Today, we want to focus on the ICS CXP MMR series of airsoft guns. We'll focus on the Carbine, but an SBR and DMR length gun is also available.
ICS is a highly underrated brand, in my opinion, and those who have heard about it enjoy what ICS has to offer. ICS is a name that has been around for a very long time in the world of airsoft. It was also one of the first legitimate non-Japan imported guns we could get in the USA, full metal and pre-upgraded at a more reasonable price.
Check out the ICS MMR Carbine!
Currently, the ICS rifle lineup for their M4 style guns consists of sporting and proline models for players with different needs. The CXP series is a proline model with a metal body, ICS's renowned split gearbox design, and electric blowback. The MMR lineup features three models of various lengths utilizing a free-floating MLOK rail system and many ergonomic enhancements.
First, let's go over the most important feature: the split gearbox. Most parts inside ICS M4-style guns, including the ICS CXP, are common version 2. That means no need to search for special order proprietary parts as far as the standard gearbox components go. That also means that most upgrades should work with the ICS gearbox. The main parts that are different are the hop-up and nozzle. The hop-up is already a metal chamber dial type, so upgrading it is unnecessary.
The nozzle is a different type than a normal M4 version 2 style. The shell itself will be where the major differences lie. The split design allows you to open your ICS rifle like a real AR/M4 pattern rifle. The upper gearbox occupies where a real bolt is located and is removed similarly. From there, all your upper gearbox components are isolated, allowing you to work on them independently of the lower gearbox.
The upper gearbox contains the cylinder components, piston, spring, and spring guide. In addition to that, the spring guide is quick-change, meaning you can pop out the spring and swap in another one in just a few seconds. This is the fastest gun to upgrade or downgrade out there, and it is convenient if you are a player who hits all types of airsoft fields.
The lower gearbox contains your electrical components and gears. You can check the health of your trigger contacts and gears for tolerances and damage with a quick peek into the lower. If you add up all the time it would take to tear down a gearbox on a typical M4, which requires some lengthy disassembly, you would be spending an hour or more. With this type of gun, you can isolate what you need to look at in sections and do it all in half the time.
Now, there are some other unique features built into the gearbox that translate to features on the outside. A fake bolt connected to the upper gearbox moves as you cycle the gun. This is known as electric blowback and gives you simulated bolt movement. The selector also does more than put your gun on a safe-semi-full auto. When placed in a safe position, the selector releases spring tension in your gearbox. Decompressing the spring when it is not in use is good for maintaining its longevity, which is one of the main components of delivering velocity.
You must also do this before you open the receiver; otherwise, your components will be under stress/load. For new players who bought a high-end ICS as their first airsoft gun, we often see damage associated with people needing to understand this. Now, because releasing the tension cycles some nozzle movement, your gun, if loaded, will probably chamber two rounds on your next shot. That is a quirk of the system, but overall harmless. This will happen when you are in a battle, so don't worry too much if you see it; otherwise, don't use this function during a game if it bothers you.
For external features, the gun features a metal MLOK rail system. You get folding backup iron sights and a nicely textured grip, and the stock has a comfortable and easy-to-manipulate design (though it will only fit a short buffer tube Lipo battery). The gun has a fuse and MOSFET to run a Lipo battery without problems. The best type to run is a 7.4-volt battery. The gun is very efficient with the motor and gearing, so you have a great rate of fire with this battery. If you try an 11.1v battery, the gun will cycle very quickly, and the magazine may have trouble keeping up.
The airsoft magazine catch has an enlarged button to make it easier to reach. The magazine is an ICS TMAG 300-round high cap. This has a nice window so you can see how much ammo you have left. TMAGs also come in mid-cap form.
Shooting this gun at our field, we got great range out of the stock barrel setup. If you want a bit more precision and a boost in FPS, try upgrading to a 6.03mm or 6.01mm and see how these ICS guns wake up. The stock gun shoots around 400 fps with .20g BBs, suitable for most outdoor fields. If you upgrade to a tight bore, it will push the gun over that, so be aware that you might be shooting too hot for the field you intend to play (unless there are special DMR rules).
You can use the quick-change spring and put in a weaker spring to compensate and get you under the limit. With the barrel providing that FPS boost and less spring tension, your gun will be more efficient and use less battery to deliver the same power. Semi-auto-only players will enjoy this gun and see a better trigger response.
The carbine-sized rifle is the perfect blend for outdoor use with some CQB use. It is comparable to your normal M4-length gun but with a longer handguard for control and extra space for airsoft accessories. If you play more CQB or like small guns, the SBR model would be the better choice.
If you like the look and feel of the longer guns, the DMR is perfect for that. There are no internal differences between the three models other than barrel length. If I had to choose between these three models, a gun that could fulfill most if not all my needs for the many places I might play at, the carbine would be my choice.
.
