Echo1 Special Operations Branch SOB-II Full Metal Airsoft AEG Rifle

"At the time of me writing this, the SOB-II has been discontinued; however I feel that my review may be useful for someone looking to buy the gun second-hand.

I received this gun in a Box of Awesomeness a while ago, since then I've carried this gun through many skirmishes and it has served me well.

Although it may not be readily apparent, the base gun for the SOB-II is an MP5K. This means it can accept the wide variety of parts offered for the MP5K. I ended up swapping the stock for an endcap and the tri-rail assembly for a classic MP5K vertical grip.

The SOB-II comes with a bunch of unique aftermarket parts right out of the box:

- Folding M4-style adjustable stock
- Top rail that runs the entire length of the gun
- Tri-rail assembly in place of the standard vertical grip
- Custom charging handle
- Straight MP5 magazines (x2)

All these parts are high-quality, some of them like the tri-rail assembly and the M4 stock cannot be found anywhere else to my knowledge.

The externals of this gun are excellent, there is no wobble anywhere, even on the folding stock (which is usually the weakest point on most guns with this feature). A minor downside to this gun is that it lacks sights of any kind, however this is not a major issue since the extreme length of the top rail will accept almost any sight the user desires.

This gun is surprisingly heavy, which I think is pretty neat but it can take its toll on unprepared players, especially on all-day operations.

Performance-wise, this gun has excellent accuracy coupled with a ferocious rate of fire. Mine chrono'd at 450 FPS, but after a spring swap to bring the FPS down to 350 this gun becomes the ultimate CQB machine. I don't even think it needs a Li-Po battery since it achieves this performance with a common 9.6V Ni-Cd battery.

The Pros and Cons:

PROS:

- Good quality externals
- Unique external mods
- High rate of fire
- Excellent accuracy
- Heavy

CONS:

- No sights (just buy your favorite ones and slap them on)
- FPS too high for CQB (change the spring)
- Heavy

The SOB-II is an excellent and versatile gun with no problems that cannot be easily fixed. If you're looking for a killer CQB gun then this is for you!

"First off let me say this thing is absolutely ridiculous in CQB! I went to a lot of CQB
Places and this gun performed amazingly and surprisingly accurate to such a short barrel. It's a great gun, but be warned, you'll be ripped after playing a few games.


Pros:
High rps
Good fps for CQB
Very accurate for short barrel
Pretty much full metal.

Cons:
Magazines are a little wobbly in maxwell but doesn't change performance
Heavy

"Allow me to start off by saying that this is, by far, my favorite submachine gun. It's perfect for CQB and has the potential for field use, though the short barrel makes it better for someone who moves at a fast pace or 'sprays and prays'. It's a must-have gun for recon, especially for the treacherous terrain of the Jungle of Doom arena at CPX Sports (Joliet, IL). Speaking from personal experience, I've used this gun to carry out a solo covert assault and take the hill in said arena in the last ten seconds of a game. This gun is also perfect when used with a Matrix RPG-7.

I actually got this gun for Christmas, 2013. As many have pointed out, the LE stock makes it heavier than the slightly older Echo1 Task Force Black MK5A5. For CQB players, I recommend buying the MP5K end cap (http://www.evike.com/products/36150/). This reduces the weight, allowing a strong player to wield the gun with one hand. For extra support and a stylish touch, add the PDW foregrip (http://www.evike.com/products/30721/).

There is something that I haven't experienced, though; the default handguard seems fairly sturdy, and none of the rails have fallen off yet. Perhaps it's just luck.

As for performance, this gun shoots at roughly 330 fps with .20g BB's. The rate of fire is high with a 9.6v battery, so expect to burn through midcaps on full-auto. the rail system provides ample space for any scope. Also, if you use the railed handguard, be sure to attach a laser sight, and don't forget to buy a dual mag clamp for the advantage of a quick reload. Be warned, though: the stock must be unfolded for you to load the left magazine.

It comes packaged with two high-capacity magazines and a 9.6v battery. Overall, $250 is a decent price, but you'd be crazy to pass on this when it is on sale.

Pros:
- CQB-friendly (320-330 fps)
- Compact size when the stock is folded or when the MP5K end cap is installed.
- Ample rail space.
- 9.6v battery and two mags included.
- Compatible with most MP5K parts, including end caps and foregrips.
- DURABLE!

Cons:
- The entire flash hider is bright orange, despite the fact that there is already an orange tip.
- Sights are not included, but you'll probably use a red dot sight anyway.