AS YOU’LL SEE AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS ISSUE OF AIRSOFT ACTION WE’VE DECIDED TO FOLLOW A THEME, THAT OF SMGS, MACHINE PISTOLS, AND ALL THINGS “9 MIL”, AND THERE’S AN AEG MODEL IN THIS CATEGORY THAT WE’VE BEEN EAGERLY ANTICIPATING SINCE WE FIRST SAW IT FOR REAL AT IWA EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE STRIBOG SMG FROM DELTA ARMOURY! BILL GETS SOME RANGETIME AND REPORTS BACK…

Yup, we’re definitely into all things SMG and “9 Mil” this month with our two headline reviews, and a RED CELL special that brings our long-term test models properly and fully up to date!

But, as this and the next review will show, there’s always space for a new model, and when it comes to AEGs the one that I’ve REALLY been looking forward to is the STRIBOG, based on the real Grand Power AP9 A3S variant that was submitted to be evaluated for the US Army’s Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) program, sadly losing out to the Brügger & Thomet APC9K…

That’s actually one hell of an achievement for one of the lesser known companies in the real firearms world, and that fact that the STRIBIOG was under evaluation in the first place indicates what a cutting-edge platform it is, and it certainly got my attention for that reason alone!

Regular readers of AIRSOFT ACTION will have seen information on Grand Power when I looked at the airsoft version of the FREYA AR, but to recap briefly Grand Power s.r.o. is a defence supplier specialising in the design and manufacturing of firearms and tactical components such as sound suppressors, and they’re based in Banská Bystrica, not a million miles away from the HQ of DELTA ARMORY who have replicated both the FREYA and now the STRIBOG under licence in AEG form.

If you visit https://grandpower.eu and check their Law Enforcement and Military category then the STRIBOG features loud and proud, alongside other models such as the 7.62×39 ARAQ47, 5.56 NATO GP M4 variants, and the 7.62×51 NATO GP R10… in fact the multi-calibre STRIBOG variants round out what is a tight yet impressive offering!

Acknowledged as both reliable and upto-the-minute, the real STRIBOG is also awesomely modular, coming ready to roll with fully ambidextrous fire controls, M-LOK slots for accessory mounting, a contiguous Picatinny top rail, and a 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface. So basically the STRIBOG is a totally modern submachine gun platform produced in multiple calibres and barrel lengths, available in select-fire configurations for military and law enforcement, while civilian shooters can get it as a semiautomatic pistol-calibre carbine designed for sport shooting and personal defence….

It’s quite the list, as the variants include the AC9: a submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm, fitted with a 10” barrel and a folding stock, the AP9: a shorter-barrelled version of the AC9, with an 8” barrel, the AP9 A3S: a variant with a 5.5” barrel and a folding or collapsible stock, the SR9: a semi-auto carbine chambered in 9x19mm, fitted with a 10” barrel and a folding stock…. I can go on and on to be honest, but the A3 is the one that we’re really interested in, although the TT: a legal “pistol” chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev, with a 10” barrel and similar features to the SP9 certainly sounds interesting!

The Grand Power website tells me that... “the STRIBOG AP9A3 is a select fire submachine gun from worldwide renowned STRIBOG family of products. Chambered in 9×19 NATO, this weapon offers semi-automatic as well as full automatic modes, operated by positive ambidextrous selector which also serves as safety lever. AP9A3 is delayed blowback operated, which provides for excellent accuracy and controllability even in fully automatic operation.”

Between the military/LE variants and the civilian versions though, the STRIBOG has a lot of versatility baked-in, and in airsoft form it means that it will cover off an awful lots of potential loadout concepts!

The Aeg Take

I’m no stranger, thankfully, to the AEGs that DELTA ARMORY (DA) produce, and their AR AEGs have just got better and better over time, with the latest FREYA that I looked at last month being a fine

AS BOTH RELIABLE AND UP-TO-THE-MINUTE, THE REAL STRIBOG IS ALSO AWESOMELY MODULAR, COMING READY TO ROLL WITH FULLY AMBIDEXTROUS FIRE CONTROLS, M-LOK SLOTS FOR ACCESSORY MOUNTING, A CONTIGUOUS PICATINNY TOP RAIL, AND A 1913/20MM PICATINNY STOCK INTERFACE” example of what can make a fine AEG truly great. Therefore I had high hope for the STRIBOG, and when I say it was “eagerly awaited” I mean exactly that…

It was due to be launched down at the National Airsoft Festival, but the customs clearance folk over the water had ideas of their own of this, and word is that every single AEG leaving DA for Patrol Base had to be individually inspected… suffice to say it wasn’t until a few weeks later that the AEGs finally arrived in the UK, so my eagerness to check one out was exacerbated further!

But was it worth the wait, and what was I waiting for?

After some discussion with my mate Pete at Patrol Base he outlined for me exactly what was on offer; much like the DA M4/R-15 series, the STRIBOG was be released in multiple configurations, different colour combos, and with slightly different internal setups so as to suit player wallets and play-styles. As the STRIBOG is officially licensed by Grand Power, the ALPHA variants come with a metal upper receiver mimicking the real very well indeed, so for the MilSim end of the spectrum this is where it’s at. However, there’s also the high-density-polymer- bodied CHARLIE models and these have been put together for players that want a lightweight and manoueverable skirmish tool that they can run with all day long!

Taking the spec direct from DA:

“STRIBOG™ in ALPHA™ form boasts a CNC aluminium monolithic upper receiver and fibre reinforced polymer lower receiver, just like the real thing. If you’re into realism, this is the STRIBOG™ to go for!

The CHARLIE™ STRIBOG™ is made predominantly from Delta’s superb quality fibre reinforced polymer, with an alloy outer barrel, thread protector and 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface. If you like to move fast and skirmish with every advantage on your side, this is the STRIBOG™ for you!”

So externally the difference is, as always, a choice between polymer and alloy, and I love the fact here that DA have given “we, the players” both options to choose from, and to be honest both look great, and the only way you’re going to tell them apart is the actual feel. As I wanted to check out a model that the majority of skirmish players might choose I plumped for the STRIBOG SP10A3 AEG Upgraded CHARLIE (polymer- bodied) variant in Olive Green, although mirroring the real thing, DA’s replica will be available in a variety of colour combos, including multiple upper and lower combinations, as well as Full Black, Tan, and Olive Green options.

Picking it out of the box, the 1910g SMG felt great, and at 400mm long it settled nicely into my hands; all the STRIBOG variants come without any sighting options so you’ll need to add irons of perhaps an RDS, and they also come without a stock, simply the five-slot 1913 stock interface. DA do provide various options for a folding stock as accessories, the RIS Stock Minimalist or the more regular-shaped Stribog Stock, but any “interface stock” will fit, and my PTS version went straight on. I placed my stock in a mid-position on the Picatinny bar which suits me, but if you do want to mount it lower then you need to ensure that you don’t obscure the little allen bolt at the bottom, as this releases the bar so that you can access the battery compartment!

Moving forward along the upper, this is a pretty slab-sided affair with minimal fuss anywhere (apart from some very nice, fully-licenced trades), staying true to the “A3 mil” version, and the rail up to gives acres of space for accessories with a whopping THIRTY-THREE uninterrupted placement slots, with a further ten-slot rail on the underside at the sharp end. At six and nine you get three M-LOK slots per side, and the STRIBOG comes with a pair of five-slot rail sections prefitted, one per side… Basically you just need to grab a bag of accessories and got to it to your heart’s desire…

A nicely achieved, knurled cover hides a 14mm CCW thread for the muzzle, and to be honest the STRIBOG just croons the need for a tracer unit or suppressor; I simply fitted a chunky muzzle device that looked cool to me and keeps everything nice and compact. The Olive Green lower is also beautifully finished, a one-piece deal that includes and ergonomic pistol grip with a stippled finish that will work well with gloves. The integral trigger guard is also slightly oversized for this purpose, giving lots of room around the A-profile, flat-face trigger itself. Above the trigger you’ll find the ambi fire-selector, and although there are no markings this is “AR-standard”, so a no brainer.

The cocking handle on the upper (almost “MP5-psoitioned”) stands loud and proud, and pulling this back will open, and lock open, the ejector cover which in turn allows you to easily access the rotary hop adjuster; this has a very positive and smooth feel, and once set it stays in place well. A “bolt release” on the left of the lower snaps the ejector cover closed again (I always like this!), and ther only other control you need to worry about is the mag release, which can be operated from either side by way of a button, or via the small paddle behind the magwell.

Sound Inside

You may recall that I mentioned the STRIBOG I had to test was the “Upgraded” CHARLIE, and essentially there are two levels of internal setup to choose from, and neither is a slouch, with the “Upgraded” models just refining a solid setup.

Just FYI, the “Standard Version” has a V2 gearbox with a full steel-toothed rack SHS piston, along with an SHS tappet plate and sector gear delayer. The steel 18:1 gear-set runs on 8mm bushingsand a true quick-change spring system makes adjusting power effortless. The 6.03mm precision barrel delivers should give good accuracy from the get-go , and the EAGLE programmable ETU adds advanced functionality, offering programmable fire controls such as 3- or 5-round burst, binary trigger, sniper delay, semi-only mode, AUG mode, adjustable trigger sensitivity, pre-cocking, and variable active braking.

The “Upgraded Version” moves things right

“MOVING FORWARD ALONG THE UPPER, THIS IS A PRETTY SLAB-SIDED AFFAIR WITH MINIMAL FUSS ANYWHERE (APART FROM SOME VERY NICE, FULLY-LICENCED TRADES), STAYING TRUE TO THE “A3 MIL” VERSION, AND THE RAIL UP TO GIVES ACRES OF SPACE FOR ACCESSORIES WITH A WHOPPING THIRTY-THREE UNINTERRUPTED PLACEMENT SLOTS” along, featuring CNC 16:1 high-speed steel gears, a CNC aluminium piston head, cylinder head, and nozzle. The cylinder and QD spring guide are also CNC-machined from steel for added strength and reliability. A high-torque motor provides extra power to for the upgraded internals. As with other EAGLE™-equipped platforms, the trigger is also mechanically adjustable via a grub screw, allowing you to shorten trigger travel and crank out some seriously rapid double-taps. All internal parts are standard TM AEG spec and compatible with an almost infinite number of internal upgrades.

The internals of the Upgraded Version have already proven themselves in the Delta Armory’s previous Grand Power replica, the R-15 FREYA™ Gen.2, which has been warmly received by the Airsoft community both for its unique looks and impressive downrange effect.

Downrange

The 120 BB magazine (DA quote them as 120, Patrol Base as 100) is again a sturdy polymer, and although dedicated to the platform, it’s lightweight so it’s easy to carry a lot of them; it loads and feeds well, and although I’m not usually a fan of transparent “bullet mags” this one actually looks pretty darn good, and at just a tenner a pop building up a “combat load” of them isn’t going to break the bank.

Testing with .20g BBs resulted in a respectable and immediately usable average of 0.94 Joule/319fps through the chrono which means the STRIBOG is usable straight out of the box for almost any site. Moving up to .28g, once the hop was re-adjusted and set (easily done as it’s just behind the correctly-sized ejection-port cover) the little SMG was reaching out accurately to the 30m extent of the woodland range and punching the steels just using “irons”, and adding a T1 on top made target to target transitions smooth and fast. In my opinion it will be a great little platform for CQB encounters where engagement distances are more “feely”, but also perfectly usable in a woodland game too.

My time so far with the STRIBOG thus far then has been extremely positive; I’ve tried many “SMG/MP” models that have been upgraded quite heavily and the DA gives them a run for their money as a stock gun. As I’ve said of some other manufacturers recently, although DA have been a little quiet of late after releasing a whole slew of AR platforms onto the market, again it’s been “time well spent” obviously, and the massive effort put into the FREYA is undoubtedly paying dividends as they extend into new territory.

And although it’s a small package, bottom line is that the STRIBOG is actually a very capable little all-rounder of an AEG, and the balance between light weight and its minimalist size makes it easy to manipulate even in the tightest of spaces, and the downrange performance has proved first-rate, that it’ll be no problem when you need to get double-tapped BBs away quickly, especially when the active brake is on, and the trigger is feather-light!

Based on my experience with DELTA ARMORY AEGs in the last couple of years, and what we’ve found from other models that I’ve tested, I’m expecting nothing less than excellent performance from this stunning little well-priced SMG as it beds in, and it has most definitely been worth waiting for! I also believe that we’ll be seeing MUCH more from DA in the future, and I for one look forward to finding out what they come up with next.

As always, my thanks go to Pete at www. patrolbase.co.uk for facilitating the test sample of the STRIBOG. For more information on this model (and other models in the DELTA ARMORY line-up) please visit their website on a regular basis as there are new things arriving every week! AA

“MOVING UP TO .28G, ONCE THE HOP WAS RE-ADJUSTED AND SET (EASILY DONE AS IT’S JUST BEHIND THE CORRECTLY-SIZED EJECTION-PORT COVER) THE LITTLE SMG WAS REACHING OUT ACCURATELY TO THE 30M EXTENT OF THE WOODLAND RANGE AND PUNCHING THE STEELS JUST USING “IRONS””

“ALTHOUGH IT’S A SMALL PACKAGE, BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE STRIBOG IS ACTUALLY A VERY CAPABLE LITTLE ALL-ROUNDER OF AN AEG, AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN LIGHT WEIGHT AND ITS MINIMALIST SIZE MAKES IT EASY TO MANIPULATE EVEN IN THE TIGHTEST OF SPACES, AND THE DOWNRANGE PERFORMANCE HAS PROVED FIRST-RATE”