Compact Carbines & the VFC AKS-74U

We don’t talk much about ‘the meta’, insofar as we don’t focus on competitive optimization for airsoft. Still, it’s easy to recognize that some flavors of airsoft gun are more practical than others, and with GBBRs the constraints of realistic(ish) design also have implications on performance, longevity, and general shooting experience. Today, I want to make the case for compact carbines as ideal GBBRs.

To specify, I’m defining a ‘compact carbine’ as a GBBR replica patterned off an intermediate-caliber carbine with a barrel length of under 13”. This includes guns like the Colt XM177, 733, and Mk18, the AKS-74U and AK-105, HK53, Sig 553, or B&T APC556 PDW. Sometimes you’ll hear these described as ‘SBRs’, piggybacking off the US NFA definition of a Short-Barreled Rifle, but that technical definition also includes rifles with 14.5” barrels (like M4s) that are outside this scope. Also outside this definition are designs chambered in full-size rifle calibers, like the FAL OSW or HK51, or anything pistol-caliber.

A Mk18 Mod 0 CQBR- the progenitor of modern AR-based commando carbines

This might seem like an overly narrow definition- after all, real-steel caliber doesn’t affect the range or power of BBs, nor does barrel length have any effect on ballistics. But even still, there are functional implications to these characteristics, and this definition of compact carbine identifies a GBBR that gets you the best of all worlds:

1. A short barrel leads to a short overall length. This reduces weight, makes it easier to transport or carry as a backup, and of course is easier to manipulate around cover and obstacles than a full-size rifle while still shooting just as well.

2. Because of the reduced weight, you get better recoil than with a larger rifle or carbine.

3. The use of rifle-style bolt carriers allows for larger nozzles, amplifying blowback and giving much better recoil than submachine guns or pistol carbines designed around smaller bolts, shorter nozzles, and less travel distance.

4. Rifle-style fire control groups are typically easier to work on than those used in compact submachine guns or machine pistols, and often avoid wear concerns associated with auto sears or hammers in pistol-type FCGs.

5. Most compact carbines are variants of established rifle designs, so generally have parts compatibility, providing more aftermarket (both real steel and airsoft) than one-off designs in less ubiquitous calibers.

6. With the tactical gear market oriented around AR and AR-adjacent magazines, intermediate-caliber magazines provide the greatest amount of gear compatibility. They aren't as bulky as full-size rifle caliber magazines, or as long as submachine gun magazines.

7. Compared to pistol-caliber magazines, intermediate-caliber mags also typically have a higher ratio of gas to BBs, reducing cooldown and helping with full auto and cold weather performance.

As always, the specifics of implementation will determine the exact validity of each of these points. But overall the marrying of rifle internal design, intermediate-caliber magazines, and SMG form factor produces an archetype that does it all with no significant drawbacks.

So if you’re looking to buy your first GBBR or just settle on one gun that does it all, we highly recommend considering something of this style.

Lightweight, portable, fits in an assault pack (broken down), and does everything a 'proper' GBBR does

And speaking of which: VFC will shortly be releasing a GBBR AKS-74U based on their impressive AK-74M design. While we don’t currently have any plans to do a formal review, there are some details to the 74U that are worth talking about.

First, since we built a custom AKS-74U earlier this year, we can already say to expect high recoil and a generally great shooting experience coupled with incredible gas capacity and excellent out-of-the-box performance. The 74M was a great gun with just some minor issues that were ironed out from the second batch onwards, and the 74U promises to be the same gun in a lighter, more compact configuration.

Second, with a barrel length of just 8.1” and a flush-folding stock, it is about as small as compact carbines can get, comparable in size and form factor to a MP5. This is an exemplar of the ergonomic advantages of the compact carbine; it’s a gun that you can carry on a sling as a backup, fit in a SBR bag, or even pack inside an assault pack.

However, the 74U was a specialized gun that was much less popular in the real world than in pop culture, and it has some significant design tradeoffs to be aware of. While the impact of that eight-inch barrel on 5.45x39 does not apply to airsoft, other characteristics do.

Notably, the irons on the 74U are downright bad. Not ‘suboptimal’, or ‘could be better’, bad. The sight radius is just over 9”, which for reference is significantly shorter than that of an AR carbine (14.5”), an MP5 (a bit over 13”) or even the weird sight placement on the LR300 (~10”). Worse, the rear sight is a very shallow U-shaped notch, which being positioned closer to the eye than on a normal AK puts it significantly out of focus when looking at the target. This is a sight setup that works okay at best under ideal conditions, but in low light or even just under canopy cover becomes unusable.

So just slap an optic on there instead, right? Well, VFC has chosen to replicate the early AKS-74s, which did not include the Soviet dovetail mount used on ‘N’ variant AKMs/AK-74s and featured as standard from the 74M onwards. Since the dovetail is normally secured by one of the rear trunnion rivets, fitting a VFC or real dovetail will require destructive alteration to the receiver. Even then, the rear sight placement limits compatibility, and particularly low optics like the PK-A will not fit. That leaves more modern solutions, specifically either a replacement clamp-on rear sight rail or a replacement railed dust cover. Either will work, but both are a little more limited in what optics can be used, lose the QD functionality of the side rail, and of course deviate from the retro look if that’s your thing. Fortunately, VFC is making a set of tactical parts to go with the 74U, so options are available.

VFC's AKS-74U- note the lack of dovetail mount

Additionally, be aware that the AKS-74U is not compatible with standard AK handguards, gas tubes, dust covers, or rear sights. These parts are all unique to the 74U; it’s only the receiver, front sight post, and use of 24mm threading for the muzzle device that are standard.

Ultimately, these limitations would lead post-Soviet Russia to replace the AKS-74U with the AK-105. This rifle is essentially just an AK-74M with the barrel shortened to 12.4”, replacing the 74M gas block with a 74U-style combo block incorporating the front sight. It’s a bit longer than the 74U, but it has a conventional AK sight arrangement and is compatible with all standard AK parts. And if you want a 105 but aren’t willing to wait to see if VFC makes one, all you have to do is drill out the rivets securing the VFC AK-74M gas block, pull it off, cut the barrel short, and install an LCT or real combo block.

All that said, the 74U is still an excellent example of a compact carbine and unless VFC does something really weird with it, their rendition ought to be a fantastic out-of-the-box GBBR. If the 74U isn’t your speed, an 11.5” AR is always a safe bet, or you might consider the VFC HK53 that we intend to review soon.

-Catgut