Reviews

APS UAR Review w/ Evike Matt & Moondog

Moondog

Editor's Note: This is the first review of the APS UAR AEG which gets posted at our Reviews Section courtesy of Moondog with some help from Matt from Evike.com as he walks us through the AEG when Moondog visited Evike.com. This is a full video review with transcript as narrated by Moondog also included here.

Another APS UAR review is also being made by Master Chief with the review unit courtesy of RedWolf Airsoft which will then be posted as soon as it's ready since Master Chief is up to his neck with products to review.

INTRO

The APS Urban Assault Rifle (UAR) is an unusual ultra compact bullpup rifle designed from the ground up, for airsoft.

DESIGN

The UAR is a concept AEG which means that it’s not based on an existing real steel gun… officially. Unofficially, it’s heavily based on the Magpull PDR-D though APS made some design changes in an attempt to avoid patent and trademark issues. Notable differences include fluted dimples along the body and grip. A skeletal trigger, longer stock, flatter butt plate, longer barrel, longer forestock, a raised upper receiver and rail, and the ejection port and cocking lever in different positions than the PDR.

PACKAGE

It comes in a unusual cardboard box. Rather than laying it flat, you stand it on its side and lift the the AEG and contents:

  • AEG
  • Two 150rnd short hi-cap magazines
  • M125 class upgrade spring
  • Printed Manual
  • Barrel clearing rod

FEATURES

The UAR features 3 mag release buttons (2 ambidextrous buttons above either side of the trigger and a 3 release near the magwell. The mags drop easily so mag changes are much faster than with a TAVOR, FN2000 or other bullpups.

Inside the grip is storage space for spare CR123 taclight batteries or small tools. The battery chamber inside the raised upper rail, is accessed by pulling out the mock gas piston block. It has room for NiMH stick type or small Lipo battery. Cylindrical LiFE batteries may fit after some widening modifications.

The rear butt plate can be removed with a single body pin to give you access to back of the gearbox. It is a modified V3 type with an ARES style quick change plug. This allows you pull out the spring guide and change springs in a matter of seconds without having to open the gearbox.

An AK style slide type hop-up can be accessed via the ejection port by pulling back the cocking lever. The port locks open and releases via a bolt release button near the top of the butt plate. The cocking handle is ambidextrous and can be switched to either side of the weapon.

It has ample rails for accessories such as optics, taclights, foregrips. The gun lacks iron sights with the assumption that the buyers of this gun will mount optics.

PERFORMANCE

Stock Spring: ~360 FPS with .20g BBs
Upgrade Spring: ~408 FPS with .20g BBs

CONCLUSIONS

Compact and easy to maneuver, it’s like using P90 but with the convenience of using STANAG magazines. Though it has it’s flaws.

  • While compatible with M4 hi-cap magazines, it is not compatible with some midcap mags due to it’s magwell design. I had to file away a small section of the top of my midcap mag behind the feeding lip (housing the BB locking spring) before it would fit.
  • The dustcover comes off way too easily especially if you casually pick up the gun near the stock.
  • The battery compartment is a tad too narrow. It should have been designed to accommodate the slightly larger cylinder cell LiPoly/LIFE batteries.
  • The selector is not an AR15 type. It’s safety and fire positions of its selector are opposite to what you’re used to on an M4. It’s layout is more like an AK with the selector going form SAFE-AUTO-SEMI

Overhoppers has opened up the gearbox and done a review of its internals. The internals are far from high end but easy to work on and in his words “pleasantly surprised”.

Despite my pet peeves, I ended up really liking this gun. APS ripped off some great design features and added some improvements to make the UAR ergonomic and really user friendly for airsoft use. This more than make up for its fuglyness.

SPECS

Inner barrel size: 6.04mm
Battery Type: Stick
V3 HYBRiD Gear Box
7mm Metal Bushing
Velocity: 300~360 FPS/400~420 FPS
Maximum Range: 80 Meters
Effective Range: 30 Meters
Fire Selector: Safe / Semi Auto / Full Auto
Plastic Butt Stock, Hand Grip, Magazine and Handguard
Metal Gear Box
Rate of Fire: 750 ~ 850 Rounds Per minutes
Magazine Capacity : 150 Rounds
Length 64cm(L) x 20cm(H) x 7cm(W)
Weight: 2.7kg

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Moondog is the founder of Moondog Industries and New York's definitive guide to airsoft: NYCAirsoft.

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