Novritsch SSR249 Machine Gun AEG

If you appreciate the long-range performance of Novritsch platforms but need more firepower, the Novritsch SSR249 Machine Gun AEG will do the trick! Equipped with a rock solid steel receiver and superbly made CNC aluminium enhancements, this is Novritsch's take on the legendary M249 LMG, serving with the US Armed Forces as the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) and the British Army as the L110A2 Minimi.

On the outside, this '249 has been considerably styled up; equipped with a unique M-LOK handguard and swept-back muzzle brake to complete the Novritsch look. Inside, we're ready to rock with 16:1 CNC steel gears running on 8mm ball bearing bushings, a POM piston head and cylinder head, a steel quick change spring guide and a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack. Being spec'd by Novritsch, the HOP-up unit is also considerably upgraded; a CNC aluminium rotary TDC example paired with a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel. With all this heat packed under the hood, you better believe this is one of the best if not the best shooting M249 replica out there currently!

Starting up front, we can find the newly designed SSR249 muzzle brake, styled similarly to that of the SSR4 MK2 with is dynamic swept-back front end and multi-port design. The muzzle brake mounts to 14mm CCW male barrel threads at the tip of the full-length aluminium outer barrel but is affixed with a grub screw on the bottom. If you're mounting a tracer unit or suppressor, make sure you remove the grub screw before attempting to unscrew the muzzle brake.

The front sight and gas block assembly mount to the barrel, providing a fine front sight post protected inside a ring and a mock gas adjuster below, appropriately simulating the adjustable gas system of the real M249 PARA. Between the gas block and handguard, we are treated to a steel sling point on each side, ready for a two-point sling to help distribute the significant weight of this beast of an LMG. Tipping the scales at a meaty 5.8 kg, we recommend a padded rifle sling for this bad boy!

Next up, we reach the unique handguard and heatshield of the SSR249, both of which are constructed from CNC-machined aluminium. The heatshield/upper handguard is covered in M-LOK negative space attachment slots, with a row at the 12 o'clock position and 2 rows on either side, ready for M-LOK accessories. Running along the bottom, we're also equipped with an integral 20mm Picatinny rail, providing a solid mounting point for a vertical foregrip or bipod.

Like the real M249, the SSR249 handguard is made from two parts, giving you the option to change up the looks by removing the upper handguard. This can be done by removing the two front Allen bolts on each side, after which the upper handguard will lift free. The handguard also serves as the battery compartment, requiring that the lower handguard be removed via the rearmost Allen bolt on each side along with the Allen bolt at the front of the bottom rail. With this done, the lower handguard will lift free, revealing a Deans battery connector. We recommend an 11.1V 1450mAh LiPo battery in Crane configuration for an easy fit, though you might be able to fit bigger batteries inside if you're careful when reinstalling the handguard.

Now your battery is on board, time to load the mag. To load the included electric auto-winding box magazine you will need to unzip the fabric cover and install a 9V battery (not included) inside the battery cradle concealed behind the port door on the bottom. with this done, open the fill port on the right side of the top of the mag, pour your BBs in and close the magazine up again. To mount the box mag to the SSR249 you will need to lock the box magazine onto its attachment lug on the bottom of the receiver from the left and then insert the BB feed chute into the magazine well.

The activation switch is on the bottom right corner of the mag, and each mode is helpfully indicated on the mag with embossed lettering. The central position is the "off" position, pushing the switch to the left activates auto winding and pushing it to the right activates sound control mode. Sound control means the box magazine will wind as it detects the SSR249 shooting, and auto-winding will constantly wind the magazine as long as the switch is in position.

The controls of the SSR249 are super simple, just like its real steel brethren, the M249. The push-through fire selector located just above the pistol grip offers SAFE and FULL AUTO fire modes. Just like the real thing, there is no semi-automatic function on the SSR249, making it a purebred support weapon designed for volume of fire. When the push-through fire selector protrudes on the right side the trigger will be locked and in safe mode, and with the selector protruding on the left the SSR249 is set to fully automatic and ready to rock!

The grip is a comfortable design which was derived from that of the FN FAL and has been added to several tactical AK variants to improve their ergonomics. Boasting linear texture on all sides to keep the hefty SSR249 in your hands during wet weather or when wearing gloves, the grip also has a palm ledge at the bottom to improve stability.

Located inside the receiver at the front, we can find the adjustable HOP-up of the SSR249, accessible by lifting the receiver top cover and mock feed tray. Pressing the two buttons on either side of the rear of the receiver will release the top cover and it will spring open to reveal the internals. The HOP-up unit is located at the front and is finished in metallic purple, allowing you to tune the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and extend maximum range, seeking the flattest possible trajectory.

The HOP-up unit is CNC machined from aluminium and is a TDC rotary design equipped with a Maple Leaf HOP-up bucking, as we might expect from Novritsch. Long story short, this gives you a significant range and accuracy advantage compared to standard parts, along with the ability to use heavy BBs (0.28g+) for improved foliage penetration and wind resistance.

Mounted to the upper surface of the top cover you will find the rear aperture iron sight which is adjustable for both windage and elevations using the thumb screws and can be removed if you want to give your SSR249 a sleeker look. Just ahead of the rear sight, we are treated to a 20mm Picatinny receiver rail, meaning red dot sights or scopes can be added without further mods. As far as optics are concerned, we can't think of a better fit than the Novritsch 1x/4x Prism Scope but you can mount whatever 20mm rail-compatible optic suits the mission at hand.

At the rear of the receiver, we come across the PARA style sliding stock added to the SSR249 to reduce its overall length and make it easier to store, jump out of Aircraft and move in and out of vehicles with. While you might not be doing HALO or HAHO with the SSR249, the sliding stock is great for storage and transportation. The stock assembly is constructed from aluminium with a polymer over mould designed to reduce scratches and with a built-in sling point at the top of the stock base. The butt plate also features a folding steel shoulder support/stabiliser which provides an additional point of stability when steering the SSR249 while shooting from a standing position and also allows better control of the stock when shooting prone with the bipod deployed.

To deploy the stock all you need to do is pull the stock straight out and rotate it by 90 degrees where it will lock into position. Collapsing the stock again requires pulling the stock base away from the receiver, rotating it back into the original position and sliding the bars forward again. Deploying the stabiliser doesn't require any buttons; simply lift it up to deploy and push it back down again to stow it. This makes operating the stock and shoulder stabiliser quick and easy to use in the field when working under pressure and under fire, ideal for mobile machine gunners!

Inside, the SSR249 is probably the best-equipped M249 replica out there at the moment, boasting 16:1 high-speed CNC steel gears running on 8mm ball bearing bushings, a POM piston head and cylinder head, a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack and a steel quick change spring guide to allow for easy power tuning. Also present is an in-line MOSFET designed to enhance electrical efficiency, resulting in an improved rate of fire; exactly what any LMG needs!

The M249-type gearbox shell is made from alloy and reinforced in all the right areas, allowing for sustained full-auto fire without risking damaging the shell. The motor mount has also been redesigned to reduce friction and wear and tear, resulting in a longer lifespan at this high-performance bar. The HOP-up unit is also something special; a CNC machined aluminium TDC rotary unit finished in metallic purple, offering superb accuracy and range, especially with the 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel in the mix.

If you're a Novritsch fan or seek an LMG you won't need to upgrade, the SSR249 will put a big smile on your face. With rock solid build quality, top-tier long range performance and compact yet capacious 2000 round auto-winding box mag, the SSR249 will be a feared foe on Airsoft sites across the country before long!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Operating instructions available online via the Novritsch Academy
• Full Auto only - A true LMG!
• 2000rnd Auto-winding box magazine included - Auto wind or sound control, 9V Battery required
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• MOSFET pre-installed - Superb electrical efficiency
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Novritsch SSR249 muzzle brake pre-installed - Dynamic looks, fits the Novritsch aesthetic perfectly
• Detailed dummy gas block - Gas adjuster can be turned but is non-functional
• Aperture iron sights - Adjustable for windage and elevation, removable for a sleeker look
• M-LOK handguard - M-LOK slots at 3, 9 & 12 o'clock, 20mm Picatinny at 6 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope
• Steel receiver - Hefty and strong, gives you the realistic machine gun feel
• Movable charging handle - Can be pulled back for realism
• CNC Aluminium rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Maple Leaf bucking pre-installed, lift the top cover to access
• Textured M249 pistol grip - Comfortable and well-liked grip style, linear grooves for traction
• Push through safety catch - Above the pistol grip, protruding on the right is SAFE, left is FIRE
• Two-position sliding stock - Great for storage and transportation, pull out and rotate to adjust
• Flip-up shoulder stabiliser - Keeps the stock firmly planted in your shoulder
• Allen key inside the box mag - Handy storage, Allen key allows you to remove the handguard
• Front wired: Deans battery connector - Recommended battery: 11.1V 1450mAh LiPo in Crane config.
• Reinforced M249 gearbox:
  • Alloy shell
  • 16:1 CNC Steel high-speed gears
  • Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack
  • 8mm Ball-bearing bushings
  • POM Cylinder head
  • POM Piston head
  • Quick change spring system
  • In-line MOSFET
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Also works with M249 box magazines

Package Includes

• Novritsch SSR249 Machine Gun AEG
  • 2000rnd Auto-winding box magazine

Special Instructions

The SSR249 is supplied with the stock assembly separate in the box. This will require installation, please refer to the included instruction manual or the Novritsch Academy for details.

When using the SSR249's quick-release barrel feature there is the potential to reinstall the barrel incorrectly, resulting in feeding issues. When reinstalling the barrel, first install the inner barrel and rotate it clockwise (looking from the tip of the barrel down the gun) until it stops. With this done, install the outer barrel over the top. We found it useful to use a tool to carefully hold the HOP-up unit feed port in line with the magazine well while reinstalling the outer barrel.

If you encounter feeding issues with the SSR249, we recommend checking the position of the feed chute by lifting the receiver top cover and ensuring it is aligned correctly with the magazine well. If you are struggling, check out the Novritsch Academy or contact us for assistance.