Classic Army KAC Stoner 96 Light Machine Gun

If you're after a unique LMG build, the Classic Army KAC Stoner 96 Light Machine Gun is about as unique as it gets! Based on an ultra-rare Knights Armament LMG prototype, the Stoner 96 never made it to military service despite being a significant improvement over the M249 when it comes to handling and accessory options.

Equipped with a 20mm Picatinny quad rail handguard and railed receiver, the Stoner 96 is ready to be dressed up, with the added benefit that its receiver rail is fixed to the receiver, avoiding the zeroing issues associated with M249 railed top covers. Inside, we have a unique gearbox design with V2/3 compatibility throughout, meaning the sky is the limit when it comes to upgrades!

Starting at the front, we have an alloy birdcage flash hider mounted to the 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the outer barrel. This means the Stoner 96 is ready for a tracer unit or suppressor, should the mission require it. Following the flash hider, we come to the front iron sight/gas block, a strong design well-suited to an LMG with an adjustable front sight post and contrasting gunmetal grey finish.

Below the barrel, we can find the dummy gas tube, appropriately mimicking the real Stoner 96. The gas tube runs back to meet the 20mm Picatinny quad rail handguard, offering 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, ready for your choice of 20mm accessories. The handguard is made from CNC-machined aluminium and is very well finished with a thin anodised coating, avoiding the "thick" look of painted handguards, which lose essential details. Pre-installed on the side rails, we have a pair of KAC-style rail covers. These can be removed by sliding them forwards to access the side rails or left on to improve ergonomics and avoid the "cheese grater" effect.

The battery compartment of the Stoner 96 is inside the handguard, accessible by removing the outer barrel using its quick-detach feature. To remove the barrel, simply press the prominent serrated catch on the top of the receiver, at the front. This will release the outer barrel, allowing you to slide it forward and away. Inside the handguard, you'll find a mini-Tamiya battery connector. We recommend a 7.4V 1200mAh LiPo battery in stick configuration for an easy fit. See "Special Instructions" below if you're struggling to reinstall your outer barrel.

Following the handguard, we come to the receiver, which is one hefty block of alloy, finished in matt black with all the details a KAC aficionado will recognise. At the top front, we can find the receiver top cover, which can be lifted by pressing the catches on either side, allowing you to install a mock cartridge belt inside the feed tray below, giving your Stoner 96 a more real-world, plausible look.

Raising the top cover and feed tray also allows you to access the rotary HOP-up adjuster of the alloy HOP-up unit. The HOP-up lets you adjust your trajectory for different ammo weights by varying the amount of backspin applied to your BBs, seeking the flattest possible trajectory. The benefit of an alloy HOP-up unit is strength; while it shouldn't really be taking impacts, you can be confident this unit will never let you down.

To the rear of the top cover, we can find a 20mm Picatinny rail, fixed in place on the receiver to ensure your zero is always reliable, regardless of your choice of optical sight. The rear iron sight is mounted to this rail, a KAC flip-up sight with tool-less windage and elevation adjustment. Below the rail, we can find a line of weight-reducing ports, matching the look of the handguard with its circular cooling vents and helping reduce the weight of this hefty beast.

The charging handle is located on the right side of the receiver, constructed from steel and providing an authoritative metal-on-metal "clank" when racked. The charging handle doesn't serve a function in this Airsoft AEG, but it is a lot of fun to play with!

Over on the left side, we can find the catch which engages the feed chute of the included auto-winding box mag. To mount the magazine, slide the box magazine onto its attachment lug on the bottom of the receiver and then, with the catch raised, insert the BB feed chute into the port under the catch, then lower the catch onto the feed chute to lock it in place. To load the box magazine, you will need to unzip the fabric cover and install a 9V battery (not included). Next, open the hatch on the top right of the mag, pour your BBs in and close the magazine up again.

The switch to activate the magazine is on the rear, a sliding switch with "off" at the left side, "auto" in the centre and "no" (manual winding mode) at the right. The "Auto" function will automatically wind the magazine as the LMG is fired, and the "no" position allows you to manually wind the magazine to prime it before the action.

Moving down to the lower receiver, we can find a familiar pistol grip; an M4/AR-15 "A2" pistol grip found on the M4A1 and M16A2 rifles. The grip includes texture on either side and a finger ridge on the front to support the platform in "high ready" position. This grip is reportedly compatible with most M4 AEG pistol grips, but we suggest avoiding those with a "filled out backstrap" or "beavertail extension" for the best chance of a drop in fit.

At the rear of the Stoner 96, we're equipped with a sliding tube stock designed to be simple, robust and lightweight. The stock offers 6 positions of adjustment and can be set to your chosen position using the button on the top of the butt plate. A utilitarian design, to say the least, this stock does its job, though we have seen custom builds making use of AR buffer tubes, so if you're a bit of a bodger, you could spice the Stoner 96 up a notch!

Inside, the Stoner 96 is equipped with a unique gearbox shell design, boasting full V2/V3 compatibility and a long shaft motor, making upgrades easy to find and plentiful. The trigger is a microswitch example, but the receiver includes a recess for a MOSFET, should you choose to take your build in that direction. The inner barrel and HOP-up bucking are also TM spec, meaning you can add a flat HOP and tightbore for some serious long-range firepower!

If you love a unique LMG design that no one under 30 will recognise, the Stoner 96 from Classic Army is the way to go. Rare as hen's teeth on the field with an external design which puts the M249 to shame, the Stoner 96 is the LMG which should have been!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Licensed by Knights Armament Company - Realistic laser-engraved trademarks
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Quick detach barrel - Press the catch on the front of the receiver to release, battery compartment inside
• Front-wired: Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1200mAh LiPo in stick config
• Aperture iron sights - Windage and elevation adjustable via the rear sight
• 20mm Picatinny quad rail handguard - Ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories, rail covers pre-installed
• Realistic receiver top cover and feed tray - Add mock rounds & link for a realistic look
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Inside the top cover, alloy unit for extra strength
• Steel charging handle - Does nothing but feels and sounds great
• "A2" Finger ridged pistol grip - Compatible with aftermarket M4 AEG grips without beavertail extensions
• Two-position fire selector switch - SAFE - AUTO config, 45-degree throw between modes
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope, provides better zero retention than M249s
• Sliding tube stock - 6 Positions of adjustment, press the button on the top of the butt plate to adjust
• Compatible with Classic Army Stoner 96 Box Magazines - M249 magazines require mods (not recommended)
• Unique gearbox design:
  • V2/3 Compatible gearset
  • V2/V3 Compatible compression group
  • Microswitch trigger
  • Long shaft motor

Package Includes

• Classic Army KAC Stoner 96 Light Machine Gun
  • 1200rnd Electric Wound Box magazine
  • Stubby vertical grip
  • Rail covers x 2

Special Instructions

When reinstalling the outer barrel of the Stoner 96, you'll need to ensure the HOP-up unit is correctly oriented inside the receiver. To do this, open the top cover by pressing the catches on the top of the receiver and hinging it open, along with the mock feed tray below it. Next, align the recess in the receiver with the protrusion on the HOP-up unit and slide it back to meet the gearbox. With this done, you can reinstall the barrel by pushing it back while pressing the barrel release catch.