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The Best M4 Under $200: The Matrix Calico Jack

Published 2024-02-19 by Tyler J.

What makes the Matrix Calico Jack such a high quality airsoft rifle?

Excellence doesn’t always have to come at a premium price.

The budget airsoft market can be a mystery at times. On a product page, many equally priced rifles can at first glance appear to be very similar. They might offer little features like “Microswitch Gearboxes,” or “Quick Change Springs,” but it can often be difficult to discern what that means for you as a player without taking it to the field and giving it a shot. Not every feature is an advantage for everyone. Why bother looking for a rifle with ambidextrous controls if you’re comfortable enough with the right handed configuration as is? Why worry about full metal build construction if you prefer something fast and lightweight to blitz headfirst into battle with?

The ultimate beginner rifle might not be the same for everyone, but there is absolutely one shining star of an M4 that glimmers brilliantly in terms of how much it offers for the price.

A good beginner rifle should feature a quick change spring for ease of compliance with multiple field’s velocity restrictions

A good beginner rifle should be lightweight enough to let you experience the fast action of adrenaline pumping combat without fatigue.

A good beginner rifle should have a trigger response capable of fast semi-automatic to ensure you can land more eliminations through volume of fire.

A good beginner gun should take standardized aftermarket parts to keep options open for upgrades and replacement parts later down the line.

While many beginner guns reach to meet these entry virtues with varying degrees of success, the Matrix Calico Jack fully leaps over the bar in all categories. Let’s dive into this exceptional rifle to truly discover what makes this budget blaster so great.



Before we get into the meat and potatoes of these rifles, you’ll find that they come in a variety of length, color, and stock options to cater to a wider range of preferences. Find that a PDW style stock fits the compact style you’re going for better? There’s a Calico Jack for you! Prefer more rail space for attachments and a traditional M4 style buffer tube for better battery space? There’s no need to compromise! Depending on your particular field velocity restrictions, the Calico Jack also comes in 350 FPS and 400 FPS models respectively. This ensures that the rifle is ready to go for your local field’s rules and regulations right out of the packaging, no modification needed. So much customizability!



If you ever decide on checking out a different airsoft field with FPS regulations that may differ from your usual, the Calico Jack features a true quick change spring system that’s easily accessible by unscrewing your model’s respective stock. A feature like this is invaluable in the modern beginner airsoft market, and ensures that you can be part of the fun no matter where you decide to play.


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The standard Calico Jack features a reinforced nylon receiver, which stands up incredibly well to shock and impact. Depending on your budget and preferences, you should be able to choose between an aluminum handguard or a polymer handguard. As if the Calico Jack wasn’t already versatile enough, it also features a handy ambidextrous fire selector, making this a perfect choice for those who shoot left handed.


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What truly makes the Calico Jack stand out among the sea of other beginner M4 options is its pre-installed optical trigger system. Optical trigger systems are one of the most popular aftermarket parts for an AEG, as they greatly increase system configurability and reliability of operation. Every time you pull the trigger on a rifle with an optical MOSFET, the trigger comes into contact with nothing but light itself. There are no switches or mechanical parts to wear out, lock up, or slow down operation. The trigger response is buttery smooth, allowing you to easily fire successive semi-automatic shots being hampered down by an ordinary trigger’s mechanical need to reset itself after each pull.


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For further reliability, the Calico Jack gearbox has radial cuts around the edges of its cylinder to greatly reduce the odds of system failure. The gearbox also uses steel bushings instead of bearings at the points of highest stress to weed out any possible areas of weakness within the internal system. Through and through, this is a gearbox built to withstand heavy play . Every design choice put into this rifle’s internals is done to create a futureproof system worthy of being your primary of choice for your many airsoft battles to come.



If you have a couple extra pennies to spend and are looking for a more durable and realistic receiver feel, the Calico Jack also comes in a full metal variant as well. Never compromise!

Recommended Accessories





I’ve found that the best fitting battery for either stock configuration is the Airsoft.com 11.1v 1100mah Li-Po battery. This high power battery allows you to maximize the performance of your Calico Jack, further increasing your trigger response and rate of fire. Don’t worry, the advanced optical MOSFET can handle the heat of one of these high power batteries!


Need a charger? Grab this one here!


If you’re looking for spare magazines that will function perfectly in the Calico Jack, I recommend the Poseidon 180 round midcaps. Not only are they made of the same build construction as the mag that comes with the Calico Jack, but they’re one of the least expensive comparatively.



When stepping on to the airsoft field, a poor primary weapon can be the issue that makes the difference between a frustrating experience and an awesome time. The airsoft market is huge, having so many options that even experienced players have issues wrapping their head around the options. Narrowing it down to what I believe is the best bet for an awesome beginner experience, and I find that the Calico Jack is simply the cream of the crop, offering a plethora of high end user friendly features that can help guarantee a great day on the airsoft battleground. Pick up a Calico Jack from Evike.com today and bask in the power of being well equipped!
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