AGM Full Metal WWII MkII Sten British 9mm Full Auto Airsoft AEG Submachine Gun
(Model: Standard)

"The best airsoft sten under $200. The only problem with it being the battery space. You will need a stick type 9.6V nimh battery for it.

"This is one tough little slugger! It gets cool looks from the others and is surprisingly accurate. Look online for Sten MK II 7-mag pouch and sling for that classic look and get extra mags to feed this beast. If you want a unique gun that also runs well, THIS IS IT!!!

"Purchased the British WWII, MkII Sten AEG Submachinegun on 6 November 2024 but had trouble finding a battery to fit. I finally found an 8.4v, 1600 mAh NiMH battery/charger (.677" by .770" by 8.25") stick battery. The battery is a tight fit in the tube stock; it takes a little patience to nestle it in place, then slide the stationary stock in place and screw it down without crimping the wire, but it can be done.

My first impression upon unboxing the gun, that arrived in a well padded but plain unmarked box, was how crude and ungainly the gun is. Especially when compared to the accurate reproductions in the Legend versions offered by Umarex that includes the Thompson, the German MP40, and the crude US Grease Gun which is elegant by comparison to the Sten. It wasn't a disappointment as much as a shock at the crude construction that faithfully represents the real thing. Handling the ugly duck was enlightening. The MkII Sten shares none of the refinement found in the modern equivent, the 9mm Sterling MkIV, but I was pleasantly surprised when I loaded the magazine, then fired the Sten offhand. Despite the austere construction, I easily stitch a ragged hole in the target from 25 feet. Although it lacked the ergonomic and polished feel of the Sterling, the airsoft version clearly performed just as accurately. Very impressive!

Although I bought the Sten to add to a collection of historic firearm replicas, this submachine gun could easy fill in as a handy airsoft "gamer," which I don't do. There is nothing beautiful about it, but the moderate rate of fire (I estimate the cyclic rate is close to 600 rpm) is similar to the Sterling, which happens to be very controllable on fully auto mode. A steady diet of WW II movies influenced my decision to buy the Sten, and I'm not disappointed - now I know. Actually handling the Sten reproduction is surreal and well worth the modest price of under $200. Unfortunately, there is virtually no recoil, and the sound of the electric motor is fairly muted. I found that operating the actual 9mm Sterling similar to aiming a garden hose, and the Sten gives the same impression.

Despite the crudeness and poor ergonomics, I would confidently rely on the Sten as a primary airsoft "gaming" weapon. Of all the airsoft weapons that I fired, the Sten Mk II offers the closest realism to firing the real thing. The easy of directing unaimed fire is probably due to it being shaped like a pipe, which allows you to point and squirt rounds without aiming. I typically only buy one spare mag with each airsoft weapon, but I do believe I'll be compelled to buy several more for this one.