Simply Airsoft Guns

This is my first review for my favourite toys – airsoft guns! In this case it’s the A&K SR-25 long version, with full stock, vertical foregrip, QD (quick detach) silencer and a longer barrel. A shorter version is also available featuring a crane stock, no silencer, 2 RIS covers, vertical foregrip and a shorter barrel, but as I wanted a longer gun to add to my airsoft electric guns arsenal, I went with the long version.

Ordering

I order my airsoft gear from RSOV.com, and as with all their automatic airsoft guns, it arrived within a week with no damage. I paid $105 during the Christmas sale, but the current price is $159.99 (£116 as at 26.01.09) + VAT and delivery. This would put it at roughly £170 total (depending on delivery cost), but a just over 1 joule version is available from Landwarrior.com for £184.99, so you may want to consider going through them.

Features

The RSOV (standard stock) version of the A&K SR-25 features:

	Build:		Full metal except the stock, grip and vertical foregrip
	Spring:		Reportedly anywhere between 400 and 450 FPS
	Battery:		9.6v 1100mAh mini battery
	Charger:		2 Pin charger
	Accessories:		QD silencer, vertical foregrip, jamming rod, alan key, screwdriver
	Stock:		Full Stock
	Magazine:		1 x A&K high cap
	Fire options:		Safe, single, full auto
	Rate of fire:		790 bb’s per minute

The front of the box shows the SR-25 on a desert background, and shows information about the gun. Open it up and the first things you’ll think are “Wow, this is a nice gun” and “bloody hell this is long” (not necessarily in that order).

The external quality is superb. Everything’s high quality metal except the plastic stock, grip and vertical foregrip. The constructions rock solid, with zero wobble throughout.

I couldn’t work out how to take the RIS off the front so here’s a picture of the gas tubing through the RIS.

There is no reinforcement in the stock so you can easily fit a 9.6v large battery; I even managed to squeeze a custom 9.6v 4300 in there, put together but componentshop.co.uk.

Externals

	Silencer:		A great quality full metal silencer with a quick release function. I’m not sure how much difference it makes to the sound of the gun as unfortunately it’s not foam filled, but that’s easily solvable.
	RIS rail:		Full metal and incredibly study with no wobble. The delta ring is very solid and has a decent heft to it.
	Receiver:		The receiver quality is fantastic. It may not be quite as good as the G&P, but it’s steel through and through (confirmed with a metal detector that tells iron/steel from nickel etc). You’ll notice that unlike the real SR-25, the A&K SR-25 has a full auto function – this is great news for clearing blocked bb’s, but if you’re not keen on it, it can be disabled by replacing the selector switch and painting over the ‘Auto’. Pulling the charging handle reveals the hop-up. More on that later.
	Markings:		The markings are properly stamped steel on both sides. While it does not have the ‘official’ trademarks like the G&P, you are paying a third of the price.
	Iron Sights:		Featuring flip-up low profile BUIS sights, adjustable for windage and elevation. Again great build quality, full metal and fully adjustable as per the real thing.
	Magazine:		The huge 7.62 hi-cap can hold a whopping 470 rounds, again full metal except the top plate going into the hop-up. The stock mag fits perfectly, nice and snug. Some of the other A&K SR-25 hi-caps I bought were a little tight, but have eased up now. This gun will not take M4/M16 mags or G&G SR-25 mags; only SR25 mags made by A&K, CA or G&P.
	Stock:		The stock is made from durable ABS plastic with a finish comparable to CA G36s. It also has a durable textured metal butt plate. The mount is solid with no wobble. It will fit a standard 9.6v battery, but can fit a custom 9.6v 4300 too, more on that in the upgrades section.
	Grip:		The only other plastic part, the grip is a comfortable standard ABS plastic grip.
	Trigger:		The trigger is plastic and the trigger guard metal.
	Balance:		Great balance, especially for such a long weapon. It’s very comfortable to shoulder, if you’re planning on firing it out of prone I’d recommend the vertical foregrip or RIS rail covers due to its length.

Internals

For more information on the internals, see the upgrades section.

The A&K SR25 is an exact clone of the Classic Army versions and their ‘full metal’ tags extend to the internals.

	Barrel:		The A&K SR25 features a 509mm barrel, it’s difficult to tell whether it’s a tightbore or not. With the silencer on this gun will fit a 610mm PSG+1 barrel.
	Gearbox:		The A&K SR25 uses an extended version 2 gearbox with extended piston and all metal parts with A&K markings. While not reinforced, it appears to be stronger than earlier A&K models. Bushings are all metal 6mm (confirmed as we have replaced). The gearbox is very loud and growly and could do with a re-shim (see the Complete AEG repair guide for more information).
	Motor:		The motor is a great quality, long shaft, high-torque type, containing incredibly strong magnets. It is wired with a small tamiya connector. Pulling the charging handle reveals the hop-up. More on that later.
	Wiring:		The wiring is much thicker than earlier A&K models and contains a heavier duty fuse.
	Hop up:		The hop-up is full metal again and performs great. It also appears to be a completely standard hopup unit, compatible with aftermarket M4/M16 hopup units.

Performance

The SR-25 fires at a monstrous 420fps out of the box. Considering the size of the spring being pulled it has a respectable rate of fire at 790 bb’s per minute, not P90 fast but not slow either. Trigger response is also very good.

However, it is very loud and growly compared to most airsoft bb guns and could do with a re-shim (which I did, see the upgrades section below).

To be honest I bought the upgrades for the gun at the same time as buying it (see how to’s below) so didn’t test it completely before I upgraded it. However, a review by Delta 11 and Ion on airsoftforum.com tested the SR-25 with the following results:

“Great accuracy and range on these. Using a Tasco 3-9x40mm scope and TSD .25s at 100+ft we got the following results. SEMI we shot 30rds and 22-25 hits…and on auto we used the same target but covered up all the previous shots and fired a burst of auto. All but one flier hit the target in the corner.”

How to upgrade

For an even more in-depth look at the internals and a guide on how to upgrade your guns, have a read of my unique Complete AEG repair guide, written using the A&K SR25.

For a great range of airsoft gear visit Airsoft Guns UK – UK online shop Airsoft Guns, BB Guns, Gun Accessories, ammo and targets.

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