Matrix / S&T Sportsline M4 RIS Airsoft AEG Rifle w/ G3 Micro-Switch Gearbox (Model: Dark Earth Keymod 8")

"I bought this gun in 2019 for my first starter airsoft gun and it still amazes me on how well it preforms 4 years later

"Got the URX Carbine 12”, thing is stellar right out of the box!
I just started playing outdoor for recreation and it performs so well!

Pros:
Accurate and precise from roughly 200ft with hopup tweaking
Very easy-to-use hopup
Good trigger response
Solid power
Sturdy/durable material made in Japan
Iron sights are dead on(but I will be getting a reflex)

Cons:
(Personal preference) wobbly stock when fully extended, but that’s most stock plastic crane stocks
It’s not too bad, but dimensions are not what they say they are in the specs. Definitely shorter, but the inner barrel is the right size
Not much info in the manual but no other problems with gun itself’

Awesome beginner setup for sure! Used 9.6v NiMh but getting 11.1v lipo to get a comparison.

11/10!

"I received this rifle (specifically the 8" Stubby version) as a Christmas gift and it is nothing short of the definitive best beginner rifle ever. Here's why:

The rifle comes standard with an in-line MOSFET which means it can run 11.1v lipos well with a decent rof and trigger response. I've been running a Matrix 11.1v 1500mAh butterfly style battery in this since I got it and it really has been a pleasure to use. It can compete with other higher end guns fairly well like the ARP9. It's easy to maintain, clean and put back together solidly. The hopup feeds well with most magazines. I use Bluebox 140rd midcaps and they feed down to the last bb in the magazine reliably. I have been told that my gun sounds like it's shimmed perfectly. I haven't taken apart the gearbox to see if there even are shims but it does sound really crisp for a sub $200 AEG.

But every gun has its flaws. Range is not it's strong point and needs a tightbore inner barrel to boost that. FPS is pretty damn high at about 390 FPS with a .2g bb on an 11.1v battery. That means it may not be CQB legal in most states in America. The polymer body feels okay but I'd recommend switching out your stock because it will wobble a lot and makes quite a lot of sound.

Whether you're a field owner looking for a nice rental gun, a beginner looking into their first rifle or an experienced technician looking for a good platform to convert to a HPA or DSG monster, this is all I can recommend. Do yourself a favor and buy any one of these rifles. They're amazing for the money you pay and they last a while if you maintain them!

9.6/10, would absolutely recommend!