Airsoft Action - October 2023

ARMOURY
ICS CXP APE SE AEG
RINGING THE CHANGES
When I looked at the original CXP APE I commented:
“There have already been numerous airsoft replica
versions of the Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR), some
licenced and some not, but generally speaking, like
any replica model it went through its moment of glory
and then dipped off in popularity for a while. This has
changed again with new models hitting the market as
I write and the Masada is due, in my opinion, to rise
again.
But what of the CXP APE? Is it a replica of the ACR
or not?
I have to say that in my opinion it most certainly
is as some of the features just scream out ACR.
Although it does not purport to be an exact replica
(licenced or not) of the American rifle there are
just too many similarities to push aside. Starting
from the rear you have a six-position “SF1” sliding
stock with rubber buttpad which acts as the battery
compartment; this also has an adjustable cheek rest
and folds to the right. The rear sling point sits just
ahead of the stock as it does with the ACR. The pistol
grip is pretty much that of the late model ACR, and
on the ICS it can be changed out as it’s not part of the
all in one polymer body of the original…”
So, what has changed? In profile the CXP APE SE
has the striking self-same overall silhouette of the
original, that cool modern ACR aesthetic and one can
only wonder “what if” of the real thing. However, the
quality of just about everything in the APE SE feels
somehow more than that of the original; the 2020
version of the APE was a beautifully presented AEG
without doubt, but everything on the new version
just oozes with the external quality that I’ve come to
expect from ICS, one of the reasons I love them so
very much!
I received the grey/black version for testing in
advance of its release, and I have to say that it’s dropdead
gorgeous to look at. The counterpoint of the
grey “lower”, rail and stock looks perfect against the
black of the other parts, and the sheer feel of the AEG
is one of “these guys have obviously used the very
best they can” throughout.
The upper is a one-piece alloy affair with a long,
continuous rail along the top, but it’s up front where
ICS have actually upped the ante by installing a very
cool lightweight M-LOK system which
incorporates a flip-up front sight and
allows you to position a QD sling
stud in the perfect position for a twopointer(the
stud is provided, thank you
ICS!); M-LOK is “all the rage” at the
moment so ICS are right on the ball as I
expect them to be with their latest APE,
and the finish of the rail is absolutely
impeccable. The fire selector is fully
ambidextrous which is a very nice
feature, as are the magazine and bolt
release catches and charging handle
(this can be swapped easily
righty to
lefty!);
this
once
again
mimics
the controls of
the real-world ACR.
On the model I received
from ICS to test the
lower (now metal too, a
departure from the
original!),
and polymer
six-position
stock
(with five
height
increments
too!) are
all finished in that lovely grey,
a slightly different grey to the metal
rail given the difference in colouring
disparate materials, but completely
complementary. The “sharp end”
is finished off well with a very
“ACR-like” mock gas block
and a birdcage flashhider,
probably the
single thing I would
replace…. An “ACR”
needs a suppressor!
“I RECEIVED THE GREY/BLACK VERSION FOR TESTING IN ADVANCE OF ITS
RELEASE, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT’S DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT. THE
COUNTERPOINT OF THE GREY “LOWER”, RAIL AND STOCK LOOKS PERFECT AGAINST
THE BLACK OF THE OTHER PARTS, AND THE SHEER FEEL OF THE AEG IS ONE OF
“THESE GUYS HAVE OBVIOUSLY USED THE VERY BEST THEY CAN” THROUGHOUT”
28
OCTOBER 2023