Hey team! Welcome back to the blog.
In this first impressions review, we’re going to be taking a look at the Raven Evolution NEO AKS74UM AEG from my friends over at BZ Tactical.
From experience, a lot of (not all before anyone gets riled up!) the AK’s on the airsoft market are heavy and sluggish wood-and-steel things that aren’t very accessible to beginners or people new to the platform - this isn't that. The NEO takes the iconic, compact footprint of the shortened Russian classic and rebuilds it with durable lightweight polymer construction and modern internals. It weighs in at just 5lbs, which makes it properly agile for slicing corners, clearing rooms, and pivoting fast in intense CQB skirmishes.
Internally, the standout feature on the NEO series is the integrated Electronic Trigger System (ETS). Where a lot of entry-level AEGs will burn out their trigger contacts, the NEO's ETS is built to handle 11.1v LiPo batteries. On the field, that translates to fast asf trigger response with a genuinely fast cyclic rate on full-auto, and reliability that holds up even during prolonged firing. It features a full metal V3 gearbox, 18:1 steel gears, 8mm ball bearings, and a 20,000 RPM motor. There's also a true quick-change spring system, so you can adapt to different site FPS limits in minutes without stripping the whole gearbox down. For accuracy, it runs a tight 6.03mm brass inner barrel with an adjustable slider-type hop-up, aimed at consistent, flat trajectories. It's pre-wired to Deans under the metal upper dust cover too, which keeps power efficiency up and resistance down.
It comes neatly presented in a cardboard replica box with an identifying sticker - I do wish it came in the branded boxes like the rest of the Raven range but for the price, that feels like a silly complaint. It’s very lightweight which is what stood out to me as soon as I removed it from the packaging and the materials used feel really sturdy. The stock is easy to deploy and stow and feels really solid.
One stand out feature that I really liked when I got this on the range was the battery compartment! In the Raven Evolution NEO AKS74UM there is a button on the dust cover that you press and the dust cover pops up and is hinged to keep it attached to the replica whilst you install the battery. The battery compartment is really roomy and there was no struggle to battery it up. The hinged dust cover made it really easy to put the battery in and close it up without any of the wiring snagging.
So, how does it shoot? For the price, I was pleasantly surprised. The trigger is snappy and very responsive, it sounds great on an 11.1 and it is consistent on semi and full-auto. It had a little bit of recoil and was very satisfying to shoot.
If you’re on a budget, an AK fans or someone that is new to the platform, I think this is a replica that should be on your radar. From BZ Tactical, it retails for £172.94 but you can use my discount code FF5 for 5% off! (Not aff, just saving you money!), which is so affordable! A sub-£200 AK that is fun to shoot, is lightweight enough to use all day and feels sturdy and durable? What a slay.
In the box, you get Raven Evolution NEO AKS74UM AEG, mid-cap magazine, a Deans-to-Tamiya adapter, M90 spring and a cleaning rod.
Post sponsored by BZ Tactical.
No comments