In this Airsoft Spotlight, we are going to take a look at the ICS CXP-HOG, one of 8 guns we will be using at Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation Series (OLCMSS), more specifically, their upcoming Tactical Challenge. The Tactical Challenge is something new from OLCMSS. It is going to be an 8-man team challenge against numerous companies in a number of scenarios to see who comes out on top! Fox Airsoft has been fortunate enough to be sponsored by ICS Airsoft, Taiwan, to compete at the Tactical Challenge on Saturday, September 26th, 20015, in the Mojave Desert. We will also be playing at Operation Irene on behalf of ICS in October 2015.
ICS Airsoft has been manufacturing airsoft in Taiwan since 1983. With over 30 years of airsoft Manufacturing experience, they have some of the most reliable and innovative airsoft Guns available today. They are most famous for their Split Gearbox design, which has proven us well for quite a few of our 16 years of airsoft experience. Enough history, let's check out this awesome gat.
One of the guns we selected for use at this upcoming OLCMSS Tactical Challenge was the ICS CXP-HOG. We chose this model as it is the best of both worlds. It is a Hybrid of sorts, taking the best of the ICS PAR Mk3 and the ICS UK1 Transform4. The gun will be used as configured at both the Tactical Challenge and Op: Irene. We will take a detailed look at the various features and accessories used below.
The Keymod handguard was chosen over the standard rail interface system to reduce bulk and weight from the front end of the weapon. To learn more about Keymod, please see my previous blog about Keymod History and Keymod Accessories by clicking this link.
The handguard is slightly different from that of the Transform4. It is hinged and is capable of fitting a 9.6v 1600 Butterfly battery as well as most 2 and 3-panel LiPo batteries. The batteries are much easier to change than the Transform4's six screws. The HOG uses a single push pin, allowing lightning-fast battery changes.
As for attachments, we will be using the Speed Airsoft Offset Flashlight Mount coupled with the LED Flashlight and the Speed Airsoft QD Sling Socket along with a Hera Arms HFG Vertical grip. This functional, minimalist setup manages to keep the weight of the front end to a minimum and offers maximum control and manipulation of the ancillary accessories and weapon system.
Another really nice feature about this gun is that ICS includes a Buffer Tube Rear Sling Plate. These are popular accessories for running various single-point slings, such as the Lancer Tactical Single Point Bungee and the Condor Single point sling. However, we have not run a single-point sling for this mission.
The Condor Speedy 2-point sling is one of our all-time favorite slings. It is an affordable quality solution made in the USA. It allows for an unimpeded task to be accomplished without the gun dangling and hitting you in the shins or banging into things around you. The quick adjustable tab allows you to almost instantly tighten up the sling to keep it close to your body and out of the way or loosen it for aiming the weapon. Transitions are also a breeze; simply drop your support side elbow through the sling while aiming and performing a transition to the support side.
The stock is another favorite of ours. Even though we love a Crane-style stock as much as the next guy, the ICS MTR stock and its low profile allow for easy aiming while wearing a Steel Mesh Face Mask and unimpeded aiming through various optics and sights. The rubber butt pad is an often overlooked feature as it prevents the butt of the gun from slipping off that pesky tactical nylon found on most plate carriers and tactical gear. It also features ambidextrous QD sling swivel sockets, which we utilized in the picture above.
The CXP-HOG is also available in the QRS version, which I have pictured above. We will be using both versions at O.L.C.M.S.S. Tactical Challenge and Op Irene. The QRS version is front-wired for a battery, so the new Keymod rail system is extremely nice. Also, the QRS version features a nifty sling mount close to the receiver on the buffer tube. The tan version with the ICS MTR Stock we were focusing the review on is rear-wired.
The CXP-HOG includes ICS's ambidextrous charging handle. While not mandatory for an AEG, it certainly doesn't hurt, especially for a left wanting to make quick hop-up adjustments. Also visible is the rear backup sight from ICS. It is spring-loaded and is quickly deployed and stowed. It is fully adjustable for windage and features two apertures from which to choose.
The ICS Front Back-up Sight is also spring-loaded and operates similarly to the rear sight. It is also very easy to adjust the elevation of the sight by using a dial clearly marked with the direction to turn the wheel for the desired shift in point of impact (POI).
Above is the ICS T-Mag, which, in this case, is a 180-round, exceptionally well-built mid-capacity magazine. The fit in the mag well is perfect, not too loose or tight, and will drop free when the magazine catch button is depressed but not too loose where the mag wobbles around excessively. The magazines are serviceable and easily disassembled and cleaned should you end up with dirt inside the magazine.
Now for the good stuff, the heart of the system, the awe-inspiring masterpiece of ingenuity, the ICS Split Gearbox design. For some of you reading this article, it may be your first time seeing the inner bowels of an ICS M4 Variant. For others, it may be a familiar happy place that provides peace of mind and frustration-free teaching. The split gearbox makes the system so great, which is why we all use ICS Airsoft guns at local games up to national or even international operations. Instead of packing additional, large, and cumber backup guns, we bring an extra lower gearbox and an upper gearbox in case our gun decides to go down at an event we are paying 100 to 200 dollars to attend and traveling hundreds or even 1000s of miles. We will leave the lower gearbox alone for the operation, as we find the ICS gear extremely durable.
Some specs on the lower gearbox from the factory are as follows;
-Heat-treated MIM Bevel and Spur Gear
-ICS Turbo 3000 Motor
-Heavy-duty trigger contacts
-Metal Bushings
I will go to my favorite part of the ICS Split Gearbox System. The upper gearbox, which wears the magic happens. Oddly enough, these guns have extremely good factory compression and can make 400fps with an M100 spring and a 300mm inner barrel. Typically, on an M120 spring, they will shoot about 440 fps to 460 fps, far too hot for most field regulations, but it's nice to know a gun can be efficient enough to still make 400fps with a .20g BB with an M100 spring, which reduces overall strain on the system and increases battery life instead of having to use burlier springs to achieve similar velocities.
The upper gearbox can be swapped out in a matter of seconds for a backup unit should you experience some sort of failure. Though failures are extremely rare with these guns, it is nice to swap in your backup gearbox during a game and continue with the mission. You may be wondering about the pretty cylinder in the picture above. We opted to install a Fox Custom Single Piece CNC Stainless Steel Cylinder/Cylinder Head. It works exceptionally well with the factory ICS ported piston head.
Like I was saying earlier, we installed the Fox Custom single-piece CNC stainless steel cylinder because it works great with the factory-supplied ICS POM Piston & Piston head, which was an upgrade for years for the legacy models. These guns come standard with our favorite piston. The teeth on the rack are heat-treated MIM steel teeth also. We will also use a 300mm Fox Custom 6.02mm Stainless Steel tight bore barrel attached to a metal, rotary, hop-up unit. With this current setup, we can reliably engage man-sized targets at about 60 meters.
Overall, this gun is an externally improved version of the Transform4 and a lighter version of the PAR Mk3. Combining the best of both worlds into only what can be described as the ICS CXP-HOG. It is a very practical gun packed with useful features for the airsoft player. Stay tuned to see more about the guns we are taking to the Ops, as well as training footage, live updates, and footage from the Ops coming up in September 2015.
