ICS CXP
Loaned by King David Airsoft (http://www.kdairsoft.com)
“Full metal AEG pistol” is what I would use to describe ICS’s new offering. Reminiscent of Bushmaster’s Carbon 15 21S 5.56 pistol. This AEG offers something to fill a void that few of us have; or will soon make just to have this AEG. The CXP offers an uber compact AEG that’s shorter than the Mk18s and AKS74Us that we are accustomed to seeing around the fields. With a comfortable skeleton stock that’s just as adjustable as any slider stock.

EXTERNAL
Once you take out the CXP out of the packaging you’ll be surprised to find that despite the diminutive size of this new AEG, it is very hefty. Full of metal pieces all around. From the stock to the barrel to the flash hider, it is full metal. All are beautifully finished in a sheen black finish.
The long one-piece top, the side and the bottom rails are all made of metal. Metal that fits snugly on their attachment points. The long one-piece top rail offers not just attachment points for picatinny rail accessories. It also offers both the fully adjustable rear sight and front sight. The rear sight is adjustable for both elevation and windage, much like a standard AR rear sight; the same can be said for the front sight. The top rail is attached to the receiver via two screws that locks it in place securely; it is also attached to the front set for a tight finish with one screw set that doubles as a front sling attachment point.

In actuality, the front screw pulls more than double duty, as it also acts as the lock that secures the hand guard in place. This hand guard is narrow enough to maintain the slim line of the CXP and yet wide enough to fit a battery inside. The plastic hand guard is nearly fully occupied with MilStd1913 picatinny rails, much more than its real steel bushmaster counterpart. There are two 2-inch rails on both sides and 1 4-inch rail on the bottom. The side rails are just long enough to hook up 1 attachment accessory – the battery box on one side and a laser or torch on the other side. If you prefer to use a laser and the battery box on the sides the bottom rail is certainly long enough to accommodate a fore grip and a flash light, or a surefire m900 weaponlight. With all the rails come the screws needed to attach them to the AEG. One could assume there’s only one tool needed to remove all the screws and rails, and s/he would be right.

The CXP is more than an is more than a copy of a real steel 5.56 pistol. It offers full automatic capability much like its older brethren. Full auto fire definitely requires a stock to put BBs to target. The stock on the CXP is nothing short of unique. Pressing on the lock plate releases the two locking lugs. The stock plate itself is made of plastic with a metal frame. The stock arms are also made of metal. And this is where we meet the first setback of the CXP. There’s quite a bit of play between the stock arms and the locking pieces. One could really barely call it a real setback as the amount of play is not so much to become a hindrance to the use of the AEG.

Though it is a full metal AEG, there are some plastic pieces. The hand guard, as previously mentioned, is the largest plastic piece of the CXP. The next would be the cover of the buffer tube. It is a big plastic piece that will certainly differentiate the CXP from its real steel counterpart. On one side of the buffer tube is the rear sling attachment. One could question why there are two sling attachment points on an AEG that is clearly a replica of a real steel pistol. One attachment point in the rear would certainly be enough. However, in the world of airsoft, there are players that ask for something more than what is needed in the real steel world.

The plastic pieces may have been there to save cost or to save weight. One could say that it is a good thing to have the plastic pieces on the CXP as it is already nearing the weight equal to a standard full metal M4A1. One that is also debatable whether it’s a good thing or another setback is ICS’s thick pistol grip. Rounder than the typical AEG M4 pistol grip, could be a definite plus for players with big hands, but at the same token, a setback for players with small hands.
Fit and finish on this sample offering is something to be desired. Some things are loose but most are as tight as it can be. The hand guard is snug on the front set; the rail set is snug on the receiver. As previously mentioned, the stock has a bit of play. The fire selector is also quite loose. Loose enough that it could accidentally switch to or out of position. Definitely something that needs to be addresses for those playing on fields with strict safe zone rules. Some thing else that is loose on the CXP is the dust cover. So much so that a slight knock on the AEG could pop it open. When you do manage to keep it closed, there is enough of a gap that will let small debris and dust inside the AEG. This will need to be addressed as well, to minimize necessary maintenance.
INTERNALS


Inside the CXP is standard ICS fare. The steel gears are present to help support the high fps of the CXP. The hop up is the typical hop up for ICS’s offering on AR type AEGs. The same hop up that looks more at home inside a G36 than in an AR AEG. The piston inside the loaner CXP is a white polycarbonate variety. The cylinder head is made of brass*, 1 hole type cylinder.
The CXP puts out a high FPS barely legal for CQB work. A downgrade would be necessary to use the CXP in CQB games. Though it is very well within range for standard airsoft skirmishing. Testing produced an average of 382.3 FPS. The ICS Turbo 3000 motor puts out enough torque keep up a high rps of 15 rounds per second. That translates to 900 rounds per minute. Definitely equal to the real steel counterpart.
It’s adjustable in the similar fashion as CA or TM. Pull back on the charging handle opens the dust cover, revealing the hop up adjustment dial. It’s just as easy to set as the G36 hop up with little noticeable creep. It’s definitely up to the job it is tasked.
Accessories

With a skeleton stock and a small hand guard, one might ask where the battery pack goes. The CXP comes with a PAQ battery box that is large enough to house a small battery pack. Two locking knobs on each end lock and unlock the battery box. The same battery pack can be converted to use ICS’s laser pointer by replacing one of the locking knobs with the included laser attachment converter. The converter locks in place similar to the standard locking knob and allows the laser unit to be screwed into place.

Once the battery box is converter for laser use, however, may render the battery box unusable to house a battery pack. The same small battery or a lipoly pack can be housed inside the hand guard. Remove the front sling screw, and slid the hand guard assembly forward and you’ll be presented with enough space for the battery.
Another surprise packaged with the CXP is two high capacity magazines. That’s right, two high capacity mags. However, they are fashioned after the Canadian made thermold magazines. Needless to say, they are made of plastic. This is more than a setback. It is quite disappointing, as the plastic magazines are made of plastic so thin you would be reminded of buying your first LPEG. Including the two hicap mags is not such a bad idea, regardless of being made of plastic. It certainly is a good thing considering the High Torque ICS Turbo 3000 motor inside the CXP.
SUMMARY
ICS’s latest offering leaves little to be desired. It offers a full metal AEG with only a few plastic parts. It also offers an AR variety never before offered by any airsoft manufacturer – an airsoft counterpart of a real steel rifle-caliber pistol. The performance is as good as you’re going to get out of a short AEG. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bit more of this AEG on the field soon, especially sniper teams needing a secondary weapon for close in engagements.
RATINGS
Externals 4/5
Internals 4/5
Accessories 4/5
Performance 4/5
Field testing 3/5
Overall 4/5

Thanks to King David Airsoft for the loan of the AEG.
Contact King David Airsoft (http://www.kdairsoft.com)
1432 S. Butterfield Rd.
Mundelein, IL 60060
Phone: 847-816-0820

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