This is a simple review of the New Tokyo Marui AK74MN.
As I have mentioned, this is my first time to review an airsoft item so please bear with me.
The AK74MN comes in a classy box of black and red.
Once you get a look of its packaging, you know for sure a beauty lies inside the box.
Opening the box would reveal the all-black full metal(aside from the grips and stock of course) neatly seated on grooved carton holders like the way the box of the new version of TM m4A1 does.
I am actually expecting the box/packaging to be the smaller and the same with the TM SIG552 -- folded -- knowing that the AK74 folding stock folds just like the SIG.
But the box is just about the same size as the box of the classic AK47 of TM.
Once you take the gun out of the box, you can see there's a small "kit box" on the left side of the package. Inside it are the manual, target sheets and other paperworks that you would see common to all TM produced airsoft guns. Also inside this smal box is the front sight adjustment tool and a small screw driver tool(hex wrench).
If you remove the middle part of the package, you will see the cleaning rod and the loading tool.
On the right side, you will see the BB box, inside it you will a pack of BBs and the red muzzle safety cap.
Upon holding and aiming the gun, you can easily feel the good balance of it and the sturdiness the AK guns have always been known with. It has great finishing on almost every part you can imeediately see. Great details copied almost exactly as the real steel AK74.
I have done a simple comparison of the AK74MN and the classic AK47 of TM:
The Front Part:
The Receiver:
The Buttstock:
The battery compartment in the AK74 is in the handguard. Turning the lever up would release the cover.
The battery compartment cover.
You can see in the image above the solid metal where the cover was held when you close the compartment.
The 2 rib parts here have been removed by the store staff when I bought the gun. These ribs make a just right fit of the battery inside the compartment, which at times can give you a hard time closing with the cover. Having removed these ribs, in a way becomes helpful, as you could use higher voltage capacities(custom configuration) as TM always designs their airsoft guns to use only 8.4V batts.
You can see in this picture where the ribs once were(encircled). You can also see the connector slot which provides more space for the battery when covering.
Here is how it looks like when the lock is released and when the lock is closed in the battery compartment.
Open:
Closed:
As you can see, the magazine well is deeper than the classic AK47's. This gives us the idea of how incompatible the old magazine is for this model.
AK74MN:
AK47:
You can also see the black colored gearbox and the new hop up chamber. TM claims that the gearbox is redesigned, they're not actually saying it's a Ver.9 Gearbox. It's a still the AK Ver.3 GB but with some improvements and modification to accomodate the recoil engine.
There is also a slight difference with the magazine release lever of the AK74 and the AK47.
AK74MN:
AK47:
Here is a look of the new hop chamber nd hop system for the AK74
Here is a better look when the Upper receiver cover ir removed.
You can find a slight difference with the rear sight as well. In the AK47, you push the left side of the adjustment part but in the AK74, the right side is where you push.
When the muzzle break is removed, you will see 2 threads. The thread for the muzzle break(clockwise) and the thread for attaching silencers etc.(counter-clockwise)
Beware though, that once the muzzle break is removed, there is a tendency for the (fake)cleaning rod to be loose. So be careful as you might lose it.
When you take a look at the slot for attaching slings in the front assy, you will notice that it, too, is different from the AK47.
The slot is attached to the handguard in the AK74 while in the AK47 it is beside the gas tube.
The side mount gives an impression that it is strudy enough to hold a mounted rail and a scope.
The folding mechanism of the stock is like most folding stocks.
The push button to fold the stock:
The retaining clip on the receiver(mejo madilim lang ang kuha hehe):
The stock with groove for the side mount:
when floded:
push button to release:
The standard magazine has an extended follower feeding all bbs into the chamber. The hicap mag however, doesn't have a follower so when you removed the magazine, 2-3 bbs may fall off.
Another thing with the hicap mag, the loading wheel is sometimes hard to wind because of the protrusion in the mag design. Also, like all other hicap mags, at times it will not wind properly so you will have to remove the mag from the gun and tap it to release the spring.
The packaging of the 480round hicap mag
Some other pics of the parts of the AK74MN up close:
Muzzle break:
Selector switch:
Front Sight:
The grip:
this is what it looks like when the battery compartment is closed:
with the magazine loaded:
Receiver:
when the upper cover is removed...you can see the shell of the recoil engine:
blowback spring and spring guide
Based on other pics from the chinese review, I suspect the recoil engine works with the piston. the piston has some kind of slot which gives space to pull the recoil block then hammers forward to the reinforced front part of the gearbox.
This is only my speculation. We will have to confirm this though. I cannot confirm it just by myself for I don't have any plans of field stripping this gun of mine hehe.
The blowback is actually very satisfying and the sound gives a very crisp clank. Though at first I was doubtful of using the gun on full auto because I am still a bit afraid there might be some damage due to the recoil an blowback, I still used it in the games in full auto but on burst fires only(which i always do in my AEGs). Just knowing that it's a TM makes me feel confident enought that this won't break easily even though the sound it produces would make anyone think of the amount of abuse this piece is receiving from every poind of the recoil.
The effective range is about the same as the AK47(30-40m -- tested it outdoors though) though this gun has a longer inner barrel than the AK47(about 5mm difference).
The hop is steady and so far I have not experienced any deviation once I have set it up.
Very balanced even if you have a hollow folding stock and considering that the battery is in front.
As reliable as the AK47. Easy to aim like the AK47. Very solid built. Slightly heavier than the AK47.
The only negative thing that I have noticed so far, is that when I took a look inside the inner barrel, it seems there are some white marks(i dunno if those were scratches) on one side of the inner wall of the barrel. Will have to confirm if this is a defect or if it could be removed by cleaning the inner barrel. Will update this thred once I cleaned it.
What more can I say, this is just One of the best AEGs I have ever handled.
When I looked at the side of the box, it says there: Series No.1 // Next Generation Automatic Electric Airsoft Guns. Now, my impression is this...it seems TM is inclined to making more blowback AEGs. So let's just wait for more to come from them. Imagine a blowback TM M4(make it full metal). Hehehe!
