A Review By: Well_Boy

 Disclaimer

Everything under this review is purely based on the unit w/c I had. This includes parts, performance, feel, looks, etc. Things may vary on other units. In case you're going to purchase an AEG that's featured in this review, please ask your local airsoft store throughly about this item like FPS, metal bushings, etc...

Introduction

I just got my A&K CQB last night (Sept. 4, 2007). At first glance, there's nothing much more I can say. It looks really good and it is a real M4 CQB. The markings on the RIS looks simple but they do really add a flavor into the gun. Stamps includes the "A&K" trademark and the usual "M.i.C" (Made in China) stamp. And one thing, this version of A&K CQB already has metal bushings installed.

When I held it, the first thing I did is I made a quick check for barrel wobble and guess what, this baby do really have a barrel wobble. It wobbles so obvious that you do really want to fix it in no time.

I've also noticed that the RIS kit doesn't align with the upper receiver's top rail. The RIS kit may seem to be pointing a little downwards. But the outer barrel is straight. I don't know how to explain this but anyways, it doesn't interfere with performance. I just don't know in the future. I'll take note of this.

Another thing is the hop is too tight to adjust (I just don't know on other unit). It required me to loosen the screw on the hop dial a little bit so that I can turn it easily.

Summary

Metal bushings already installed, metal spring guide, one-piece outer barrel, Type 0 cylinder

Package includes the CQB unit, cleaning rod, vertical grip, 8.4v 250 mah output charger, 1 screw driver (+), 2 rail covers, one (1) hi-cap mag, orange tip cover, 8.4v 2000 mah, nicad Firefox battery (crane stock configuration), manual, .2g BBs, front sight adjustment tool (plastic)

Plastic parts are lower receiver, pistol grip, forward assist button, crane stock. The rest, metal (that includes the devgru sight and the frontal RIS / handguard catch)

401 - 409 FPS out of the box (others have 430 FPS out of the box), No missfeeds (AnK, JG and D|Boys mags tested), Hop is responsive, movable forward assist button, stock magazine performs good, six (6) stock position, RIS kit fits perfectly at the delta / collar ring.

Issues - The Assembly and the Wobble

The cause of this wobble is the main assembly of the gun. Unlike other metal bodies, the A&K CQB has a 2 piece upper receiver assembly w/c is being locked and held together by the top rail (see Fig. 1)

Fig. 1

I really don't know why A&K have decided to apply this kind of assembly rather than the CA or Boyi / D|Boys assembly w/c the upper receiver is one (1) whole piece and has an outer threaded "mouth" where the outer barrel will go in and be locked by the delta / collar ring.

Anyways, continuing the explanation on assembly (w/c was the cause of the wobble), the outer barrel assembly (Fig. 2), will sit between the two halves of the upper receiver w/c will they gonna "hold" it. The outer barrel assembly and the halves of the upper receiver will then be locked by a small screw located at the pivot pin area (front pin). Take note, no thread locks whatsoever.

Fig. 2

When the outer barrel assembly was on place and is being held or "locked" by the two halves of the upper receiver (side by side), the top rail will do its job. The top rail will sit on the top (of course) of the two halves of the upper receiver preventing them from "seperating". The top rail then will be locked using an allen screw. The allen screw will then go straight down to the outer barrel assembly (see Fig. 3).

 Fig. 3

And this is how the assembly looks like (see Fig. 4). Not quite impressive eh?

Fig. 4

This concludes the explanation on the cause of the barrel wobble. 

Issues - Fixing the wobble

Good news! The horrible wobble can be fixed! (Of course) There are a lot of ways to fix it but the one I did is with the use of an electrical tape. I cut small pieces of electrical tape and placed them on the surfaces where the two halves of upper receiver and the barrel assembly meets. This way, the electrical tape will fill-in the "gaps". Same theory when using a teflon tape on a loose threaded screw.

Also, make sure that the allen screw on the top rail is tight.

So far this is the simplest yet effective way that I know when it comes to fixing the wobble.

External Pictures

With A&K Hi-cap long mag

With A&K Hi-cap long mag

With D|Boys shorty mag

(styro dirt on windage dial)

Front sight. Take note of the absence of the "up" stamp

I don't know what type of flash hider is this

RIS markings "top"

Internal Pictures (Not G.B)

One-piece outer barrel

CA type rear RIS / handguard catch

Metal bushings (out of the box)

Motor (no brand)

Metal spring guide

Internal Pictures (G.B)

 Score & Opinion

Looks : 4 / 5
Feel : 4 / 5
Performance (Stock) : 4 / 5
Misc : 4.5 / 5 (metal bushings and spring guide)
Assembly : 2 / 5

Total : 18.5 / 25

All in all, the A&K CQB boost up with its stock performance, marked and nicely finished RIS kit (though it doesn't align with the receiver's top rail), metal upper receiver and metal bushings.

Though the upper receiver is metal or aluminum or whatever, still it is not really a plus factor. I still don't know and still can't get it why A&K made such kind of assembly. Things would have much been better if A&K made their upper receiver one (1) whole piece assembly just like with CA and Boyi / D|Boys. Well anyways, at least the "ears" are metal now.

Still, you may want to include this AEG in your wish list. With proper fix, patience and understanding, you can fix all the issues this AEG brings out of the box!