THE ARC TURUS AT-AK 12 ON TES T - IN ASSOCIATION WITH W W [Link].

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THE REAL-WORLD AK-12 DIDN’T REALLY HAVE THE SMOOTHEST OF ENTRIES INTO MILITARY USE AND FOLLOWING SEVERAL
FAILURES AND SNAG POINTS DURING THE RIGOROUS TESTING REGIME, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AK-12 TO RUSSIA’S
MILITARY FORCES TOOK AROUND SEVEN YEARS FROM PROTOTYPING TO IMPLEMENTATION. BY Dave Porter
The goal with the AK-12 was to replace the three previous AK variants When it comes to airsoft, avid readers may already know I’m more of
while standardising the assault rifle configuration within the Russian an AR guy, and I’ve never been that partial to any particular AK variant,
military. Initially it was rejected by the government because of the despite their admirable history and aggressive looks. The Arcturus
millions of stockpiled AK-74 variants, the AK-12 finally completed testing AK-12 however, is a little different, and I’ve found myself taken aback
towards the end of 2017, and by January 2018, was adopted by the by the AK-12’s looks, ergonomics, build quality and performance. It is
Russian military. So, technically, this is the new kid on the Eastern Bloc, undeniably aggressive in appearance, starting with the oversized flash
but when routed in tried and tested technology that continues to stand hider at the front, which on the real-steel rifle was said to reduce recoil
the test of time and soldier-on no matter the environment or abuse, is it drastically. The receiver, receiver cover, trigger and safety controls, bolt
really that new? The AK-12 has no doubt modernised this longstanding carrier, magazine latch, gas tube and flash hider are all steel, and this of
platform into today’s demanding military arena, and with a cyclic rate course adds some substantial weight to the rifle. In fairness though, the
of circa 700 rounds per minute, and a maximum firing range of 800 weight is hardly overbearing, and when combined with the outer barrel
meters, the AK-12 operates within very similar parameters to that of and other smaller parts crafted from aluminium, the entire assembly is
the M4 carbine. Chambered in 5.45x39 however, each round from the absolutely rock solid!
AK-12 ‘tumbles’ as it hits soft tissue, which effectively makes the wound Above the gas block is a shrouded front sight post, which can be
channel erratic and more devastating, tipping the competitive scale in adjusted for elevation, but hidden within the gas block is a tool to aid the
favour of the AK-12 when compared to the western alternatives. quick removal of the power spring, but we will come to that later...

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cool little feature, which is essentially a button obvious reasons the airsoft variant simply rubberised but plate, and also features two QD process where the components are soaked in
REAL ESTATE MAJESTIC IN ALL OF ITS GLORY that depresses the anti-reversal latch, releasing cannot accommodate such a feature. Lastly, sling points, although it’s not uncommon to see a salt bath to produce a layer of iron nitride.
The hand guard is surprisingly comfortable and Now the traditional stamped steel receiver all tension from the spring. This is mainly to aid we come to the stock. The AK-12 uses a folding people attach a sling directly to the buffer tube. They are then mechanically polished, before
features Picatinny rails at the three, six, nine, still looks majestic in its simplicity as always, the QD spring change process, although when a buffer tube assembly, but unlike many other being re-immersed into the salt quench bath.
and twelve o’clock positions. I like the fact that but you may notice some additional markings feature like this is available, it’s good practice to examples I have tried, this one actually works! This process gives the barrel great corrosion
the rail sections on the side of the handguard underneath the fire selector. The real-world release the tension on the spring when the rifle The buffer tube is folded by simply pressing NOSE HEAVY resistance and makes it more hard wearing.
are short, as anything else is just a waste of rail AK-12 features a two-round burst feature, is not in use. It will prolong the life of your spring a button on the left-hand side of the receiver, The steel components, barrel length, and rifle
space. However it’s worth noting that if you plan and I was hoping and praying that the airsoft and keep the FPS fairly consistent. but when it clicks into the extended position, shape make her a touch nose heavy, but in
to use these sections, you could potentially run counterpart would also follow suit. This was it is arguably bombproof. I mean it does not all honesty, it’s marginal, and the AK-12 is a WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS
into a fitting issue. The handguard moulding no more than fanciful wishing as the AT AK-12 wobble or flex in the slightest. To add to the surprisingly comfortable rifle. The pistol grip, The gearbox is typically where the special brand
underneath these sections could interfere features only the semi and full auto fire modes, THAT MARMITE FEELING assembly’s rigidity, the stock itself sits on the ergonomic hand guard, and rubberised butt of Arcturus-magic happens, and the AK-12 is
with certain accessories, especially if the bolt and the two round burst position activates I think the pistol grip is akin to a big dollop buffer tube quite snugly, and so it too does not pad give a great and stable platform when no different. The first noticeable difference
or lever to attach them points downwards the semi-auto mode also. There were rumours of Marmite; you will either love it or hate it. wobble or move around. It is a four-position shouldered, and it’s genuinely no more tiring from the ‘norm’ is the combination of both
upon fitting. While we’re talking about the of an electronic solution to this by way of a Personally, this is the only feature on the rifle stock; five if you include the homed position, to run around with than a plastic alternative. bushings and bearings mounted in the gearbox
dangerous end of the rifle, I should also bring mosfet system, but technical issues were not I don’t like, in fact, I think its looks are vomit and the distance between each position is less So far, I’d give Arcturus a huge thumbs-up shell. Arcturus use 8mm bushings on the spur
your attention to the sling mounting just behind solved in time to add this feature to production inducing. That being said, it’s very comfortable than that of say a regular M4 platform. This on the externals, so let’s peel back the gruff and sector gears, while using 8mm bearings
the gas block. While I like its convenience, it’s models. The fire selector has a finger tab, so to hold. It’s quite a wide grip, so better for those means the adjustability is finer and achieving exterior and see what’s underneath. The inner on the bevel gears. The philosophy behind this
quite a loose-fitting component and it rattles altering the fire mode with your index finger is with larger than average hands, and the finger the most comfortable position for the shooter barrel measures around 430mm in length has a is arguable, but the motivation to do things
just a little when moving. This isn’t a huge issue possible, although the selector may take a little welds on the grip give a good sense of stability is easier. I’m a fan of the unique serial number 6.01mm inner diameter and made is from steel. a little differently to squeeze every last drop
though, and it’s quite easy to secure it and stop ‘bedding-in’ before this is possible, as the lever is and control. The real-world AK-12 utilised the on the buffer tube too, and it’s often the smaller It has also been subjected to a Quench-Polish- of efficiency from the rifle is commendable,
the rattle if it bothers you. quite stiff. Just in front of the trigger is another pistol grip to house a small tool kit, but for details that make a rifle special. The stock has a Quench treatment, which is a manufacturing and this is presumably to balance each gear’s

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SUPERB QD SPRING CHANGE SYSTEM!

For this rifle to be site legal, or any type of legal for that matter, you will have to downgrade the spring. Fear not though, this is about the easiest task
possible given the superb QD spring change system found on the AK-12. You simply lift up the top rail to expose the battery compartment. Fold away the
buffer tube via a single button, and then unscrew the tab on the back to expose the QD spring guide. It’s recommended that you use the appropriate tool
for this that is hidden within the gas block, but essentially, changing a spring takes mere seconds. What’s more, when you reduce the spring tension, you
require less torque from the gearbox, and all of a sudden the rifle performs so much more efficiently. The cycle time becomes a little quicker, and there’s
less residual noise emanating from the gearbox.

individual load requirement. The gears spring guide, which again uses bearings to which is unfortunate because I truly believe that There are a few last points to mention; the
themselves are also well shimmed, and that’s improve the performance and consistency of the AK-12 will follow suit with all the previous hopup adjustment slider is quite stiff, but this
something I’ve noticed with each Arcturus the springs. There’s a fairly standard type-0 Arcturus rifles I’ve had the pleasure of testing. is a good thing as far as I can see, as the hops
rifle I’ve reviewed, that the level of shimming cylinder, nothing to shout about really, but the In general, they tend to reach to the further side position will be maintained even with rigorous
is as close to out-of-the-box-perfect as it is cylinder port is radiused at the corners, which of the out-of-the-box performance, but also, use. The battery compartment has ample room,
possible to get. That’s not to say that further helps to dissipate energy and prevent damage their effective range is quite impressive too. more so for longer batteries, but I had no issues
adjustments can’t be made, but in all honesty, to the gearbox shell when cycling. Finally, the There is nothing substantially different about with fitting a stock 11.1V lipo in there. A word for
you really shouldn’t need to touch or adjust the nylon plastic nozzle has an O-ring on the inner the hopup chamber and bucking combo that warning though, the AK-12 is lipo ready, however
gearbox internals from its stock configuration. circumference to maintain an improved air sets this rifle further afield, rather they are just there’s a slight amount of over-spin with an
A micro-switch trigger sits up front, and all the seal. The end result is actually impressive, and the right components for the job and assembled 11.1V. The cycle is flawless with a 7.4V, but if you
dots are connected with low resistance silver a quick test by blocking the end of the nozzle together extremely well. I could however wanted to upgrade, then I would consider doing
wiring, which again helps to squeeze just that and pushing the piston forward reveals that the perform a chrono test, and one apparent thing so with the aid of an AB mosfet. The AK-12 also
extra little bit of efficiency from the rifle. With compressions is superb, and the piston doesn’t was the shot-to-shot consistency. On average, comes with a Tamiya connector as standard, so
regards to the air-sealing and compression budge at all. This is key to squeezing the highest I experienced no more than a 2.5 FPS swing. It for those wanting an XT60 or Deans will need to
components, then true to form, Arcturus has velocity from the installed spring, all while did however achieve an average velocity of 428 dust of their soldering iron. And lastly, we come
made use of good quality components, which maintaining shot-to-shot consistency. feet per second, and as I’ve mentioned many to the magazines, and you get one high-cap and
when assembled well will perform superbly. times before, this is bad news if the rifle is not one mid-cap provided to you in the box. The
The piston has a full steel-toothed rack, and mechanically locked to semi-automatic only, mid-cap can actually be adjusted very simply,
the piston head is ported and has bearings on ON THE RANGE which the AK-12 is not. That means in order for to a low cap, so you can switch it between 120
the inside to help with any axial rotation from Obviously, the plight that is Covid-19 prevents this rifle to be site legal, or any type of legal for rounds and 30 rounds depending on your style
the spring. The spring also sits on a full metal me from doing any real and substantial testing, that matter, you’ll have to downgrade the spring. of play and the events you are attending.

FEATURES
ALL YOURS FOR £296.00 IT’S A WRAP! ■ Weight: 3480 g
PICK YOURS UP TODAY FROM ■ Length: 700/880/950 mm
To wrap this up, as I said at the beginning, I’ve never been much of an AK variant fan...
■ Material: Aluminium, Polymer, Steel
The AK-12 however is different, and for me at least, seems to bridge the gap between the AK and AR
■ Fire mode: Auto, Single
platforms. The aggressive style, eccentric front end, and the AR style buffer tube and stock assembly
■ Length of internal barrel: 425 mm
really appeals to me, and if nothing else, I’m completely sold on the build quality too, which I would
■ Diameter of Internal barrel: 6.01 mm
rate as superb. The only real downside, in my opinion, is the lack of a two-round burst feature,
■ Magazine capacity: 30/130 BBs
which for me would have propelled this rifle to the next level. Arcturus has put forward some
■ Magazine material: Nylon
staggeringly beautiful and well performing rifles, and they don’t appear to be letting up. The AK-12
■ Muzzle velocity: 410 fps
is a phenomenal addition to their range, and once more, it’s pretty unique too, so you won’t run into
■ Muzzle energy: 1.56 J
many others from site to site. So if you want an aggressive, well rounded and well built AK variant
■ Gearbox version 9 mm
that performs well as stock, then the AK-12 could just be the rifle for you!
■ Number of magazines in set: 2x pcs.
■ Ammo: .25g, .23g

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