CYMA CM.113A AK-74 Zco Custom AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU

If you love the AK platform but need one which keeps pace with more modern alternatives, the CYMA CM.113A AK-74 Zco Custom AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU is what you need! Boasting full metal construction and a steel receiver, this AK-74 platform is kitted out externally with cutting-edge Zco furniture including the CNC aluminium "Sport" handguard, RK-3 pistol grip, PT-3 multi-adjustable stock and the insanely aggressive DTK-3 muzzle brake. Things get even better when it comes to internals!

The AK-74 Zco Custom is based around the sensational CYMA Platinum E-EDITION High Speed internals, rocking a high torque Neodymium magnet motor, CNC aluminium piston and cylinder head, 13:1 CNC steel high speed gears, 8mm ball bearing bushings and the EShooter Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU to keep everything running smoothly and add programmable fire controls into the mix. Also present is a 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel, giving you above-average accuracy potential along with an air-efficiency advantage. With these internals, you just know the CM.113A is packing some serious heat downrange! 

Starting up front, we have the uniquely mean DTK-3 style muzzle brake, constructed from steel and finished in gunmetal grey. This device replaces the legacy AK-74 muzzle brake, offering recoil reduction and the ability to shoot through barbed wire, padlocks, hinges and other obstacles in real steel form. 

The DTK-3 mounts to a 24mm CW male thread adapter which itself mounts to 14mm CCW male outer barrel threads, giving you the option of using common 14mm CCW suppressors and tracer units or going full Russian with a 24mm CW threaded PBS-1 or PUTNIK suppressor. When removing the DTK-3, you'll need to hold the detent in the front sight down before turning it and when removing the 24mm CW thread adapter you'll need to remove the grub screw on the bottom.

Behind the seriously violent-looking DTK-3, we come to the front sight; a standard AK-74 front sight block with an adjustable front blade protected on either side with built-in protective wings. This part is constructed from alloy and has a very realistic finish applied, simulating the anti-corrosion paint applied to real Russian AK rifles. The front sight can be adjusted for elevation using a front sight adjustment tool and is one of the few aspects of the iconic AK silhouette that remains on this distinctive customised piece.

Behind the front sight, we come to the outer barrel which sports realistic grooves along its design, intended to help dissipate built-up heat in the real rifle. This also adds a bit of visual interest to the design and makes the barrel less reflective, helping you stay concealed in woodland skirmishes. The outer barrel is constructed from alloy and is of the standard 16.3-inch AK length, meaning a lengthy tightbore inner barrel so you can harass the enemy team out to long range.

Following the barrel back, we can find the gas block of the AK-74 Zco Custom which is finished with the same simulated anti-corrosion finish as the front sight, though it is hidden beneath the skeletonised Zco "Sport" upper handguard. The change in finish between the barrel, gas parts and receiver adds contrast to this modernised AK-74 design and makes it look that bit more realistic; avoiding the telltale signs of being a replica and giving it the same level of detail as the real thing.

Surrounding the barrel and gas tube, we can find the handguard which is CNC machined from aluminium and patterned after the real steel Zco "Sport" handguard; a slimmer and lighter alternative to the "B" series Zco handguards. The handguard comprises an upper and lower segment, with the upper featuring a skeletonised 20mm Picatinny rail allowing for a forward-mounted red dot sight, aiming laser or tactical flashlight to be fitted. 

Running along the sides and bottom, we are equipped with Zco's unique negative space attachment system, known as the "Basis" system. This allows Basis compatible accessories to be directly mounted or modular 20mm Picatinny rail sections to be fitted wherever you need them, saving weight and providing a more comfortable handguard when compared to standard 20mm railed handguards. The Sport handguard is also modular, giving you the opportunity to remove the upper handguard and front handguard extension for a more minimalist aesthetic. Pre-installed at 3 and 6 o'clock positions, we are equipped with modular 20mm Picatinny rails which can be repositioned or removed, depending on your needs.

Following the handguard, we come to the trunnion block which provides the mounting point for the classic AK tangent rear iron sight. The rear sight provides multiple graduations for adjustment and a fine rear sight notch to align with the front sight post. The authentic Russian Cyrillic markings on the sight add a touch of realism, and the sight itself can be adjusted by pressing the drums on either side of the sight notch and moving the notch back and forth on its base. The lever on the right side is the handguard disassembly lever and is functional but requires the bolts in the handguard and top cover mount to be removed prior to use.

The receiver itself follows the standard AK-47/74 format with a centrally positioned ambidextrous magazine release at the front of the trigger guard, a mock bolt carrier on the right side of the receiver and a 3-position fire selector on the right side. The fire selector provides 3 modes of fire; safe, full auto and semi-auto, in that order. It is an AK after all! This was designed in to allow for fast selection of semi-auto with a quick sweep down of the selector, and isn't actually because the AK was designed for full auto, as is the common myth. This selector is also an extended design, featuring a welded-on extension to allow you to switch modes with your trigger finger without removing your hand from the pistol grip along with a cutout designed to allow the bolt to be locked back on a real steel AK.

To access the HOP-up unit of the AK-74 Zco Custom, simply hold the charging handle back to reveal the alloy slider adjustable HOP-up unit. The slider unit is known as one of the best designs out there and that is the reason this unit has not changed in design since the original Tokyo Marui AK-47 AEG. To increase the HOP-up effect, simply move the slider rearwards. Returning the slider to the front will reduce the HOP-up to its lowest setting.

On the bottom of the receiver, we come to the pistol grip; an enhanced design inspired by the real steel Zco RK-3 grip, complete with finger ridges and dot texture to improve traction. This grip is quite a bit wider than the real steel version to accommodate the AEG's motor but perfectly carries over the Zco aesthetic. The trigger guard/magazine release assembly is realistically constructed from stamped steel, offering a centrally positioned paddle mag release which is easily accessed for both left and right-handed shooters.

A lovely feature present on this modernised AK is its 20mm Picatinny railed top cover, patterned after the real steel Zco B33 receiver cover. This replaces the original AK top cover with a hinged alternative made from CNC-machined aluminium, offering easier access to the battery compartment and a modern, angular look. 

Thanks to its pre-installed EShooter Kestrel Basic MOSFET and highly upgraded internals, the AK-74 Zco Custom is ready for an 11.1V LiPo straight out of the box, great news for high rate of fire fans! We recommend an 11.1V 1200mAh LiPo in AK stick configuration for a perfect fit and excellent performance. To install your battery, simply press the button at the rear of the receiver top cover, after which it can be hinged open, revealing a Deans battery connector inside. With your battery installed, simply return the top cover to its original position and pull the charging handle to engage the locking button if needed, taking care to avoid trapping the wiring.

Moving to the rear, we come to a fantastic replica of the real steel Zco PT-3 multi-function folding stock. This stock can be folded to the left side using the standard AK-74 folding button on the left rear of the receiver and also offers length of pull adjustment, an adjustable cheek rest and an adjustment lock function. A rotary sling swivel is also present at the rear of the receiver, ready for a highly flexible single-point sling setup or to be used with the front sling point to mount a two-point sling. 

To extend the stock and set the length of pull, simply unscrew the knurled thumbscrew on the bottom of the stock tube and hold down the trigger style adjustment lever on the butt plate, after which you can slide the stock into any of the 7 available positions to suit your body type and loadout. The thumbscrew can then be tightened down to lock the stock in place or left loose to allow for mid-firefight adjustment. If you've folded the stock, you'll need to hold down the small silver tab on the underside of the hinge mechanism to deploy the stock.

The cheek rest is also adjustable, requiring you to loosen the large knurled screw on the right side, set the cheek rest to one of three positions and tighten it down once again. A nice ergonomic feature of the PT-3 stock is its rubber cheek rest pad, giving you a positively luxurious cheek weld far more comfortable than you might expect. The butt plate is also made from rubber, featuring linear serrations and a gentle curve, allowing it to conform to your shoulder perfectly with maximum wet-weather functionality. 

Inside the AK-74 Zco Custom, we are treated to the best internals CYMA currently has to offer. The gearbox shell is a version 3 design with reinforcements in all the key places, the gears are CNC steel 13.1 ratio high-speed examples and the motor is a neodymium magnet high torque motor, guaranteeing a speedy rate of fire which will have the enemy on the run!

The gearbox internals are also all upgraded, including a polycarbonate piston with a steel tooth rack, 8mm steel ball bearing bushings, a CNC aluminium ball bearing silent piston head, a ball bearing spring guide and a double O-ring equipped CNC aluminium silent cylinder head, promising smooth performance, flawless air seal qualities and enhanced durability to maintain reliability at high-performance parameters. The EShooter Kestrel Basic MOSFET is the icing on the cake, offering 6 levels of adjustable pre-cocking, options for 3 round burst and binary trigger along with low battery warning, cycle completion, active braking and low/high voltage cutoff.

If you love the intensely aggressive styling of Zco builds, the CYMA CM.113A AK-74 Zco Custom AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU will make you very happy indeed! An impressive platform in both its in-game performance and external build quality with some fancy features rarely found in AK platforms via the Kestrel Basic ETU, the AK-74 Zco Custom will have any modern AK fan smitten!

Features

• Full metal construction - Mostly steel
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Improved accuracy potential
• Zco Style DTK-3 muzzle brake pre-installed - A mega-menacing muzzle device!
• 14mm CCW Male threaded barrel - Ready for a suppressor or alternative flash hider
• 24mm CW Russian adapter pre-installed - Required for the original DTK-3 muzzle brake
• Zco Style "Sport" handguard with "Basis" attachment slots - Zco's unique negative space attachment system
• 2 x 20mm Picatinny rails for Basis system pre-installed - Ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories, reposition at will!
• Zco Style "Sport" 20mm Picatinny railed gas tube - Ready for a red dot sight, laser unit or other 20mm accessories
• Zco Style B33 20mm Picatinny railed hinged top cover - Plenty of rail space on this AK!
• Adjustable tangent iron sights - Adjustable via the drums on either side, authentic Cyrillic markings
• Steel receiver - Realistically hefty and solid, a mix of real and mock rivets in all the right spots
• Zco style RK-3 textured pistol grip - Dot texture on each side with finger ridges on the front
• Extended fire selector lever - Switch fire modes with the trigger finger from a firing grip
• Zco Style PT-3 adjustable folding stock - 7 adjustment positions, rubber butt plate & adjustable cheek riser
• Stock adjustment lock - Use the knurled screw on the bottom of the stock to lock your length of pull
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Adjustable pre-cocking
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
  • Active braking
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU programming instructions available here
• CYMA Platinum E-EDITION High Speed internals:
  • Reinforced Version 3 gearbox shell with quick change spring system
  • Polycarbonate piston with full steel tooth rack
  • CNC Machined steel 13:1 high speed gear set
  • 8mm Ball bearing bushings
  • CNC Aluminium silent ball bearing piston head
  • CNC Aluminium silent double O-ring cylinder head
  • Ball bearing quick change spring guide
  • High speed Neodymium magnet motor
  • Low resistance wiring
• Rear wired: Deans/T-plug battery connector - Recommended battery: 11.1V 1200mAh LiPo AK Stick battery
• Compatible with AK-47/74 AEG magazines - Spares are always available

Package Includes

• CYMA CM.113A AK-74 Zco Custom AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU
  • 130rnd Medium capacity magazine