CYMA CM.045A AKS-74U Real Wood Handguard - High-Speed

The CM.045 High-Speed continues CYMA's tradition of providing upgraded high-speed variants of their AEG lineup, and like the other high-speed CYMA AEGs, this one has a very impressive trigger response and a mean rate of fire with a gearbox that sounds ultra-smooth and unlaboured. On the outside, the CM.045A High-Speed is equally impressive, retaining the robust build quality of the original CM.045A with its high proportion of steel components for added realism and a substantial feel in the hands. This variant also sports real wood handguards to provide the classic AK look that everyone knows and loves.

Starting at the tip of the alloy outer barrel we can find the muzzle device, which attaches to the 24mm CW AK threads on the front sight/gas block. The muzzle device is the correct design for an AKS-74U of this era, complete with ribs on the exterior marking it out from earlier AKS-74U models. The front sight is adjustable for elevation using the included front sight tool and is housed inside the gas block/front sight block combination, a hallmark of the AKS-74U. Beneath the 24mm CW AK threads are 14mm CCW threads, which can be accessed by removing the grub screw under the muzzle device, and unthreading the 24mm CW adapter. This adapter is held on with some form of adhesive, so please be careful not to strip any threads when removing the grub screw and adapter. The front sight/gas block also includes a sling point on the left side, which can be used in concert with the sling point on the stock to attach a two-point rifle sling.

Moving rearwards we come to the real wood handguards, matching the original variant of the AKS-74U first issued in the 1970s. These handguards include two ports on either side, intended on the real firearm to help cool the barrel after rapid firing. The profile of these handguards is designed to provide a stable grip and have a comfortable profile that fills out the hand to assist in controlling recoil by allowing the user to exert "downforce" to keep the muzzle rise under control. The wooden handguard look is perfect if you are doing a guerrilla rebel loadout, early Soviet Spetsnaz impression or an Osama Bin Laden loadout, just be prepared for all the players dressed as SEAL Team 6 to burst into your bedroom and fill you full of plastic! The handguards are held onto the rifle using handguard caps, the lower of which is made from alloy with the upper handguard caps being constructed from steel.

The battery compartment of the CM.045 High-Speed is located beneath the top cover and can be accessed by pushing the button at the rear of the top cover down, after which the cover will hinge open. Within you will find a mini-Tamiya connector to which you connect your battery. With your battery installed inside, the top cover can be pushed back down, where the spring-loaded button will lock it back into place. For the CM.045A, we recommend an 11.1V 1200mAh LiPo battery for a good fit beneath the top cover with space to spare.

Moving down to the receiver itself, we can see authentic rivets and mock rivets, authentically positioned to match the layout of the real firearm. This is always nice to see and adds a touch of extra realism for those who want the most faithful replica out there. On the left side of the receiver, we can see the latch for the side folding stock which takes the form of a spring-loaded hook. If you have the stock folded, you need to pull rearwards on this hook to release the stock and deploy it. The next thing we notice is the stamped dimple, present on either side of the receiver. This is another of these features AK fans will appreciate, as it matches the shape and profile of a real stamped AKS-74U receiver. This was added to increase the strength of the magazine well whilst keeping the receiver thin, light and cheap to manufacture.

Moving to the rear of the receiver we can find an AK side rail, positioned on the left side of the receiver. This rail is intended for AK side mounts and should be compatible with most side mounts out there if you want to add an optical sight to your AKS-74U. This AK rail also allows authentic Russian styled optics to be mounted if you are going for a super realistic Milsim style setup. Behind the side rail, we can find the folding button for the stock mechanism. Pressing this in will release the locking mech, and allow the stock to be folded to the left side of the rifle for storage or extreme close quarters work. By design, the stock cannot be folded with an optic or mount installed on the side rail, but fortunately many of these mounts are QD by nature, and can easily be added and removed without losing zero.

Over on the right side is where we can find the controls of the AKS-74U. The charging handle is of a classic AK format and is machined as a part of the mock bolt carrier. The bolt carrier and charging handle are authentically coloured black, matching the AK74 bolt carrier perfectly. With the charging handle held to the rear, we can see the adjustable HOP-up slider inside. Moving this piece back and forth will vary the amount of HOP-up applied to your BB and allow you to tune the CM.045A High-Speed for different ammo weights. To the rear of the charging handle, we can find the AK fire selector which doubles as a dust cover when in the "safe" position preventing dirt and debris from entering the AEG. This selector is a bit different to most other AEG designs but sits in line with other AKs perfectly with its "Safe - Auto - Semi" layout. This layout was chosen for the original AK47 to provide an easy and quick sweep to set the rifle to semi-automatic and ensure when full auto was selected it was done knowingly and intentionally.

Below the receiver, we can find the steel trigger guard/mag release assembly, and the plum coloured polymer pistol grip. The pistol grip is a classic AK74 pattern grip complete with diamond checkering on either side to ensure the AKS-74U does not slip from your grasp, even in poor weather. The magazine release is accessible from either side, facilitating ambidextrous use for left-handed users and allowing those uber tactical operators who like to shoulder-to-shoulder transition to reload with their left hand (if they practised enough!). The magazine insertion method for an AK rifle is a "rock and lock" motion as opposed to a straight insertion, meaning you first need to index the front of the magazine into the magazine well, then rock the rear of the magazine to meet the mag catch and lock it into place. This can take practice, but once you are familiar, the AK platform can be manipulated with impressive speed. This magazine release also allows for a "mag flip" style emergency reload, though we don't recommend that unless you are okay with damaging your magazines!

At the rear of the rifle, we can find its steel folding stock which is the correct design for an AKS-74U of the Soviet era. This stock includes a sling point on the right side which can be used with a single point bungee sling or with a two-point sling using the sling point on the front sight/gas block. The butt plate of the stock is steel but includes linear texture to prevent the stock from slipping out of your shoulder if you wear body armour.

Internally we are in for a real treat with this high-speed variant of the CM.045A. The gearbox has been fully revamped and is now equipped with some superb upgrade parts, providing a super snappy trigger response and a positively scary rate of fire. These parts include a high-speed motor, 13:1 ratio high-speed gears, a polycarbonate piston with steel teeth, a silent ball bearing piston head and a double O-ring cylinder head. These upgrades not only make the gearbox ultra quick to cycle, but they significantly reduce the gearbox noise as well, the result being a smooth gearbox that sounds like it takes the hammering of a high rate of fire setup in its stride!

For those with a taste for the AK flavour of AEG who need something short for turning and burning in CQB, or for those looking for a period-accurate soviet AKS-74U, the CM.045A High-Speed does what you need! The combination of the super sturdy CM.045A with CYMA's superb internal upgrades is a match made in AK heaven!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Mini-Tamiya battery connector 
• 24mm CW AK threads with 14mm CCW beneath
• AKS-74U Gas booster/Trumpet muzzle device
• AK side rail - Compatible with AK side rail mounts
• Steel receiver, top cover, muzzle device, trigger guard and more!
• Plum coloured pistol grip
• Real wood handguards - Authentic and recognisable AK look!
• Steel side folding stock - Great for CQB and storage
• Authentic fire selector layout - Safe->full-auto-> semi-auto
• Ultra-smooth sounding gearbox
• Ambidextrous magazine release catch
• Textured AK74 style pistol grip
• Front and rear sling points - Ready for two-point slings
• Snappy trigger response and impressive rate of fire
• Slider adjustable HOP-up unit - Pull back the charging handle to access

Package Includes

• CYMA CM.045A AKS-74U Real Wood Handguard - High-Speed
• 500rnd High-capacity magazine
• Front sight adjustment tool
• User manual