ARCTURUS AK-74 Tactical Custom FE™ AEG

Suggested Accessories

Tracer Units: PTS Dead Air Wolverine Tracer Unit | EMG KAC QDC Tracer Unit | EMG Guardian Tracer Unit

Optics: Vector Optics ZOD LPVO Scope | Big Dragon Miniature Red Dot Sight | Delta Armory Holo-551 Red Dot

Foregrips: Replica Angled Grip | Element Stubby Grip | Big Dragon Folding Grip | 5KU Russian Aluminium Grip

Other: M-ETAL M-LOK QD Sling Mount | HASTA Adaptive Mission Sling Gen.4 (M-ETAL Sling Mount required for Two-Point use)

Platform Details

Starting at the tip of the 12-inch steel outer barrel, we are greeted with a monstrous muzzle brake with a seriously mean look. This muzzle brake wouldn't look out of place on a Barrett .50 cal, but if you want a more subtle front-end look, you can mount a tracer unit, suppressor or alternative flash hider to the 14mm CCW male barrel threads. 

The threads are located immediately before the gas tube, and the muzzle brake is held on with a grub screw, so make sure you remove this before attempting to unscrew the muzzle device. If you need a trendy tracer which suits a US Civilian tactical AK build, we recommend the PTS Dead Air Wolverine.

The gas tube, like the vast majority of metal parts on the build, is constructed from steel with a realistic surface finish and is of the correct profile for 5.45 and 5.56 AK variants. The handguards follow just aft of the gas block and are inspired by the real-world TWS handguard, one of the latest enhanced AK parts out of the US civilian aftermarket.

The handguard is constructed from aluminium in a two-part configuration, with a 20mm Picatinny rail running along the upper handguard, and M-LOK slots on either side of the lower handguard with a 20mm Picatinny rail along the bottom.

This means you can mount your 20mm Picatinny accessories right away, with the option to use the side-mounted M-LOK slots for any additional bits. Using M-LOK on the sides gives the rifle a slim feel up front while still allowing a vertical or angled foregrip to be mounted to the lower rail for better control when transitioning quickly between targets.

Following the handguards, we come to the trunnion block, which is usually where we would find the rear sight on a standard AK platform. This AK platform is far from standard, so instead, we have a hinged top cover which mounts to the apparatus usually reserved for the tangent rear sight. This means that the receiver top cover stays on the weapon during a battery change, making it easier to handle in the field without losing parts.

To access the battery compartment, simply press the button at the rear of the top cover, and it can be lifted up, revealing a Deans battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1000mAh LiPo for an easy fit and solid performance. If you only have a mini-Tamiya battery handy, you'll be pleased to learn the set includes a Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter.

Next up, we arrive at the receiver, which, like other AKs, is comprised of two parts. The receiver top cover is hinged as previously mentioned, with a 20mm Picatinny rail machined into its upper surface to allow all manner of optical sights to be mounted, including red dot sight and magnifier combos. This receiver cover is not like older AK variants and is very tight to ensure you get a reliable zero with your optics even after a battery change.

The receiver itself follows the standard AK-47/74 format with a centrally positioned ambidextrous magazine release at the front of the trigger guard, a mock bolt carrier on the right side of the receiver and a 3-position fire selector on the right side. The fire selector provides 3 modes of fire: safe, full auto and semi-auto, in that order, just like a real AK. The fire selector has also been enhanced, featuring a welded-on extension to allow you to switch modes with your trigger finger without removing your hand from the pistol grip.

The mock bolt carrier boasts a realistic gunmetal grey finish, making it stand out with some subtle contrast, just like a real AK. Pull the bolt carrier back and hold it in place to access the ARCTURUS rotary HOP-up unit, a great design which improves significantly over the original slider unit. Turn the dial on the top to tune the amount of backspin applied to your BBs, seeking the flattest possible trajectory.

Surrounding the magazine well, you will see something which is not standard for AKs: a magazine well extension to allow for faster and easier reloads for decadent westerners. This magwell does its job well, and even if you are trying to miss the magwell, you will find it hard not to lock the mag in properly every time. If you are already a skilled AK operator, you may not need this, but thankfully, it can be removed via the Allen screws on the left side.

Over on the left side of the receiver, we have several authentic-looking mock rivets, all in the right place for a visually accurate AK replica. Between the mock rivets, we also have the old-school Russian AK side rail, just in case you want to mount a crusty old PSO-1 on this space-aged AK. You probably won't be using this side rail, but there is no harm in having the option of using both modern western accessories and Cold War coolness should it take your fancy.

The pistol grip is a fantastic design, an ergonomic shape with stipple texture panels on either side and linear serrations on the front and rear. The edges of the grip are bevelled to allow a smooth transition to the trigger guard, reducing hand fatigue when shooting for long durations, with a finger ledge at the bottom to keep the rifle firmly in your grasp during energetic advances.

As we move past the receiver, we can say "ta-ta" to the AK features. From here to the rear, it's all M4/AR-15. The receiver leads onto a 6-position AR buffer tube, sandwiching a steel ambidextrous sling plate between it and the rear of the receiver. 

The sling plate is ideally positioned for a single-point sling, but can also be used to mount a two-point sling if you add an M-LOK or 20mm Picatinny front sling point to the handguard. The sling plate is made from robust steel, an essential for a rifle of such a hefty, realistic weight (3.4kg!). This should avoid any chance of failure, provided your sling is of good quality.

The stock is a unique ARCTURUS design, taking the best aspects of several real steel AR stocks and combining them for the best of all worlds. The stock is an A-frame design with an adjustment lever within the frame, avoiding the chances of a snag and adding strength. The butt plate is rubber and has linear gripping texture to keep it firmly in your shoulder in all weather conditions.

At the rear end of the stock, we can find a QD sling socket on either side, which can be used with QD sling swivels and a front QD Sling Point for those who like a quick detachable sling setup. 

The stock also has Crane stock-style integral storage areas inside its cheekpiece, which are accessed by turning the dial on the butt plate by 90 degrees, after which the stock will hinge open. Inside, you can put tools, cleaning supplies, spare batteries or mid-skirmish snacks, saving room in your pouches!

Internals

Inside, the AK-74 Tactical Custom is based around a version 3 gearbox with upgradable, TM-compatible internals. The steel 18:1 ratio gears run on 8mm ball bearing bushings for reduced friction and stress on the gearbox shell. The quick-change spring guide is also constructed from steel and mounted on ball bearings to prolong the life of the spring. The pre-installed neodymium 21TPA High Torque motor combines perfectly with the CNC steel gearset for an impressive trigger response, made even better by the FE™ programmable MOSFET/ETU.

The FE™ MOSFET is the star of the show, offering a wide variety of programmable options, including multiple alternative fire modes, a two-stage "progressive" trigger and trigger sensitivity adjustment, to name a few. This is an advanced MOSFET to find pre-installed in an AEG, and we love ARCTURUS for giving us such amazing internals straight out of the box.

The MOSFET can also be set for pre-cocking and active braking and is fully user-configurable via the fire controls of the AEG, meaning no need for aftermarket programmers, connecting to your PC or phone or any other faffing; simply program your preferred configuration using combinations of fire selector movement and trigger pulls (a programming card with instructions is included in the box).

Features

• Full metal construction - High proportion of steel components
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Muzzle brake pre-installed - Intimidating front end looks
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Ready for suppressors and tracers
• M-LOK/20mm Picatinny hybrid handguard - Rails top and bottom, M-LOK on the sides
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights and scopes!
• Flared magazine well - Makes reloads easier and quicker
• Extended fire selector - Change modes with the trigger finger from a firing grip
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Very comfy, similar design to PTS EPG and Magpul MOE/MIAD
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally positioned, great for left or right-handed users
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Steel construction, between the grip and buffer tube
• Hinged receiver top cover - Easy battery changes in the field
• 6-Position M4/AR15 buffer tube - Adjustable for any body type or loadout
• ARCTURUS enhanced M4/AR-15 stock - Low-profile adjustment lever, large battery space & QD sling socket
• Compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG stocks - Plenty of stock options
• Grippy rubber butt plate - No issues in wet weather or with body armour
• Version 3 Gearbox:
  • 18:1 Ratio CNC Steel gears
  • 8mm Ball bearing bushings
  • Polymer piston with steel tooth rack
  • CNC POM Nozzle
  • CNC Steel Cylinder
  • FE™ Programmable ETU/MOSFET
  • 21TPA High-torque motor
• FE™ MOSFET functions:
  • Burst Modes - Various durations
  • Adjustable active braking - 8 Levels
  • Adjustable pre-cocking - 7 Levels
  • Binary trigger
  • Binary trigger with ramping full auto
  • Low battery protection
  • Electronic fuse
  • Adjustable trigger sensitivity
  • Adjustable trigger reset distance
• Compatible with AK-47/74 AEG magazines:
  • ARCTURUS 30/130rnd Variable-Cap Mod.1
  • ARCTURUS 30/130rnd AK-12 Variable-Cap Mag
  • ARCTURUS 550rnd AK-12 High-cap Mag

Package Includes

• ARCTURUS AK-74 Tactical Custom FE™ AEG
  • 30/130rnd Adjustable capacity magazine
  • Flip-up iron sight set
  • Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter

Special Instructions

Please note: Due to the design of the AK-74 Tactical Custom, scratches will develop in certain areas from normal use. This is unavoidable, and many of our ARCTURUS AEGs already have these scratches from the factory due to the testing and QC process.

An example of such scratches is the AK "selector lever scratch", a scratch which develops beneath the AK-style fire selector from use.

These scratches are part of a realistic AK look and will develop over time regardless of whether they are present initially or not. Please consider this carefully before making your purchase.