A&K MK46 SPW AEG; Polymer Version

The MK46 SPW was born out of a need to reduce the weight and improve the modularity of the M249 SAW for service with special forces, and the result is a leaner and meaner M249 with a shorter barrel, a plethora of rails and the same firepower which put the original SAW on the map.

A&K's version of the MK46 is a near perfect match for the real thing, with the only exception being its compatibility with M4/AR-15 magazines which was deleted in the real version for extra weight savings. A&K's choice to keep the option to run common M4/AR-15 AEG magazines was a wise choice for gameplay as it gives you the option of topping up your ammo supply by borrowing teammates' mags, if you manage to use your whole 2400rnd box magazine that is!

Starting at the front end we have a MK46 style birdcage flash hider which conceals 14mm CCW male threads beneath. This makes the MK46 ready for a tracer unit, suppressor or alternative muzzle device should you feel the need to dress it up, but the use of the MK46 style flash hider suits the shorter and more aggressive style of the MK46 with its modernised furniture perfectly.

Following the alloy outer barrel rearwards leads us to the front sight assembly and mock gas block. These parts are constructed from polymer to reduce the weight of the MK46 to make it less taxing on those of us who avoid the gym at all costs! The mock gas adjuster is located below the barrel and can be turned, though this doesn't alter the function of the MK46. The bipod mounts to the mock gas block via alloy mounting apparatus, and the bipod itself is constructed from steel to guarantee the strength needed to support the reduced but still significant weight of the platform.

The bipod has adjustable leg length to allow you to set the MK46 up on uneven ground and raise and lower it for the best firing position and can be folded and unfolded quickly by squeezing the bipod legs together and indexing them with the rail-mounted locking piece. Adjusting the legs is as simple as pulling the legs out to the desired length, and stowing them again requires you to press the steel locking pieces protruding from the outer edge of each bipod leg and slide them back into position. The bipod also allows for tilting the MK46 by a few degrees left and right which reduces the chances of the bipod restricting your ability to engage a moving target.

Next up, we reach the handguard and heatshield of the MK46, both of which are constructed from alloy and adorned with 20mm Picatinny rails. The heatshield/upper handguard has rails at the 3, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, and the handguard itself has additional rails at 3 and 9 o'clock and one at the 12 o'clock position. It could be argued that the MK46 has too many rails, but we disagree; the more the merrier! The heatshield is KAC style circular vents on its upper surface, matching the real MK46 looks-wise, and through the vents, you can take a gander at the fluted section of the outer barrel which is a hallmark MK46 feature. In Airsoft terms, the fluting just looks cool and does little else, but was designed into the MK46 to help cool the barrel more quickly and reduce its weight.

The battery compartment of the MK46 is located inside the handguard and can be accessed by pushing the handguard forward, after which it can be lifted free. Inside you will find a mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you mount your chosen battery. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in crane/nunchuck configuration, though you may be able to fit bigger batteries inside if you are careful when installing them.

The receiver of this version of the MK46 is constructed from polymer, reducing weight and improving scratch resistance when compared to the full metal version. The weight savings amount to slightly over half a kilogram which may not seem like a lot but makes all the difference if you plan on running the MK46 fully kitted out SF style, which is bound to increase weight.

The polymer itself is rock solid and of high quality, with no flex or wobble to be found. The magazine mounting lug and M4/AR-15 magazine well are both constructed from alloy to ensure reliable feeding and the trigger guard and dust cover are constructed from steel. The charging handle doesn't actuate a mock bolt in the M249 design but can still be pulled, and this works far better than other polymer M249s thanks to the steel charging handle track on the A&K version. All of the body pins and other trim parts are also constructed from steel to keep the structure of the MK46 rigid.

To load the included electric auto-winding box magazine you will need to remove the left side panel by pulling it clear of its attachment lugs, install 2 x AA batteries (not included), pour your BBs into the upper section and close the magazine up again. To mount the box mag to the MK46 you will need to lock the box magazine onto its attachment lug on the bottom of the receiver and then insert the BB feed chute into the AR magazine well.

The activation switch is on the bottom 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 sound control and pushing it to the right activates "auto-winding" mode. Sound control means the box magazine will wind as it detects the MK46 shooting, and auto-winding will constantly wind the magazine as long as the switch is in position.

The A&K MK46 also retains the M4/AR-15 magazine compatibility of its sibling, the M249, allowing you to borrow magazines from teammates wielding ARs in a sticky situation. The AR magazine well is on the left side and protrudes at an angle so you can still get nice and low in the prone position when using AR mags. The magazine catch of the AR magwell is integrated into its very own dust cover which seals the magwell when it is not in use. This means inserting the magazine works the same as with an AR, just push the mag in and it will lock, but removing it requires the protruding tab to be pressed in to release the mag.

The controls of the MK46 are super simple, with a push-through fire selector located just above the pistol grip offering SAFE and FULL AUTO. Just like the real thing, there is no semi-automatic function on the A&K MK46, 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 MK46 is set to fully automatic. 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. The grip boasts linear texture on all sides to keep the hefty MK46 in your hands during wet weather or when wearing gloves, and also has a palm ledge at the bottom to improve stability.

The adjustable HOP-up of the MK46 is located inside the receiver at the front and can be accessed 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 a rotary design, meaning it should hold its setting well under the vibrations of full auto fire and can be adjusted in finer increments than the older gear adjuster design. The unit is also constructed from alloy, guaranteeing that it will never break or fail during normal use. The top cover also has a 20mm Picatinny rail running along its length and a fixed aperture sight.

At the rear of the receiver, we can see the SPW stock assembly which replaces the fixed solid stock of the base gun M249. This stock assembly is constructed with an alloy base with a built-in sling point at the top and a polymer buffer tube with 5 positions of adjustment, making it suitable for any body type and the perfect match for a loadout involving a bulky plate carrier.

The stock itself follows the M4/AR-15 format but is slightly shorter and has a raised cheekpiece for better alignment with the sights of the MK46. The stock also has a textured alloy butt plate with a steel shoulder stabiliser built in, allowing you to take some of the weight of the MK46 on your shoulder when firing from an unsupported position. Deploying the stabiliser doesn't require any buttons, simply lift it up to deploy and push it back down again to stow it. As with the standard M4/AR-15 stock, the length can be adjusted by holding the adjustment lever on the bottom of the stock down and sliding it into the desired position. The buffer tube is also compatible with M4/AR-15 stocks if you fancy a change or you have a preferred stock style.

Internally, the A&K M249 is kitted out with the Classic Army M249 style gearbox which is designed from the ground up for use in support gun setups. The gearbox is far bigger than the usual V2 or V3 type and is considerably reinforced to allow for greater volume of fire and longer bursts without overstressing the internals. While there are other M249s on the market which use a version 2 gearbox, these are simply miles behind the specifically designed M249 gearbox in the A&K model and are limited by the design of the V2 and its compatibility with other more compact platforms. Opening the top cover up allows you to take a peek at the gearbox, and if you have seen a V2 before you will notice how much more substantially built the M249 gearbox is.

So, if you have your eye on a support gun and you want to wash the enemy away in an unending torrent of BBs, the A&K MK46 is uniquely equipped for the job! With plenty of accessorising options thanks to the 20mm Picatinny rails littered across the replica wherever they can be mounted and a well designed sliding stock with M4/AR-15 compatibility, this is as practical as an LMG gets!

Features

• Polymer receiver - Keeps the weight manageable
• Alloy rails, outer barrel and stock base - Strength where needed
• Steel bipod included and pre-installed - Adjustable leg length, easily folded
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Auto winding box magazine with sound control included - 2400 BB capacity!
• SAFE/FULL AUTO only - A true light machinegun
• Fluted outer barrel - Reduces weight and matches the real MK46 perfectly
• Aperture iron sights - Non-adjustable design
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights or scopes
• 20mm Picatinny railed handguard - Alloy construction, rails at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed heatshield - Alloy construction, rails at 3, 9 and 12 o'clock
• Plenty of rails on this bad boy!
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Alloy construction, accessible with the top cover raised
• Compatible with either the included box mag or M4/AR-15 AEG magazines
• 5-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjustable to suit different body types and loadouts
• Adjustable SPW stock with alloy butt plate and Steel folding shoulder stabiliser
• Ambidextrous rear sling point on the stock base - Alloy construction
• Push-through safety design - Ambidextrous and easy to use
• Alloy M249 type gearbox - Very strong, significantly reinforced compared to V2 or V3
• Textured pistol grip - Comfortable design, great for heavy platforms
• Front wired - Mini-Tamiya battery connector inside the handguard
• Functional barrel quick release - Realistic and very, very cool (no pun intended)
• Approximately 5kg without the box mag - Still rather heavy!

Package Includes

• A&K MK46 SPW AEG; Polymer Version
• 2400rnd Electric Auto-winding box magazine
• Vertical foregrip
• Cleaning/unjamming rod