ASG CZ EVO 3A1 Scorpion Review by Booligan
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Ordering
Basic Gun Information
First impressions/Packaging
Included
Gun Specifications
Externals
Trademarks
Magazines
Performance
Internals
Modifications
Pros/Cons
Overall
Introduction:
ActionSportGames has been designing, tweaking, and manufacturing their AEG version of the CZ EVO 3A1 Scorpion for what seems like an eternity, but finally, here it is. As I publish this review, the production version of the gun is landing on the shelves of your favorite airsoft retailers. So, I suppose you could say that the timing is right for this review, so read on if you're interested in this technological powerhouse from ASG's Denmark mothership.
Ordering:
I was sent this gun directly from ASG's US division to review here on my website as well as in issue #6 of Airsoft Insider Magazine. It is currently available at most major airsoft retailers priced at $449. Check your favorite retailer such as Airsplat, Evike, Airsoft GI, or Airsoft Megastore for availability.
Basic Gun Information:
The ASG EVO is a polymer bodied AEG submachine gun fitted with a custom gearbox, electronic trigger system with advanced features such as empty magazine detection, burst firing, guaranteed shot completion, and more. It features largely ambidextrous controls, a side folding stock, plenty of rails for mounting accessories, and a quick change spring system. This thing basically checks every box as far as current AEG technology goes.
First impressions/Packaging:
I had some previous experience with the ASG EVO at SHOT Show, being able to handle the prototypes on display, but without being able to shoot it. I was impressed with what I saw then, and that was solidified when I pulled this one out of the box. The gun looks and feels great, given that it's made of the same reinforced polymer as the real gun. It may be entirely made of this polymer with barely any metal to be seen, but that doesn't mean that it's not an extremely solid gun.
Included:
This EVO included some ASG Devil BBs to test it with along with ASG's recommended 11.1v LiPo battery. The production version will not include the battery, but will include iron sights, which my model did not include. I'm not sure what else the production version will include, but plan on needing to pick up your own battery before you can use the gun. It does include a one year warranty through ASG against any manufacturing defects, so you should have confidence in this thing that it won't break on you.
Gun Specifications:
Weight: 5.4 lbs
Length: 18 - 26.75
Width: 1.75
Height: 9.5
Sight Radius: N/A
Length of Pull: 12 - 14
Externals:
One of the high points of the EVO is the fiber reinforced polymer body, which actually uses the same materials used in the real CZ EVO submachine gun. It gives the ASG EVO an extremely realistic look and feel with a perfect matte finish. The metal components, albeit few and far between, have a shinier appearance which still meshes very well with the matte polymer.
Click on the individual thumbnails to see the full size photos
External overview, left side
Overview, right side
The stock is adjustable for length of pull to three separate positions using the large lever towards the front of the butt pad. It locks into the selected position very well thanks to the large locking catch. You can also fold the stock to the right by pushing the button located on the left and folding it over, locking it onto the little nub on the body. The nub holds it pretty well, but a firm shake will dislodge it and allow the stock to unfold. When you fold the stock, you'll find the quick detach spring guide for easy spring swaps.
Stock in shortest position
Stock fully extended
Stock folded
Quick spring change point
The stock attaches to the upper receiver using large guide rails, and can be removed by pressing in the aforementioned QD spring guide. The upper receiver serves as the backbone of the EVO, but is relatively featureless. It has two sling loops, one on either side of the receiver just in front of the stock, so it's easy to set it up for a single or multi point sling. The right side of the upper receiver houses the ejection port which can be opened by pulling back on the charging handle in order to adjust the hop-up.
Upper receiver, left side
Receiver, right side
Bolt locked back
Rear sling mount
Front sling mount
The lower receiver houses the controls including the ambidextrous selector switches and magazine release as well as the bolt catch lever located on the left side. The selector switch has four positions, safe, semi, 3 round burst, and full auto, and it moves through the positions with clicks at each selection. I tend to overshoot semi sometimes and put it into safe mode instead, something you might need to practice at. The magazine release is easily manipulated with either your trigger finger or the thumb of your off shooting hand. The bolt catch is only located on the left side and must be pressed after reloading, as the EVO features a cutoff feature when the magazine runs empty.
Pistol grip
Adjustment screw
Controls, left side
Controls, right side
The handguard features rails molded at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions for mounting any variety of optics, lights, lasers, foregrips, and even some grenade launchers. The handguard is removable to facilitate battery installation and to switch the charging handle from side to side. To remove the handguard, you simple unscrew the flashhider as well as the locking nut and slide the handguard off the front of the receiver. Watch for the charging handle and spring which might pop off. While the handguard is off, you can switch the front sling mount to either side.
Handguard
Flashhider
Flashhider removed
Handguard removed, showing outer barrel and battery compartment
There are no iron sights on my tested EVO, however, there is a full length top rail which will allow for mounting pretty much any optic you could want. The top rail does have a slot that runs the length which can be used as a rudimentary iron sight, however, it's quite low and not easy to use. The production models will include polymer replicas of the real iron sights, adding to the value of this thing.
Top rail
Sight groove
Trademarks:
You will find several accurate and well made markings identifying the gun and its real-steel lineage flanking the sides of the receiver, base of the magazine, pistol grip, and a few other places. ASG is legally permitted to use these markings from CZ, and they certainly didn't waste these rights!
Left side receiver markings
Right side receiver markings
Magazines:
The included magazine is a 75 round capacity polymer spring fed unit with an internal follower system that triggers a switch on the gearbox when empty. This will shut off the gearbox until you reload the gun and press the bolt catch. The follower is also designed to feed every BB loaded, but occasionally, a single BB may remain when changing a spent magazine. Spare magazines are available, but only in this 75 round configuration. Hi-cap magazines are being researched at this time. The magazines are quite chunky, much larger than MP5 magazines, closer in size to UMP magazines, so pick your pouches accordingly.
Included polymer magazine
Feeding end
Magazine base
Performance:
Performance after a 500 round break-in, using ASG Devil .20g ammo is as follows:
High FPS: 397.6 FPS
Low FPS: 391.7 FPS
Average FPS: 395.4 FPS
Rate of fire with the included ASG 11.1v LiPo battery came in at an even 20 RPS. Thanks to the Airsoft Systems manufactured microswitch trigger system, the trigger pull is light and response is damn near immediate. The different fire modes are easily accessed and the burst fire mode works fantastic.
Range and accuracy is another strong suit of this platform, thanks to some kind of crazy Danish voodoo magic. Even with a tiny SMG length barrel, this AEG is easily capable of torso accurate fire out to 175' in my testing. With heavier weight ammo (.25g+) you will easily be able to run this gun in open field use, outranging guns with higher velocities and longer barrels.
Internals:
Accessing the gearbox is a simple, but slightly time consuming affair. First things first, remove the handguard as well as the stock, remove the three hex screws on the lower receiver, remove the pistol grip adjustment base, and unscrew the four hex screws inside. Pop the pin out of the lower receiver and you can now remove the pistol grip as well as the lower receiver. You can then undo the 7 hex screws on the upper receiver and split it in half, making sure that you don't lose the bolt spring and guide. You can now access the gearbox in all its glory.
Gearbox, left side
Gearbox, right side
The gearbox is made of cast aluminum but with CNC machining to complete the manufacturing process. It's a custom design, with bits of V2 and V3 sprinkled throughout, but fitted with largely V2 components inside. One thing that you'll note is the QD spring guide which allows for easy velocity changes. You'll find 8mm steel bushings fitted into the shell for smooth firing and reliability.
Spring guide
8mm steel bushings
Inside the gearbox, you'll find "Metal Injection Molded" gears, a polycarbonate piston and ventilated head, ribbed ported cylinder, and the somewhat complicated firing computer with components in both side of the gearbox shell. The gears were extremely well made, and due to the MIM process, are very strong. You'll notice that there's no anti-reversal latch to be found, thanks to the firing computer. The air-seal is pretty much perfect and the shimming and lube job are also on point. This thing is seriously top notch, well designed and well built by ASG's factory in Denmark.
Internals
Right side of the shell
Firign computer
MIM gears
Piston with 3 steel teeth
Ventilated piston head
Cylinder head and air nozzle
Detail on the electronic components
The EVO is fitted with a custom hop-up design that has a ratcheting design and can be adjusted by hand or using a hex wrench. It is fitted to a 210mm inner barrel and the combination leads to pretty impressive accuracy considering the power level and barrel length.
Hop-up and inner barrel
Hop-up unit
Modifications:
With plenty of rail space, you can easily tweak this gun out to fit your desired play style or loadout. Externally, there are a few accessories available including a 14mm threaded barrel adapter, allowing you to install muzzle devices of your choosing. Internally, there are many options for upgrades to hit your desired performance goals, but honestly, the thing is extremely well equipped from the factory and ready to roll out of the box.
Pros:
Skirmishable performance out of the box
Fiber reinforced polymer body is extremly durable
CNC machined custom gearbox
Empty magazine detection
Ambidextrous controls
Designed to run a LiPo out of the box
Able to change the spring quickly to adjust FPS
Airsoft Systems manufactured fire computer works extremely well
Cons:
$450 price isn't cheap
No spare magazines aside from the 75 round ones currently available
Battery must be removed immediately after use, otherwise, the computer will drain and ruin it
Selector switch settings are a little vague until you get some practice with it
Overall:
I've always been a fan of the more obscure weapon platforms out there, especially when the replicas of them are as well executed as the ASG EVO. ASG really hit this one out of the park, and my only gripes with the gun are the high initial cost and the fact that it likes to eat LiPo batteries if you leave them in the gun for too long. The gun looks great, feels great, shoots great, and comes with a 1 year warranty to boot. It did take ASG a while to get this thing just right, but it was worth the wait, as this is probably one of the best AEGs that I've ever tested.
Many thanks again to ActionSportGames, and of course, Airsoft Retreat!