Specna Arms SA-J06 EDGE™ AK-74 Tactical AEG w/Gate ASTER MOSFET

If you're looking for a modernised AK with pre-upgraded internals, the SA-J06 EDGE™ AK-74 Tactical AEG w/Gate ASTER MOSFET from Specna Arms is what you need. This AK AEG replica boasts an authentic full metal build and modernised ergonomics, equipped with an M-LOK/20mm Picatinny hybrid handguard, 20mm railed gas tube and M4/AR-15 buffer tube, making it fantastic for PMC loadouts or tactical AK builds. 

Like the real AK-74, the SA-J06 makes use of stamped steel for the majority of its components, giving a hefty and authentic AK experience any AK fan will appreciate.  Things get more impressive when we check out the internal spec! Inside, we have the well-equipped ORION™ reinforced version 3 gearbox, a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel with Helium™ flat HOP bucking, and to top it off we are also treated to the advanced Gate ASTER™ MOSFET, providing advanced functions and keeping things electrically efficient for a boost in rate of fire and trigger response. Not that we are nervous, but Specna seem to be intent on putting Airsoft upgrade services out of business!

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. The muzzle brake mounts to a 24mm CW adapter mounted over the 14mm CCW male threads at the tip 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.

To remove the muzzle brake from the 24mm CW adapter you will need to hold the steel detent in the front sight as you unthread the brake, 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-J06 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.

Moving 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 20mm Picatinny railed gas tube, a modernised design based on the real steel "UltimAK" gas tube often seen on AK rifles used by Private Military Contractors. This is the perfect spot to mount a tactical flashlight, laser or forward-mounted red dot sight, saving you space on the handguard and providing a slick, snag-free profile. 

Below the gas tube, we come to the handguard, an M-LOK/20mm Picatinny hybrid design boasting 20mm Picatinny rails at the very front and M-LOK slots behind at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. This means you have access to the most common accessories available for Airsoft, allowing you to combine 20mm Picatinny flashlights and laser units with M-LOK grips, bipods and rail covers. Recessed inside the 20mm rails we are also treated to QD sling sockets, allowing you to run the most modern sling systems with the SA-J06. This handguard is styled after real steel SLR handguards and is a big part of the cutting edge look of this modernised AK. 

Next up, we reach the trunnion block which provides the mounting point for the classic AK tangent rear iron sight. The rear sight is an open design which provides multiple graduations for adjustment and a fine rear sight notch to align with the front sight post. The sight can be adjusted by pressing the buttons on either side of the sight drum and moving the drum back and forth on its base. The lever on the right side is the handguard disassembly lever, and as with all AK AEGs using the VFC external design, this can be rotated upwards by 90 degrees to release the upper handguard and gas tube.

As we reach the receiver we can take note of its stamped steel construction, giving the SA-J06 a substantial and realistic feel in the hands, just like the real AK-74. The receiver has standard AK style controls on the right side, with a fire selector lever which doubles as a dust cover when in safe mode, and a charging handle attached to an authentic black dummy bolt carrier.

Matching the control layout of the real AK rifle, the first position on the fire selector is fully automatic and the lowermost position is semi-automatic. Each fire mode is denoted by a crispy engraved authentic Russian Cyrillic marking, adding some realism to this already very realistic AK. Over on the left side, we can find an AK quick detach dovetail mounting rail, allowing for authentic Russian AK scopes to be mounted, or Picatinny rail mounts if you prefer a more 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-J06, like other Specna AKs, should definitely please the stitch counters!

To access the adjustable HOP-up unit of the SA-J06, 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-up effect, simply move the slider rearwards. Returning the slider to the front will reduce the HOP-up 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-J06 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 1200mAh LiPo battery in AK stick configuration for the SA-J06 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-J06, 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, with diamond checkering on either side to ensure the SA-J06 stays firmly in your grasp in any weather conditions. 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, perfect for left or right-handed shooters. 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.

At the rear we are equipped with a modern stock setup to match the modern front end, replacing the usual fixed or side folding stock with an M4/AR-15 buffer tube adapter, a 6-position buffer tube and a slimline crane-style stock. This stock adapter appears to be similar to a real steel VLTOR design, offering a pair of QD sling sockets on the stock base, one on either side. During testing, we found that these QD points aren't functional with the G&G swivel we used so make sure you test them thoroughly with your chosen swivel before entrusting them with the weight of the rifle.

The buffer tube follows the stock base and is constructed from aluminium, offering 6 positions of adjustment for the slimline crane stock. Adjusting the stock is as it is with any other M4/AR-15 stock; simply press the adjustment lever on the bottom and slide the stock into your desired position. The stock mimics the crane style of rifle stock with its ergonomic sloped cheekpiece and rubber butt plate for enhanced grip but is a slimmer design to reduce snags and the overall bulk of the rifle. The stock also has a pair of sling slots in the toe, allowing for traditional strap slings to be mounted, and a QD socket on either side, which we can confirm are functional. While it may upset a few purists, this M4 style stock setup suits the SA-J06 well and offers improved comfort and plenty of aftermarket stock options as a bonus!

Just like it is on the outside, the SA-J06 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 icing on the cake is the Gate ASTER™ MOSFET which improves electrical efficiency and raises the rate of fire and trigger response while allowing you to program 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 pre-installed into more and more platforms.

If you're after a cutting-edge AK platform, both inside and out, the Specna Arms SA-J06 EDGE™ AK-74 Tactical AEG w/Gate ASTER MOSFET is exactly that. With ultra-modern external styling, a pre-upgraded gearbox and tightbore backed up by the simply awesome Gate ASTER MOSFET, this AK takes the lead over any other AK in this price range!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 14mm CCW male threaded barrel - 24mm CW adapter pre-installed
• Gate ASTER MOSFET pre-installed - Click here to find out what it does!
• Steel muzzle brake - Authentic for an AK-74
• SLR Style M-LOK/20mm Picatinny hybrid handguard - Great for modern PMC loadouts
• 20mm Picatinny railed gas tube - UltimAK style, great for flashlights and lasers
• Steel mock cleaning rod - An essential part of an authentic AK
• Steel outer barrel, 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
• M4/AR-15 buffer tube - QD sling sockets on each side, fits most aftermarket M4/AR-15 stocks
• Sliding slimline crane stock pre-installed - Rubber butt plate, QD sling swivels built in
• 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-J06 EDGE™ AK-74 Tactical AEG w/Gate ASTER MOSFET
• 130rnd S-MAG AK Medium capacity magazine x 2
• Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter
• Cleaning rod
• User manual