Another month - another airsoft 'Beta' AK
Milgeek
4 Comments
Am I the only 'Ruskie' airsofter that is getting just a little tired of companies banging out the same old compact AK format of AEG? (This in the light of Airsoft-news.eu announcing that G&G is bringing out the above pictured abomination!)
After all, we 'Ruskies' don't ask for much - in fact the only thing we really seem to harp on is:
1. A cheapsoft RPK (come on DBoy!)
2. A nice replica of one of the MANY compact CQB Russian SMGs!
But what do we get instead - yet another bloomin' Beta.
Now, what really annoys me is that this is just sheer laziness on the part of the airsoft industry. EVERY major company now has a Beta or Spetz clone of the original - and still the best - Tokyo Marui Beta sawn-off AK47. And thus far, only one company has shown any imagination by changing the format - that is SRC who at least added a AKMS thumb hole grip to the front of their Beta!
Above: The SRC 'Krinc' - at least it's trying to be a little different!
Why hasn't anyone played around with the format at least? What about sticking a nice side-folding stock on the Beta? Or how about SOPMODing the little begger with a Sampson style rail and Kobra sight?
No...Let's just add another Beta to the already overflowing market - when all people will buy is the TM or the JG versions because that's all we need.
Here's another idea...
The Beta or Spetz format is a made up weapon design (it doesn't actually exist in real steel as everybody knows) - well, there is actually a Eastern Bloc compact AK that does exist that looks vaugly like the Beta. The Polish Army use the lovely little 'Beryl' - so close to the airsoft Beta design that any manufacturer could bang out one in a jiffy.
'Ruskie'/Eastern Bloc airsofters would be happy because they now have a *real* compact AK that they can use in CQB. And the manufacturers would be happy because they would actually SELL the bloody thing (instead of stock piling loads of useless Beta clones on retailers shelves as is happening now).
Source: www.ak-47.us
Above: The REAL Polish BERYL COMMANDO MOD 96 - not a stones throw from the Beta AEG format eh?
------------------
Links to the real Polish compact AK series:-
> Link: Wikipedia - Skbk wz. 1989 'Onyks' compact AK (Poland)
> Link: Wikipedia - Kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl compact AK (Poland)
View Printer Friendly Version
Reader Comments (4)
You'll find we're also crying out for someone to make a PKM ;)
I heard some rumours that DBoy (Kalash) are workng on a 'cheapsoft' metal PKM. It's even got as far as being mentioned briefly in Airsoft-news.eu!
We'll have to get to the gym to prepare for that one D! :D
Yeah I've seen the rumours.
Until something is on sale though, I can only hope!
Airsoft-news.eu showed what looked like a prototype metal receiver for the PKM - but as you say, that's nothing. There have been loads of prototypes shown on AN.eu and lots have never been heard of again!
I mentioned a FN FNC prototype in a previous post that never saw the light of day.
Of course, the only thing about the PKM is the sheer weight - I seem to be moving away from heavy metal stuff to lighter weight AEGs. But it's horses for courses.