GB AK47 Beta Spetz Electric Rifle Manual

This is an exact copy of the Tokyo Marui version. This model is very similar to the AK47S Beta Spetz Version except it is evern more compact. It has the same body but no retractable stock.

In our opinion, up to this point, this is the highest quality airsoft AEG / MPEG to come out of China. JG continues to put out the highest quality products, setting it far ahead of many of the other manufactures in China. Keep an eye out for this model along with others by JG.

The Beta Spetsnaz is the latest release from Tokyo Marui and can only add to their reputation for producing the best electric airsoft guns. This AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) is not strictly speaking a replica of a real weapon, but more of a hybrid based on the AKS74U. This can be considered a 'Special Forces' / SMG variant of the AK, Marui themselves describe it as: ' Russia's response to Terrorism'.

As with the AK 47 and AK 47S which Tokyo Marui has been producing since 1996 there are many metal parts in this airsoft gun. In fact the only external parts not made of metal are the lower receiver, stock, fore grips and pistol grip. This gives the Spetsnaz a very solid and weighty feel especially considering it's compact size.

New parts for the AK47 Beta Spetsnaz are the black resin furniture, which is of a very high quality, the AK 74 style ribbed top cover incorporating a fixed CQB style rear sight, and the entire front end consisting of short outer barrel, adjustable fore sight, sling swivel and AKS74U flash-hider/compensator. Also included is a shortened version of Tokyo Marui's AK high-capacity magazine, which holds 250 BB's, compared to 600 in the full-size Tokyo Marui magazine.

The full stock version will hold a large type 8.4V battery that will generally give a full days skirmishing, the base plate slides on and off for access to the battery compartment, which also houses the fuse holder. The folding stock version of the AK47 Beta Spetz has a 8.4 V stick battery that fits comfortably into the top receiver of the AEG. The resin fore grip has a weaver rail built into it's lower edge allowing torches, pointers, handles etc to be easily attached, adding to the 'Special Forces' look of the gun.

What is JG or GB or Echo1?
JG stands for Jing Gong, which is actually Chinese for Golden Bow; hence GB. Also, Echo 1 is the same as GB or JG, they are OEM Jing Gong airsoft AEG guns. All these different names for the same airsoft manufacturer is confusing. Hopefully, this has helped clairfy the confusion.

Review by Nick Petrus of USASOC

Background of the Real AK47:

“The AK-47 (shortened from Russian: Автомат Калашникова образца 1947 года, Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947; English: Kalashnikov's machine gun, model of the year 1947) is a gasoperated assault rifle that was used in many Eastern bloc nations during the Cold War. Adopted and standardized in 1947, it was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and produced by Russian manufacturer Izhevsk Mechanical Works. Compared with the autoloading rifles used in World War II (the StG-44 aside), the AK-47 was generally more compact, with a shorter range, a smaller 7.62 × 39 mm cartridge, and was capable of selective fire. It was one of the first true assault rifles and remains the most widely used and known. More AK-47 rifles have been produced than any other assault rifle; production continues to this day.

“During the Second World War, Germany had developed the concept of the assault rifle. This concept was based on the knowledge that most military engagements in modern warfare were happening at fairly close range with the majority happening within 100 meters (110 yd). The power and range of contemporary rifle cartridges was simply overly powerful for a vast majority of engagements with small arms. As a result, a cartridge and firearm were sought combining the features of a submachine gun (high-capacity magazine and fullyautomatic fire capability) with an intermediate-power cartridge that would be effective to a range of 300 meters (330 yd). For the sake of reduced manufacturing costs, this was done by shortening the 7.92 × 57 mm Mauser cartridge case and substituting a lighter bullet to create the 7.92 x 33 mm Kurz.

“The resulting Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44 or MP44) was not the first rifle to use these features; it was preceded by earlier Italian Cei-Rigotti and Russian Fedorov Avtomat designs. The Germans, however, were the first to produce and field a sufficient number of the type to properly evaluate its utility. They fielded the weapon in large numbers against the Russians towards the end of the war and this experience deeply influenced Russian doctrine in the years following the war. “Mikhail Kalashnikov began imagining his weapon while still in the hospital, after being wounded in the battle of Bryansk. He had been informed that a new weapon was required for the 7.62 × 41 mm cartridge developed by Elisarov and Semin in 1943. Sudayev's PPS43 submachine gun was preferred to Kalashnikov's design. “Despite circumstantial evidence, Mikhail Kalashnikov denies that his rifle was based on the German assault rifle. It is best described as a hybrid of several previous innovations. To support his position, the AK-47 owes more to the M1 Garand Rifle than any German design. The double locking lugs, unlocking raceway, and trigger mechanism are clearly derived from the earlier American design. This is not surprising as millions of Garand rifles had operated reliably in combat around the globe. The safety is surprisingly similar to the Browningdesigned Remington Model 8 rifle.

“The genius in the design of the Kalashnikov rifle is in the simplification of those contributing designs and adaptation to mass production. The AK-47 can be seen as a fusion of the best that the M1 Garand offered combined with the best aspects of the StG44 made by the best processes available in the Soviet Union at the time.” (Wikipedia)

General Overview:

Although I wasn’t too sure about the AK47S at first - I’m not a big fan of the AK series, plus it was MPEG – I kept hoping for the best. Well, the best is what I got. Compared to other GB guns I’ve seen, this one is by far superior. I would say that about 3/4th of the gun is metal. Also, the parts that aren’t (example: the handgrip and the fore-grip) are made of a type of composite material that is very nice. It’s not plastic whatsoever. Inside the box were the following: the AK47S, a small bag of .20 BBs, a battery and charger, a sling (nice feature), a cleaning rod, and the manual. The box is also much nicer then other GB models.

The Stock:

Let’s start at the rear. The movable stock is a nice feature. It is made out of metal as stated before. Also, the part that rests against your shoulder is movable too (See photos below). I really liked the feel of this gun against my shoulder; it was compact, yet it didn’t feel like I lacked any control. To adjust it, simply push the button that is on the left side of receiver where the stock meets the receiver inward and pull the stock down. As simple as that.

Look:

The look of the gun is great. It looks just like the Tokyo Marui model. The only thing I don’t like is the blazing orange tip at the end of the gun. Yes, I know it is a law to have an orange tip, and I’m not disputing that. I just wish it was a few shades darker, that’s all. Again, I think it looks great and pretty dead on in relation to the real thing.

Feel:

The feel of the AK47S is excellent! It’s not too compact, yet not too unwieldy. It makes for a great CQB gun as well. I didn’t, though, like the feel when the stock was in the down position. That is the only time when I felt like I didn’t have total control over the gun. Some say that when it is down, they have more control. I think it’s just personal preference.

Performance:

The gun shoots amazing well for a MPEG. I was quite impressed. It does reach the range that is stated, and I hit seven out of ten targets on a nice spring day with about 5-10 mph winds. For a newer player or a person who can’t afford a high-grade AEG, this is a great choice! I would only recommend shooting it with .20 BBs, because all others make the gun shoot way off (as expected).

Special Features I Liked:

I think one of the best things about the gun is that there is a “ready to use” rail on the fore-grip for any kind of accessory: vertical fore-grip, lasers, flashlights, bipods, etc. As you can see below, I attached a vertical fore-grip and a bipod for show.

Pros:

The things that I liked about the GB AK47S Beta Spetz are the following: great feel and handling; really polished look to it; one of the best MPEG out there for performance that I’ve seen; most of it is metal and the parts that are not are made out of a great composite kind of material; the price ($99.95!); and the rail that is already attached the gun. I truly like this gun a lot. Sure, it’s not top of the line, but for a MPEG, I’m extremely impressed.

Cons:

The only main thing that I didn’t like about this gun was that the battery took forever to put in. As you will see below, the battery stick fits in the upper part of the receiver’s body. It has just enough room to fit in there, but in the end, it does. Other then that, I really can’t find anything wrong with the gun.

Overall, I was extremely happy with the gun in every aspect. I would recommend this to all newer fans of the sport who like the AK series. And for the price of only $99.95, it’s a steal! It is a great weapon in general. I would like to thank AirSplat, once again, (www.airsplat.com) for giving us this gun. They are really a great bunch of guys and have amazing products. There’s a reason why they are one of the largest airsoft retailers in the nation.