We’ve heard a lot of positive things about the G&G CM16 Raider, and we’re going to add some of our own opinions into the mix. One of the most popular AEGs currently available on the market, the CM16 has a good claim on its own.

It’s not just the newest and hottest thing and popular because of those fleeting laurels. It’s one of the most groundbreaking AEGs available to airsoft players today because of its amazing and effortless combination of cost-friendliness and unflinching quality.

Here are some of the best reasons that we can offer for the popularity and success of the G&G CM16 Raider. Is a G&G Raider the best airsoft gun out there? It really depends on how you assess quality in an airsoft gun. Is it the best AEG? Still subjective, but you can take the following into account.

A Classic Platform

There are two things you’ll notice about a G&G Raider right out of the gate. First is the fact that it’s built to reflect one of the most famous and widely used rifle platforms of all time, the M4/M16 that has been in service for almost 60 years.

The M16, around which this airsoft gun is designed, is one of the most impressive military tools of all time. Reliable, relatively light, well balanced, and paired with a capable cartridge, the M16 and variants have seen widespread service around the world for many years now.

Many of these features that you might notice from the M4/M16 are present in this AEG. it is well balanced, modular, adaptable, and practical. This particular reproduction of the M16 is also very reliable, even under hard use.

The other thing you will notice about a G&G CM16 Raider is the fact that it is widely available in black and FDE, which are two very popular colors for tactical applications. For what it’s worth, this series of AEGs isn’t just built around the specs of a proven platform, it also has a lot going for it aesthetically as well.

With that as a starting point, let’s get into some of the real selling points of a G&G Raider.

Tough Construction

One of the first things to ascertain about any given airsoft gun is the quality of its construction. There are all plastic airsoft guns and there are also all-metal airsoft guns, but most fall somewhere in the middle, with some of the frame being made of plastic and some being made of aluminum or some other alloy.

There’s nothing wrong with plastic, inherently, provided it is some high-density tough quality polymer that can stand up to abuse. On the contrary, some tough polymers have some serious advantages over some metals. They are waterproof, nonreactive, and extremely durable. Then again, some aluminum airsoft guns are similarly very light and strong.

In the case of the G&G Raider, you’re not going to want much in the way of quality of construction. This platform is made with a tough polymer receiver and various other tough metal components. Take it out in the rain or out in the heat and the dust and this thing will never flinch or flag. Just make sure you take care of it properly and you won’t have a problem.

It’s also important to keep in mind, especially for competitive players, that AEG rifles sometimes get bumped and knocked around in the field. For competitive players, in particular, the added toughness of the construction of an AEG like this comes with additional value tacked onto it.

Serious Internals

The G&G Combat Machine 16 Raider wouldn’t be much use, despite its quality construction, if it lacked similarly tough internals. Really, the same could be said for just about any airsoft gun. A tough exterior package isn’t worth very much use if it isn’t paired with quality internals.

For an airsoft gun with a full-auto mode like the CM16 Raider AEG, serious internals mean something along the lines of the gearbox that comes with the platform. These great guns come with an all-metal, Version 2 upgradeable gearbox with brass bearings.

For one thing, brass, like aluminum and many polymers, is non-reactive, so it will stand up very well to the elements. In addition, the metal gearbox will hold up to extended fire and hard use much better than comparable gearboxes of competing lines with plastic internals.

This is because during extended periods of hard use and high rates of fire, plastic gears and other internals can melt, deform, break or experience other catastrophic failures that render them utterly useless. If your AEG’s gearbox experiences something like this, it will be out of commission entirely until you get it fixed.

You won’t have a problem like this with the high-performance full metal gearbox that comes along with a G&G Raider. It’s built to last, can stand up to hard use, and is upgradeable. You can’t ask for much more than that.

Adjustability

Another thing that makes an AEG desirable from a competitive point of view is modularity. The M4/M16 series G&G CM16 Raiders are built to fit you and come with a number of features that are well suited to these ends.

For one thing, the G&G Raider comes with a 6 position collapsible crane stock. That gives you the ability to fold down the rifle for easy transport while also achieving a better fit when you are behind it. If there’s one thing that can easily ruin a shooting experience, it’s a poorly adjusted length of pull. With this platform, you will never have to worry about that.

In addition, these AEGs come with adjustable sights as well, so that you can tailor the functionality and use of the airsoft gun to the setting. You might be one of those who appreciates the use of iron sights, and that’s fine, but when you decide it’s time to throw a reflex sight up on the rail, you’ll appreciate this versatility.

On top of these features, G&G CM16s also come with a fire selector that has three settings: safe, semi-automatic, and as mentioned already, fully automatic. These make this AEG much more suitable for a number of varying situations. For example, you might want to utilize full auto fire for covering a large open territory with suppressive fire. Conversely, you might like the practicality and conservative nature of semi-automatic fire. The choice is yours with an adaptable platform like this.

One more thing - a quality hop-up system can sometimes really help you reach out over great distances if it is adjustable. The G&G CM16 Raider comes with an adjustable hop-up system so you can deliver cover fire effectively, even over greater distances.

Capacity

What’s one thing that makes an AEG practical for everything from providing suppressive fire to storming a structure? Well, it’s hard to settle on one thing, but most players can agree that capacity is important. The precious seconds, or quarters of seconds, lost in swapping out an empty mag for a charged one can cost you your place in a match. A large safeguard against this is the reliability of the AEG; another one is the capacity of the mag that comes with it.

Another thing that makes G&G airsoft guns like these useful is their compatibility with a range of different magazines. In that fashion, you can customize your use of the airsoft gun to the setting, although it will also be useful that you can use a bunch of different M4 and M16 series mags with it.

These AEGs come with 450 round high cap magazines, which is ideal for most CQB settings, but as stated, you can always pick up a different mag that is more suitable for your use.

A Great Trigger

In addition to some of these features already covered, the G&G Combat Machine Raider comes with a high-quality, sensitive, super crisp trigger that breaks like no one’s business. A mushy trigger is the bane of many a player, and it’s not just a detriment to the recreational experience. It can actually severely inhibit your abilities behind the airsoft rifle.

While it won’t matter so much up close, in those situations where long-distance accuracy matters, you will lament a mushy trigger like never before. They’re unpredictable and imprecise; luckily, with a G&G Raider, you’ll never have to experience this unfortunate situation.

Ability to Accept a Lot of Attachments

Something else that engenders a lot of value in an AEG is its ability to accept attachments. Bare iron sights and an AEG without a rail are good enough, but you can really fine-tune the performance of a tool when you have the freedom to add and remove attachments at will. The G&G Raider comes with a quad rail around the handguard, giving you plenty of room for attachments.

-Scopes - Scopes aren’t great in all situations, and some would expressly shun them for CQB. They just make it too hard to acquire the target and are impractical within a certain distance. Still, if most of your engagements require accurate shot placement out in the open, you might do well by a scope.

-Red dot and other reflex sights - Red dot and reflex sights reign supreme over most engagements ranging from CQB to moderate distances. They cut down on the time to target acquisition, bringing in a lot of the function of scopes with few of the drawbacks.

-Lasers - Laser sights are even faster and more practical than red dot sights, at least up close. If you’re concerned about the ability to make rapid follow up shots that are well placed, a laser sight might be for you. They’re fast, reliable, and tough, even tougher than red dot sights. Plus, you can mount a laser and another optic to the same rail, one on top and one or the side or underneath.

-Lights - Plenty of CQB engagements take place where there is limited ambient light. You can easily through a tactical light on a section of the quad rail to give you a boost of confidence when the lights are low.

-Saddles and similar accessories - In addition to these attachments already covered, there are plenty of other accessories you could want to add to your G&G Raider. With the adequate space on the quad rail, you can accomplish this easily.

Low Cost

Finally, there is one more thing that makes a G&G Raider a real winner among AEGs, and it’s something that’s really amazing considering the virtues of all of the features we have uncovered so far. Here at MiR Tactical, you can pick up one of these AEGs for under 200 dollars. Nowhere else are you going to be able to find such an awesome price on such a great airsoft gun.

It’s more telling that this quality comes at such a lot price anyway because there really aren’t any other AEGs that can compete at this level of performance at such an awesome price.

Who Will Love It?

Everyone can find a space in their personal collection for an airsoft gun as great as this. All joking aside, anyone who competes and has a need for an AEG will find this practical, even if they have another preferred model. Snipers and machine-gun crews could do better elsewhere, but if you need a reliable AEG for CQB and close skirmishes, this will impress you, to say the least.

While you’re here on our site, check out some of our recent blogs on Reasons to Try MilSim as well as our Guide to Essential MilSim Gear. There’s plenty of good information in there, and you can probably add a G&G Raider to your repertoire for your next MilSim match, provided it is allowed.

Remember while you’re shopping; we offer a price match guarantee and flat rate shipping, and some orders even qualify for free shipping as well. Check out our collection, and call us at 800-581-6620 if you have any questions.