I am a huge fan of the M16/M4 rifle and have always wanted to have a full length M16 RIS sniper rifle but not with the big budget as you would need if you will go for the high end AEG's such as the G&G G25.

Background on the real steel SPR

This weapon system, used by Special Operations Forces units of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, is a heavily modified light sniper/designated marksman variation of the AR-15/M16 line of infantry weapons, and is chambered for NATO standard 5.56 x 45 mm caliber ammunition. The SPR concept was originally proposed by Mark Westrom, currently president of Armalite, while working at Rock Island Arsenal. The program was an outgrowth of the desire by both US Army and Navy special operations forces for a rifle with greater effective range than an M4 Carbine but still shorter in length than a standard issue M16A2/A4. The SPR program appears to have grown out of both the SOPMOD Block II program, and the U.S. Navy SEALs 'Recon Rifle'. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division essentially expanded on the Recon Rifle, an expansion that some SEALs maintain was a waste of time and resources.

The exact history of the Mk 12 is still in debate, but there appear to be either four or five prime iterations of the weapon, culminating in the most recent Mk 12 Mod 1 version. One progression has four models: SPR Proto 1, SPR Proto 2, Mk 12 Mod 0 and Mk 12 Mod 1. The other progression has five models: SPR, SPR/A, SPR/B, Mk 12 Mod 0, and Mk 12 Mod 1. The specifications in this article follow the second progression.

There is also increasing agreement among observers and small-arms historians that different U.S. military service branches typically deploy different iterations of the SPR. Available evidence, including both U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) photographs and privately-obtained photographs (like the ones shown below), consistently show most US Army SF operators using the Mk 12 Mod 0, while NAVSPECWAR operators and US Army Rangers have been identified as using the Mk 12 Mod 1 version.

The SPR was not well-known to the general public until recently, but it has been featured prominently both in media photos of the Iraq conflict and in interactive video games such as the government-created America's Army: Special Forces, in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2, and the freeware first-person shooter True Combat: Elite. Civilian copies of the SPR (commonly called "SPR clones") have also become quite popular among shooters and collectors in the U.S., with several reputable builders of AR-15 style rifles making civilian-legal copies of this accurate rifle.

- From Wikipedia

On with the review...



This AEG is a full length M16 type with a full stock so it's quite long. The package includes:

• the rifle
• a large 8.4 battery that goes on the stock
• a charger
• an awesome looking bi-pod
• a pair of RIS covers
• 190 capacity metal magazine
• a single point sling
• foregrip
• and some tools

Externals

The gun itself is superb, it is constructed in full metal and the make is very good (matte black). It has a full metal, free floating RIS. The reviews that I have heard so far mentions the problems of rattles and wobbles so I prepared myself that I will have to dismantle this rifle to tighten all the screws that I can find. This one came with quite a bad barrel and front site wobble. This is easily solved but a bit time consuming. First you will need the smallest allen screw that you can get and detach the front sight, then remove RIS. Once you have done this, try and tighten the small screw at the end of the barrel where it comes in contact with the receiver. Then screw the delta ring and RIS back in place and the front sight. Make sure the RIS is aligned properly with the receiver.

The SPR flash hider is OPS style and looks cool. The front folding sight works well. As I have mentioned, the RIS is a free floating one and is held in place by the delta ring. The Bi-pod is attached to the RIS by rail adaptor that holds it in place. The Bi-pod is very good, if you need to use it, all you have to do is to pull the legs down and you can retract or extend the legs with the push of a button. The receiver is full metal and there is no movement between the upper and lower receiver on this one, making it a tight fit.



On top of the receiver is the folding rear battle sight which is fully adjustable. The fire selector switch functions well, and yes, unlike the real steel MK12 Mod 0/1 which is semi-automatic, this one has FULL AUTO mode.



Another bonus with this rifle is the grip which is designed to fit snugly when you put your fingers around it, sadly if you are left handed you will have to replace it as it has a thumb rest. The grip is made of nylon so it is very comfortable to hold. The stock is ABS and houses the battery. I would think that a large 12v will fit in if you remove the butt plate.

The magazine that comes with this is VN (Vietnam) style and holds approximately 190 BBs. The quality is surprisingly good.

There are no markings in this rifle aside from the fire selector. The stock has two sling points, on the bottom and on the side but there is no front sling point, perhaps that is why they provided a single point sling.



Internals

The takedown on this rifle is easy if you are already familiar with AR-15 series. The M4/M16 takedown is the same as with any other AEG patterned after Tokyo Marui replicas.

Once all necessary pins and screws have been removed, the upper receiver easily slides off from the lower receiver.



The motor has no markings making it difficult to determine what type it is but from the sound of the ROF it produces with the stock 8.4v battery, I would say that it is similar to an EG1000 or its equivalent.

The metal hop-up looks decent and sturdy. It is connected to the inner barrel tightly with no noticeable wobble.



The gearbox is metal, version 2. Very sturdy. All screws were tight. What caught my attention are the plastic bushings which definitely will need to be replaced.  The spring appears to be of good quality, probably an M120 considering the velocity it produces. The piston is plastic and the nozzle is made of clear, see through plastic material.



The gears are XYT brand, as what many would expect on China made AEGs. Contrary to what other reviews say about the lack of grease on most ACM AEGs, this one is different. In fact it had too much grease as clearly seen in the pictures. The wiring is good with the connections neatly soldered.



Performance

Shouldering is rifle is easy. It is not the lightest of AEGs due to all the metal components. Without the  battery, the rifle feels a bit front heavy probably due to the heavy metal RIS plus the metal bipod. Once the battery is in place, the balance gets better, and I would suggest using a bigger battery (9.6v 3300mah) not only for the power that it can produce but also to add some weight on the rear end.

Definitely not for CQC due to the length but it works very well on outdoor skirmishes and can be used both as a sniper rifle and as a primary assault rifle since it deviates from the real steel one by having a full-auto mode.

The folding sights work well but it would be better to put a scope on the top rail by removing the rear sight.

The package specifies that the AEG fires at 330fps, but initial chrono tests measured the muzzle velocity at around 390 to 400 fps. I’m sure that after a few thousand rounds through this rifle would settle the power at around 350 to 360 fps.

Conclusion

We all know that buying an ACM can sometimes be luck of the draw. One thing I’ve learned is that before using them, it is always a good idea to actually spend some time stripping the AEG and making sure that everything is just right. From the amount or absence of grease to making sure that all screws are tight.

Another good thing to do is what I call the “shake test” which is simply shaking the AEG and listening to all wobbles and creeks and properly correcting them.

This AEG is really nice, not only with the externals but also internally. If proper pre-skirmish checks are carried out, the AEG should last quite awhile.

Overall, the SPR is solidly built. Some minor flaws but nothing that can be sorted with the proper tools. Very powerful, may need some downgrading in some areas. Definitely worth the price you pay for it.