Ares/EMG Officially Licensed Kel-Tec RDB17 Bullpup AEG Airsoft Rifle in Black

Ares/EMG Officially Licensed Kel-Tec RDB17 Bullpup AEG Airsoft Rifle in Black

The Ares/EMG Kel-Tec RDB17 Bullpup AEG Airsoft Rifle in Black is a seriously distinctive option for players who fancy stepping away from the endless sea of M4s without giving up practical magazine compatibility or modern electronics. Officially licensed through EMG, this airsoft rifle reproduces the unusual Kel-Tec RDB17 layout complete with authentic trademarks and laser-engraved markings. The bullpup configuration places the magazine and gearbox behind the trigger, resulting in an airsoft gun measuring approximately 695mm overall while still squeezing in an impressive 430mm inner barrel. In the shoulder it feels compact and surprisingly manageable, particularly when moving through doorways, dense woodland or awkward bits of cover.

That 430mm inner barrel is one of the clever parts of the RDB17 package. You are getting the sort of barrel length normally associated with a considerably longer Airsoft AEG, yet there isn't a huge front end swinging around every time you change direction. At approximately 3kg, the rifle has enough substance to feel reassuring without becoming an anchor after several hours of play. The main body is made from high-density nylon fibre reinforced polymer, matching the construction style of the RDB platform, while metal components are used around areas such as the outer barrel and breech assembly. It feels purposeful rather than unnecessarily heavy.

Working from front to back, the muzzle features a 14mm CCW thread, giving you the option of fitting compatible tracer units, flash hiders or mock suppressors. Above it sits a full-length 20mm Picatinny top rail with plenty of room for a compact red dot, holographic-style sight or magnified optic. There's also a lower accessory rail beneath the handguard for compatible lights, grips or a bipod. The battery lives inside that front handguard and connects through a Deans/T-Plug connector. It's a sensible use of otherwise empty bullpup space and helps keep the rear of the rifle from feeling overly crowded.

Inside, ARES has fitted its metal E.F.C.S. gearbox, and this is where the RDB17 starts to separate itself from older bullpup electric rifles. Traditional bullpup AEG trigger linkages can sometimes feel long and slightly vague because the actual gearbox sits well behind your trigger finger. Here, a microswitch trigger works alongside the ARES Electronic Fire Control System and MOSFET, giving the trigger input a cleaner, more immediate character. Ever used an old-school bullpup where the trigger feels like you're sending a message to the gearbox by post? Yeah, this arrangement is considerably nicer. Semi-auto in particular feels much more natural.

The gearbox itself comes equipped with full steel gears, an 8mm bushing and bearing hybrid arrangement, a high-torque motor and a quick spring change system. That's a useful specification for an Airsoft AEG intended to see regular skirmish use. The quick spring system also makes maintenance and spring changes less of a wrestling match when access is required. Feeding the BBs is an adjustable rotary hop-up system, allowing you to fine-tune backspin for your chosen BB weight. Better still, the adjustment screwdriver has its own storage location inside the pistol grip. A tiny detail, perhaps, but anyone who has spent ten minutes digging through a kit bag for one small tool will appreciate it.

The RDB17 also carries over the ambidextrous thinking behind the original Kel-Tec design. Both the fire selector and magazine release are arranged for operation from either side, which is particularly useful for left-handed airsoft players and anyone who regularly switches shoulders around cover. Once you've spent a little time getting accustomed to the rearward magazine position, the rifle handles very naturally. The balance sits closer to your body than on many conventional assault rifle layouts, so the front end doesn't constantly feel as though it's trying to pull the muzzle towards the floor.

Magazine compatibility is another practical win. Rather than tying the RDB17 to an obscure proprietary magazine, ARES has designed this airsoft gun around standard M4 and AR-15 STANAG-pattern AEG magazines. If you've already got a pouch full of M4 mid-caps, there's a good chance you won't need to start your magazine collection from scratch. Two magazines are included as standard: a conventional 130-round mid-cap and a compact 100-round mid-cap. The shorter magazine looks particularly tidy in the bullpup layout and helps reduce snagging when you're crawling around barricades or squeezing through tight CQB spaces.

As a complete package, the Ares/EMG Kel-Tec RDB17 offers an unusual mix of compact handling and full-length airsoft rifle features. You have a 695mm bullpup body wrapped around a 430mm inner barrel, a rotary adjustable hop-up, modern E.F.C.S. electronics, a MOSFET, microswitch trigger, steel gearbox gears and familiar M4 magazine compatibility. Add the official Kel-Tec licensing and those unmistakable RDB lines and you've got an Airsoft AEG that stands apart without being awkward simply for the sake of being different. For players after a bullpup assault rifle with genuinely useful features rather than another conventional AR-style platform, the RDB17 makes a very interesting case for itself.

Highlights

• Officially licensed Kel-Tec RDB17 design with authentic trademarks and laser-engraved markings 
• Compact bullpup configuration with approximately 695mm overall length
• 430mm inner barrel for full-length rifle performance in a shorter package
• ARES E.F.C.S. metal gearbox with MOSFET and microswitch trigger
• Full steel gearbox gears, 8mm hybrid bearing/bushing system and high-torque motor
• Ambidextrous fire selector and magazine release controls
• Compatible with standard M4 / AR-15 STANAG-pattern AEG magazines
• Full-length 20mm Picatinny top rail and lower accessory rail
• Adjustable rotary hop-up with adjustment tool stored inside the pistol grip
• Quick spring change system for easier spring access
• Deans / T-Plug battery connection with battery storage in the front handguard
• 14mm CCW muzzle thread for compatible airsoft accessories

What's Included

• 1x Ares/EMG Kel-Tec RDB17 Bullpup AEG Airsoft Rifle in Black 
• 1x 130-Round Long Mid-Cap Magazine
• 1x 100-Round Short Mid-Cap Magazine
• 1x Hop-Up Adjustment Tool / Screwdriver

Technical Specifications

• Brand: EMG / ARES
• Model: Kel-Tec RDB17
• Type: Bullpup AEG / Airsoft Electric Gun
• Colour: Black
• Licensing: Official Kel-Tec licensing via EMG
• Overall Length: Approximately 695mm
• Weight: Approximately 3kg
• Inner Barrel Length: 430mm
• Main Body Material: Nylon fibre reinforced polymer
• Outer Barrel: Metal
• Gearbox: Metal ARES E.F.C.S.
• Electronic Fire Control: ARES E.F.C.S.
• MOSFET: Yes
• Trigger: Microswitch
• Gear Set: Full steel
• Bushings / Bearings: 8mm hybrid system
• Motor: High torque
• Quick Spring Change: Yes
• Hop-Up: Adjustable rotary type
• Magazine Compatibility: Standard M4 / AR-15 STANAG AEG magazines
• Included Magazine Capacity: 130 rounds and 100 rounds
• Fire Selector: Ambidextrous
• Magazine Release: Ambidextrous
• Battery Connector: Deans / T-Plug
• Battery Compartment: Front handguard
• Top Rail: Full-length 20mm Picatinny
• Lower Accessory Rail: Yes
• Muzzle Thread: 14mm CCW