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The Great Krytac Deep Dive
Ever since their entry into the market in 2013, Krytac has been a polarizing brand among the airsoft community. Their flagship models, the Alpha CRB and Trident, have since become some of the most popular primaries in the whole hobby. Though more expensive than your average AEG, Krytac's excellent external build quality quickly won over the hearts of those looking for a rugged, stylish primary. Krytac offered top-of-the-line internals mixed with a body feel that easily immerses you with the feel of a genuine AR, grabbing the attention of many who wanted a straight to the point powerhouse AEG.
Despite their success with more casual players, airsoft technicians quickly became skeptical. Though a stock Krytac M4s performed well enough to easily set themselves apart from the more basic AEGs at the time, the techier side of the airsoft community become dissatisfied with two major issues with the Krytac's internals.
1. Their gearbox design made them incompatible with any aftermarket electronic trigger unit without heavy modification.
2. The central gear inside the gearbox, the Spur Gear, was incompatible with any aftermarket gears at the time due its smaller axle height.
Though Krytacs showed promising performance out of the box, those who wanted to push their AEG's performance to the max were left with some complications. At least, that's how it was around Krytac's debut. Now in 2023, let's give these rifles a second look to see what's changed in the realm of internal upgrades for Krytacs. Are they still as difficult to modify as they were? And, even then, are upgrades even necessary for newer Krytac AEGs with all the updates they've been receiving over the years?
To answer that, let's take a jump into Krytac's internals and analyze what these rifles are made of:
The Nautilus Gearbox Shell
If there's anything Krytac absolutely does right, it's gearbox shell strength. Their Nautilus Gearbox Shell, characterized by the heat-gradated gloss that gives it a rainbow shine, is a time-tested piece of hardware that ensures longevity. While many cheaper gearbox shells on the market risk fracturing under the stress of stronger springs or high rates of fire, the Nautilus can endure some of the highest stress loads you can run through an AEG gearbox. It also features quick change spring system to ensure ease of disassembly and FPS adjustments!
Such durability can be a double-edged sword for the more tech-savvy player. As I stated earlier, the trigger area on the Nautilus Gearbox shell contains a good amount of extra material that makes them incompatible with many after-market trigger units. Favoring reliability over programmability and semi-auto fire rate, Krytac AEGs use mechanical trigger switches. Many players decide to swap this out for an Optical MOSFET to pick up on some of that semi-auto speed the stock Krytac package can lack. Though, to do so, you may have to take a grinder and shave off a good amount of material for most Optical MOSFETs to fit. The popular GATE Titan especially requires ample grinding of the Nautilus's durable metal just to sit in the gearbox correctly.
Luckily, there is one Optical MOSFET that fits just fine. The GATE Aster drops into Krytac AEGs without a lick of grinding needed, allowing you to take full advantage of a top-of-the-line MOSFETs features without having to sit down and shave your gearbox shell for hours! If you're planning on upgrading your Krytac AEG, go with the GATE Aster to minimize the time and hassle you'll deal with during installation.
GATE ASTER SE Airsoft Drop-In Programmable MOSFET Module (Model: V2 Basic / Rear Wired / No Trigger)
The GATE ASTER SE Airsoft Drop-In Programmable MOSFET Module (Model: V2 Basic / Rear Wired / No Trigger) fits perfectly into the Nautilus Gearbox!
Krytac Compression Kit
Your AEG's compression set is responsible for generating the pressurized air needed to send your BBs flying down range. It's made up of a cylinder to generate air within, a spring-drawn piston to pressurize the air, and a cylinder head and nozzle to direct that air down your barrel. In Krytac's case, these parts are exceptionally good at their job right out of the factory. It's general air seal is typically pretty solid, allowing you to shoot BBs down range with a greater degree of consistency. Though these parts can easily be swapped out for "higher-end" alternatives, I find that the cylinder, cylinder head, and nozzle all do a fine enough job stock to maximize your performance. If you plan on increasing any performance on your Krytac, I recommend swapping the piston to a full steel-tooth piston for maximum longevity! The half-polymer half-steel one that comes stock is strong, but won't last nearly as long as an upgraded alternative.
I recommend the Retro Arms Polymer 16 Steel Teeth Polymer Piston Body! It fits great with Krytac internals and is one of the strongest pistons on the market.
Krytac Gears & Motor
An AEG's gears are what pull your piston back against the pressure of the main main spring, generating the air that propels the BB on the springs release. Most standard AEGs use 18:1 ratio gears stock, and Krytac does the same. Krytac's stock gearset is just as robust as their gearbox shells, but many players try to increase their AEG's speed by installing aftermarket low-ratio gears (16:1s or 13:1s typically) that allow for quicker cycle times at the cost of added stress. Like I noted earlier, Krytac's spur gear is a little different from other gears on the market. While you can modify another brand's spur gear to fit a Krytac gearbox, I find that this process will usually cause more problems than solutions. Krytac's gears are sturdy enough to be used with stronger motors, and I'd typically recommend using their strength to your build's advantage rather than finding options to replace them. Additionally, while I never recommend Dual Sector Gear builds (DSG) for their unreliability, the Nautilus shell works fine with them since all you need to change out is the sector gear.
Krytac offers two different motors that come stock with their AEGS. Their Alpha CRB line comes equipped with a standard 20k RPM motor, while the Trident series comes with a high torque 30k RPM motor. The 20k is a fairly basic motor that you'll find performs similarly to other stock AEGs on the market, while the 30k definitely has a little more oomph to it. Aftermarket high torque motors such, such as the Rocket Airsoft 2022 Version High Torque Motor for Airsoft AEG Rifles (Model: Long Type / CNC Base / Fan), will still offer more strength. But the high torque 30k isn't too shabby! Any long type AEG motor fit in a Krytac AEG!
Internals Summary
Taking a look at what Krytac has to offer, it's evident that reliability is their first priority. Compared to other guns in the same price range, Krytac offers some of the most durable internal construction you can find on the modern airsoft market. They might not come pre-equipped with high-speed gears like the CYMA Platinum, or offer fancy electronic trigger units like the Specna Arms EDGE 2.0, but you can absolutely trust Krytac's system to run, rain or shine, through countless skirmishes. Krytac's internals can be a little picky with which aftermarket parts they like, but to say they're completely "proprietary" isn't entirely true. A Krytac M4 can be upgraded to the highest standard of AEG performance. In fact, their system is founded upon a base with enough material strength to handle even the most extreme of high-stress builds. Krytacs function great as a durable stock all-around gun that can handle any and all conditions, or as a base for a custom-tuned high performance field dominator. I'd argue that they're one of the most versatile platforms you can get for airsoft in general!
Externals
Usually, Krytac's fancy look and feel are what sell people on their rifles in the first place. That appeal is entirely valid, as few other brands even come close to how durable and robust a Krytac feels. Their M4s feature a full-metal body that can handle some of the roughest play airsoft can get into. If you're someone who knows you're going to be treating your rifle like the heavy-duty piece of equipment it is, get a Krytac. If you need a rifle that you can, in good conscience, bash in a door with, drag through dirt, and run with flawlessly through the elements, get a Krytac!
Over the years, some changes have been made to Krytac's externals. Most notably, the introduction of their M series rifles, which come with an updated receiver mold and M-LOK rail attachment points instead of keymod. There's no performance difference between the two options, so feel free to pick the design that looks best for you!
Concluding Thoughts
Krytac has undeniably made a significant impact on the airsoft world. Marked by controversy yet celebrated for innovation, Krytac stands out with its Alpha CRB and Trident models, which have become highly sought after in the hobby. Though different airsofters have different demands, Krytac knows their niche as a producer of rugged, all-situation ready rifles. With the developments in their own rifles and wider range of upgrade options available in the airsoft market, they currently stand as a highly versatile choice for the next AEG in your arsenal. Get yourself a rifle ready for any situation with Krytac's CRB and Trident M4s!