Friday, June 12, 2009

Tokyo Marui AK74MN Review



Please note that this blog owner is not the authors of this preview and views and opinions expressed herein are views and opinions of author, http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/

Manufacturer Tokyo Marui
Model AK74MN
Capacity 74 rds
Weight 3.04kg
Power 300 fps
Motor EG-MAX HYPER-1000
Hop-up Adjustable
Battery 8.4v 600mah Battery (NiCd) - Small Type
Shooting Mode Safe, Semi, Auto
Construction Aluminum and ABS


1. The Tokyo Marui AK74MN is a modernized AK74, with differences in build material and furniture to make the weapon lighter and more comfortable to use than the AKS74 (S standing for the folding stock version of the AK74). You will immediately notice the main difference from the classic AK74 in the color and material of the foregrip and stock. Where previously there was wood, which was heavy and prone to damage and rot, now there are polymer grips, with lines for extra grippyness. Tokyo Marui has set out to replicate this new, updated version of an age old design and at the same time, design a next-generation AEG with features that are the first of its kind, including a brand new gearbox, blowback system and even a recoil engine.


In the package you will find the AK74MN, 1 lowcap magazine, and a sight adjustment tool.


The flash hider, sight and gas block are correct for the AK74M.


The cast aluminum receiver is made to look like the stamped steel one found on the AK74M.

2. Tokyo Marui has really done a thorough job of this new AK with attention to detail on all the differences that separate the AK74 from the AK47. The flash hider is of the correct type being large and chunky with no wobble whatsoever. This is due to a large thread approximately 23mm wide compared to the 14mm thread used on other AK replicas. The 14mm thread is still there however, for those of you who would fancy a silencer or other muzzle device on your AK. The front sight post is thiner and no longer develops wobble after some use. The gas block is thinner and less slanted than that of the 47, a major difference that is often overlooked. The receiver is die cast aluminum adding a fair bit of heft to the gun which now weighs 3.04kg compared to the 2.8kg of earlier series of AKs from Tokyo Marui. You can also expect top quality aluminum from Tokyo Marui, not the pot-metal found on most Chinese metal clones. The receiver cover is made from stamped steel and is correctly ribbed to replicate the AK74M. Finally the stock is made from high-impact ABS and is lightweight yet exceedingly sturdy. It has the shape of a solid, fixed stock yet folds to the left as to not block any of the controls on the right side of the gun.

3. The overall build of the gun is top quality. There is no plastic parts where metal should be and all the plastic is high quality, impact resistant ABS. There are no creaky bits or flexing on the gun, this is one piece of robust engineering. The receiver is a replica of the stamped type receiver, correct for the AK74M and features full markings, and rivets in their correct positions. The bolt also has markings on it that match the serial number found on the left side of the gun.


The stock is made from impact-resistant ABS and folds to the left. The button protruding from the stock retracts in when shouldered and is not noticeable.


The AK74MN features authentic markings on the receiver.


The Serial number on the bolt matches the serial number on the receiver.

4. But the truly innovative part of this gun is the brand new gearbox and mechanism. Called the Version 9 gearbox, it utilizes its own type of gears and a smaller motor cage. The smaller motor cage allows the pistol grip to be close to the correct size compared to the real steel and is noticeably thinner than most other AK47 replica's grips out on the market. This makes the grip a little less comfortable to hold for very large hands but makes for a gun that's all the more realistic. The gearbox is designed specifically to run on an 8.4v battery that fits in the foregrip. The fit is quite tight and takes a fit of fiddling to get it to fit but it eventually goes in without force. The tight fit is good as there will be no rattle or movement when the gun is being used in the field.

5. At the top of the gearbox there is a hole where a large weight catches the piston on it's backstroke, and comes forward with it on the forward stroke. the movement of this large weight is the source of the recoil that makes this gun so unique. The recoil that is felt is light enough to be comfortable, but heavy enough to give a positive response on your shoulder and heavy enough to make you smile. The recoil weight is also connected to an arm that pushes back the bolt after each shot adding to the realism. This is where the AK74MN really sets itself apart from the crowd. In an industry that has not seen much movement in the area of gearbox design for nearly 2 decades, it is Tokyo Marui which breaks through and once more strives to revolutionize the design of the gearbox. The gears inside the gearbox are designed specifically for the AK74MN for high torque in order for the motor to be able to pull back both the piston and the recoil weight. The sector gear has an elongated knob for the tappet plate to be pulled back on, therefore improving the gearbox timing and providing reliable feeding.


The gearbox is a new version 9 gearbox and is specially made for this AEG. The gears are unique and not compatible with aftermarket upgrades.


The hole at the top of the gearbox is where the modified piston catches the recoil weight.


The proprietary magazine has absolutely no wobble and feeds exceptionally well.

6. The magazines for the Tokyo Marui AK74MN are proprietary and feature several improvements. They are slightly longer and reach up and into the receiver more, making their length closer to that of the real magazine. Due to the longer magazine the hop up feed tube is shorter, and in combination with the magazine's long follower, all the BBs are fed into the gun when using the provided low capacity magazine. Another improvement that the new, longer magazine has is the lack of wobble when inserted into the gun. This is due to the larger contact area formed by the magazine reaching further up into the receiver. This is the only AK on the market with a stiff magazine, as all other AKs use magazines that follow Tokyo Marui's original magazine design. High capacity magazines are also available for the AK74MN but only hold 480 rounds compared to the 600 of the original design. But 480 rounds is still a massive number of BBs in a magazine.

7. In conclusion the Tokyo Marui AK74MN is the pioneer in AEG design being the first AEG to feature recoil and reliability at the same time. The new gearbox design is excellent and runs great straight out of the box, even with the added stress of the recoil weight and blowback. Tokyo Marui's switch from plastic to metal makes this one heck of a solid gun. And it is certainly deserving of the label of the next generation airsoft gun.

credit to: redwolfairsoft team
Link: http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ReviewDetail?reviewID=224

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