Well, I picked up my brand new CYMA AK74 (CM031) on-site last Sunday, so it was straight into the fray for my latest AEG.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Actually, I didn't have all that much time to stand and admire my new AEG, as I had to quickly get it sorted out in time to start the day's skirmish. However, I had come prepared with some charged batteries and plenty of spare magazines. So it was straight in the deep end without so much as a stroke or a proud posed photo with me new baby!

It wasn't until lunch I was able to take the time to examine the CYMA AK, and I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised. I had thought that this 'cheapsoft' AK was going to be largely plastic, but it took me a while of tapping each part to suss out what was and wasn't ABS.

As it turns out, the main part that we usually like to be metal - the receiver - was part metal and part plastic. But, honestly, I had to tap, tap, tap the darn thing before I was convinced that the lower receiver was in fact ABS!

However, the thing that most jumps out about the CM031's looks is the matt black colour. It's just so damn cool - it's really tactical and I got several complementary remarks about it from other AK owners. If you want that modern Russian Army look, this is the AEG for you.

PERFORMANCE
Again, it wasn't until later in the day I was able to take stock of the performance of the CYMA. Although I have to say I was very pleased with how it worked through the day's missions.

At the backend of the afternoon my team mate - Dewey - and I had the opportunity to swap over our AKs and make a direct comparison. I should point out that Dewey had also bought a new AK on that day - a Classic Army SLR105 (a wood furnitured AK74). So this was an ideal way of judging just how good the CYMA was.

Above: The CYMA AK74 (top) and my Kalash AK74SU, along with my growing collection of AK magazines.

Now, I'm not going to lie to you and say 'oh, yeah. My 'cheapsoft' AEG was every bit as good as the Classic Army AEG which cost nearly three times as much!' That would be complete rubbish, as Dewey's CA SLR105 was a beautiful piece, and you could feel the quality of workmanship in the steel it was composed of, the luscious wood, the silky gun-blue finish and the weight of it.

But - When we compared range, BB flight consistency, comparative accuracy and power, well, we were absolutely neck and neck!

How this would translate into reliability of internal parts - the real difference between the two AEGs I suspect - is a different matter. But bearing in mind my recent breakdown of my 2 month old CA SA58, I have an open mind about this.

BUILD QUALITY & NIGGLES
OK, I was impressed, and this satisfaction with the purchase extended to the general build quality. Taking in the overall package, there were not as many gaps, creeks and badly machined and moulded parts as there were on my Kalash AK74SU. Certainly nothing jumped out as an obviously annoying manufacturing fault.

But there are niggles you should be aware of (as you might expect at the price). The biggest niggle is the battery connector - it's a mini connector, despite the fact that the CYMA's stock can easily take a large 8.4 volt 3300 battery. This can be relatively easily corrected by stripping off the mini connector, and attaching a large type connector so you can use standard large batteries.

As with most AKs, the CM031 is a little front heavy (but not as much as my friend's full metal SLR105). The stock's attachment to the reciever looks a little flimsy and does move a little, but we shall have to see how that holds up with time.

Other tiny niggles are that the rear iron sight has a tendency to flip up when the AEG is hung muzzle down, and the stock's sling hook, which rattled about in a most un-tactical fashion.

[Note: As a relative 'newbie' to airsoft I was not going to take my new CM031 to bits to check the quality of internals - for this please see the Airsoft Retreat review which I have included in my recommended links below.]

CONCLUSION
It's unfair really, I think, to compare the CYMA to mid-priced AEG's like my friend's Classic Army AK, the price difference is mostly in the quality of the materials used. But, I found it interesting to compare it to a competitor in the budget field, and got my Kalash AK74SU out as soon as I got home to see the two 'cheapsoft' AEGs side by side.

First of all, the CYMA wins out in the area of manufacturing tolerances. There were more annoying little build quality issues with the Kalash (D-Boy) Ak than the CYMA - more slight gaps, wobbles, poor finishing and creaks.

Left: The Kalash AK74SU 'all metal' reciever (top) compared to the CM031 plastic/metal one (click on the picture for large version). This clearly shows the flat matt black finish on the CYMA, which I think is very modern and very tactical.

Surprisingly, despite the Kalash's biggest apparent advantage - it's 'full metal' build - I couldn't say that I  absolutely  preferred the Kalash over the CYMA. The CYMA's - admittedly plastic in places - build felt somehow more polished and refined than it's competitor.

Of course, the ridiculous battery implementation was a strike against the CYMA, but on the other hand it does take standard TM type AK magazines - which the Kalash doesn't. And that's how the comparison continued - it was all swings and roundabouts, with no conclusive 'winner'.

All I can really say with certainty is that I really like the CM031, I'm very satisfied that it won't look out of place among more expensive makes and models, and I categorically feel I got good value for money.

Left: Me (middle) sporting my Russian Malitia loadout and my CM031. As you can probably tell, the smile says it all - I was very happy with how my new AEG performed. I did tend to avoid CQB situations in the buildings, as it's a long rifle - but in the woodland it was ideal.

Once again I have been so impressed with a so-called 'cheapsoft' AEG that I now feel even more reluctant to buy another mid-high end AEG, unless there was a particular model I wanted but couldn't get from either CYMA or Kalash (and even then I would probably only have to wait for a few months before a clone of the AEG I wanted became available).

I really feel we should be re-assessing the use of the term 'cheapsoft', as the derogatory impression it gives is simply not born out in AEGs like the CYMA AK74 CM031. 

PROS & CONS

Pros: Price, good looks, good quality (for price), accuracy, and it's a bit different

OTHER REVIEWS

> Armies Airsoft - CM031 review