CYMA Platinum SLR Airsoft Works AKS-74U AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU

If you're looking for a new CQB primary in AK flavour, this is one of the absolute best. The CYMA SLR Airsoft Works AKS-74U 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 and 8mm ball bearing bushings. This, the latest version of the SLR AKS-74U, also features the EShooter Kestrel Basic ETU/MOSFET, offering programmable fire modes including 3-round burst and binary trigger along with 6 levels of adjustable pre-cocking, low battery warning, cycle completion, active braking and low/high voltage cutoff; a significant improvement over the previous version's CYMA Zeus MOSFET. 

The party trick of this shorty AK is its integral tracer unit, mounted to the HOP-up unit and powered by the same battery that powers the AEG itself. This means you can light the night up with tracer BBs without needing to mount anything to the 14mm CCW threads up front, keeping the weight of the platform as low as possible and maintaining its short length and excellent handling. This is a very impressive feature to find in a mid-priced AEG and has previously only been available on the aftermarket for a premium price while requiring extra expertise to install.

Externally, the SLR AKS-74U is every bit as good as it is internally. We are treated to a full metal build with a large proportion of steel parts, a licenced SLR Rifleworks Billet stock and Synergy Mini-Comp muzzle brake, an SLR "Solo" 20mm Picatinny handguard and a 20mm Picatinny railed gas tube. The result is a realistically built short-barreled AK replica destined to dominate CQB sites with its super snappy trigger response and game-changing tracer HOP-up.

Starting at the front, we can find a highly detailed replica of the SLR Rifleworks Synergy Mini-Comp muzzle brake with multiple ports around its circumference and an engraved SLR marking on the bottom. The device suits this decked-out Krinkov, pairing perfectly with its modernised furniture for a cutting-edge look. The muzzle device mounts to 14mm CCW male threads, meaning you can swap it out for an alternative if you have a preferred muzzle device, just make sure you remove the grub screw first. It goes without saying, you won't need a tracer for this bad boy as there is already a tracer unit built into the HOP-up!

To the rear of the Mini-Comp, we come to the front sight/gas block combo, a recognisable feature of the AKS-74U, matching the shape of the real AKS-74U gas block perfectly. 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 there is even a sling point built-in in the form of a loop on the left side.

The gas tube sits between the gas block and the receiver, just above the barrel and is constructed from aluminium with a 20mm Picatinny rail machined into its upper surface. This rail is perfect for mounting a red dot sight but there is plenty of room in front for an offset flashlight mount or other 20mm Picatinny accessories.

Mounting an RMR-style or T1-style micro-red dot here can give you a lower 1/3 co-witness with the iron sights, making for more intuitive aiming and a great combination of precision along with fast target acquisition. The upper handguard also includes a discrete SLR trademark at the front, a subtle display of SLR's pride in its design. This is an AKS-74U length gas tube, so if you want to swap it out make sure you get the correct version as the standard AK types are too long.

The lower handguard is equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, replicating the real steel SLR AK "Solo" handguard, with bevelled relief cuts just behind for more comfortable handling. The front Picatinny sections are in the perfect spot to mount a tactical flashlight or laser and the side rails also have a QD socket built into each, ready for a QD sling swivel to be added. The handguard is constructed from aluminium and has linear grooves at the offset angles, intended to provide extra grip to improve wet weather handling.

Following the handguard, we come to the trunnion block which provides the mounting point for the AKS-74U hinged top cover. The rear sight is mounted to the top cover, just behind the trunnion, providing two rear sight notches, one for close range (marked n) and one for longer range (marked 4 - 5). The authentic Russian Cyrillic markings on the sight add a touch of realism, and the sight itself can be adjusted by pushing the sight notch back and forth against its leaf spring.

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 has also been enhanced by SLR and perfectly replicated by CYMA, featuring a welded-on extension to allow you to switch modes with your trigger finger without removing your hand from the pistol grip.

The receiver top cover of the SLR AKS-74U is also constructed from stamped steel and is the appropriate design for an AKS-74U, with ribs stamped into the upper surface to provide additional strength while keeping the material thin and lightweight. This receiver cover is also hinged, meaning it doesn't come completely off the rifle and instead, stays attached via the hinge on the trunnion block. The battery compartment is beneath the top cover, and to access it, simply press the button at the rear of the top cover and it should spring up, revealing a Deans/T-plug battery connector inside.

Thanks to its pre-installed EShooter Kestrel Basic MOSFET and highly upgraded internals, the SLR AKS-74U is ready for an 11.1V LiPo straight out of the box, and we recommend an 11.1V 1200mAh LiPo in AK stick configuration for a perfect fit and excellent performance. With the battery connected and installed, you can push the top cover back down onto the receiver, align the button with the hole in the rear of the top cover, and pull the charging handle to lock the cover down if necessary.

To access the HOP-up unit of the SLR AKS-74U, simply hold the charging handle to the rear 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. This HOP-up also has some extra wires and circuit boards on it, adding tracer functionality so you can light the enemy up without needing to add a tracer muzzle device.

The pistol grip of the SLR AKS-74U is a standard AKM/AK-74 type pistol grip, with diamond checkering on either side to ensure the rifle stays firmly in your grasp in any weather condition. The trigger guard and magazine release can be found just ahead of the pistol grip, and are constructed from steel to provide solid magazine locking and ample rigidity. The magazine release is placed in the centre of the receiver and is accessible from either side of the AEG. The magazine retention system of the AK platform is a "rock and lock" motion, requiring you to first index the front "hook" on the magazine inside the receiver, then rock the magazine to engage the catch.

At the rear of the SLR AK-105, we have a highly detailed licenced replica of the real steel SLR Rifleworks AK Billet stock, constructed from aluminium using CNC technology for the perfect combination of low weight and high strength. The stock is side folding, just like the original AK-105 steel side folder, but is far lighter and requires far less effort to fold and deploy.

To fold the stock, simply pull it upwards to defeat the spring-loaded hinge mechanism and the stock will fold to the side, staying in place without the need for a fiddly latch or any buttons whatsoever. The stock also features SLR trademarks engraved on either side and an ambidextrous QD sling socket, allowing a two-point rifle sling to be mounted when paired with the front QD sling sockets and QD sling swivels.

Inside the SLR AKS-74U, 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. 

Known as "Ksyukha" by the Russians and "Krinkov" by the Americans, the AKS-74U is one of the most recognisable AKs out there, seen in the hands of Spetsnaz, Osama Bin Laden, James Bond and all manner of other characters and organisations, fictional or otherwise. CYMA's SLR AKS-74U will soon find infamy of its own for its incredible performance-to-price ratio, excellent build quality and superlative CQB functionality with its built-in tracer and EShooter ETU!

Features

• Full metal construction - Mostly steel
• Tracer unit built into the HOP-up unit - Powered by the AEG's battery
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Improved accuracy potential
• Licensed SLR Synergy Mini-Comp pre-installed - Awesome looking muzzle device
• 14mm CCW Male threaded barrel - Ready for a suppressor or alternative flash hider
• QD sling sockets at 3, 6, & 9 o'clock on the handguard - Plenty of sling options
• Licenced 20mm Picatinny SLR Solo 5.35" Krink lower handguard - 20mm rails at 3, 6 & 9 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed upper handguard - Ready for a red dot sight, laser unit or other 20mm accessories
• Tangent iron sights - Adjustable via the drums on either side of the rear sight, authentic Cyrillic markings
• Steel receiver and hinged top cover - Realistically hefty and solid, a mix of real and mock rivets in all the right spots
• Textured pistol grip - Standard AK-74 design, diamond texture on each side for improved grip
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally positioned, accessible from either side
• Extended fire selector lever - Switch fire modes with the trigger finger from a firing grip
• Licensed replica SLR AK Billet Stock - Ultra light side folding stock, 6061 Alu construction
• On-Off Switch for the integral tracer unit - On the right side of the HOP-up unit, accessible with the bolt pulled back
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Adjustable pre-cocking
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
  • Active braking
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
• 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 Platinum SLR Airsoft Works AKS-74U AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU
• 140rnd Mid-cap magazine
• Speed loader