Standing at the very core of our hobby’s industry, CYMA is one of the largest manufacturers of airsoft products in the world. Though they offer a wide selection of rifles under their own name, CYMA’s reputation for providing solid internal components have made them the factory of choice for many other airsoft brands to buy foundational parts from. There’s a little bit of CYMA in numerous airsoft gun brands! When CYMA buckles down and produces a complete rifle of their own under their name, they build them right. In the airsoft community, a CYMA branded rifle is often synonymous with simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and unmatched reliability. I often see beat-to-hell decade old CYMA AKs with screws missing and receiver parts mostly destroyed that still shoot BBs like a dream once plugging in the battery and magazine. Beat, burnt, or bent, you can trust a CYMA to keep on kicking long after you’ve thought it’d draw its final dying breath. Despite their consistent quality, CYMA is a relatively quiet brand when it comes to marketing. Many of their developments and improvements over the years typically go under the community radar, leading many to be unaware of how modernized they’ve become. In this article, we’ll deep dive into CYMAs rifle lineup to analyze what makes their rifles so reliable, as well as touch on the recent developments they’ve made to make their products competitive in the modern airsoft market. It’s never a bad idea to add a trusty-rusty CYMA to your airsoft collection!
For those getting started with airsoft, durability should be a foremost concern for your first airsoft gun. An unreliable primary can easily ruin your enjoyment of the hobby early on. This is why, for many, their first airsoft gun was a simple and sturdy CYMA AK. Fill the mag, plug in a battery, and it’ll lob BBs at your opponents with considerable range and accuracy. Nothing more, nothing less. Mixed with their realistic external feel, these AKs have won over hearts in the hobby, serving as a memorable and reliable foundation for those starting their airsoft career. If you’re a long time M4 user and want to take a dip into the rugged wood and steel world of AKs, CYMA is a popular first choice. You simply can’t go wrong with a gun that’ll run no matter how many times you accidentally drop it, ding it, or bash it into a wall.
With so many AK variants to choose from, there’s a perfect fit for every airsofter!
The Gearbox that Forever Changed Airsoft
It’s not often that a line of guns from an airsoft brand single-handedly redefines the whole hobby’s expectation for what a factory stock gun can do. Around 2018, CYMA decided to push the boundaries on what airsoft guns were capable of. During this time period, high-end custom gun builds with aftermarket technology were taking the spotlight for their revolutionary trigger response and full auto rate of fire. A well built custom AEG could simply do so much more than any ordinary stock factory gun could at the time.
Then, CYMA released their Platinum Gearbox line. The game had been forever changed.
The Original CYMA Platinum M4
When CYMA released their Platinum system, the airsoft community was pretty slow to catch on. In traditional CYMA style, the brand made little efforts to market the new system to consumers, leading knowledge of their excellence to be mostly spread through community word of mouth. Now days, it’s rare to show up at an airsoft field and not see someone having a blast using one of these rifles!
The CYMA Platinum internal design was something that never really been executed properly in the world of airsoft. If anything, the rifle seemed almost too good to be true. The Platinum gearbox came pre-equipped with just about every part you’d see custom aftermarket AEGs tricked out with for about the same price as your average full-metal M4. It had 13:1 short-stroked wire cut steel gears, a full steel rack piston, CNC aluminum compression parts, a radiused gearbox shell, a true custom quick-change spring system and… whew-! Nerdy details aside, this gearbox truly had just about every part pre-upgraded right from the factory. A genuine pre-upgraded airsoft rifle.
Right out the box, the trigger response was snappier than any other factory gun on the market. It had a blisteringly fast 28-30 rounds per second full auto rate of fire on the recommended 11.1v battery, compared to the traditionally “quick” factory standard of 20. Ordinarily, such high speed components would quickly reduce the lifespan of any normal AEG. And yet, CYMA kept true to their legacy of enduring reliability as these rifles stood the test of time. It’s durable full metal construction lets you know as soon as you pick it up that it’s a heavy duty piece of equipment that means business.
Just like CYMA’s AKs, there's a variant of the Platinum M4 for everyone.
EMG Daniel Defense Licensed DDM4 Airsoft AEG Rifle w/ CYMA Platinum QBS Gearbox (Model: DDMK18 / 400 FPS / Black - DE Hand Guard / Gun Only)
A select few AKs are getting the Platinum treatment as well!
CYMA’s niche as an AEG manufacturer had stayed relatively unchanged for over two decades in their airsoft history. But as airsofts popularity continues to skyrocket, CYMA decided it was finally time to take steps into a new market. Inspired by Tokyo Marui’s successful MWS system, they collaborated with EMG to release their new line of GBBRs known as the CGS system,
Much like everything else CYMA has put out recently, the CGS gas blowback rifles are also really damn good.
Gas Blowback Action!
When it comes to airsoft gas-blowbacks, finding the perfect blend between performance and price can be tricky. Many of the budget GBBRs on the market don’t quite have the reliability or gas efficiency to run in all weather conditions or sustain periods of rapid fire. The Tokyo Marui MWS, highly regarded as one of the best performing gas blowbacks on the market, is one of the few capable of consistent performance under all conditions, but is also by far one of the most expensive choices you can go for.
The new CYMA CGS is that perfect middle-road option in this gas blowback dichotomy. At it’s core the CGS is just a modified MWS. CYMA took many of the major design choices that made the MWS system so reliable and reconfigured them with some added features or material changes. In doing so, they gave birth to a platform that mimics the feel and performance of the MWS at a more reasonable price point.
As the icing on the cake, CYMA’s collaboration with EMG allowed them to release an assortment of GBBRs licensed by varying real steel rifle companies. For those looking to train with a rifle as close to their real-world replica as possible, this is a huge improvement. Find the rifle that suits your needs best from CYMAs CGS selection!
EMG CGS Series Daniel Defense Licensed DDM4 RIII Series Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifles by CYMA (Model: DDM4A1 RIII / Flat Dark Earth)
A name whispered only by those who truly play, CYMA’s influence is deeply ingrained in the fabric of airsoft culture. A CYMA rifle, characterized by its rugged durability and cost-effective pricing, stands as a reliable companion for airsoft enthusiasts, capable of enduring the most challenging conditions while maintaining exceptional performance. Their latest developments signify a fulfilled dedication to meet modern airsoft demands, cementing their status as an excellent choice for any and all airsoft players. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the scene, adding a CYMA rifle to your arsenal is indeed a smart move, promising longevity, effectiveness, and a sense of authenticity hard to find elsewhere in the airsoft market.