Double Eagle M89A SMG-45 AEG

The Double Eagle M89A is a fantastic choice for any skirmisher who wants an SMG which stands out and has the aggressive look of chonky magazines of .45 calibre style. It's only chambered in .45 because they don't make a .46! The M89A is constructed almost entirely from textured high-density polymer, which is perfectly appropriate when simulating the real firearm, as it is also a highly modern majority polymer design. The low weight of this SMG makes it a fantastic choice as a sniper's backup weapon, or for turning and burning in CQB when ditching a few grams can give you the edge you need to land the hit before the enemy does.

Starting at the tip of the alloy outer barrel we can find no threads, which is a shame, though the M89A does include the realistic QD suppressor mounting lug of the real firearm. Following this, we come to the receiver which is constructed from high-density polymer and has a velvety matt finish applied. The feel of the polymer on this AEG is fantastic, and Double Eagle has also done a great job in preventing the typical "shiny plastics" from making their way onto the M89A and ruining its good looks.

As we move rearwards we come to the handguard, which is furnished with 20mm Picatinny accessory rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. These rails allow you to mount vertical or angled foregrips, and lasers or tactical flashlights should your mission require it. If you prefer to run the M89A slick these rails can be removed, as can the front sling point for a more dynamic look and reduced weight.

Above the handguard we can find the M89A's charging handle, which is derived from the famous SMG-5, and sports similar ergonomics with a more modern look to suit the rest of the M89A's externals. Pulling the charging handle back and locking it up into the "safety notch" will provide access to the rotary HOP-up unit, which is accessible through the ejection port located on the right side of the SMG. The HOP-up unit is constructed from alloy, and turning the rotary dial will allow you to adjust the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and tune the M89A for your choice of ammo.

The receiver of the M89A is designed to be both caveman simple and to provide familiar AR15 style ergonomics with fully ambidextrous controls. These requirements were conceived for the fact that the real firearm was designed to replace the SMG-5 and supplement the M4A1 in service with Law Enforcement and SWAT special units.

Along the top of the receiver, we can find a 20mm Picatinny rail, which allows red dot sights, scopes and magnifiers to be mounted directly, with no need for additional scope mounts. This rail is approximately 12cm long, providing enough space for even a red dot and magnifier combo without being excessively long and increasing the SMG's weight.

At the front and rear of the receiver, we can find the M89A's integrated aperture iron sights, the rear of which boasts two different aperture types which you can select by flipping the sight aperture inside its mount. The front iron sight is concealed inside a protective ring to prevent bumps and scrapes from upsetting your sight picture. These sights are simple and non-adjustable, but the selectable aperture means you can use the finer aperture for precise shots in good lighting, and switch to the larger aperture for low light work, and full auto. More than enough for an Airsoft gun, especially an SMG designed for breaching a clearing at kissing distance!

The fire selector is similar in design to the AR-36, with an ultra short and fast 45-degree throw between the fire modes, each of which is indicated with a bullet style pictogram. The fire selector is positioned just above the grip and is present on either side to allow both left and right-handed users to operate the M89A intuitively. The magazine release is centrally positioned, just in front of the trigger guard, and is also accessible from both sides.

The lefty-friendly aspects of this SMG aren't only relevant for southpaws; they can also be an asset to a CQB-oriented player who likes to make the most of surrounding cover by carrying out a "shoulder to shoulder transition". This technique means you switch shoulders when rounding offhand corners and present a far smaller target to the enemy. This technique is the bread and butter of CQB domination, and the M89A is ready to take pure advantage!

The only control which is not either ambidextrous or lefty-friendly is the dummy bolt catch, which does nothing on an Airsoft AEG but is nonetheless included for realism. The dummy bolt catch is a separate part, avoiding tell-tale signs of the M89A being a replica, and is positioned in the centre left of the receiver, just like an M4.

Another M4-like feature of the M89A is its pistol grip, which combines the comfortable angle and flared-out shape of the AR36 platform with the finger ridge and textured sides of the "A2" style M4 grip. This grip is very comfortable for practically any hand size and works well even when wearing thicker gloves thanks to its textured sides. The trigger guard is an enlarged type, similar to that of the SMG-5 and AR36, making it suitable for any level of finger protection, other than mittens! The trigger guard runs forward to meet the magazine well and will keep any protrusions away from the trigger and prevent negligent discharges.

On the left side of the upper receiver, we come to our receiver sling point, which is ideally positioned for use with a single-point bungee sling. This sling point can also be used in combination with the front sling point/hand stop if you prefer to use a two-point sling setup. The stock also includes two sling holes, furthering your slinging options and allowing a lot of flexibility without the need to purchase additional adapters or mounts. The sling points are of the classic HK style and are quite small, so we recommend either using a loop of paracord or a keyring if your sling hooks are too big to pass through.

The battery compartment of the Double Eagle M89A is located inside the receiver itself, and is accessible with the stock folded to the side. With the stock folded you will see a battery compartment door, opening this will reveal the battery compartment and the mini-Tamiya battery connector within. The M89A is designed for AK style stick batteries, but can also fit a more compact buffer tube style battery for an easier fit and a swifter battery change. For the M89A we recommend either an 8.4V 1600mAh NiMH stick battery or a 7.4V 1400mAh LiPo buffer tube style stick battery.

The M89A's folding stock is of a fixed length, but is designed to provide a better cheek weld than the legacy SMG-5 sliding stock, and it does a great job. The stock has a comfortable curved cheek area, allowing you to get a good sight picture and not grate your face like you might using an SMG-5. The butt plate is constructed from rubber to provide exceptional grip for either wet weather use or when wearing body armour which would otherwise inhibit your ability to properly shoulder the SMG. This style of stock has since found its way onto SMG-5 variants, grenade launchers and numerous other platforms, indicating a clear win for its design and ergonomics.

For those looking for an SMG that is lightweight, affordable and sports ultra-modern ergonomics with ambidextrous controls, the M89A would be a solid choice. Out of the box, this AEG shoots far better than one might believe, and its external quality alone makes it feel like it cost twice as much as it actually did. The M89A's compatibility with version 3 gearbox internals, AEG tightbore inner barrels and HOP-up rubbers also leaves open the possibility of upgrades in the future and the chance to turn this pocket money priced AEG into something truly fearsome!

Features

• Metal V3 Gearbox with steel gears
• Ambidextrous Magazine Release
• Ambidextrous fire selector lever
• Side folding stock - Great for ease of transport and CQB
• Full metal construction - Not a lot of metal, just like the real deal!
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for Red dot sights/ scopes
• 450rnd High-cap magazine included
• 20mm Picatinny railed handguard - Ready for grips, lasers, flashlights etc.
• Hooded front iron sight - Protected from impacts/scrapes
• Multi aperture rear iron sight - Select between two apertures for aiming
• Alloy adjustable HOP-up unit - Tune the backspin of your BBs for more range!
• Functional mock charging handle - Does nothing but sounds great
• Finger ridged AR-style pistol grip - Familiar and comfortable
• Rubberised butt plate for additional grip in wet weather and with body armour
• Spare magazines are available here

Package Includes

• Double Eagle M89A SMG-45 AEG
• Double Eagle M89A 450rnd High-cap magazine
• Allen Key
• Screwdriver
• Unjamming Rod

Special Instructions

The Double Eagle M89A comes with a pair of shooting glasses in the box. We do NOT recommend using these for Airsoft skirmishing as they are very unlikely to be rated for BB impacts. Rated eye protection is a MUST for skirmishing as you only get one set of eyes!