Echo-1 SCAR-L Review

**TOPH** · 01-22-2010, 08:21 PM

So I have had the Echo-1 SCAR-L for almost a year now and thought it would be a good time to do a review on it.

First Impresions

When I First got it I was very impressed with how solid it was. It has very little wobble. It comes with an 8.4v mini type battery, trickle charger, 500 round extended mag, and a mid-cap mag. It also comes with an outer barrel extension.

Facts On the Gun

Out of the box I think it was shooting around 410fps. It uses a version two gearbox, and has it's own hop-up chamber. The inner barrel length is 280ish mm without the barrel extension, and with the barrel extension it is 363mm. Internally it is built fairly well, but has a very slow rate of fire, even with a softer spring. I have run this on 8.4v, 9.6v, and 10.8v batteries without any major problems. The gearbox is somewhat difficult to get out but once you figure it out it's easy.

Externally

Externally the gun is vey solid. When compared to a Classic Army SCAR the plastic not near as nice, but the metal parts on it are up to par with the CA. The stock has three positions, and the cheek rest has two postions.

The trade marks are just Echo-1 trades, nothing special.

The only wobble I noticed was in the stock, there is a very noticeable wobble. The battery space is also very limited, but there are several ways to get around this. The first way would be to get a battery puch and put that on the stock. The second way around this is by taking out one screw in the stock after folding it, which allows the whole retractable end to slide out. You can then slide a 9.6v mini type battery in the stock, slide the stock back together and then put the screw back.

Normal battery instalation,

For 9.6v mini,

The last way around this is to wire it to the front, which just includes some splicing of wires, and cutting. All you have to do is cut down the charging handle some, and run the wires up through it. Then dremel one of the wholes out to fit the connecter through. This will allow you to use a battery sling, or a PEQ battery box.

There is more then enough RIS space, the top rail runnig the whole length of the gun, one side rail on each side, and one rail running from the mag well to the end of the foregrip. This allows you to put more then enough crap on you gun, such as..........

Overall I am very happy with my Echo-1 SCAR-L. It is a good alternative to the expense of the CA, VFC or G&G SCARs, but is not quite as nice externally. If anyone would like to add something, or has any questions I will try my best to answer them.

Thanks,
Krys

**Palafoxx** · 01-22-2010, 08:24 PM

Nice review, Krys.
Did you do a spring swap? What spring did you use, and what FPS did that yield?

mrhappycow · 01-22-2010, 10:01 PM

Is this gun now front heavy since it has an ok plastic stock, and the battery is now in the front?

**Adeluca11** · 01-22-2010, 10:34 PM

Good review Top H..... About time you did one! =P

**TOPH** · 01-23-2010, 09:59 AM

Since I got it I have replaced alot of little things in the gearbox, as of now I have a PDI 140% spring and it's doing 350 with .2's.

mrhappycow: Suprisingly no, it's not front haevy at all. It's actually the slightist bit back heavy with the battery in the stock.

Gcommando · 01-23-2010, 03:51 PM

My friend has one, and the main thing I noticed about it is how heavy it is. It has to be heavier than a real steel one, and it's probably mostly pot metal. Other than that, it's a good gun.

**TOPH** · 01-23-2010, 08:17 PM

I myself feel that it is actually lighter then most of my other guns. It is also lighter then my Classic Army SCAR, and feels very solid. In my opinion it doesen't feel like pot metal at all, but that's just me.

**TOPH** · 04-18-2010, 08:58 PM

Alright so after many rounds and way to much voltage (two battery boxes just because, pushing 20 volts) the gearbox shell destryoed itself. The whole front section where the cylinder head sits broke off, and the tappet plate broke in half too. But suprisingly the gears dont look that bad, I'll still be switching them out for some Modify highspeeds I have laying around though. This is all only the result of running way to much voltage putting way to much strain on the gearbox, in reality I'm suprised more didn't break.

Diabetus101 · 04-18-2010, 09:06 PM

nice review krys i was actually looking at these you have any idea where they might be in stock?

**TOPH** · 04-19-2010, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diabetus101

nice review krys i was actually looking at these you have any idea where they might be in stock?

Evike has the tan and the black one in stock, but thats the only place I can find them. Black: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_i...ducts_id=29643
Tan: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_i...ducts_id=31863

helplessdano · 05-02-2010, 11:55 PM

Good gun here man! Will i ever see this at LP? Would love to see this gun do work, as long its on my team ;)

**TOPH** · 05-03-2010, 06:43 AM

I will get out to LP as soon as I can, just been busy every weekend an LP game is schedualed lately. As for the gun, I just got the chance to field it again this weekend. I switched out the gearbox with a Matrix drop in gearbox. The only problems I had with the swap was the little circular ring on the front of the gearbox shell, which is used for the mag release on M4's and M16's, had to be cut off due to the style of the SCAR's mag release and body. The hole that the selestor gears went through also had to be drilled out as it didn't fit the gear shaft. Other then that, it was a pretty simple swap. The Matrix "Tornado Speed" gearbox is supposed to put you at around 330-350fps with an M100 spring. After I got it back together, it was doing 395fps, then after being fielded it had worn in to 385. It was also doing barely 700rpm with a Matrix Turbo motor on a 9.6v mini battery. I think that I am going to do a spring swap in the near future with an M90 or even M85 spring.

ninjastrike45 · 06-01-2010, 11:10 AM

How heavy is the gun it seems like it would be a bit top heavy do to the external battery pack

**Wookie** · 06-01-2010, 03:32 PM

Nice review Toph, i myself purchased the same exact gun around last year and i would agree that it is a very solid gun and very solid feeling. Also my stock was a little wobbly as well but i replaced it. I put some upgrades into mine around Christmas time, but now I am very sad to have to sell it because i need cash. Great gun overall though! Love it and is 100% worth the purchase. I hate to see this gun go.

**TOPH** · 06-03-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjastrike45

How heavy is the gun it seems like it would be a bit top heavy do to the external battery pack

It's actually well balanced when the battery is in the stock, but when you put the battery in the front it just gets front heavy.

And Wookie: Thanks for the comments! I'm starting to see more replacement parts for the SCAR's like stocks and such. So for those of you with broken stocks, check out Evike they had them last time I checked.

JSA93 · 06-04-2010, 10:32 PM

I've never held a scar. Do they have a good feel to them?

**Wookie** · 06-05-2010, 10:01 AM

Very good feel, very solid feeling and easy to move.

**Palafoxx** · 06-05-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSA93

I've never held a scar. Do they have a good feel to them?

You know that the answer to your question is going to be different for each person that holds the gun, right?
Are you 4' tall, and weigh 80 pounds, or are you 6'10" and weigh in at 300 lbs?
Come to a game, and check it out for yourself. I'm sure Toph will let you hold the SCAR for $10.

**TOPH** · 06-05-2010, 11:23 AM

Palafoxx is right, each gun is going to feel different to each person, depending on size, and your preference. If your ever at a game you may gladely hold it.

XxM4a1killerxX · 05-17-2011, 03:19 PM

What is that piece of material in the sling mount of your gun of the stock??? I have an ez sling for my mp5 but the holes on the scar are to small to latch the sling on from what i see that would work perfect.