 |
Product Information:
Review of the CYMA CM.032 M14
Background
I am career military. I have shot M14s and M1As in the National Matches at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. I have been in several deployments with the Army to include Grenada, Panama, Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom. This is my first Airsoft review but I am very familiar with weapon systems.
I will use a 5 point scale in grading and will cover the following areas:
1. Visual Exterior (Stock, Magazine, Sights, Action)
2. Interior (Gears, battery)
3. Accuracy
I will not cover pricing as that is liable to change based on the current market.
Starting from bottom, up.
Externals
Overall Visual Appeal 5.0
The gun is clean, simple, sturdy and elegant. Lines are smooth, no molding or seam marks. Bluing job is dark and stock is non glare. The M14 comes from the day when we had battle rifles, SMGs, carbines and pistols. Battle rifles were big, robust, durable and capable of hand to hand fighting without the fear of a plastic stock busting on you. It looks like a business rifle- no BS. Like a rifle should.
Stock. 5.0
Stock is a sturdy plastic with no visible bad sprue or color change marks. The plastic stock is not a bad thing. Most all modern weapon systems come with a synthetic stock. On sniper systems, the lack of wood is actually a good thing. Wood can warp with humidity and make subtle barrel changes that will affect bullet point of impact. Sling mounts and butt plate and shoulder plate are metal.
Action 4.8
Exterior parts of gun are metal with a nice parkerized finish. The metal may not be of superb quality, but then again, this is an Airsoft gun- it is not expected to endure the same internal pressures, velocities and environmental factors that an actual battle rifle would. It more than fulfills its purpose and looks like a battle rifle should. The bolt will slide to the rear and return forward of its own accord. The sound is not as solid as an actual M14, but then again this is an Airsoft gun- it isn’t supposed to. It does make a nice touch though and can be pretty intimidating to nearby players. The action on mine required a touch of oil to make sure it moved smoothly. Not a bad thing- the gun may have been set up in a warehouse for several months. The selector switch was the only gripe that I saw on the gun. It turns in a specific arc, NOT 360 degrees. It isn’t the strongest looking in the world and may eventually be broken off. When I was test firing my gun stopped firing. After an exhaustive check I saw that the vibration of shooting had caused the switch to start turning of its own accord. Once it cleared the “Semi” area the motor switched off. It wasn’t to “Auto” yet and didn’t shoot like that. But since it was no longer in “Semi” it wouldn’t shoot that way. Operator checking will fix this. Safety is standard Garand style- front of trigger guard. Very sturdy, very simple, very effective. Comes with the hole in it for padlocking if wanted.
Sights 5.0 (Scope mount 4.9)
Sights are metal, front and rear. Rear sights are fully adjustable for elevation and windage by knobs, with no adjustment tool needed. Front sight is a protected post. Gun lays very flat in the firing line and eye/sight alignment is very quick and smooth. I purchased a CYMA scope mount for optics. It needs to have the stripper guide to be replaced with the scope mount securing base (included). It is very simple and straight forward to do. It did not come with any documentation for the mount, hence the 4.9 score there. I had installed these before on M-14s, so memory helped. You can shoot through (under) the mount with your iron sights.
Magazine 5.0
Included magazine was a high cap and included the winding key. Magazine seating was simple and gave a reassuring click as the magazine seated home. AR users will need to take note- the magazine is inserted diagonally, bottom towards the muzzle and rotated towards the butt to lock into place. You cannot secure the magazine by simply inserting it straight. Side note- ALCON- this is an Airsoft gun. Please don’t slam the bottom of the magazine to make sure it is seated- a simple slap is all you need. You can do it with an all metal real M-14 magazine. Slamming the bottom of an Airsoft magazine that may plastic tips and lips and feed holes can be a quick ticket to a broken magazine or gun.
Sling 1.0
The sling is totally useless on this gun. I did take it and use it on my son’s plastic g36 though (It appears strong enough to hold it). The sling is narrow, extremely weak metal that will not support the weight of a nine pound rifle long. I don’t want to think of the shrieking and commotion that would ensue when your rifle, scope mount, sights and maybe paint job were ruined when the cheap-o sling broke and dropped the gun… It is a metal hook that would just scrape and make noise. It isn’t strong enough to provide the ability to use sling supported firing.
Internals
Wiring 4.9
Wiring is solid, connected and laid out well. Connectors appear to be snug and clean. The battery compartment is a tight fit with the stock battery (hence the 4.9). I have found a video on You Tube where the plastic sub piece for the butt plate is removed that gives more room for the battery.
Gears 5.0
Gear box is metal, very compact and tidy. No excessive noise when firing. No noticeable heat buildup when firing automatic. There is a little bit of room inside the stock to work with and in for upgrading the gun as time goes on.
Hop Up 4.9
Hop up is easily accessible, even with the magazine in. It is a star wheel just in front of the magazine. It makes an audible click when you turn it. I gave it a 4.9 because there is no marking to remind you which way is up and down. The book says it, but I seriously doubt I will have the book with me while in the field or shooting.
Shooting 4.8
I used Mad Bull .25 gram BBs. Range 75 feet away shooting at 6” cardboard circles. I used the stock barrel; no sandbag support; crosswind, left to right, 7-10 MPH. Temperature 77-80 Fahrenheit. Two squirts of silicone oil in the hop up before firing. 20 rotations of the winding wheel on the bottom of the magazine (I don’t know the PSI at that level).
I had no jams or misfires. I fired ten rounds semi and about twenty rounds automatic, in four to six round bursts. The first shot was a miss, but with sight corrections, all other rounds were on target. Automatic fire placed all rounds on the target and all rounds went through the cardboard. Impacts were spread out on the disc, but were in the “black”. In my past history if you can hit a six inch circle, you can sure hit a chest or thigh…
Estimating FPS at 340. I didn’t have a chrono but it would hole a soda can side to side at ten feet without it falling which needs a little over 300 to do.
Total 4.9
Pros:
PROS- Metal. Gun performs well; looks bad; accurate; reliable; robust.
Cons:
CONS- Tight fit in battery box. Selector switch MAY be a weak link in the future. Extremely minor and nitpicking, but could be a problem to some shooters.
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
