Specna Arms SA-E09-RH EDGE 2.0™ Carbine AEG w/Heavy Ops Stock

Specna Arms are really going for unique looks now the AR platform is becoming a bit boring and every day, and we are happy to see it! The -RH series make use of Specna's newly designed receiver, complete with gripping texture, weight-reducing cuts and ambidextrous controls. Being an EDGE 2.0™ replica, we are in for a treat on the inside, with the Gate ASTER MOSFET taking centre stage and giving the SA-E09-RH superb out-of-the-box performance, coupled with the renowned ORION reinforced version 2 gearbox and a high torque motor. If you have been holding your breath for an affordable pre-upgraded AR with a unique look you can now inhale! 

Starting at the tip of the 14.5-inch outer barrel we can find a birdcage flash hider which is constructed from alloy, concealing 14mm CCW male threading beneath. The birdcage is a bit of a boring design for such a flashy AR but thanks to the common 14mm CCW threading you can attach whatever muzzle device you like, including tracer units for the CQB players and suppressors for the sneaky bois. 

The outer barrel is constructed from alloy and has a smooth profile, sitting in line with modern tactical AR designs and avoiding the lazy option of using an M4A1 profile barrel. The handguard is constructed from aluminium and has a 20mm Picatinny rail at the 12 o'clock position with KeyMod slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. The SA-E09-RH comes with three 20mm Picatinny rails for KeyMod, and each has a QD sling socket in the centre. Make sure you test these sockets with your own swivels before entrusting them with the weight of the rifle as specs often vary between brands and a loose swivel may mean your rifle takes a tumble!

The 20mm Picatinny rails can be repositioned to wherever you want them on the KeyMod slots of the handguard or removed entirely if you prefer a slick front end. Also included in the box is a stubby vertical foregrip for KeyMod to give you additional leverage when transitioning between targets. The KeyMod handguard allows the front end of the SA-E09-RH to be light and easy to point while still allowing it to be decked to the nines with accessories. At the 12 o'clock position you will find the Specna Arms flip-up aperture iron sights already installed, and these can be used either as a primary sighting system, left flipped down in favour of an optical sight or removed entirely to save weight. 

As we reach the receiver of the SA-E09-RH we start to find the interesting stuff. The receiver itself is designed from a blank slate by Specna and has a unique look which mimics real steel "billet" receivers with Specna's own stylistic touches. The front of the magazine well has gripping texture to aid shooting using the "magwell grip", giving you another point of control for when things get a bit cramped in CQB.

The sides of the magazine well and receiver are weight reduced via deep cuts which keep the receiver light as a feather despite its robust alloy construction. The controls are all enlarged, making them even easier to reach and use than a normal M4, and the dummy forward assist and brass deflector on the right side of the upper are angular in shape, fitting in well with the modernised AR look of the SA-E09-RH. 

The magazine release is right where it usually would be, on the right side of the magwell. This mag release has been significantly enlarged to allow for easy use with thick gloves and has deep texture on its surface to ensure you hit it positively with every reload. The mag release is also ambidextrous, being present on the left side in the form of a raised catch with a slightly smaller but still textured contact surface. This makes the SA-E09-RH perfect for left-handed shooters, or those who like to switch shoulders to make the best use of cover. 

The fire selector is also a new design, also seen on the recently released SA-X series of AR-9 AEGs. The selector is reprofiled and shaped with a wider contact surface than a conventional selector and also has angled linear texture on its surface for enhanced grip and a modern look. The selector is also ambidextrous and has a 90-degree throw between each mode, making it fast to use with little chance of knocking the selector out of place inadvertently. 

The charging handle is the standard Specna Arms extended design with an enlarged latch to make it easy to use when you need it. Pulling the charging handle back will open the steel dust cover and retract the mock bolt, revealing the rotary HOP-up unit beneath. The rotary design is the latest for the M4/AR15 platform and is known to hold its setting for longer than the legacy gear adjuster style as well as providing finer increments of adjustment for a more precise HOP-up setting. This HOP-up unit has the Specna Arms Helium Flat HOP-up rubber installed, giving you an out-of-the-box "flat HOP" for extended range with heavier BBs. Pairing this HOP-up unit and rubber with the 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel gives the SA-E09-RH tremendous accuracy potential as long as you do your part!

Within the trigger guard, we can find the flat trigger, but this isn't just any flat trigger! This is the Gate Solar trigger, based on their successful Quantum trigger. Designed to interact with the optical sensors inside the Gate ASTER MOSFET/ETU, the Solar allows the trigger travel and the sensitivity to be adjusted to suit your preferences using Gate's Control Station app, the Gate Blu-Link or USB-Link (available separately). The flat trigger design is perfect for rapid semi-auto shots in CQB and has a textured front surface for optimal grip, and a short finger ledge to keep your trigger finger where it needs to be.

The SA-E09-RH's pistol grip is a modern ergonomic design with a filled backstrap and textured panels on either side for optimal gripping qualities. The grip is set at a more vertical angle than usual, making it great for use with modern shooting stances and pairing perfectly with the super compact PDW stock, adding to the beastly CQB qualities of the platform.

Between the receiver and buffer tube we can find an ambidextrous sling plate, allowing left or right-handed shooters to set the SA-E09-RH up with a single-point sling. The sling plate is constructed from steel to guarantee the strength needed to support the weight of the rifle and can also be paired with a front sling point for those who like a two-point sling setup. The buffer tube follows just after and has a steel castle nut with knurling on its surface. This is present to aid you in removing the stock and buffer tube to access the ESA2™ quick change spring system, allowing for quick power tuning without messing around inside the gearbox. 

The buffer tube is constructed from alloy and provides 6 positions of adjustment for the Specna Arms Heavy Ops stock which is installed on the rifle as it comes. This stock is larger in overall form than most carbine stocks but is very comfortable thanks to its grippy rubber butt plate and rubberised cheek pads. The other advantage of this stock is its absolutely huge battery compartment which allows for far bigger LiPo batteries to be used than a standard Crane stock which is designed for cylindrical NiMH battery cells. To access the battery compartment you will need to squeeze the tabs on either side of the butt plate and push them through to remove it. Next, remove the battery compartment plug at the top of the stock. This should reveal the battery compartment, and the Deans battery connector within.

We recommend a 7.4v 1300mAh LiPo Battery in nunchuck/crane configuration to make the most of the amply sized battery compartment in the SA-E09-RH. If you already have a pile of batteries with mini-Tamiya connectors fear not, as the SA-E09-RH comes with a Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter included in the box. 

Inside the SA-E09-RH we are treated to the usual Specna Arms goodies, starting with the ORION™ gearbox. The ORION™ boasts a reinforced polymer piston with steel teeth, an aluminium nozzle and cylinder head, a quick change spring guide equipped with ball bearings to reduce rotational stress, and a solid set of steel gears running on 8mm ball bearing bushings. Sounds good, but it gets even better!

The SA-E09-RH is pre-wired with the Gate ASTER MOSFET/ETU which provides superior electrical efficiency, protects your battery from reverse polarity and has a whole host of advanced smart functions which can be unlocked by using the Gate Control Station app, the Gate Blu-link, the Gate USB-link or the Gate Programming card (available separately). To give the gearbox the pull it needs to do the ASTER justice, Specna has installed a high torque motor with Neodymium magnets which helps with the split-second trigger response but is also capable of pulling far stronger springs than the M90 which comes pre-installed.

So, for those who have their eyes on an AR but don't want the normal "milspec" receiver look, the SA-E09-RH would be perfect. The modern receiver design is unlike anything else out there, and with ambidextrous controls and EDGE 2.0™ internals, you will be hard-pressed to contend with the SA-E09-RH in game! 

Features

• Full metal construction
• Gate ASTER MOSFET pre-installed
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel
• Rotary HOP-up unit - The latest design for the M4/AR15
• 14mm CCW male threaded barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• ORION™ Version 2 Gearbox - Loads of reinforced parts
• KeyMod handguard with pre-installed 20mm rail sections - Ready for accessories
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Optical sights are a go
• ESA2™ Quick change spring system - Easy power tuning
• Unique "billet" style receiver with weight reducing cuts 
• Ambidextrous fire selector switch - Modernised design with enlarged surfaces
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Great for left-handed shooters, enlarged for faster reloads
• Textured magazine well to aid with the "magwell grip"
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Filled backstrap, reduced grip angle
• 6-Position M4/AR15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit any body type or preference
• Specna Arms Heavy Ops Stock pre-installed - Ergonomic design, massive battery compartment
• Steel ambidextrous sling plate - Perfect for a single-point sling
• Gate "Solar" trigger pre-installed - Adjustable trigger travel & sensitivity using Gate Blu-link, USB-Link

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-E09-RH EDGE 2.0™ Carbine AEG w/Heavy Ops Stock
• 130rnd S-MAG Mid-cap magazine x 2
• Stubby vertical foregrip for KeyMod
• Deans to mini-Tamiya battery adapter
• User manual

Special Instructions

This AEG has the Gate ASTER MOSFET/ETU pre-installed. For more information on the ASTER and what it can do, check out our blog on the ASTER here.