Specna Arms SA-J04 EDGE™ AKS-74 AEG

Patterned after the Cold War-era AKS-74 issued to paratroopers and mechanised infantry, Specna's SA-J04 EDGE™ AKS-74 AEG is a fantastic addition to the affordable AK marketplace, boasting a solid full metal build with plenty of steel and pre-upgraded internals based around the ORION™ reinforced V3 gearbox. 

Inside, the ORION™ gearbox is kitted out with plenty of reinforced parts, including the shell itself, a ball bearing piston head made from aluminium, an aluminium cylinder head, 18:1 ratio steel gears and a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack. To make power tuning easy, the ball-bearing-equipped spring guide is an ESA™ quick-change example, saving you time and effort if you're the type to tune FPS to the limit. If you're an AK lover and fancy something a little more advanced and upmarket without breaking the bank, the SA-J04 is a fine choice!

Starting at the tip of the steel outer barrel, we can find an AK-74 style muzzle brake, which is designed to counteract the recoil forces of the 5.45mm cartridge and keep the real AK-74 controllable in fully-automatic mode. The muzzle brake mounts to a 24mm CW adapter mounted over the 14mm CCW male threads at the front of the 16.3-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.

The muzzle brake can be removed from the 24mm CW adapter by holding the steel detent in the front sight as you unthread the brake. The 14mm CCW male thread is accessed by removing the grub screw in the adapter and unscrewing it.

The alloy front sight of the SA-J04 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. 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.

As we move further down the outer barrel, we come to the dummy gas block, which is constructed from alloy with a convincing gun metal finish applied. This connects to the gas tube, which is the correct design for an AK74 and is stamped from steel for additional realism. The gas tube meets the high-density polymer upper handguard via a steel handguard cap, which is integral to the gas tube.

Now we're in for a real treat, and by real, we mean real wood! The handguard not only looks fantastic, constructed from high-quality wood and is neatly cut and authentically finished with satin varnish. This means, those of you who skirmish without gloves will experience the joy of running an AK without the splinters! The lower handguard cap also features an alloy ring, allowing a two-point sling to be mounted for ease of use when its sidearm time. 

Moving rearwards, we come to the trunnion block. which provides the mounting point for the classic AK tangent rear iron sight. It provides multiple graduations for adjustment and is an open "tangent" style design design and a fine rear sight notch. An open design, the rear sight provides multiple graduations for adjustment and a fine rear sight notch to align with the front sight post. The rear sight can be adjusted by pressing the buttons on either side of the sight drum and moving the drum back and forth on the base. The lever on the right side of the trunnion block is for disassembly, and can be rotated upwards by 90 degrees to release the upper handguard and gas tube.

The fire selector switch of the SA-J04 is the familiar design we all know and love from the real-world AK rifle. 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 crisply engraved authentic Russian Cyrillic marking, which adds some more realism befitting an AK replica of this calibre.

AK fans will be happy to hear that the Russian AK side rail is featured on the left-hand side of the SA-J04, allowing you to attach the authentic Russian AK scope, or a 20mm Picatinny rail mount if you prefer a modern western optic. 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 several 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-J04, like other Specna AKs, should definitely please the stitch counters!

To access the adjustable HOP-up unit of the SA-J04, 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-J04 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 mini-Tamiya battery connector. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in AK slim stick configuration for the SA-J04, 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-J04, 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 pistol grip is a standard AKM/AK-74 type pistol grip that features a diamond-checked 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 to engage the catch.

The stock of the SA-J04 is constructed from steel and is a classic AKS-74 style stock, providing strength and keeping the weight low due to its skeletonised 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, after which 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 AK-47/74 sling.

Just like it is on the outside, the SA-J04 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.

If you're looking for a solid AK build at a great price, the SA-J04 EDGE™ AKS-74 AEG from Specna Arms is exactly that, offering realistic steel and real wood externals with a side of proven reinforced internals. Whether you're doing a Cold War Soviet loadout, a PMC-inspired kit or a classic rebel-style OPFOR look, the SA-J04 makes a fantastic primary!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Improved FPS and accuracy downrange
• 14mm CCW male threaded barrel - 24mm CW adapter pre-installed
• AK-74 Muzzle brake pre-installed - The iconic AK-74 muzzle device
• Steel mock cleaning rod - An essential part of an authentic AK
• Real wood handguard - Looks ultra-authentic and feels great
• Russian AK dovetail side rail - Allows for Russian AK optics and 20mm rail adapters to be mounted
• 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
• Steel outer barrel, gas tube, receiver, trigger guard, selector, stock & 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
• Textured AKM/AK-74 pistol grip - Plenty of grip for wet-weather work
• Side-folding skeleton stock - Steel construction, great for storage and transportation
• ORION™ Reinforced version 3 gearbox:
  • Reinforced shell
  • Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack
  • Aluminium cylinder head
  • Aluminium ball-bearing piston head
  • Ball bearing ESA™ quick-change spring guide
• Includes 2 Specna Arms S-MAG AK Mid-caps - Generous!
• Top-wired: Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in AK Slim Stick Config
• Compatible with AK AEG platform magazines  - Plenty of spare magazine options

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-J04 EDGE™ AKS-74 AEG
  • 130rnd S-MAG AK Medium capacity magazine x 2