Cybergun FN Herstal MINIMI® M249 Featherweight AEG

If you have a heavy trigger finger but don't get on with heavy primaries, the Cybergun FN Herstal MINIMI® M249 Featherweight AEG has your name on it! Made predominantly from strong but light high-density polymer, this licensed replica of the real steel Minimi boasts FN Herstal trademarks and the latest M249 externals; equipped with a 20mm Picatinny railed lower handguard and receiver, ready for your choice of 20mm accessories.

This version of Cybergun's '249 is equipped with a version 2 gearbox, giving you access to version 2 gearbox upgrade parts, an almost unlimited plethora of upgrade options including Gate TITAN and ASTER MOSFETs, Warhead Brushless Motors and speedy 13:1 gearsets. Make no mistake, this is the '249 for the upgrade fiends!

Starting up front, we can find a polymer birdcage-style muzzle device, mounted to the 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the alloy outer barrel. This device suits the military-issue look of the M249 as it comes, but if you have other plans, you can easily mount a tracer, suppressor or alternative flash hider thanks to the common 14mm CCW threading.

Following the barrel back, we can take note of its realistic tapered profile, designed to provide a thicker barrel profile where heat is the highest, with a reduced profile at the tip to improve handling. In Airsoft terms, this is merely for the look, but the aluminium build of the barrel provides similar weight distribution to the real steel.

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.

The bipod is mounted to the gas block and has adjustable leg length to allow you to set the M249 up on uneven ground and raise and lower it for the best firing position. The legs can be folded and unfolded quickly by squeezing them together and indexing them with the hole in the underside of the handguard.

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 LMG 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 heat shield of the M249, both of which are constructed from high-density polymer. The heatshield/upper handguard is covered in cooling vents, which serve to help prevent heat buildup in the barrel of the real M249 and also give it the aggressive machine gun look.

The lower handguard is the latest design for the real steel M249, equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, punctuated with vent ports. The 20mm rails allow you to kit your M249 out Special Forces style, with a PEQ-15 laser, tactical flashlight and vertical grip!

Between the handguard/heatshield and receiver, we have a folding carry handle which sits flat against the top when not in use. To deploy the handle, simply push it rearwards and turn it 90 degrees upwards, where it will lock into place. The carry handle is intended to allow users of the real M249 to remove a spicy hot barrel after a long firing session without burning their hands.

The handle can also be used to support and steer the front end of the SAW for some Rambo-like hip firing action. We don't recommend carrying the M249 by this handle alone, as although it is constructed from steel, it may put undue stress on the LMG, as it wasn't designed for this purpose.

The receiver of this version of the Cybergun M249 is constructed from polymer, reducing weight and improving scratch resistance when compared to the full metal version. The weight savings mean you can move faster in game and keep pace with those assault rifle-toting teammates while bringing along the same firepower advantage as you would have with the original full-metal Cybergun M249.

FN Herstal trademarks are present on the left side of the receiver, matching the manufacturer's markings of the real thing perfectly. The markings read "MINIMI 5.56" with the FN Herstal logo just to the left. The polymer used for the receiver itself is rock solid and of high quality, with an ultra-matte finish and no flex or wobble to be found.

The magazine mounting lug and M4/AR-15 magazine well are both constructed from steel to ensure reliable feeding, and the trigger guard and dust cover are also constructed from steel. The charging handle doesn't actuate a mock bolt in the M249 design but can still be pulled for a small dose of realism.

Just like the real thing, the Cybergun M249 allows you to borrow magazines from teammates wielding M4/AR-15 AEG platforms in a sticky situation. A 300-round high-cap magazine is included in the box, but the M249 is compatible with standard M249 AEG box magazines. 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.

The controls of the M249 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 Cybergun M249, 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 M249 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. Boasting linear texture on all sides to keep the hefty SAW in your hands during wet weather or when wearing gloves, the grip also has a palm ledge at the bottom to improve stability.

The adjustable HOP-up of the M249 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.

Mounted to the upper surface of the top cover, you will find the rear aperture iron sight, which is not adjustable but is visually identical to the real M249 rear sight and should be perfectly functional at Airsoft skirmish ranges despite its lack of adjustability. 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.

At the rear, we come to the fixed stock, flawlessly replicating the unique shape of the real steel. At the toe, the stock is shaped to allow it to be braced with the support hand when shooting from a bipod, allowing you to sweep the M249 back and forth between targets with ease.

The butt plate also features a folding shoulder support/stabiliser which provides an additional point of stability when steering the M249 while shooting from a standing position and also allows better control of the stock when shooting prone with the bipod deployed.

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.

The battery compartment is located inside the rear of the receiver, accessible when the stock is removed via the two pins retaining it. We recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo in stick configuration. You may be able to fit larger batteries inside, but make sure you measure before buying to avoid disappointment!

Internally, this M249 is equipped with the common Version 2 gearbox, granting it wide compatibility with the almost unlimited aftermarket for Version 2 upgrade parts. As it comes, we have an 18:1 steel gearset, 8mm metal bushings, polycarbonate compression parts, an aluminium cylinder, and radiused cylinder window corners to improve strength.

The advantage of using a V2 gearbox over the M249 specific gearbox is its ability to take advanced Gate TITAN and ASTER MOSFETs, Warhead Brushless Motors, enhanced air seal components and high-speed gearsets, something which is much harder to achieve, if not impossible, with the usual '249 gearbox. While it shoots well out of the box, there is plenty of upgrade potential in this M249 for those who simply cannot touch an AEG without upgrading it!

Features

• Polymer receiver - Keeps the weight manageable
• Alloy outer barrel - Adds strength where needed
• Polymer bipod included and pre-installed - Adjustable leg length, easily folded
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• SAFE/FULL AUTO only - A true light machinegun
• Aperture iron sights - Non-adjustable design
• Folding carry handle - Great for hip fire, but we don't recommend carrying it with the handle!
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Alloy construction, accessible with the top cover raised
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - 300rnd High-cap included
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights and scopes
• 20mm Picatinny tri-rail lower handguard - Add a PEQ/DBAL laser, tactical flashlights & more
• Push-through safety design - Ambidextrous and easy to use
• Textured pistol grip - Comfortable design, great for heavy platforms
• Rear wired: Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo in Stick config.
• Functional barrel quick release - Realistic and very, very cool (no pun intended)
• Version 2 Gearbox:
  • Alloy shell
  • 18:1 Ratio Sintered Steel Gears
  • Aluminium cylinder
  • Polycarbonate piston
  • Polycarbonate tappet plate
  • Polycarbonate nozzle
  • 8mm Metal bushings
  • Quick change spring guide
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines & A&K-style M249 box magazines

Package Includes

• Cybergun FN Herstal MINIMI® M249 Featherweight AEG
  • 300rnd High-cap magazine

Special Instructions

The Cybergun M249 is supplied with the stock uninstalled. 2 Pins are supplied in the box to mount the stock, but we recommend proceeding with care when installing the stock due to the polymer receiver construction. Rather than hitting them with a hammer, push them through carefully while checking the holes are aligned before applying any force.