BELLISSIMO E UNICO!

IN AN AIRSOFT WORLD FULL OF ARS WHAT MAKES ONE STAND OUT FROM ANOTHER, AND WHAT FEATURES MAKE IT VISUALLY INTERESTING WHILST MAINTAINING EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE EVEN AS NEW? BILL RETURNS TO THE FOLD OF ITALIAN AIRSOFT MAESTROS EVOLUTION TO CHECK OUT THEIR VERY LATEST MODEL, THE GHOST 3.0 VIPER M, AND ONCE AGAIN COMES AWAY IMPRESSED BY “THAT CERTAIN SOMETHING ” THAT’S ON OFFER!

If I’ve heard the phrase “Oh, it’s just another M4!” once I’ve heard it a hundred times, and every time I hear or read it I wince… If someone said of the Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail “Oh, it’s just another car!” I bet many of you would take notice and respond “Yes, it’s a car, but it’s not a Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 now, is it?”

And the statement also makes me shake my head as real gun-bunnies will know that the “M4” is a very specific military platform, and what we’re talking about with one of the most widespread and prolific AEGs out there is actually an “AR”… and ARs, as differences that make them all unique, and keep my shooting life interesting.

And there’s definitely one manufacturer that I expect uniqueness from, and that’s EVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL! My friends in Italy, and I view them as such, do things differently, not only in the AEGs that they create, but also in the way that they approach the industry, and the community in general… they are real, genuine people that I get on with very well indeed, we also see in the real world come in different guises! Whilst the overall silhouette of the AR is completely distinctive there are many flavours, many levels of performance, and a widely disparate pricing structure… Yes, it may be an AR, but not all ARs are equal!

As with everything else in the world, one AEG, although looking generally similar to another, can be vastly different when it comes to how it looks and how it performs, and again I’m often asked “How can you write and be so enthusiastic about another AR variant when you’ve seen so many?”

The answer to this, my friends, is that there is ALWAYS something different about the ARs that I am privileged to evaluate, and it’s finding the and both Veronica and Sergio have become friends based not only on our shared experiences at shows (and love of good food!) and via our regular conversations, but also because of the passion they show in creating the welcoming atmosphere that surrounds the EVOLUTION airsoft brand.

Along with Sergio (the other one, da boss!) they are just incredibly professional and diligent, and everyone at EVOLUTION takes huge pride in what they create; although they don’t constantly release new models like some brands, what they do release is always meaningful, well thought out, and as I always say benefits from that certain “Italian Flair” that gives all of their products a thoroughly unique feel… yes, what they create adds to the AR-style AEG offerings on the market, but if you know what to look for both internally and externally their creations are undoubtedly their own, and you won’t mistake them for an AR from another airsoft manufacturer!

A Point Of Difference

But what makes an EVOLUTION AEG different from those already out there? As they say themselves of the very latest models:

“The Ghost 3.0 line is engineered to deliver high performance, precision, and absolute reliability. Entirely designed in Italy, the Ghost 3.0 is built for the most demanding players who expect the best from their gear in every game scenario – from CQB to the toughest and most extreme outdoor operations.”

And from the get-go, each of the three models in the Ghost 3.0 Viper series has an identity of its own, from the diminutive but aggressively style XS, through the CQB-style S variant, to the Ghost 3.0 Viper M which I had to test, a model that’s ready for just about any airsoft encounter you can imagine. All of the variants are built on a full-metal base but feature exclusive Evolutiondesigned upper and lower receivers made from Carbontech, a high-tech polymer that is lightweight yet ultra-resistant, further reinforced with an alloy core for superb levels of strength and durability without adding unnecessary weight.

Those that have any questions about Carbontech should realise that this in-house technology has been with EVOLUTION for some years now and is very much “tried and tested”, and that even the oldest models that we have using the same technology in long-term test are still standing up to abuse perfectly; the body of all the AEGs remains totally flex-free, and the difference compared to other polymer-bodied AEGs out there is very, very noticeable, in a very good way!

In addition to the signature upper and lower receiver sets, the Ghost 3.0 Viper M (I’ll just call it the Ghost from now on for ease) features the new EVOLUTION CARGO STOCK, designed in Italy and that we first saw in development at IWA 2024.

DEFINITELY ONE MANUFACTURER THAT I EXPECT UNIQUENESS FROM, AND THAT’S EVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL! MY FRIENDS IN ITALY, AND I VIEW THEM AS SUCH, DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, NOT ONLY IN THE AEGS THAT THEY CREATE, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY THAT THEY APPROACH THE INDUSTRY, AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL”

The Ghost also has the latest EMR (Evolution Modular Rail) aluminium M-LOK-style handguard with flat-top M-LOK solution rather than the standard picatinny, and one that has been completely redesigned and CNC-machined for extreme durability, and finished with Duralite™ for enhanced scratch and abrasion resistance. The new EMR handguard and free-float outer barrel are firmly attached to the upper receiver via a new CNC-machined barrel nut with threaded holes, and the EMR is fixed to the Barrel Nut with six steel bolts, creating a solid one-piece assembly between the barrel and upper receiver for extreme rigidity and zero flex.

Then there’s the new ergonomic motor grip of next-gen design that holds a High Torque 22000 RPM and the Tool-less Access Grip, the EVOLUTION TAG SYTEM, that offers toolfree motor access. To ensure toughness and durability to the rear of the Ghost, the stock slides on a solid alloy buffer tube instead of the standard plastic or polymer one used on many competitor products. In fact, there’s a massive amount of scrupulous attention to detail everywhere, in every component part, and the whole carbine looks both elegant but also aggressive with an excellent level of finish throughout, even down to the included M-LOK compatible polymer foregrip, steel sling mounts, and integrated flip-up sights.

When you look at an EVOLUTION AEG it’s obvious that it is different, and that it’s something just a bit special because IT IS different, and the Ghost certainly lives up to this EVOLUTION tradition… it looks simply great, and at 775mm/790mm long, and weighing in at just 2500g it feel great too!

Internally Unique

But it’s not just the excellent externals of the Ghost that make it special, as there’s a LOT more going on “under the hood”!

Inside the Ghost you get a reinforced alloy gearbox with 8mm self-lubricating steel bushings, PM steel gears with delayer for a high ROF, a high-speed piston with full steel teeth, and a spring guide with a forged steel core. The rotary hop-up system allows precise tuning while maintaining shot-to-shot consistency with most BB weights, and the 6.01 precision barrel with flared muzzle ensures consistent accuracy. Quick, tool-free access to the motor compartment and easy spring guide extraction without removing the gearbox make upgrades a simple affair should you wish to go down this route.

The VIPER Electronic Trigger provides advanced fire control management; unlike many other ETU systems, the VIPER is fully integrated and doesn’t require apps or external connections for programming… all the settings are managed directly through the trigger in a fast and intuitive way, even in-game. The ETU supports brushless motors, and the VIPER uses, as EVOLUTION tell me, “...a hybrid electronic architecture that combines optical and magnetic sensors to deliver the best of both worlds”.

And it most certainly does, as the main VIPER functions cover off 3-BB Burst, 5-BB Burst, Semi/ Full Auto/Binary Trigger, Sniper Mode, adjustable trigger responsiveness, adjustable trigger travel, adjustable pre-cocking, adjustable active brake, low voltage protection, high voltage protection, gearbox disaster protection, ROF over-speed protection, and stand-by mode… wow!

But that’s not all, as an AR stock is an AR stock, right? WRONG!

Although there’s plenty of space for highperformance batteries (the Ghost is 11.1V LiPo, LiFe, and Li-ion battery compatible) the new Evolution Cargo Stock has two side compartments that triple the available space for batteries, and the rotating butt-plate allows battery swaps without having to detach it from the stock, which makes swap-outs straightforward even in the heat of a firefight. The Cargo Stock also features a built-in safety system that automatically lifts the buttplate slightly if the wires are not positioned correctly, preventing them from being pinched, which anyone who has ever cooked off a LiPo will know can be the death of an AEG!

In addition to all of this the Ghost also arrives with the EVOLUTION Matrixx 140 BB mid-cap magazine (along with a 2000-count bag of EVOLUTIONs own .25g BBs!), a magazine that I have come to appreciate more and more for its toughness and consistency of feeding, not just in EVOLUTION platforms, but in many others too, and the cleverly designed front section near the mag-well acts as a firm index point for ultra-fast reloads under stress! It’s (again) unique texture not only allows full personalisation but also provides a solid hands-on tactile feel, even when wearing gloves.

Downrange

So, on the face of things EVOLUTION have yet again created an exemplary-looking AR AEG with a whole host of up-to-the-minute technology both inside and out… it’s kind of what I expect of them to be honest, but as always, how does the Ghost shoot?

The Ghost is an impressive carbine, and on an 11.1V LiPo it really does crack away! Bear in mind that many airsoft games these days will have strict ammo limits and you’re going to want to stick to semi-auto. I mention this as the Ghost comes with that excellent Matrixx 140 BB midcap which feeds absolutely flawlessly, and once loaded snaps into place with no wobble. I did try the Ghost with various Hi-Cap and Mid-Cap magazines and all functioned, fitted, and fed perfectly.

I loaded the Matrixx magazine up with a full complement of my usual 2.0g test BBs and got to work. 10 BBs through the chrono gave me a perfectly spot-on mean of 1 Joule/329fps, and the flat-face trigger proved both crisp and responsive. Moving up to those .25g BBs provided, and adjusting the hop (easy), setting targets out to 30 metres I was able to get reasonable groupings on semi-auto using the flip-up sights, with minimal opening out when I switched the selector up to 3 BB Burst (yes, I LIKE this setting!); fitting a holo sight up top on the upper receiver picatinny rail just made things even easier, and as the Ghost is certainly no slouch straight out of the box, it means you can buy it and get it straight in-game with no fuss whatsoever, even with your preferred optic mounted!

In a nutshell, and as I expected, this is a first rate AEG in terms of its unique look, feel and finish, and it works perfectly. You get everything that EVOLUTION have always been great at with the added bonus of a perfectly designed and smoothly functioning “OS” that you can set up just the way YOU like it. The EVOLUTION GHOST 3.0 VIPER M is exceptionally well-priced for what it offers, which means for what you’re getting is extremely good value for money.

My advice? If you’re a player looking for a high-performance, ready-to-use AEG, one that is durable yet lightweight, and you’re in the market for a thoroughly and beautifully modern AR which is most definitely NOT like any of the others out there, then definitely check out the EVOLUTION GHOST 3.0 VIPER M!

My thanks go to EVOLUTION AIRSOFT for providing the GHOST 3.0 for testing and evaluation, and to the guys at URBAN AIRSOFT for facilitating the delivery. Pay www.urbanairsoftuk. com a visit to check out the latest models from EVOLUTION - and a whole lot more airsoft goodness! AA

“AS I EXPECTED, THIS IS A FIRST RATE AEG IN TERMS OF ITS UNIQUE LOOK, FEEL AND FINISH, AND IT WORKS PERFECTLY. YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT EVOLUTION HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT AT WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF A PERFECTLY DESIGNED AND SMOOTHLY FUNCTIONING “OS” THAT YOU CAN SET UP JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT!”