When buying my very first AEG, I decided - on advice from the nice chaps at SYA - that I should consider buying a 'back-up'. This seemed sensible, as I have to travel some distance to my favoured site, and can only go once a month, so the thought of my primary AEG breaking down was of some concern to me.

I have had an interest in the modern Soviet and Russian army for some time, and so I rather liked the idea of an AK as my second gun. Additionally, I fancied something compact for CQB - so add all that up and it seemed obvious that the newly released Kalask AK74SU - at just around £120 - was just the ticket!

First impression

What a fantastic looking box! That's what you're going to say when you get your hands on the Kalash shorty. And there is something reassuring about a company that takes such care in the presentation and accessorizing of it's AEG.

Inside the box were a nice selection of accessories, including a 8.4 volt 1100mHa stick battery, charger, cleaning rod, small packet of BBs, sling and paper manual (with passable English translation). Why didn't my £300 Classic Army AEG come so well adorned? I don't know, but for me it was a surprisingly pleasant introduction to so-called 'cheapsoft'. 

The 74SU itself is predominantly metal, with a compact wooden fore stock. The quality of the metal is acceptable, though the tolerances with which it is all put together perhaps leaves something to be desired. But more on that later. 

Highlights were the nicely functional folding stock and the addition of a scope mounting bracket as standard. The Krinkov flash hider is always the star on any AK short model, and the hop-up was easily accessible through the bolt cover by pulling back the cocking lever. 

Overall, the impression is a satisfying one - as you have just paid £100, and got a full metal AK! What's not to like?

Closer inspection

OK, you've wielded around the '74 shorty, and grinned at how good and well balance it feels. But then you start to look closer - just where are those manufacturing compromises that are inevitable with such a cheap AEG?

Well, first of all, there are the tolerances. The fit of the separate components are a wee bit sloppy in places, in particular the top fore grip is a fiasco. It rattles around like loose change in a clowns pockets. The fire selector isn't quite as positive or secure in it's movement, and the bolt cover is a touch flimsy in it's implementation.

Then there is the top receiver catch, which serves to keep the battery compartment closed. The slightest passing bump springs open the receiver top, and a 'field modification' of silver electricians tape had to be applied to remedy this problem.

Finally, there is the 'real wood'. Not perhaps what you would want your coffee table made out of, but wood none the less. 

In the field

Ironically, the first outing of my Kalash AK74SU was not in my hands. As I mentioned, I purchased it as a back-up - but, it was as a loner it  went into the field, carried by a team mate in need. But get this - no sooner had we started the days play than my expensive Classic Army SA58 broke down (with a suspected gear box failure)!

So this field report is based on my observations of my team mate's use of my 74SU (are you following?)

The first surprise, however, came on the set-up range (for the 15 minutes that my SA58 worked that day). I was rather embarrassed to find that the Kalash very nearly matched my Classic Army in accuracy and consistency of BB flight, and wasn't that far away in range either. Very impressive, the tight barrels that the Chinese are using now are really are paying off

In game, the AK shorty seemed to lap up the house clearing element and defensive portion of the objectives. By the grin on it's temporary owner's face whenever we met in Regen, and the way he cradled it like some new born baby, I think it's safe to say the Kalash was a hit.

Left: A rather unfortunate stumble by my team mate resulted in a cracked magazine. The plastic of this D-Boi hi-cap is rather flimsy, but it still somehow managed to function. This did give me a good excuse to look into buying some mid-caps - but this turned out to be a little more complicated than I thought, and highlights a problem with the Kalash AK74S. It's magazines are not fully TM compatible - and TM AK mags have to be slightly modified to fit. More of this in a follow up I am doing on this issue. 

Sickeningly, the little cheapsoft bitch - as it's nicknamed* - functioned perfectly throughout the day, despite a rather violent drop, which cracked the plastic Hi-cap magazine. Even the rather feeble 1100 stick battery kept on going, and lasted out the 6 hours of play.

I soldiered on with my site loaner (kindly donated by the SYA armourer), and could only look on with envy as my baby AK impressed the socks off my team mate, and flew the flag for cheapsoft with great aplomb.

Summary

 Well, the minor niggles in tolerances - while a little annoying - did not detract from a nicely functioning AEG. And to be fair, you have to consider the remarkably low cost of the package - and bear in mind you are buying a package, with good set of accessories - before making any judgment on the worth of this AEG.

A hundred Pounds buys you a hardy and - seemingly - reliable pocket AK, that looks sexy and feels good. While I didn't do the shooting, I could just tell by the expression on my team mate's face that the experience of totting the Kalash was very satisfying.

Additionally, a chance encounter with a fellow player on the day who had the VFC 74SU - on which the Kalash is based - generated some admiring nods and complimentary remarks. Comparison of the two makes of AK showed little superficial differences, although the quality of steel finish on the VFC was noticeable. But, generally I got the impression that the VFC owner was a little aggrieved at the impudence of the Chinese 'knock off' for daring to impersonate his expensive replica!

The bottom line is that both my team mate who used the Kalash and I feel that we would have no qualms about buying any future Kalash products, particularly given the failure of my expensive Classic Army AEG (which was purchased at the same time).

* Suchka - Сучка - 'little bitch', is apparently an affectionate nickname for the AK74S tamong Russian users. 

Pricing: UK £120+/- | USA $159+/- | Hong Kong $100+/- | 
- Big thank you to 'Action Hobbies' (UK) who was my retailer for this item - a very friendly service

PROS:
> Cheap and chearful
> Metal used throughout, plus some OK looking wood
> Good value complete package )battery, charger and very nice sling)
> Consistant accuracy
> Excellently ballanced, with or without the stock folded
> Surprisingly useful paper manual
> Very sexy looking

CONS:
> Some shoddy tolerances - top fore-grip, reciever catch and front sight, for example
> Non-TM compatible magazine (without a little modification)
> I'm actually finding the 'easily removable' flash hider hard to remove!

Technical details: 
Name: AKS-74U
Manufacturer: DBOYS / KALASH - Made in China
Material components: Full Metal Body and Receiver
Weight: 4.5.0 kg with box
Power: 350fps with 0.2g BB
Metal Gear box: Yes - Ver. 2 Gearbox
Adjustable Hop up: Yes
TM compatible Hop up: Yes
Hi-Capacity Magazine: Included - 450 Round Hi-Cap Magazine (orange 'Bakalite' AK type)
Battery and Charger: Included
Features: - Metal Side Folding Stock - Metal Front & Rear Sling Mount - Includes Tactical

Retailer bumph: "Complete VFC Clone, Stamped steel receiver and stock, and top cover, also the muzzle brake. all other metal parts are pot metal."