CYMA CM.048SU AKMS AK47/74 AEG Assault Rifle

If you crave the feeling of cold steel and wood that only an AK AEG can provide but you need something more compact, the CM.048SU AKMS is calling your name! CYMA has done it again, bringing a fantastic AK replica to the market with a steel receiver, loads of other steel trim parts and real wood furniture for that authentic AK experience.

This time, CYMA has gone for a more unique style, combining the AKMS underfolder AK with the thumbhole handguard of the AKMSU variant, creating this hybrid design which is perfect for a Private Military Contractor loadout, boasting enough customisation to make it stand out as something other than the typical issued AK. Not content with standing out on the outside, the CM.048SU is also kitted out on the inside with more than its fair share of pre-upgraded parts, especially at this price point!

Starting at the tip of the 16.3-inch alloy outer barrel we can find the perfect muzzle device for an AKMS; the AKM slant muzzle brake. This is a big part of what makes Avtomát Kalášnikova modernizírovannyj (Kalashnikov's Modernised Automatic Rifle) so recognisable amongst the plethora of AK variants out there and you would be forgiven for thinking it is mounted wonky, but this is how it is designed! The early versions of the real AK47 were observed to have a recoil impulse which pulled up and to the right; the "slant brake" was designed to compensate for this and make the AKM more controllable during fully automatic fire.

The slant brake mounts to 14mm CCW male threads at the tip of the outer barrel, meaning you can go full Spetsnaz and mount a PBS-1 or your own choice of suppressor or tracer unit with no compatibility hassles to worry about. There is no grub screw holding the slant brake in place; instead, there is a spring-loaded detent pin in the front sight block which needs to be held back in order to unthread the device. This keeps the muzzle brake aligned correctly so AK nerds won't give you a hard time!

Following the muzzle device we reach the front sight block which is constructed from alloy and has an adjustable front sight post in the centre with protective wings on either side to prevent the front sight from being damaged or knocked out of place. The front sight is the correct design for the AKM series of rifles and also houses the mock cleaning rod which runs along the bottom of the barrel for that iconic AK rifle silhouette. This should never be used to clean an Airsoft inner barrel, and not only because it will not fit!

Moving rearwards we come to the gas block of the CM.048SU which is once again, the correct gas block for the AKM series, differing from that of the AK74 in shape and length. Well done CYMA for paying attention to the details! The gas block is constructed from alloy, and like the front iron sight, is finished in a similar style to real AK rifles with their textured anti-corrosion finish. Also present on the gas block is a bayonet lug; not needed for Airsoft but nonetheless an essential part of a realistic AKM rifle.

Running parallel with the barrel we can see the mock gas tube which is stamped from thin sheet steel just like that of a real AKM rifle. The gas tube has all the details a rivet counter would expect and can even be removed exactly the same way a real AKM gas tube is; via the gas tube disassembly lever on the right side of the trunnion/rear sight block.

The handguards of the CM.048SU are constructed from real wood with a smooth satin finish applied and the lower handguard has an integral AKMSU-style thumbhole vertical grip. This grip can either be used as a vertical grip by putting your thumb through the hole or similarly to an angled grip by keeping your thumb in line with the barrel and gripping the front part with an open palm. The handguard gives this AKMS variant a unique look and while it may not be present on the real factory produced AKMS it looks right at home on the CM.048SU and is well within the scope of potential modifications for real-world AKM platforms.

Following the handguards we come to the rear sight/trunnion block which is constructed from alloy with a mock corrosion-resistant finish mimicking that of the real AKM. On the top of the rear sight/trunnion block, you will find the tangent open rear sight which can be adjusted for elevation by moving the slider drum back and forth after pressing the button on the right side.

The rear sight has a fine rear notch which is quick to align with the front sight post, and while many consider this type of sight to be inferior to aperture iron sights it has the advantage of providing a wider field of view and a less obscured sight picture, providing greater situational awareness so you can avoid "tunnel vision" and getting flanked by crafty enemy players!

Next up, we reach the receiver which is constructed from steel, as is the receiver top cover. The receiver has mock rivets and pins in all the correct places along with engraved Russian Cyrillic fire selector markings for an authentic look which won't upset the purists. The fire selector lever is also constructed from steel and offers 3 modes of fire; Safe, full auto and semi-auto, in that order.

This was designed into the real AK rifle to allow for a quick sweep of the fire selector downwards to select semi-auto, with a more deliberate movement required to select full auto, effectively preventing conscripts from wasting ammo. The fire selector also does double duty as a dust cover when safe is selected, closing the gap between the receiver and top cover to prevent dirt and debris ingress and keep the AK doing what it does best regardless of the conditions.

The battery compartment of the CM.048SU is located beneath the receiver top cover. To access the battery compartment, simply press the button at the rear of the top cover and it should come straight off, revealing the mini-Tamiya connector. The CM.048SU is LiPo-ready out of the box, and we recommend a 7.4V 1200mAh stick battery but you can also use a 9.6V NiMH stick battery if you prefer a NiMH battery. With the battery connected and installed, you can place the top cover back into the CM.048SU, align the button with the hole in the rear of the top cover, and pull the charging handle to lock the cover down if necessary.

The magazine release/trigger guard assembly is constructed from stamped steel just like a real AK rifle and the mag release is centrally positioned, allowing easy access from either side of the rifle, perfect for left-handed shooters and those who like to make use of shoulder-to-shoulder transitions to make the best use of surrounding cover. The trigger is the typical AK curved trigger, keeping things in line with the real deal and keeping your finger firmly where it should be as you send the enemy back to regen.

To access the adjustable HOP-up unit of the CM.048SU, simply hold the charging handle to the rear to reveal the alloy slider adjustable HOP-up unit. The slider unit is known as one of the best designs out there, and that is the reason this unit has not changed in design since the original Tokyo Marui AK-47 AEG. To increase the HOP effect, simply move the slider rearwards. Returning the slider to the front will reduce the HOP to its lowest setting. The adjustable HOP-up pairs perfectly with the pre-installed 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel to give this AK fantastic accuracy and range, something the real AK wasn't exactly known for!

The pistol grip is constructed from real wood with a finish to match the handguard and is a comfortable shape with a slight finger ledge at the base to keep your hand well positioned. Just above the grip, on the left side of the receiver, you will find the button used to unlock the underfolding stock, and the rear sling swivel. This button needs to be pressed whenever you deploy the stock, and it is important that you do not force the stock open without the button pressed as this will damage the locking mechanism. The sling swivel is a typical AK steel bar style swivel and is compatible with the vast majority of slings on the market. This sling point can be used with the front sling point to add a two-point sling, or alone to mount a single-point sling.

To deploy the stock, start by holding down the button on the left side of the receiver, in the centre of the stock folding mech. With the button held in place, you can rotate the stock downwards and into position, then pull the butt plate downwards where it will lock into place with friction. Your stock is now ready to be shouldered! To fold the stock again is the reverse of the above procedure, but make sure you hold the button down as you fold the stock. The underfolding stock itself is a perfect copy of the modernised underfolder seen on the real AKMS, complete with reinforcing ribs stamped into each side and authentic rivets to hold the assembly together.

Internally, the CM.048SU continues CYMA's tradition of providing pre-upgraded internals to give you a head start in the arms race of Airsoft performance. The gearbox is a version 3 design, as are most AK AEGs, and is compatible with standard version 3 aftermarket parts but you won't need many! The piston head and cylinder head are constructed from aluminium and are the "silent" type which are designed to reduce gearbox noise and stress on the internal parts, made even better by their strong aluminium construction.

The steel gearset runs on 7mm ball bearing bushings for reduced friction and the steel spring guide and piston head are mounted on ball bearings to minimise rotational force transferred to these high stress parts and also prolong the life of the main spring. To top it off, CYMA saw fit to install a high torque neodymium magnet motor to give you a snappy trigger response and boost the rate of fire!

So, if you seek an AK replica with majority steel construction, real wood furniture and no compromise when it comes to performance, the CM.048SU would do the trick. This AK has the rock-solid build quality we all expect from a proper AK replica and also has a style all of its own thanks to the AKMSU-style thumbhole handguard. Whether you are building a PMC loadout or you are just an AK fan, CYMA has been the go-to name for affordable high quality AK AEGs for quite some time now, and it is easy to see why!

Features

• Full metal construction - Loads of steel parts
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Real wood handguards and pistol grip -  Realistic feel, just like a real AK!
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• AKM Slant muzzle brake pre-installed - Iconic AKM looks
• AKMSU Style thumbhole handguard - Use it as a vertical grip or angled grip
• Alloy slider adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible with the charging handle held back
• Front sling point on the handguard cap, rear point on the stock folding mech - Ready for two-point slings
• 3-Position steel AK fire selector -  SAFE - AUTO - SEMI
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally positioned, perfect for left or right-handed shooters
• Adjustable tangent iron sights - Move the rear sight slider back and forth to adjust elevation
• Steel receiver, top cover, fire selector, mag release, gas tube, stock and muzzle brake - Hefty!
• Version 3 gearbox - Enhanced with aluminium silent piston & cylinder head, 7mm bearing bushings, steel spring guide
• High torque Neodymium magnet motor - Snappy trigger response, capable of pulling back strong springs
• Compatible with AK47/74 AEG magazines - Mid, low, high-cap or drum mags

Package Includes

• CYMA CM.048SU AKMS AK47/74 AEG Assault Rifle
• 525rnd AK47 High capacity magazine
• User manual