This one’s really growing on me because it’s not your standard AR platform. We review a lot of AR-style rifles (and there’s nothing wrong with ARs, they’re popular for a reason), but this one has a very different vibe. It’s based on the SA80 British service rifle design and comes in a compact bullpup layout that gives you a long inner barrel without needing a long overall rifle.
Today’s Table Top Review is the G&G L85A2 (A2 version) ETU Airsoft AEG Rifle — and yes, a full Shooting / Field Test Video will be coming shortly. I definitely want to get this one out and properly test it.
This model is available in our Canada store. At the time of recording this review, it wasn’t available in the US store, but I’ll add an equivalent/similar US option (or a list of comparable AEG rifles) in the post links.
Specifications:
Manufacturer / Distributor: G&G (Made in Taiwan)
Replica Of: SA80 / L85A2 (British 5.56×45 NATO service rifle family)
Platform: Airsoft AEG (Electric)
Ammunition: 6mm plastic airsoft BBs
Operation: AEG with simulated blowback (reciprocating bolt for a slight “tap” feel)
Fire Modes: Semi / Full Auto (and programmable for 3-round burst via MOSFET programming)
ETU System: Programmable MOSFET + Electronic Trigger Unit (ETU)
Motor: High-torque motor (rated around 25,000 RPM)
Gearbox / Internals: Full metal gearbox, heat-treated metal gear set
Bushings: 8mm oilless bushings for smoother gear rotation
Hop-Up: Adjustable hop-up (access via dust cover)
Trigger: AEG electric trigger (single-action-only style in practical terms)
Safety: Cross-bolt safety
Sights: Metal, fully adjustable front & rear
Front: elevation
Rear: windage
Rear peep sight includes two aperture sizes
Weight: 6.0 lbs (2.7 kg)
Overall Length: 27.5 in (70 cm)
Inner Barrel Length: 16 in (40.6 cm)
Magazine: 450-round high-cap AR-style AEG magazine (AR/M4-style AEG mags should fit)
Velocity: Approx. 370–400 FPS with 0.20g BBs (varies by setup/conditions)
Top Rail: Yes (carry handle/rear sight assembly sits here; optics possible with a riser)
Flash Hider: Metal AR-style, black (no orange tip on this one)
Sling Mounts: Multiple mounting points; front appears reversible L/R, rear has mounts on both sides
Build Quality & Materials:
This rifle has a really solid, substantial feel and is nicely balanced. There’s a lot of metal here.
Notable metal parts include (from what you can see and feel):
Upper & lower receiver areas
Carry handle / rear sight assembly
Front & rear sights
Magazine (metal high-cap)
Trigger guard (metal for sure)
Barrel, flash hider
Sling mounts, pins/screws, switches and assorted hardware
Polymer / rubber components include:
Handguards
Pistol grip
Cheek rest area (polymer)
Butt plate (rubber)
Overall: it looks great, feels great, and doesn’t feel “toy-ish” at all.
In the Box:
G&G L85A2 ETU AEG rifle
1× metal high-cap magazine
Cleaning rod
Product brochure / extra paperwork
Transport muzzle cover / cap
Manual access via QR scan (links to G&G’s online manual)
Walk Around Notes:
A few highlights from handling it up close:
Bullpup layout: compact overall, but the barrel/inner barrel length is still substantial.
Sighting system: the carry handle doubles as the rear sight platform with flip apertures.
Optics compatibility: you can mount an optic on the top rail, but you’ll likely want a riser so your eye line sits naturally.
Dust cover + hop-up access: you can open the cover and access hop-up adjustments the normal AEG way.
Charging handle note: my rifle did not come with the charging handle piece. I checked my unboxing footage and it wasn’t on there and it wasn’t in the box. It’s not essential for function, but at this price point it’s something you’ll want to confirm is included on yours.
Battery Compartment:
The battery area is under the handguard, and here’s the main downside:
If you’re running a larger battery, you’ll likely need to remove hardware (including the sling mount and a bolt) to open the lower handguard section.
With smaller nunchuck-style batteries, you may be able to fit them in with less disassembly, but bigger packs will probably require tools.
So yes: it works, but it’s not a quick tool-free battery swap design.
Quick Function Check:
I did a quick dry-fire demo using a 9.6V battery, and honestly it felt a bit underpowered/odd (some partial taps and inconsistent behavior). That could be the battery itself (mine was not great), but I would suggest this rifle will really come alive with a proper 11.1V LiPo and hope to use this setup in the field test video.
I’ve seen demos where the rate of fire is very high using an 11.1V setup, so that’s what I’ll be testing with for the shooting video.
Pros:
Lots of metal in the construction with a super solid weight, feel, and balance
Unique bullpup British-style rifle (not just another AR build)
Simulated blowback adds a bit of feedback vs. standard AEGs
Works with AR/M4-style AEG magazines (easy to find replacements/midcaps/highcaps)
Good optics flexibility on the top rail (carry handle sight system included, or add your own)
Programmable fire mode: Full Auto or 3-round burst
No orange tip (and if you prefer one for visibility, you can always add your own)
Cons:
Limited accessory mounting options (mostly just the top rail; not a modern “add rails everywhere” setup)
Battery access can require tools and disassembly, especially for larger batteries
Priced on the higher side (around $600+ CAD)
My sample was missing the charging handle part, check yours when it arrives
Final Thoughts:
This is a really nice AEG. It feels premium in the hands, the two-tone green looks great, and it’s a cool change from the sea of AR platforms, while still keeping things practical with AR-style AEG mag compatibility.
The simulated blowback isn’t going to replace the feel of a true gas blowback rifle, but it’s a nice touch, and paired with the ETU/MOSFET system and upgraded internals, it helps justify why this model sits in a higher price bracket.
Next up: the field test / shooting video, ideally with a proper 11.1V battery so we can see what this rifle really does when it’s running at its best.
Availability:
And remember we carry air guns, BB guns, airsoft guns, pellet guns, blank guns, and accessories in both our Canada and US stores.
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