Hey friends! Welcome back to the blog, today I have another AEG review for you and in this one, we’ll be looking at the Arcturus AK74U Custom AEG from my friends over at Extreme Airsoft in Croft, Leicestershire.
The AK74U Custom AEG by Arcturus is a modern update of the infamous AK74U. It is mostly constructed of Steel sheet and aluminium making it durable, and weighty giving it a good feel. There is only one polymer part on this AEG which is the pistol grip. Externally, and starting at the front of the rifle we have an aggressively styled muzzle brake (which kind of gives potato masher vibes) on a 14mm CCW thread, a tactical hand-guard which has a small 40mm Picatinny rail on top which has a built-in iron sight (perfect for adding aftermarket accessories such as a PEQ box) and side rails on either side for lasers, torches etc. Following on from there, we have a pistol grip made from high-density polymer and a skeletonised, folding stock style stock similar to the stock we see on the MCX (which gets a big thumbs up from me!).
Internally, we’re looking at a Micro Switch trigger system (which gives the replica a longer life-span), a quick change spring system, and a Spring Tension Release button (inside the. Trigger guard) which helps prolong the lifespan of the rifle by reducing unnecessary stress on the gearbox whilst the replica isn’t being used. Other features of note include, the nozzle being finished with Teflon and sealed by O-Rings to ensure a tight air seal, an alloy HOP chamber and low-resistance wiring.
The Arcturus AK74U Custom AEG comes nicely presented in a branded box, I know I bang on about it all the time but nice packaging IS a must, opening a new replica should be an experience. On getting it out of the box, its full metal construction gives it a nice weight in hand and it doesn’t have any wobbles or rattles which is always a good sign. Included in the box are two magazines, which isn’t too common but I think it is great that out of the box you have the option of a high-capacity mag and a mid/low-capacity mag. To switch between the capacities on the mid/low cap, users need to remove the baseplate of the magazine, remove the inner portion of the mag and move the marked switch, but be sure to do this when the mag is empty so you don’t damage it.
Like most AKs, the Arcturus AK74U Custom AEG is top-wired and has a Mini-Tamiya connector underneath the dust cover. Although rather than the connector being placed at the front as would be expected with an AK, it is placed at the rear which means that it isn’t hard to fit a battery in the designated space but I will say putting the cover back on after installing the battery is a bit fiddly and can take some time to get used to.
Aesthetically, I like what this AK74U has got going on - the aggressively styled muzzle brake and the skeletonised folding stock give this version of the AK74U a modern vibe, which is right up my alley. I also think in terms of usability, it is well equipped for an AK as it has lots of tactical rail space. One of the reasons I don’t use AKs as much as I’d like to is because I like to add a lot of attachments to my RIFS but as this has 20mm rails and M-LOK slots on the handguard, as well as a raised 20mm rail above where the iron sights would usually be, there are plenty of options to add torches PEQ boxes. It also has two QD sling points which are always nice.
So, how does it shoot? It was consistent on both semi and full-auto. I’ve never used an Arcturus replica so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I certainly wasn’t disappointed. I tested it both using a 7.4v and an 11.1v Lipo and I think it performed and sounded better on the 11.1v battery although as it doesn’t have a built-in MOSFET, the 7.4v is a much better choice. Overall, it is a fun gun to shoot. You can check out my TikTok range test here!
In the box, you get the Arcturus AK74U Custom AEG replica, a high-capacity magazine, a mid/real capacity magazine, a cleaning rod and of course the all-important manual. From Extreme Airsoft, it retails for £319.99 but you can use my code ‘femmefatale23’ for 5% off!
Post sponsored by Extreme Airsoft.
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