Double Bell M733 M4/AR-15 Commando Carbine AEG

The M733 was a bit of an Airsoft icon in the past; before the days of M-LOK and KeyMod the Tokyo Marui version of the 1990s Commando Carbine formed the basis for many Blackhawk Down and Blood Diamond inspired rifle builds and has seen use in the real world by every Special Forces outfit you can think of.

This is the daddy of the M4A1, but its 11.5-inch outer barrel makes it shorter in overall length, sitting between a 10.5" CQBR and a 14.5-inch carbine in what Colt term the "commando" length. The M733 is equipped to do it all, and although it has no rails as it comes you can add railed handguards and carry handle rail mounts if more modern combat accoutrements are needed to complete the mission at hand.

Starting at the tip of the 11.5-inch outer barrel we can find an "A2" style birdcage flash hider which conceals 14mm CCW male threading beneath. Great news, both for those who are keeping the M733 in its basic form Heat style, and for those who want the Gary Gordon Carbine look. Get your suppressor and rattle cans out, this M733 can take it!

Following a short extension to the barrel, we come to the triangular front sight/gas block which houses the front sling point and the dummy bayonet lug, as well as the adjustable front sight post. The front post can be adjusted with an M4/AR-15 front sight adjustment tool, but the rear sight can be adjusted for both windage and elevation without the need for tools, so we suggest using the adjustment on the rear sight as your primary method of zeroing. The triangular front sight gives the M733 its classic A2 carbine looks and is set at the perfect height for a comfortable cheek weld and easy sight alignment.

Next up we arrive at the handguards, which are the larger M4A1 type and not the slim M733 type. This is a shame for those who like to count rivets (many of us are amongst this number!) but the larger M4A1 handguards provide additional battery space, allowing for some whopping great batteries to be used in the M733 to keep it doing what it does best all day long. The handguards are mounted via the old-school delta ring style attachment method, so they can easily be swapped out for alternative polymer handguards or quad railed handguards if you are doing an Israeli SF M733 build.

This M733 is front wired, meaning the battery is stored inside the handguards at the front of the rifle. To access the battery compartment you will need to pull the "delta ring" backwards, after which either just the lower handguard or both handguards can be lifted free. The delta ring is the metal ring positioned between the handguards and receiver and is held forward by spring tension to retain the handguards against the front handguard cap. With the lower handguard removed you will find the mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you mount your battery of choice. For the Double Bell M733, we recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in nunchuck/crane configuration, though it can also handle 9.6V NiMh block batteries and larger nun-chuck types. Just be careful not to squash the cells as you put the handguards back on!

Moving rearwards we come to the receiver which is constructed from alloy with a robust satin black finish applied. The receiver is an A2 style receiver, exactly as it should be, with a fixed carry handle with integral ghost ring aperture iron sights built in. Otherwise, the receiver matches that of the M4A1 we are all familiar with, with the charging handle at the top rear of the upper receiver, the magazine release on the right side of the magazine well, and the 3-position fire selector positioned just above the pistol grip. These controls are optimised for right-handed use, but can also be used by lefties with some practice. Check out Larry Vickers' video on the subject if you need some tips!

The charging handle can be pulled to provide access to the rotary HOP-up adjuster of the M733 which is located inside the mock ejection port on the right side. Pulling the charging handle will open the dust cover, and retract the mock bolt carrier, locking it in place for easy HOP-up adjustment. The Rotary HOP-up adjuster is the most recent design for the M4/AR-15 platform and has the benefit of holding its setting more effectively under the vibrations of full auto fire, and allows for finer increments of adjustment to get your HOP-up set perfectly. With your adjustment complete you can hit the bolt catch over on the right side to send the bolt forwards with a satisfying "clank".

The rear iron sight features full toolless adjustment, with the windage dial being located on the right side, and the elevation dial protruding on either side of the carry handle, positioned centrally. The adjustment on these sights is smooth and easy, and they also offer two different apertures for aiming; a smaller one for precise long range shots, and a larger one for full auto fire or shooting in low light conditions. The carry handle also features a hole in the centre which allows carry handle rail mounts to be fitted if you want a red dot on your classic AR-15 which you probably do if you are going for the Blackhawk Down or Blood Diamond look!

The pistol grip and trigger guard of the M733 are the standard types present on most M4A1 and M16 rifles. The trigger guard is the M4/AR-15 flat type but can be swapped for aftermarket alternatives with the right technical skills. The A2 finger ridged grip provides a slim and comfortable grip both for those who wear gloves and those who risk those painful knuckle shots! The A2 grip is slimmer than many other grips which makes it ideal for a wide range of hand sizes, and its diamond checkering keeps it firmly in your grasp, even during energetic movement.

As we arrive at the stock we can take note of the rough textured feel of its polymer, pointing to a fibre reinforced formula. This means the stock won't get all shiny with use, and it will keep its high-quality matt black finish far longer than conventional ABS polymer stocks. The stock is the proper M16A2 Carbine/M4A1 original stock and is mounted to an alloy 5-position M4/AR-15 buffer tube. This buffer tube is compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG stocks, so if you want something a bit more fancy at the rear it can be done.

The adjustment lever is found at the bottom of the stock, and all you need to do to extend or retract the stock is to press the rear section and set the stock right where you need it. The stock also has two sling slots built in which are set up for a conventional two-point strap sling, but more modern slings can be used with the addition of a small loop of paracord. The butt plate of the stock is very low profile, making it easy to use with body armour, and has aggressive diamond checkering to keep it locked into your shoulder in any weather conditions.

Internally, the Double Bell M733 is remarkably well-equipped for such an affordable AEG. Inside the alloy version 2 gearbox we are treated to a quick change spring system, aluminium nozzle and 8mm ball bearing bushings to reduce friction for smoother running. Being equipped with a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up unit will give the M733 superb range for a rifle of its size, and being practically 350FPS on the dot means you don't even have to consider upgrading the spring, as it is at the peak of what is allowed on UK Airsoft sites.

So, for those Airsofters of a more refined taste who do not require M-LOK, KeyMod or any other modern luxuries to dominate the battlefield, the M733 from Double Bell is a fine choice. Walking around a room shouting "we're here for the bank's money, not your money, your money is insured by the federal government, you're not going to lose a dime" with this bad boy poking out of your suit jacket will leave onlookers in no doubt that you will be gone in 30 seconds flat if you feel the Heat around the corner!

Features

• Full metal construction
• High density polymer handguard, pistol grip and stock
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Front and rear sling points - On the front sight and stock
• 11.5-inch Commando length outer barrel - Great for CQB or outdoors
• M4A1 Large handguards - Extra battery space
• Delta ring handguard attachment - Compatible with KAC RAS/Magpul MOE/NUPROL BOCCA etc.
• Functional mock bolt catch - Easy HOP-up adjustment
• Rotary HOP-up unit - The latest design for the M4/AR-15 platform
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Improved air seal and accuracy
• Metal version 2 gearbox with quick change spring system - Easy power tuning
• 8mm Ball bearing bushings - Low internal friction
• Aluminium nozzle - Robust nozzle, almost no chance of breaking it!
• Fixed A2 carry handle with ghost ring aperture iron sights - A proper M16A2/M733 Commando!
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 carry handle rail mounts - Add a red dot for the BHD look
• A2 Finger ridged pistol grip - Comfortable for a wide range of hand sizes
• 5 Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG stocks
• Superb quality M16A2 Commando stock - Steel adjustment pin, fibre-reinforced polymer
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Spare mags are easy to find!

Package Includes

• Double Bell M733 M4/AR-15 Commando Carbine AEG
• 300rnd High-capacity magazine
• User manual