Evolution M4/AR-15 Muzzle Flash Blaster AEG: A Deep Dive
Evolution's Muzzle Flash Blaster has just landed, a complete beginner pack which includes everything you need to join the battle, other than eye protection. This ultra-modern build is the spitting image of the Royal Marines' new KS-1 rifle, made from Carbontech engineering polymer and equipped with the Evolution Muzzle Flash Unit.
The set includes a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, a USB balance charger, 2000 BBs and two high-capacity magazines. If you want to get familiar with this beast before you buy, read on!
Starting at the tip of the 10-inch outer barrel, we can find the Muzzle Flash Unit pre-installed, with a polymer birdcage flash hider, the classic M4/AR-15 muzzle device, included in the box. The outer barrel features 14mm CCW male threading, meaning you can mount any 14mm CCW threaded muzzle device if you prefer a different style, including tracer units and suppressors.
To mount the Muzzle Flash Unit, simply push it onto the front of the barrel until it feels firm, with the flash hider removed. To remove it, simply pull it off. This device provides a dazzling muzzle flash in a range of colours with each trigger pull and lights your BBs up for a few meters of their flight downrange. The activation button is on the front of the unit, but we recommend removing the unit before pressing the button to avoid accidental finger shots.
The handguard is equipped with M-LOK negative space attachment slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, punctuated by additional M-LOK slots at offset angles, providing ample space to mount M-LOK accessories. M-LOK is one of the latest accessory interfaces to hit the market, both for real steel and Airsoft, allowing you to fit M-LOK vertical or angled grips directly, or mount 20mm Picatinny rail adapters for M-LOK to make use of 20mm Picatinny grips, flashlights and laser units.
With a 20mm Picatinny rail at the 12 o'clock position, the handguard also provides a mounting point for the included flip-up aperture iron sights, which can either be left flipped down or removed entirely if you prefer to use a red dot sight or scope. The irons can be raised and lowered by lifting them up, avoiding any fiddly buttons or catches for ease of use under pressure.
The receiver follows the familiar M4/AR-15 format, designed to replicate the real M4A1 "Milspec" receiver in shape and layout but made from strong yet light fibre-reinforced polymer. The fire selector can be found on the left side, positioned just above the pistol grip for fast access from a firing grip.
The selector provides 3 modes of fire: Safe, semi-auto and full auto, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. The modes are indicated with recessed "SAFE-SEMI-AUTO" markings, just like a real M4. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is easily reached from a firing grip with the trigger finger, allowing for super swift emergency reloads and the enviable handling the M4/AR-15 platform is known for.
The mock bolt catch is located in the centre of the left side of the receiver, and while this is a dummy control which doesn't provide a function, it is nonetheless a separate part to maintain the realistic appearance and avoid the tell-tale signs of being a replica. The dummy forward assist is present on the right side of the upper receiver, right where it should be. This control does nothing on an AEG, and some real AR shooters argue it does nothing on the real thing, but it is included on the Muzzle Flash Blaster to keep the design authentic.
The charging handle is at the top rear of the receiver and doesn't need to be pulled before the first shot. It instead serves to retract the mock bolt carrier and open the dust cover on the right side of the upper receiver, giving us access to the rotary HOP-up unit inside. The HOP-up allows you to tune the flight path of your BBs and set the Muzzle Flash Blaster up for different ammo weights, looking for the flattest trajectory possible.
The use of the rotary adjuster style is a nice touch and futureproofs the AEG with the most modern HOP-up design for the M4/AR-15 platform, boasting an improved ability to hold its setting under the vibrations of firing and being adjustable in finer increments than the older "gear" adjuster design.
The pistol grip boasts a refined grip angle for greater comfort when shooting with the stock fully collapsed and in more modern shooting stances. Each flank of the pistol grip includes fine crackle texturing, with additional linear texture on the front and back straps for perfect wet-weather handling. The trigger itself is a flat-faced design inspired by competition-optimised "match" triggers from the real world, a more forgiving trigger design ideal for rapid semi-automatic fire.
To the rear of the sling plate, we come to the M4/AR-15 buffer tube, which is constructed from the same strong Carbontech polymer used for the receiver. The buffer tube offers 6 positions of stock adjustment for the pre-installed Crane battery stock, allowing you to set the stock at the perfect length to suit your body type and loadout.
The battery compartment is inside the crane stock, accessible by squeezing the two tabs at the toe of the stock together, after which you can lift the butt plate off, remove the battery plug and make use of the stock's built-in battery compartment to house a nunchuck/crane-style battery.
Inside, you'll find a mini-Tamiya battery connector to which you connect the included 7.4V Li-Ion battery. Insert the battery into the central tube, connect the mini-Tamiya connectors and replace the butt plate to get shooting!
The Crane stock also includes a pair of QD sling sockets, one on each side, allowing for QD sling swivels to be added for a quick, removable sling setup. Conventional sling slots (aka "footman loops") are also present for those who want a two-point sling but prefer the old-fashioned way. The butt plate is also made from grippy rubber, ensuring your SA-F09 doesn't slip off your shoulder at a critical moment.
An exciting new take on the Airsoft beginner bundle, the Muzzle Flash Blaster Complete Pack will have you well-equipped for any Airsoft scenario. If you like what you've seen, find the Muzzle Flash Blaster via the link below!