CYMA 098A E-EDITION

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Okay, I’m going to speak bluntly and tell you that the CYMA 097B has been the major surprise of the year

for me when it comes to well-priced AR AEGs and after more time “living with” the 097B, it continues to enthral me! The little sub-£200 AR has now had upwards of 3,000 BBs put through it, mostly on semi (which will vex even the best-made AEG at times), but also on full-auto with some majorly unforgiving mag-dumps! Running it on an NP 11.1 30C LiPo and both .20g and .25g RZR BBs has landed some absolutely startling results!

The 097B has not in any way been treated gently so far, either by myself, or by other players on range days and the overwhelming consensus is that “this is a good gun” - not just “for the money”, but in all ways. As yet it still has to pass the long-tern durability test, but with

an unshakeable alloy construction (read “tank”!) and what have proved thus far to be great internals, I have high hopes for it. Time will tell but it also bodes well for the very newest model in the CYMA lineup, and that’s the 098 DMR.

Before I launch into the review proper, let’s pause for a moment to look at the “Airsoft DMR” and what that actually means…

A “Dedicated Marksman Ri� e” is something that (in the real world) lets one or more member/s of an infantry ri� e section, squad or � reteam have the ability to “reach out” in a � re� ght. By its very description, a DMR is a high-precision weapon system, usually � tted with a correspondingly high-quality optic and the “designated marksman” is different to a sniper because of deployment role, rather than by operational range. A “designated

marksman” will usually work with an engagement distance of 300-600 meters, which falls between that of a regular infantry ri� eman and a dedicated sniper. DMRs are developed to dominate this middle ground in a tactical role, rather than the sometimes strategic role of the sniper.

Unlike the true sniper ri� e, DMRs are usually semi-automatic ri� es bene� tting from higher rates of � re and that (typically) have larger magazine capacities to allow rapid engagement of multiple targets. DMRs have to be effective at ranges exceeding those of ordinary battle carbines and ri� es, but do not require the extended-range performance of a dedicated sniper ri� e. DMRs often share some basic characteristics with sniper ri� es though, in that they usually have a magni� ed optic af� xed as part of the “system”, along with

CYMA 098A:DESIGNATED MARKSMANRIFLE

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LAST MONTH BILL GOT HIS TEETH FIRMLY INTO THE VERY

LATEST 097B AR CARBINE FROM CYMA, IN PREPARATION

FOR TESTING THE NEW ADDITION TO THIS RANGE OF AEGS IN THE FORM OF THE “BIG BOY” 098 DMR.

AFTER SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME SPENT BLASTING MANY (MANY!) BBS DOWNRANGE HE NOW BRINGS IN HIS FINDINGS.

“A “DESIGNATED MARKSMAN” WILL USUALLY WORK WITH AN ENGAGEMENT DISTANCE OF 300-600 METERS, WHICH FALLS BETWEEN THAT OF A REGULAR INFANTRY RIFLEMAN AND A DEDICATED SNIPER. DMRS ARE DEVELOPED TO DOMINATE THIS MIDDLE GROUND IN A TACTICAL ROLE...”

kay, I’m going to speak bluntly and

RIFLE

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CYMA 098A E-EDITION

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a QD bipod to allow enhanced stability and accuracy. The DMR also needs to function as part of squad complement and sometimes even at close quarters - think “Lone Survivor” and “Blackhawk Down”!

With the combat performance problems of the NATO 5.56x45mm round at distances beyond 200m that have come to light in numerous recent theatres, the good old 7.62×51mm round has most de� nitely come back into vogue! Ri� es like the M14 EBR, FN FAL, AR-10 and Heckler & Koch G3 have all had their moment, while additions like the Heckler & Koch HK417, L129A1 LMT Sharpshooter Ri� e and the Knight’s Armament Company SR-25 have all effectively entered the fray.

THE AIRSOFT DMRSo how do we make this work in airsoft terms? It’s a question that back in the 90’s and early 00’s many scratched their heads over, including me when I was actually running games… How do we replicate the additional power, range and effectiveness of the military DMR whilst keeping things safe for players - and as realistic

as possible in games?

The answer was to look at AEG power levels (usually 350-400fps for full-auto dependant on country) and those of bolt-action sniper ri� es (500-

550fps again country dependant) and to � nd

a sweet spot in the middle that would

safely allow a slightly greater engagement distance than the average, stock AEG. My Marshal group at the time made the decision that this level should sit at 1.67 Joule/425fps on a .20g BB, with an absolute maximum of 1.87 Joule/450fps. The ri� e in question would be restricted visibly to semi-auto only (we actually drilled a hex-bolt into early creations so that the selector could not be moved to the full-auto position!), would carry a magni� ed optic and bipod and, just like a bolt-action sniper ri� e, would be restricted by a minimum engagement distance (MED).

Whilst at the time of adoption this new ruleset caused a furore in the global airsoft community, thankfully things move on and this is now established practice with many sites, plus there’s now also a lot of choice for “DMR” replicas for you to pick from. Whilst to a degree a DMR user needs to step into the “mindset territory” of the airsoft sniper (that’s a whole other discussion!), they are also able to get stuck in as part of a team with their mates and a true “Airsoft DM” can be a real force

multiplier (if they know what they’re about and know how to use their

ri� e!).

098 AND GOOD TO GO!

However, a good DMR in the past has either taken a lot

of time, effort, and money to get right if you built your own, or indeed just

cost a LOT of money to buy (I’ll use the HK417 as

an example here) and still needed fettling. With the CYMA 098 though,

most players, even those on a very modest budget, can step into the world of the “Designated Marksman”.

As with the 097B Carbine that I looked at last month, the 098 series of designated marksman ri� es are essentially “AR10s”

that have been created after a lengthy period of cooperation between CYMA and TAIWANGUN.COM (TWG). Also, as with the carbines, the DMR variants have a lower receiver, upper receiver, stock tube, outer barrel, � re selector, trigger, enhanced charging handle and the front and rear sight built in high-standard alloy to give them a great “feel”. All the furniture is high standard polymer.

Each model has a unique serial number, and the 098A model I received for testing came with a 16 inch outer barrel, although you can also have it with a 20 incher, and in fairness to stay with the “MIL DMR”, CYMA/TWG have also produced a “straight” 098 that looks suspiciously like an SR-25! Inside all the 098s you get a rotary hop adjustment (precisely adjustable and different from the hop unit � tted to the 097 carbines), reinforced V2 gearbox with quick spring change system, a processor unit with built-in MOSFET system, a polycarbonate piston with steel teeth, a CNC machined steel gear set, 8mm bearings, a CNC machined aluminium silent cylinder and piston head set, and a hi-torque motor.

Overall the 098A is a bit of a beastie, and externally

you could initially write it off as a somewhat “Gucci” looking uber-carbine; the only real giveaways that this is not the 097 series carbine are the semi-only � re selector, the

“7.62 Bullet” pictogram on the upper and the hoo� ng great 500BB winding HiCap “7.62” mag! This does give it a very different and distinctly unique feel from the “5.56” carbines and it certainly looks like it means business!

This new E-EDITION ri� e has a mean power level of 1.87 Joule/450fps on a .20g RZR BB which may still be a little “warm” for some sites but the quick-change spring facility means that it’s a problem (if it is a problem at all!) that is quickly and easily

CYMA 098A:DESIGNATED MARKSMANRIFLE

“…THE TRIGGER RESPONSE IS ABSOLUTELY SUPERB; IF YOU GET A TARGET APPEARING IN YOUR OPTIC THEN EVEN A FLEETING GLANCE WILL LET YOU GET A SHOT AWAY. I AM NOT JOKING WHEN I SAY THAT THIS TRIGGER IS SIMPLY SUBLIME…”

as possible in

multiplier (if they know what they’re about and know how to use their

ri� e!).

098 AND

However, a good DMR in the past has either taken a lot

of time, effort, and money

and externally you could

that this is

series carbine are the

www.airsoft-action.online 13

CYMA 098A E-EDITION

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dealt with. Like the 097B that I’ve been running hard since its arrival, the trigger response is absolutely superb; if you get a target appearing in your optic then even a � eeting glance will let you get a shot away. I am not joking when I say that this trigger is simply sublime and those who have shot the 098A are in agreement with me.

One area of warning that I’ll � ag up for UK players though, is that although the � re selector is quite clearly marked “Safe/

Semi” it is still

possible to rotate the ambidextrous selector to the “Auto” position. Obviously, at the standard power level as measured, this puts the 098 immediately into the “legally suspect for the UK” category and therefore my advice to anyone ordering one is to have the spring downgraded by TWG before shipping (a service they

offer free to UK players!) to be legally compliant. If you wish to introduce a higher power spring once you have it to take it back to true DMR territory, then you can have your local shop tech restrict it properly to semi-only before you do so. Once I discovered the fact that that “auto”

was possible, the test sample went straight to the workshop to be restricted and make it legally correct and this is an easy � x for any good tech.

At present I’ve only been able to shoot the 098 on our existing 30m range and I genuinely think at that range, a normal MED for DMR on

most sites, you’d have to really be

trying NOT to hit the target with this AEG! In the spring, new AA

“Staffer” Jon and I will be setting up a 140m outdoor range for testing and you can bet your bottom dollar that the CYMA will be at home there - we’ll certainly be reporting back in a more regular sequence of revisits to test ri� es in 2020!

If there is one tiny gripe that I have about the CYMA 098A, it’s to do with the magazine. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the winding 500BB HiCap that

comes with it but I do wonder why, given that they provide an absolutely cracking polymer 160BB MidCap with the 097 series,

CYMA have chosen a HiCap to go with a

precision ri� e where “less” is de� nitely

“more”? Luckily (and more to my personal

taste) TWG do a Battleaxe 120BB SR25/AR10 mag for

just £6.23 (current price) which works perfectly in the 098.

ConclusionIn conclusion, I just have to reiterate how much I’ve enjoyed - and continue to enjoy - testing these CYMA AEGs! For under

£200 you can have a superb skirmishing tool whether you favour full-on, direct carbine action, or some more considered longer-range DMR shooting. Due to both performance and price I have to say these super CYMAs are de� nitely my choice for the bargains of the year!

My thanks again go to www.taiwangun.com for providing the test sample and if you’re at an event that Airsoft Action attends then please don’t take my word for just how good these AEGs are, come and try one yourself, as I intend to keep them with me and available in the “AA Armoury”! AA

“AT PRESENT I’VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO SHOOT THE 098 ON OUR EXISTING 30M RANGE AND I GENUINELY THINK AT THAT RANGE, A NORMAL MED FOR DMR ON MOST SITES, YOU’D HAVE TO REALLY BE TRYING NOT TO HIT THE TARGET WITH THIS AEG!”

� re selector is quite clearly marked “Safe/Semi” it is still

most sites, you’d

trying NOT to hit the target with this AEG!

FEBRUARY 202014