Specna Arms SA-J78 CORE™ Gen.2 AKS-105 AEG

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.

A mixed high-density polymer, steel and alloy build, the SA-J78 is far easier to run than the average AK but keeps the realistic metal where it counts, making it ideal for new skirmishers or those who need a platform which will never slow them down!

Internally, this CORE™ Gen.2 build has some impressive pre-upgraded parts for a platform in this price range, including a CNC aluminium air nozzle, 16:1 ratio high-speed gears, a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack and the Magnus TDC rotary HOP-up unit paired with a Helium flat HOP bucking and 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel. Make no mistake, the SA-J81 brings some serious heat downrange, perfect for a beginner with "bad guy" vibes or experienced skirmishers looking for an "easy mode" AK build!

Starting at the tip of the outer barrel, we can find an AK-105 style gas booster muzzle brake, which is intended for the real AK-105 to direct additional gas back into the operating mechanism to ensure the rifle keeps the AK's 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 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 AK-105, as this is the variant they are most commonly sighted wielding.

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 gas tube, which has a handguard cap built in, retaining the upper handguard the same way as a real AK.

The alloy front sight of the SA-J78 is integrated into the gas block, providing an adjustable front post with protective wings to ensure an accidental bump or scrape does not render your sights useless. This connects to the stamped steel gas tube, which is the correct design for an AK-105.

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 isn't intended for cleaning an Airsoft barrel, though it is a big part of what makes the iconic AK silhouette so recognisable.

The handguards on this AKS-105 are faux wood, although you'd be hard-pressed to recognise that at first! They feature a very realistic wooden design but are constructed from high-density polymer instead. 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 trunnion block also provides the mounting point for the classic AK tangent rear iron sight, 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 notch and moving the notch back and forth on its base.

The lever on the right side of the trunnion is the handguard and gas tube disassembly lever. This lever allows you to quickly remove the upper handguard and gas tube of the SA-J78, just like a real AK-105. This is one of the many perks of using the VFC-style external construction over the TM-style: you can strip it like a real AK for extra nerd points!

Next up, we find the receiver, which is constructed from high-density polymer to keep the build lightweight and agile. Standard AK-style controls can be found on the right side, with a steel 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, also made from steel. In typical AK style, the first position on the fire selector is fully auto, and the lowermost position is semi-automatic. Each fire mode is denoted by a crisp, moulded, 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 mounting rail, allowing for authentic Russian scopes to be mounted, or Picatinny rail mounts if you prefer a more modern western optic. The receiver also provides several authentic dummy rivets, all found in the correct place for this AK variant.

To access the Magnus™ adjustable HOP-up unit of the SA-J78, simply hold the charging handle to the rear to reveal this new rotary adjustable HOP-up unit design. The HOP-up allows you to tune the SA-J78 for different ammo weights, seeking the flattest possible trajectory. The Magnus™ design shows a lot of promise, being a TDC design which applies pressure directly to the top of the bucking to minimise side-to-side shot deviation. The Helium™ HOP-up bucking can also lift heavy BBs, should the mission require it.

The receiver top cover of the SA-J78 is constructed from stamped steel and is the appropriate design for an AKS-74U, with ribs stamped into the upper surface to provide additional strength while keeping the material thin and lightweight. The battery compartment is beneath the top cover, accessible by pressing the button at the rear of the top cover, after which it should come straight off. Inside, you'll find a Deans battery connector.

For the SA-J78, we recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh slim stick battery for an easy fit and flawless performance. With the battery connected and installed, you can place the top cover back into the rifle, 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 rifle stays firmly in your grasp in any weather condition. 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, a definite advantage over other designs for left-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.

The side-folding skeleton stock of the SA-J78 is constructed from steel and mimics the classic AKS-74 stock present on AKS-74 rifles issued to paratroopers and mechanised infantry. Being constructed from steel adds strength and keeps 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 AK-47/74 sling.

Inside, the SA-J78 is rocking Specna's CORE™ Gen.2 internals, including a smattering of high-end components featured in the PRIME™ range. These include an aluminium air nozzle, 16:1 high-speed gears, a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack and an aluminium cylinder. Also inside is the Magnus TDC Rotary HOP-up unit and Helium HOP-up bucking, enhancing range and accuracy despite the short overall length of the SA-J78.

The HAL¹ adds a whole lot of functionality into the mix, with programmable fire controls, 6 levels of pre-cocking adjustment and 5 levels of trigger sensitivity adjustment. Available fire modes include 3 or 5-round burst, binary trigger, AUG mode, aka two-stage trigger, semi-auto only and sniper delay, giving you loads of options for how you use your J81. Features like these are usually only present in high-end replicas; we simply cannot believe the wealth of functionality inside this beast, especially considering the price!

If you're after a unique AK configuration with solid internals ideal for CQB, the Specna Arms SA-J78 CORE™ Gen.2 AKS-105 AEG is an excellent choice. With a combination of high-density polymer, alloy and steel where it's needed, this AK rifle is nimble, compact and perfect for fast skirmishers who love the Russian aesthetic!

Features

• High-density polymer build- Steel and alloy trim parts
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Superb accuracy potential
• 24mm CW Male thread adapter pre-installed - Compatible with Russian-style tracers & suppressors
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Ready for standard tracer units and suppressors
• AK-105 Trumpet Muzzle Device - The correct device for AK-105
• Mock cleaning rod - An essential part of an authentic AK
• Faux wood handguard - Looks just like the real thing, made from high-density polymer
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally positioned, great for lefties
• Adjustable open tangent iron sights - Great field of view
• Textured pistol grip - Appropriate for modern AK variants, textured panels for optimal traction
• Russian AK dovetail side mount - Compatible with Russian AK optics or 20mm rail adapters
• Realistic disassembly - VFC style, all pins and rivets, no screws!
• Front and rear sling points - Ideal for AK47/74 replica slings, suitable for most two-point slings
• Side-folding skeleton stock - Ideal for CQB, storage and transportation
• HAL Programmable MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Low-voltage alarm
  • Active braking
  • Two-stage trigger (AUG mode)
  • Sniper delay
  • Semi-auto only
  • Binary trigger
  • 3 or 5-round burst
• HAL Programming instructions
• Version 3 Gearbox:
  • Aluminium Nozzle
  • 16:1 CNC Steel gears
  • Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack
  • Aluminium cylinder
  • HAL Programmable MOSFET
• Top-wired: Deans connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in Crane/Nunchuck config
• Compatible with AK-47/74 AEG magazines - Plenty of spare magazine options available

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-J78 CORE™ Gen.2 AKS-105 AEG
  • 430rnd High Capacity Magazine