AKG KCR – Gas Rifle

Gas blowback, explained

Green gas is stored in the magazine. Each trigger pull releases gas that fires the BB and drives the bolt back, which gives you bolt movement and recoil you can feel.

Because the gas lives in the magazine, healthy magazines mean a healthy rifle. Keep their seals oiled and fill them correctly.

Filling a gas magazine

Each shot uses some of the gas in the magazine to fire the BB and cycle the bolt.

• Hold the magazine upside down and the green gas can upside down and vertical.
• Press the can straight down onto the magazine fill valve until it stops taking gas.
• Load BBs, insert the magazine and you are ready.
• Gas cools as you shoot. Let magazines warm up between strings and keep them out of direct sunlight.

Which magazines to use

The KCR runs AKG Series 40-round gas magazines. One is included.

Setting up the stock

The KCR uses a 5-position mil-spec carbine buffer tube. Set the KWA LE stock to the length that fits you, or fit an AR-15 retractable stock of your choice. QD mounts on both sides of the tube take a sling.

How many shots per can?

KWA ran its own test at 78°F to see how many rounds one can of KWA green gas gives a gas rifle. Each magazine was filled for 30 seconds and loaded with 40 BBs, then emptied and refilled without warming time until the can could no longer give a 30-second fill.

Results: 920 rounds from an LM4C gas rifle running four LM4 magazines, and 840 rounds from an AKG KCR running five AKG magazines. Treat it as a guide. Temperature and fill time change the count.

Hop-up, explained

Hop-up puts backspin on the BB so it lifts and flies flatter and farther. Too little and BBs drop early. Too much and they climb.

• Start with the hop-up at its lowest setting.
• Fire a few shots at a target at your usual distance.
• Add a little hop at a time until BBs fly flat before they drop.
• Back it off if BBs start to rise. Re-check whenever you change BB weight.