Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1536266
FIREARMS are treated with a nitride finish for enhanced durability. The M4 PME keeps it classic with a standard military-style safety se- lector with a single lever on the left side. The charging handle is plain MIL-SPEC, single-sided workhor- se, just like on every M16/M4 out there. Same goes for the A2 pistol grip, which some love to hate, and the equally divisive stamped steel trigger guard that flips down for gloved use – the "winter trigger guard." These parts might not win any ergonomic awards, but they're mil-spec through and through. So, if you're chasing that authentic M4 look, you'll probably want to stick with them. One departure is the end plate. This one has ambidextrous sling loops, letting you run a single-point sling if that's your jam. Not my cup of tea, but hey, options are good! The buffer tube and the stock look the part. You'd have to squint to spot the differences from a real M4 stock. Up close, you can tell it's a more budget-friendly version, and it could use a little cleanup of the molding lines. But overall, it func- tions just like the original and actu- ally looks pretty decent. Now, the one glaring issue with the M4 PME straight out of the box is the carry handle. It mounts to the Picatinny rail with thumb screws, and honestly, it's the absolute worst part of this. otherwise cool rifle. I have no idea where it came from, but it looks like Chinesium. Seriously bad. The aperture sights have this bizarre glossy finish, the sight base has noticeable play, and the adjustment drums have zero markings. To top it off, both knobs are super loose, especially the win- dage knob, which offers almost no resistance. You'll be wondering when, not if, you accidentally bump it. Compared to a carry handle from STAG Arms, this one looks like a cheap airsoft knock-off (and wo- uldn't surprise me if that's exactly what it is). It's a real shame becau- se the rest of the rifle is in a com- pletely different quality league. For now, I've set up my M4 PME in a similar "budget-friendly" way to the FN M4 I reviewed in one of the previous issues of FRAG OUT! MAGAZINE. The terrible carry han- dle went straight into the parts bin's darkest corner, and I slapped on an Aimpoint PRO red dot sight. Yeah, I know, it's not a legit one and costs about two-thirds the price of the rifle, but it's what I had handy. Eventually, I'll swap it for a similar- -style red dot that costs about a quarter of the price. I also added a Nextorch WL50IR WML – it's re- asonably priced, throws a decent beam, and visually hints at a Su- refire M952, all part of the goal to create that military M4 vibe. On the bottom rail, I attached a VFG from… a Polish Beryl rifle. Why? Be- cause I had one, it was cheap, and in a pinch, it kind of resembles a KAC grip.