Specna Arms SA-J08 EDGE™ 2.0 AKS-105 AEG w/Gate ASTER™ MOSFET

The Specna Arms SA-J08 combines the 12.4-inch barrel and combination front sight/gas block of the AK-105 rifle with the classic real wood furniture and steel skeleton folding stock of the iconic cold war era AKS-74, giving you a unique AK platform rifle which combines the best looking aspects of this seemingly ageless platform.

Being constructed almost entirely from steel with a few alloy parts thrown in, the SA-J08 tips the scales at a healthy but not unwieldy 3KG, granting it a realistic feel while keeping it skirmishable for the type of player that likes to remain mobile and able to advance rapidly when needed.

As with other Specna Arms EDGE 2.0 platforms, almost everything inside is upgraded, with the notable Gate ASTER MOSFET taking centre stage and keeping the ferocious and robust ORION reinforced version 3 gearbox in check and running at its absolute best. The inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore, pairing perfectly with the Helium™ flat HOP-up bucking and alloy HOP-up unit to give this mid-length AK rifle the range to compete with the big boys.

Starting at the tip of the steel outer barrel we can find an AK-105 style gas booster muzzle brake, which is intended in the real AK-105 to direct additional gas back into the operating mechanism to ensure the rifle keeps the AK typical reliability with its shortened barrel. The muzzle brake mounts to a 24mm CW adapter mounted over the 14mm CCW male threads at the tip of the 12.4-inch outer barrel and can be swapped out for a suppressor or tracer unit if you are going for more of a Spetsnaz look for your AK, which is very fitting for a -105 as this is the variant they are most commonly sighted wielding.

To remove the muzzle brake from the 24mm CW adapter you will need to hold the steel detent on the right side of the front sight down as you unthread the gas booster, and to access the 14mm CCW male threading you will need to remove the grub screw in the adapter before unscrewing it.

The alloy front sight of the SA-J08 mounts directly to its outer barrel and provides an adjustable front post with protective wings to ensure an accidental bump or scrape does not render your sights useless. The sight itself is a fine post which aligns well with the rear tangent sight, providing a wide field of view so you can effectively track and engage moving targets.

The front sight block of the AKS-105 is combined with the gas block, reducing the weight and allowing the -105 to use the same length bolt carrier/long stroke piston setup as a full length AK, unlike its super short sibling, the AKS-74U. This both simplifies logistics for real world use and is a big part of what makes the AK-105 such a looker. Many call the AK-105 "the prettiest AK" and this variant is made all the prettier thanks to its real wood handguards!

The dummy gas block/front sight assembly is constructed from alloy with a convincing gun metal finish applied, matching the finish applied to the trunnion block for a realistic look which is a close match to real AK rifles. The gas block connects to the stamped steel gas tube which has a steel handguard cap built in, retaining the real wood upper handguard the same way as a real AK.

As part of the classic AK aesthetic, we can find a dummy cleaning rod running parallel to the outer barrel, stored on the weapon to give the Russian soldier less to remember! This cleaning rod is constructed from steel and isn't intended for cleaning an Airsoft barrel, though it is a big part of what makes the iconic AK silhouette so recognisable.

Now we're in for a real treat, and by real, we mean real wood! The handguards not only look fantastic, constructed from high-quality wood with a deep and varied grain, cut neatly and sanded for a smooth finish but is also very comfortable. The sides of the lower handguard feature a slight bulge to allow "downforce" to be applied to control the recoil forces of the real AK and to provide extra purchase during wet weather operations.

The real wood lower handguard is held on using an alloy handguard cap with a sling point built into the left side and can be removed using the same method as in a real AK; by first removing the gas tube and upper handguard via the disassembly lever on the trunnion block, then turning the lever in the handguard cap to free the handguard up. This may not be needed for an AK AEG but the realism fans should get a kick out of this!

Moving on we come to the trunnion block. which provides the mounting point for the classic AK tangent rear iron sight. The rear sight provides multiple graduations for adjustment and is an open design and a fine rear sight notch. Adjustments can be applied by holding the textured buttons on either side of the sight drum down and sliding the drum back and forth on its base.

In classic AK style, the fire selector lever of the SA-J08 is positioned on the right side of the receiver, taking the form of a large lever which doubles as a dust cover when in "safe" mode. The lower-most setting is fully automatic, with the middle setting being semi-auto and the top setting being safe. Each fire mode is denoted by a crispy engraved authentic Russian Cyrillic marking, which adds some more realism to further elevate this already very realistic AK rifle replica.

AK fans will be happy to hear that the classic Russian AK dovetail side rail is featured on the left side of the receiver, allowing you to attach the authentic Russian or replica AK red dot sight or scope, or if you prefer a modern Western optic you can add a 20mm Picatinny rail adapter. As with other AK side rails, this side rail is NOT compatible with the SVD side rail mounts and only works with AK side rail mounts.

The receiver also features both real and mock rivets in all the right places, as well as the receiver strengthening dimples present on all Russian stamped AK receivers. The top cover is also stamped from steel and has all the correct reinforcement ribs to mimic the real AK-74 family. The SA-J08, like other Specna AKs, should definitely please the stitch counters!

To access the adjustable HOP-up unit of the SA-J08, simply hold the charging handle to the rear to reveal the alloy slider adjustable HOP unit. The slider unit is known as one of the best designs out there, and that is the reason this unit has not changed in design since the original Tokyo Marui AK-47 AEG. To increase the HOP effect, simply move the slider rearwards. Returning the slider to the front will reduce the HOP to its lowest setting. This unit is constructed from alloy instead of the usual polymer to add strength and minimise the chances of failure, and to make matters all the sweeter the pre-installed HOP-up rubber is a Helium™ flat HOP bucking, which should improve range and accuracy considerably compared to standard rubbers.

Being a top-wired design, the battery compartment of the SA-J08 is beneath the top cover. To access the battery compartment, simply press the button at the rear of the top cover and it should come straight off, revealing the Deans battery connector. We recommend a 7.4V LiPo battery in AK stick configuration for the SA-J08 but you can just about squeeze in certain stick batteries designed for AR buffer tubes if you are very careful when reinstalling the top cover.

With the battery connected and installed, you can place the top cover back into the SA-J08, align the button with the hole in the rear of the top cover, and pull the charging handle to lock the cover down if necessary. The top cover is very tightly fitted so it won't wobble but as a result, is quite hard to reinstall. We suggest being aware of the location of the wiring and avoiding slapping the top cover down if it doesn't want to go on.

The pistol grip is a standard AKM/AK74 type pistol grip that features a diamond-checkered pattern on either side that ensures the rifle stays firm in your grasp, no matter the weather. The trigger guard and magazine release can be found just ahead of the pistol grip and are constructed from steel to provide solid magazine locking and ample rigidity. The magazine release is placed in the centre of the receiver and is accessible from either side of the AEG. The magazine retention system of the AK platform is a "rock and lock" motion, requiring you to first index the front "hook" on the magazine inside the receiver, then rock the magazine rearwards to engage the catch.

The stock of the SA-J08 is constructed from steel and is a classic AKS-74 style stock providing strength and keeping the weight low due to its skeleton design. To fold the stock to the side, simply press the button on the left side of the rear of the receiver, fold the stock to the left side and lock it on its hook. To unfold the stock, lift the locking latch on the receiver to disengage the hook, and the stock can be folded into the deployed position and locked. The right side of the stock also features a steel sling loop which pairs well with the front sling point on the lower handguard cap, providing appropriate mounting apparatus for a two-point sling, but ideally suited to an AK47/74 sling.

Just like it is on the outside, the SA-J08 is impressively equipped internally, boasting Specna's ORION™ reinforced version 3 gearbox equipped with an aluminium piston head and cylinder head, a steel-toothed polycarbonate piston and reinforced steel gears. The spring guide is equipped with ball bearings in its base to reduce rotational stress on the spring, piston and gearbox shell, and is also quickly removable to allow for easy power tuning via the ESA™ quick change spring system. The inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore paired with the Helium™ flat HOP-up bucking and mounted into an alloy slider HOP-up unit, promising above-average range and accuracy.

The cherry on top of this AK is its pre-installed Gate ASTER™ MOSFET which improves electrical efficiency and raises the rate of fire and trigger response while allowing you to program the fire controls for burst modes of various durations, as well as binary trigger. With the "expert" firmware and the Gate Control Station app, you can unlock even more functions from the ASTER, including rate of fire adjustment, trigger sensitivity adjustment and pre-cocking. This is a seriously advanced ETU and we are always happy to see it installed into more and more platforms straight out of the box!

If you are the type of AK fan who appreciates a hybrid of the AK-105 with the classic looks of the AKS-74, the SA-J08 will suit you perfectly. The combination of robust and realistic full metal construction with the best aspects of the AK-105 and AKS-74 aesthetic backed up by advanced internal parts including the ASTER MOSFET, tightbore barrel and Helium™flat HOP-up bucking, this AKS-105 has it all. As both a looker and a killer, the SA-J08 is one to watch!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 14mm CCW male threaded barrel - 24mm CW adapter
• Gate ASTER MOSFET pre-installed - Click here to find out what it does!
• AK-105 Gas Booster flash hider - Authentic for AK-104/5 rifles
• Shortened 12.4-inch steel outer barrel - More compact and easier to manoeuvre
• Real wood AK-74 handguard - Great for the classic AK look
• Steel mock cleaning rod - An essential part of an authentic AK
• Steel outer barrel, gas tube, receiver, trigger guard, selector & top cover - Hefty!
• Sling points front and rear - Ready for a two-point rifle sling
• 3-Position steel fire selector - Safe - Full auto - Semi-auto
• Realistic disassembly - VFC style; All pins and levers, no screws
• Steel side folding skeleton stock - Great for storage and CQB scenarios
• Textured AKM/AK-74 pistol grip - Plenty of grip for wet weather work
• ORION™ Reinforced version 3 gearbox - Steel toothed piston, aluminium cylinder head & piston head
• ESA™ Quick change spring guide mounted on ball bearings - Reduced stress on the guide & spring
• Alloy slider adjustable HOP-up unit - Stronger than polymer units, little chance of failure
• Helium™ flat HOP-up bucking pre-installed - Serious range and accuracy potential
• 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel - Improved FPS and accuracy downrange
• Russian AK dovetail side rail - Allows for Russian AK optics and 20mm rail adapters to be mounted
• Includes 2 Specna Arms S-MAG AK Mid-caps - Compatible with AK AEG platform magazines

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-J08 EDGE™ 2.0 AKS-105 AEG w/Gate ASTER™ MOSFET
• 130rnd S-MAG AK Mid-cap magazines
• Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter
• User manual
• Cleaning rod