazine catch. This may seem like a hassle, but with a bit of practice, this technique can be carried out quickly and flawlessly and has the added benefit that it is impossible to "over-insert" your magazine and damage your HOP-up unit.

The HOP-up unit of the CM.052 can be found inside the mock ejection port and is accessible when the mock bolt carrier is held to the rear. This HOP-up unit is constructed from alloy and has a slider adjustment style, known for its effectiveness in holding the chosen setting over a long duration. By moving the slider back and forth you can tune your HOP-up for your chosen BB weight, and get the flattest trajectory possible for maximum range.

One of the nicest features present on the CM.052A is its full-sized bolt carrier, which is practically unheard of in an AEG AK without purchasing aftermarket parts. This bolt carrier can be pulled all the way back, and by that we mean ALL the way back, just like a real AK! Pulling this handle back and releasing it permeates the air with the sweet sound of metal on metal which can only be an AK being readied for battle. CYMA absolutely did not have to include this, but the fact that they did shows how dedicated to realism they are with their AK series.

As we arrive at the rear we can find real wood stock, this stock keeps the recognisable RPK silhouette, and it can be grabbed for additional control when firing from the prone position. The real wood looks amazing on this stock and adds some extra weight to balance the equilibrium due to the extremely long barrel. On the base of the stock, we can find our rear sling point which is positioned in a similar position to standard AK74, allowing standard AK74 style slings to be used with the RPK-74.

The battery compartment of the CM.052 can be found within the stock itself. For this compartment, we recommend a 7.4V block battery. The battery compartment can be accessed by removing the steel butt plate after removing its two screws with a flathead screwdriver. This Battery compartment is well-hidden and keeps CYMA CM.052 RPK-74 AEG looking authentic and realistic.

 The internals of the CM.052A are very impressive, sitting in line with the latest releases from CYMA with black nickel-coated cylinder, 18:1 steel gears, high torque motor,  reinforced spring guide and reinforced 7mm bearings. The result of using these enhanced parts over standard parts is the overall smooth sound of the gearbox and its impressive rate of fire and trigger response despite the lack of an ETU or MOSFET, thanks to its high torque motor with neodymium magnets. Even during a long burst of use, the CM.052 performs wonderfully, making it a great choice for the squad support gunner.

A superb replica of an iconic Russian military weapon, the CYMA CM.052 RPK-74 AEG is a beautiful platform that packs a vicious punch. Complete your Russian military or rebel-insurgent look with a support rifle to match the appearance.

Features

• Full metal construction
• Real wood furniture
• Steel receiver and top cover
• Substantial weight - Realistic look and feel
• Sling loops at the front and rear
• Russian AK side rail mount
• 14mm CCW male threads
• Smooth sounding gearbox
• Slider adjustable HOP-up unit
• Steel folding bipod pre-installed
• Very, very long barrel - Excellent LMG and DMR potential
• Impressive internals - black nickel-coated cylinder, 18:1 steel gears, reinforced 7mm bearings
• High torque motor with neodymium magnets
• Realistic reinforcements at the front of the receiver
• Windage and elevation adjustable rear tangent sight
• Full sized dummy bolt carrier - Very satisfying to rack!

Package Includes

• CYMA CM.052 RPK-74 
• 750rnd High capacity magazine