Double Bell BY-817 11" M-416 A5 Assault Rifle AEG

The Double Bell BY-817 M-416 A5 is based on the latest version of one of the most iconic military rifles of recent history, being issued to the special forces of almost every nation at one time or another and representing a big improvement over the legacy M4 platform on which it is based. On the outside, the M-416 A5 has all the goodies, including ambidextrous controls, a CNC aluminium quad-railed handguard, a low-profile sliding stock and an enlarged trigger guard paired with an ergonomic pistol grip.

Internally, the BY-817 has a few choice pre-upgraded parts with a focus on long-term performance and robustness. These include reinforced steel 18:1 gears, 8mm ball bearing bushings, a quick change spring system, a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack and a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel for improved accuracy down range. With the latest rotary HOP-up unit pre-installed and full TM compatibility, this AEG is great as it is but is also capable of being built out into something amazing down the line, should it suit your requirements!

Starting at the front, we come to the flash hider which is the typical birdcage type commonly found on M4s and mounts to 14mm CCW male threading. This means if you want to dress your M-416 A5 up special forces style with a suppressor or tracer unit, you have the green light. The flash hider has a grub screw in the bottom, so make sure you remember to remove the grub screw before attempting to unscrew it to avoid ruining the threads.

Moving rearwards we can see the realistic mock gas block, complete with a mock gas adjuster which can be rotated between "normal" and "suppressed" modes, with each mode being indicated on the mock adjuster itself with engraved lettering. Running beneath the handguard there is a realistic mock gas piston and spring which is visible through the ports of the handguard, adding a hint of extra realism for those who will notice. These parts do not affect function in an Airsoft AEG but they nonetheless are essential to give the M-416 A5 the realistic look it deserves.

The handguard itself is constructed from aluminium using CNC machining, providing perfectly in-spec rails and a flawless shape, matching that of the real rifle perfectly. The handguard is equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, and also has an integral flip-up front sight built in. The upper rail meets the receiver rail in a monolithic manner, and thanks to it being keyed into the receiver there is absolutely no chance of handguard wobble or rotation developing over time. This is one of the biggest improvements of this rifle over the M4/AR-15; the keyed handguard/receiver interface gives you a rock-solid upper, almost as solid as a proper monolithic upper.

Every second rail slot of the handguard is numbed with white laser engraved digits, so you can swap and change accessories between guns you can make a note of the slot number you use, and remount your accessories in the same spot every time. Punctuating the 20mm Picatinny rails we can see the oblong handguard vents which give the M-416 its recognisable aesthetic, help reduce weight, and give us a glimpse of that super cool mock gas piston!

Moving on to the receiver we can see the M4/AR-15 lineage of the M-416. AR users will feel right at home with these controls, but there are a few notable enhancements on this rifle that most M4/AR-15 AEGs lack. The fire selector for example is located just above the pistol grip as it would be on an M4, but this selector is redesigned with a wider contact surface for easier actuation in wet weather conditions and is mirrored on the right side to allow for intuitive left-handed use.

The magazine release is also ambidextrous, being positioned on either side of the magazine well. The mock bolt release is functional in that it will allow you to release the mock bolt after HOP-up adjustment, and is also ambidextrous. The left side catch is the conventional "ping pong paddle" style but is slightly enlarged, and the right side catch is a small tab just above the magazine release which can be actuated with the trigger finger. Pressing either of these catches when the mock bolt is locked back will release it with a satisfying clack, and is a lot of fun to play with.

One of the major pitfalls of ambidextrous controls is the increased likelihood of snagging and accidentally pressing a button when your rifle rubs against your kit as you move. The M-416 receiver adds raised protrusions around the controls to protect them from accidental use, in a similar manner to the "magazine release fence" found surrounding the magazine release of a standard M4/AR-15.

The fire selector modes are indicated with the iconic red and white bullet pictograms, with a crossed-out projectile in white for the safe mode, a single projectile in a closed box for semi and a projectile with "30" alongside in an open box for the fun mode, aka full auto.

The adjustable HOP-up of the M-416 A5 is located inside the mock ejection port on the right side of the receiver and is accessible when the charging handle (found at the top rear of the receiver) is pulled to the rear. This will open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt, revealing the rotary HOP-up adjuster. The rotary HOP-up type is the latest design for M4/AR15 pattern AEGs and benefits from being able to hold its setting for longer under the vibrations of firing and can be adjusted in finer increments for greater precision. This device allows you to apply a varied amount of backspin to your BBs, and tune your M-416 A5 for your ammo weight of choice.

The pistol grip has a refined grip angle with the usual finger ridge removed for greater comfort for a variety of hand sizes. On either side and the rear, we can find crackle texturing to provide superb gripping qualities regardless of what type of gloves you wear for skirmishing. The trigger guard is enlarged for fast access to the trigger, and the trigger itself is the curved "mil-spec" style trigger, as it should be for a faithful replica.

At the rear of the receiver, we can find an M4/AR-15 style 6-position buffer tube with the appropriate enlarged castle nut used on the real rifle. The sliding stock is installed over the top of the buffer tube, offering a snag-free design with a low profile adjustment lever located on the bottom, out of the way of any dangling slings, comms cables or other obstructions.

The butt plate of the stock has aggressive chevron texture on its surface to guarantee the M-416 A5 won't slip out of your shoulder when you are operating in bad weather conditions. There is also a sling slot built into the stock which can be paired with the sling port on the gas block/handguard to mount a two or three-point sling setup.

The battery compartment is located inside the buffer tube and is accessible through the rear of the stock. The butt plate of the stock can be removed by pulling the sliding catch at the toe of the stock forwards, after which the butt plate can be slid downwards and off the rifle. Inside you will find a mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you mount your choice of battery. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in stick configuration for an easy fit and perfect performance.

On the inside, the Double Bell M-416 A5 has been moderately pre-upgraded, which is always nice to see! The inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore example, offering a slight raise in FPS for the same spring and improved accuracy potential, as long as you do your part. The latest M4/AR-15 HOP-up design, the rotary unit, gives the M-416 the edge over older AEGs fitted with the gear HOP-up style and gives you one less thing to think about upgrading.

The gearbox is a version 2, compatible with aftermarket parts for the Tokyo Marui version 2 gearbox. The gearbox has also been improved by adding a quick-change spring system into the mix so you don't have to disassemble the gearbox to tune the power. The bushings are 8mm steel ball bearing bushings, providing reduced friction for a higher rate of fire and a less laboured gearbox report and the piston is a polymer piston with a full rack of steel teeth, giving you the perfect blend of low weight and high strength.

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Detailed dummy gas adjuster - Can be rotated between "N" and "S", looks just like the real thing
• CNC Machined aluminium quad 20mm Picatinny handguard - Ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories
• Front flip-up iron sight built-in, rear iron sight on the receiver rail  - Lift to raise, rear sight is QD
• Detailed dummy gas piston system inside the handguard - Visible through the handguard ports
• Numerically marked rail slots - Keep track of where you mount your accessories
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for your choice of scope or red dot sight
• Ambidextrous fire selector - SAFE - SEMI - AUTO, mirrored on either side - Great for left or right-handed shooters
• Ambidextrous mock bolt release - Close the mock bolt from the left or right side
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Push-through design, well within reach for lefties or righties
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy access to the trigger when wearing gloves
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Comfortable shape, textured sides, filled-out back strap
• A5 Style receiver - Reduced magazine well angle for wider compatibility with polymer magazines
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 stocks, adjust to suit your body type
• Retractable low-profile stock - Low snag design, built-in sling slot
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Inside the ejection port, accessible with the charging handle pulled
• Version 2 gearbox with 8mm ball bearing bushings - Reduced friction and gearbox noise
• Reinforced 18:1 steel gear set - Strong standard ratio gears
• Quick change spring system - Easy spring changes, no need to open the gearbox
• Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack - Combines low weight with strength where needed
• Rear wired - Mini-Tamiya connector
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG Magazines
• Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo Stick Battery

Package Includes

• Double Bell BY-817 11" M-416 Assault Rifle AEG
• 300rnd Key-wound High-cap magazine
• User manual