A&K M249 SAW PARA AEG; Polymer Version

Taking a support weapon into an Airsoft skirmish comes with its challenges; first and foremost, their extreme weight. Just like the real thing, many full metal M249s are double the weight of the average M4, making them a pain to cart around all day. Enter the A&K M249 Polymer series, giving us the same fantastic V249 reinforced gearbox and rotary HOP-up unit in a polymer body with more than its fair share of steel and alloy parts.

Lighter M249s do exist, but they use a normal V2 gearbox which isn't designed for sustained fire, and these M249s are practically nicely dressed M4s in performance terms. The A&K fulfils the niche of providing proper M249-like performance in a reduced weight format for those of us who want to let rip with some long bursts without wondering if the gearbox can take the strain. If you have been put off an LMG due to the potential for aching arms, this is your chance to lay down some grazing fire and get busy with a SAW!

Starting up front as we usually do, we can find an M249 PARA style muzzle device constructed from alloy, mounted to the 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the alloy outer barrel. This device is exactly what appears on the real M249 PARA and is a big part of its unique looks. If you want to change it out for something a bit different, or you want to add a tracer unit this is absolutely possible thanks to the common 14mm CCW threading.

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 PARA. The mock gas adjuster can be turned to select different positions but provides no function in an Airsoft gun other than adding to its realism.

The bipod is mounted to the gas block and has adjustable leg length to allow you to set the M249 PARA 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 heatshield of the M249 PARA, both of which are constructed from high density polymer. The heatshield/upper handguard is covered in cooling vents which serve to help prevent heat build up in the barrel of the real M249 and also give it the aggressive machinegun look. The handguard has gripping groves on each side to assist with wet weather handling and is wider at the bottom to fill out the hand comfortably.

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 but 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 A&K M249 PARA 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 A&K M249. That said, this SAW is still a bit of a monster, tipping the scales at approximately 4.4KG and will definitely feel like a whole different beast to your usual M4, though the polymer receiver makes LMG gunning that much more accessible for everyone.

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 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, 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 M249 PARA rigid and wobble free.

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 M249 MK2 shooting, and auto-winding will constantly wind the magazine as long as the switch is in position.

Just like the real thing, the A&K M249 PARA allows you to borrow magazines from teammates wielding M4/AR-15 AEG platforms in a sticky situation when your box mag runs dry. The AR magazine well is on the left side in the same spot you install your box magazine feed chute 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 PARA 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 M249 PARA, 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. This matches well with the later L110A2 Minimi design and can be used to mount an ELCAN Spectre style optic if you are running a Milsim British Army kit.

At the rear of the receiver, we come across the sliding stock added to the M249 PARA to reduce its overall length and make it easier to store, jump out of Aircraft and move in and out of vehicles with.  This stock assembly is constructed with an alloy base with a built-in sling point, alloy stock bars and a polymer rotating/sliding mechanism. The butt plate also features a folding shoulder support/stabiliser which provides an additional point of stability when steering the M249 PARA while shooting from a standing position and also allows better control of the stock when shooting prone with the bipod deployed.

To deploy the stock all you need to do is pull the stock straight out and rotate it by 90 degrees where it will lock into position. Collapsing the stock again only requires pulling the polymer rotating piece away from the receiver, rotating it back into the original position and sliding the bars forward again. 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!

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 than almost any of its rivals.

For either a British Army loadout or a generic support gunner kit with a leaning towards mobility, the A&K M249 PARA would be an asset to your kit list. Rocking a bipod and 2400rnd auto-winding box magazine with sound control is already something, but with the V249 gearbox inside you are uniquely equipped to lay down a torrent of full auto fire without having to worry about durability. With the same superb internals as the full metal original but significantly less mass, why not save some weight on your gear so you can carry more ammo?

Features

• Polymer receiver - Keeps the weight manageable
• Alloy 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
• PARA Length M249 SAW - Great for a British Army L110A1 setup
• 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 either the included box mag or M4/AR-15 AEG magazines
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights and scopes
• Sliding "PARA" stock with folding steel shoulder stabiliser
• 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 - Deans battery connector inside the handguard
• Functional barrel quick release - Realistic and very, very cool (no pun intended)
• Approximately 4.4kg without the box mag - Still rather heavy!

Package Includes

• A&K M249 SAW PARA AEG; Polymer Version
• 2400rnd Electric Auto-winding Box Magazine
• Cleaning/unjamming rod