Category: Gear

(The Cyclone Mike was kindly given to me for review by its maker, Action Fans.  This in no way affects the content of this review.  I pride myself on providing honest, real world reviews that tell airsofters about products that make them more effective on the battlefield.)

Recently, I was in a battle with my team and I encountered one of the biggest issues in airsoft, FOGGING.  Within seconds of starting a round I couldn’t see much of anything.  There was no way I was going to be able to effectively fight in the battle.

After that game I decided I needed to find a solution.  During my research I found that most options were either too expensive, required permanent modification to your set up (which I don’t like to do), or weren’t effective enough for my needs (I sometimes wear prescription glasses during my airsofting, so I get double fog).

After looking around, I found the Cyclone Mike from Action Fans.  It had a unique design that interested me.  The fan features three main parts, the battery pack (It uses 4 AAA batteries.  The batteries are not included), a fan unit that sucks air in, and a sturdy air tube that allows you to direct air exactly where it’s needed to stop fogging.

The Cyclone Mike is inexpensive ($39.99+Shipping on ActionFans.net), requires no permanent modification (just use the included self adhesive Velcro strips or Velcro-like straps to connect it to your helmet or goggles), and is very effective in all environments that I tested it in.

Included in the package are:
– The Cyclone Mike Fan (fully assembled)
– One strip (approx. 3 inches) of both self adhesive hook and loop Velcro
– Two Velcro-like straps
– Two mini zip ties
– Instructions on using the fan as a cooling system instead of anti-fog.

In the video below, you can see my thoughts on the Cyclone Mike, as well as some footage of the Cyclone Mike doing its job in battle.

(If you’re an email subscriber, click HERE to watch the video on AirsoftWarrior.net)

I tested the Cyclone Mike in both training and battle.  I have used it temperatures from 40 degrees to 80 degrees and up.  I also tested it both indoors and out.  It preformed excellently in every environment.

The only fogging I ever got was near the nose bridge of my goggles (I use Lancer Tactical Deluxe Ventilation Goggles) or when my sweat was pouring down the goggles like water after I had the fan off for a while.

The Cyclone Mike is made out of plastic, rubber, and reinforced wiring.  I found that the fan actually can withstand quite a bit of punishment.  I accidentally had it fall off a table while on my helmet and it was just fine.  My battle buddy, The Chief, also has a Cyclone Mike.  While in battle, he scraped his Cyclone Mike up against a tree and it still operated like new.

I decided to purchase the Filter Kit for the Cyclone Mike.  The Filter Kit includes a foam filter for really dusty environments, a plastic mesh cover to keep BBs and debris out of the fan, and two mini zip ties.

I found that the Filter Kit’s durability was not all it could be.  The plastic mesh split where the zip ties held it on to the fan unit.  I think a metal version (made out of the metal mesh used on airsoft masks) would be a big improvement on durability.

The Cyclone Mike is very quiet for the power it gives you.  I am still able to hear my teammates clearly and also hear the enemy moving around.  When in the woods, I sometimes turn the fan off and on as needed just to give me extra hearing ability while still staying defogged.

With the Cyclone Mike, I am able to go from completely fogged to defogged in a matter of seconds.  Needless to say I am very impressed with the features and function of the Cyclone Mike.  Thank you very much to Action Fans for sending the Cyclone Mike to me for review.   Be sure to check out ActionFans.net to buy your Cyclone Mike; and start being fog free today.

(This is the second post in a series on the SR7.  To see the first post click HERE.)

Arguably, the most important part of any airsoft gun is the internals.  The internals are what allows the airsoft gun to engage other players; and be reliable and effective on the battlefield.  Different gearbox designs (Version 2, Version 3, etc.) each have their strong and weak points when it comes to their internals.

The most vulnerable part of most gearboxes are the shell.  The shell encases all of the parts inside of the gearbox.  It also absorbs the impact causes by the pounding of the piston.  This can cause the shell to crack.  Other common airsoft internal issues include, pistons stripping, teeth on the gears breaking, and trigger contacts frying.

Most of the time, if you want to solve these issues yourself, or if you want improved the performance of your AEG you have to spend money on aftermarket parts and potentially hire a tech to install your new parts.  This can add up to quite a bit of money very quickly.

KWA Performance Industries wanted to solve the common internal issues (as well as less common ones); and give airsofters excellent performance right out of the box, by designing their internals to function as flawlessly as possible.  Their answer to internal and performance issues was the 2nd Generation Extreme Gearbox and the 2nd Generation Hop Up.

(Note: I personally have not opened up my KWA’s gearbox.  I can be a bit fumble fingered at times; and the internals don’t need to be upgraded anyway.  I got the internal parts information from several good sources.  You can find an older post from the KWA forum HERE, that lists the parts and compares them to the 1st generation KWA gearbox.  HERE is a list of all the parts you can purchase for the SR7 direct from the KWA website.  Also, check out this video from AirsoftGI to get more information on the 2GX gearbox.  I will be listing the internal parts and my thoughts on how they improve the KWA SR7 below.)

Let’s take a look at the 2nd Generation Extreme Gearbox:

Completely reinforced gearbox shell- KWA reinforced the gearbox shell, inside and out, to prevent gearbox cracking caused by the relentless pounding of the piston on the front of the shell.  They also reinforced the trigger post (This is the piece that sheared off inside my JG M4 CQB during the Tech Saga), by almost doubling the size and sloping the base for more surface contact.  You won’t have to worry about any issues there.  They also reinforced around the anti-reversal latch.

9 mm Ball Bearing Metal Bushings- These ball bearing bushings reduce friction inside the gearbox resulting in a higher rate of fire and a better gearbox reliability.  They are a nice, large, 9 mm size which gives them better strength.  Although you sacrifice some reliability that regular bushings offer, due to the lower FPS (therefor less tension on the bushings from the gears rotating) of the SR7, it’s not an issue.

Metal Air Nozzle (no O-ring)- The metal construction is a nice upgrade from your standard Ploy Carbonate nozzle.  An O-ring would be nice to provide an even better air seal; but the KWA already has one of the best compression systems on the market right out of the box.

Ported Metal Cylinder- It is ported to help give the SR7 it CQB FPS.

Poly Carbonate/Brass Cylinder Head (single O-ring)- A basic cylinder head.  An CNC aluminum head ($15+) with Sorbothane padding ($5) for corrected Angle Of Engagement (AOE) with the piston, would be a way to improve this component later.

Aluminum Piston Head (non ported/single O-ring)- Its aluminum construction will last a long time.  To my knowledge it is not ball bearing.

Poly Carbonate Piston- The last tooth is heat treated metal for extra strength.  The pick up tooth (the first tooth to make contact with the gears) is fully reinforced.  The second tooth is not removed.

M100 Spring- The M100 spring is just right for the SR7.  It gives CQB FPS and less wear on the internals due to less tension from the spring.  It also appears to have variable pitch for even smoother operation.

Ball Bearing Metal Spring Guide- The ball bearings makes the compression system run smoother because the spring is able to twist on itself, reducing tension.

Heat Treated Metal Gears-  The heat treating process strengthens the gears and reduces wear on them.  More strength equals less issues.

Metal Cut Off Lever- Your standard cut off lever.

Selector Plate- Standard.  Has an electrical cut off plate to give you enhanced safety.

Trigger Switch Assembly- Silver plated for better trigger response and less resistance from the wires.  Looks like it has a heat treated spring for extra strength.  I would recommend getting a Mosfet for longer contact life, especially if you are going to use a lipo.

Metal Trigger- Standard.  Trigger pull is stiffer than you find on some AEGs.  It is closer to the real deal.

Wire Set- Silver plated for better trigger response and less resistance.

Anti Reversal Latch- Heat treated for strength.

Now for the 2nd Generation Hop Up:

The 2nd Generation Hop Up is a two piece unit, made out of a nice polymer.  It has the same texture as the crane stock’s polymer.  (I found it interesting that they continued the texture of the polymer to the inside of the gun.)

It is easy to adjust and my hop up setting stays in place during a game.

The best part of the 2G Hop Up is the hop up nub.  It has two points of contact (3 points when you count the bottom of the hop up bucking).  With the two points of contact from the nub you will encounter less “flyers” and better accuracy at longer ranges.  I have pitted the SR7 against field AEGs with longer barrels and higher FPS and have done just fine.  I can get the 2G Hop Up to put a 0.25g bb out to 120 feet (with the bb having an almost flat flight path till the last 10 feet) and hit a man sized target after adjusting for wind shift.  That is very good for a “CQB” AEG! 

I hope that this post has given you a solid over view of the KWA SR7’s internal make up.  The internals of the SR7 were the main reason I purchased one.  I was very impressed by the well designed and well constructed 2GX gearbox and 2G hop up.  If you are looking for a very well built gearbox and excellent internals (without needing any upgrades), be sure to check out the KWA SR7.

I recently purchased a KWA KM4 SR7 “Devgru”.  I wanted the reliability and battlefield prowess of a KWA.  So I purchased one from AirRattle.com.  It was the best deal I found because they include 3 Elite Force 140 round mid cap magazines and I was able to get 10% off!

In the below post and video, I’ll be introducing you to the SR7 and some of the features it has.  We will focus mainly on the externals in this post.  Upcoming posts and videos will include more information on the internals and function of the gun on the battlefield.

Here are some specs on the SR7 (per my testing and the manufacture’s specs):

Manufacturer: KWA Performance Industries
Length: 28″ Retracted/ 31″ Extended
Weight: approx. 6.3 lbs (I believe that this the unloaded weight.  It is a solid CQB gun.)
FPS (with 0.20g bbs): approx. 350 with no hop-up.  With my hop up adjusted for 0.25g bbs with a flat flight path and a range of 120 ft, it is about 330 FPS with 0.20g bbs (and 305 FPS with 0.25g bbs).
Gearbox: 2nd Generation Extreme (2GX)
Hop Up: 2nd Generation (2G) with two points of contact for better accuracy

In the box you get:
– KWA KM4 SR7 “Devgru”
– One K120 Mid Cap (120 round capacity)- Click HERE to compare to the price on Amazon.
– Barrel Cover (red color)
– KWA Manuel (in good English with great diagrams)
– KWA warranty sheet and the KWA lipo battery information sheet
– Two Allen wrenches (for removing the body pins)
– Front sight adjustment tool

Below is a video of the SR7 from the Airsoft Warrior YouTube Channel:
(If you are an email subscriber click here to watch the video on AirsoftWarrior.net)

In Depth Features of the SR7 (from tip to tail):
(All parts are matte black, except where noted)

Forward of the receiver:
Flash Hider- Metal/bright orange- some of the paint has nicked off as I have battled.
Barrel- Metal/One piece
Front Sight- Triangle style/Front sling swivel attached- I wish the SR7 had a removable sight (like on the SR10) to make mounting and sighting in optics easier; but you could always install one later.  The sling swivel is a bit noisy as it hits the RIS.
Gas Tube- Metal/Silver color- supports the free float rail system
RIS- 7 inch/Free float/picatinny/15 slots per side- I have heard that you can transfer this RIS to a real AR if you wanted to. Each slot on the rail is labeled.
Delta Ring- Metal/Screw on- This delta ring is not like the one you find on an airsoft gun with a two piece RIS system. I like its unique look.

Receiver:
Upper and Lower Receiver- Metal/KWA Tradmarks/Unique serial number- The body feels very sturdy.
Magazine Release- Polymer/Concave- Good ergonomics.  Non Ambidextrous.  One thing I found strange, the mag can be pressed in after it has locked into the mag catch.  This creates a clicking sound when the mag is pressed up.  It may be part of the design, since the Chief’s SR7 does the same.  I have tested several different types of mags and get the same sound.  It doesn’t bother me, I just wish I could figure out why it does it and if it helps the gun’s function.
Bolt and Dust Cover- Polymer/Black Bolt/Gray Dust Cover
Forward Assist- Metal/Gray Button- The forward assist has no effect on the weapon; but does press in and spring back.
Bolt Catch- Polymer/Gray- The bolt catch is non functional.
Fire Selector- Polymer/Gray- It is very nice and crisp.  The fire selection labels are stamped into the lower receiver; but not painted in (which I like).  Non Ambidextrous.
Pistol Grip- Polymer/Textured- The vents on the bottom do not go all the way through to the motor compartment.  The motor height adjustment screw (gold colored) can be adjusted with a flat head screwdriver.
Top Rail- Metal/13 slots- with the removable, rear sight on you will have 10 slots open for optics.
Rear Sight- Metal/Removable/Adjustable for wind-age and elevation using knobs- Clicks are audible and can be felt.  It feels very sturdy.  It almost seems that they integrated a magnet into it to give an even better connection to the top rail.
Charging Handle- Metal- Not much to say about it.  It does stick sometimes when you pull it back.  This may be due to the reinforcement of the gearbox shell.

Behind the receiver:
One Point Sling Mount- Metal/One on each side
Buffer Tube- Metal- It does not have numbers to indicate the position of the stock.
Crane Stock- Polymer/Light Texturing/6 position/Hole on top to show numbers on buffer tube (but the buffer tube is not numbered)- Very nice and easy to adjust due to the spiral wiring inside.  Fuse is easy to check and change since it is integrated into the stock. The stock will fit a 9.6v 1600mAh Nunchuck Battery easily.
Stock Plate: Polymer/Textured/1.5 inches wide at back  – Very well designed.  The fins on the side prevent them from breaking as easily as some other stock plates do.  The stock plate is designed to fit a lipo battery inside of it.

I hope this overview helps you to better understand the SR7.  If you have any questions, comment them below.  Stay tuned for the upcoming posts and videos!

I just got on AirRattle.com to look at some airsoft weaponry.  I bought my first gun through them due to their great prices and thought I might find another great deal on the KWA SR7 that I’m looking at picking up.

After getting on today I instantly noticed the awesome new design.  It is clean and easy to navigate.  It also has a much fresher look than the older site, bringing it on par with many other top airsoft sites, like AirsoftGI and Evike.

Although there are a few minor things that could be improved (gun descriptions could be centered for easier viewing) depending on your personal preference.  The interface has also changed; and may take a little while to get use to if you used the old site.  It is still an excellent upgrade from their older site; and merits a look.

If you haven’t been on AirRattle.com for a while, or haven’t ever been on their site before, make sure to check it out.