We’ve said this before at MiR Tactical, but the reality of the situation is that airsoft matches are made up of different players with different gear facing different challenges. That’s a lot of ‘differences’ to balance. It can be very easy to be tempting by the hottest looking new AEG on the market, but the truth is that not every player’s style is going to make them a match for any given piece of equipment.

Let’s say you’re a player whose chief set of skills lies in patience and determination. You might be a good match filling the role of a sniper or a player whose chief aim is to provide intel on enemy movements or patterns. If you can sit quietly for hours without losing focus, only hoping to get a few shots off to stop critical strategic movements, then so many of the AEGs on the market are loaded down with features that you might not ever get to use. They’re fun to play with, but if that’s not your style, it is what it is.

At the same time, if you’re a player who needs to be instrumental in the action and wants to be used on the front to secure new territory and hold key pieces of the map under sway, then a spring airsoft gun is probably pointless to you. It can be powerful, it can be fast, and with the right magazine it can hold plenty of ammo, but the reality of most spring guns is they just don’t have the action speed or functionality for CQB. You can handle them and train with them, but if you’re in the thick of it, a GBB or a short AEG is going to offer you a lot more. Perhaps the one exception to this rule is a spring airsoft shotgun that holds a lot of ammo, but even so, if the numbers are up, it will see limited functionality in close quarters combat.

The long and short of it is that you need equipment that supports your niche in a simulated combat role. That’s why in real combat medics carry medical supplies and in the past radio operators and their crews were weighed down with batteries and transmitters. Even in simulated scenarios, you need to have the gear that supports your objective.

All of that being taken into consideration, there is an airsoft gun out there that has made some serious waves for its functionality, and that model is the G&G CM16 ARP9. We mentioned that gear has to support your objectives, and there are situations in which an ARP9 would not be ideal, but where this thing will shine, it will really shine.

In short, the ARP9 platform is excellent for a lot of different close-quarters combat (or CQB) scenarios. It was designed with them in mind and for many reasons that we’re going to look at it will really excel in the role. Even so, it can make a serviceable piece of equipment for a number of other situations, and we will consider them in the overview.

High-Quality Materials and Components; Reliability

Taking a really high-level view of the entire platform, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that this AEG is an airsoft gun, even with its orange tip. Somewhat based off of the style and construction of the 9mm style ARs, this airsoft rifle makes the most of some really durable construction and components that make it really reliable and functional.

It has a metal flip-up front and rear sights that are really tough but easy to fold out of the way if you’re carrying the thing on a sling or want to mount some attachments (but we’ll get to that shortly.) Additionally, it has a tough, adjustable PDW style stock and version 2 fully upgradable metal gearbox and long type motor. Adding functionality to its reliability is the fact that it has an adjustable hop-up system, which can make this super short carbine even more effective at longer ranges.

Its frame and receivers are made from a tough, heavy-duty polymer but the rest of the airsoft gun is well decorated with metal hardware. Together, and given its compact size, they make up a really rugged beast. This is not an airsoft rifle that will fall apart on you or quit unduly.

And on the top of its appearance, that might be the most salient feature and its biggest saving grace. Not that it needed to be saved, but it is this unique, almost snub-nosed carbine profile that makes it so well equipped for close-quarters combat.

Here’s the thing. Consider what different shooters need. Clay shooters prefer a long, heavy barrel that is easy to swing smoothly and consistently. The jury’s out on long-distance rifle shooters - some prefer a heavy barrel that is really steady, and some prefer a lighter barrel that is easier to point even though it is harder to steady.

As we mentioned earlier different roles present different needs in equipment, and this rifle’s crazy short barrel makes it ridiculously well adapted to many different roles. Hear this out.

The whole platform’s overall length will run between 20 and just over 23 inches depending on the stock adjustment. The thing has basically no barrel. There are revolvers out there that (actually) have longer barrels. But they lack the stability of a stocked airsoft rifle.

This airsoft rifle is stocked, and adjustable at that. With its insanely short barrel, it is really responsive and nimble. Muzzle control is easy with any carbine but this airsoft rifle takes it to an art form. It’s like an even more nimble version of an airsoft pistol on steroids, with the added bonus that you can minimize muzzle jump and shake because it's a carbine and not a pistol.

That makes it supreme for CQB. Not that we suggest only bringing one airsoft gun into a match and going without a sidearm, but this carbine can absolutely fit the role of an AEG (since it is one) and a pistol, with enough capacity for both put together. It’s fast, nimble, and fairly accurate. With the right attachments, you can make it effective for defending larger pieces of the map even at a distance as well.

Near Record-Setting Adaptability

We more or less covered this in the last section, but this airsoft rifle is also noteworthy but the vast adaptability of the platform. With its short muzzle and adjustable stock, there are very few roles it can’t fit.

Truth be told, while it’s not ideal in some situations, it can still definitely fit the roles, albeit on a curtailed scale. It’s not designed to be a sniper rifle. It’s not readily adaptable to a bipod and has a short barrel, but you sure could put an adjustable scope on it, use a shorter magazine and reach out over range. It might not shine but it could do it - you can’t take a spring airsoft rifle into CQB situations.

What it can do it does excellently. Make it your main platform for defending territory where there will be a lot of close-quarters engagement and you need to be able to make rapid follow up shots and may need to burn through a lot of BBs. It will absolutely dominate in those situations. Could you use another AEG? Certainly, but this one’s fairly unique mix of features makes it a game-changer on that front.

Great Capacity 

Something that’s really important here is the capacity of this AEG. If you’re going to use it primarily for close-quarters combat then the importance of capacity cannot be understated. Even a fast semi-automatic or automatic airsoft gun is going to become just about useless very quickly if it doesn’t have the capacity to dispatch targets or suppress enemy fire.

In fact, just the value of being able to suppress enemy fire is a huge asset that some teams may overlook. Sometimes you just need the extra capacity to keep the other team’s heads down, even if it's only a discouraging effect. This rifle gives you the ability to offer that defensive cover and still come up with 100 or 200 rounds to use effectively on the offensive.

This AEG comes with a 300 round magazine which isn’t the largest mag out there but it still offers a lot of capacity. Get a few spares and throw them on your vest and you could literally be carrying around 1000s of rounds. One other note; like many other AEGs, this one lets you toggle easily between semi-automatic and fully automatic, depending on the situation. Not that other rifles don’t offer the same, but this is just another positive mark.

It Can Accept Tons of Attachments

As an AEG that offers a lot of versatility, accepting attachments is right up there with reliability and capacity. This rifle is no different on that front. It has a length of rail along the receiver and it even has an M Lok Foregrip to accept a wide number of attachments. Only you really know the situations you’re going to come across in your matches. Whether you need lights, lasers or optics is up to you, but rest assured this rifle can accept them.

During a match, there is no time to be discovering that you needed some light or you would have been better equipped with a red dot sight or a scope. The time to plan is before the engagement and having the option goes a long way. Besides, you can’t just stick an optic on the rail and start shooting. You need to zero that thing in, and with a G&G CM16 ARP9 you can.

Bonus: It’s Cost-Effective

There’s another thing to love about a G&G CM16 ARP9 in this mix and it’s the fact that it’s so cost-effective and practical. There are some AEGs out there that cost actual times as much as an ARP9. Are they better airsoft guns? That really depends on the person answering the question, as we mentioned that different players have different needs. Will an ARP9 meet some players’ needs? Absolutely and then some.

You can potentially save a boatload of money by going with an ARP9 instead of some of the more pricey options out there, and all without ever even noticing the difference in functionality that may be present. Then again, it might not even be present, because some of these more expensive AEGs offer very similar performance to this model and are made with similar metal and high-density polymer components. In essence, it’s a budget AEG that doesn’t perform, or look, like a budget AEG. To close that out: who doesn’t love a great deal?

In conclusion and summary, the ARP9 is a great AEG for those who need a light, fast carbine for CQB, and even though it’s designed for that, it can fill other roles pretty admirably as well. Even if you just want to get one to try it out, you won’t be breaking the bank doing it.

If you’re looking for one, you’ve come to the right place. You can find this rifle on our site and many other alternatives, so if you’re looking to shop between the specs of different models, have at it.

Don’t be shy about reaching out to us, though, especially if you have questions on the models, their specs, or their uses. We’re more than glad to answer any questions you might have and to make recommendations as well. You can reach us at 800-581-6620.

Another note - don’t forget while you’re shopping that you can pick up BBs and attachments for your new AEG right here on our site. Our prices are set to please and our flat rate shipping is a boon as well. Happy shopping and happy shooting, and if you have any questions, please reach out to us.