ARCTURUS ARC X C.A.T Explorer 10" M4/AR-15 AEG

If you're getting bored of ARs but still feel the itch for a new one, the ARCTURUS ARC X C.A.T Explorer 10" M4/AR-15 AEG is a great shout. The Explorer 10" looks like your usual modern AR platform at a glance, but upon closer inspection, this ain't your granddaddy's M4 AEG!

At the rear, we are treated to a 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface, giving you access to the most modern aftermarket stocks available, just like MPX and MCX platforms. The pre-installed stock is a side folding M4/AR-15 buffer tube, fitted with ARCTURUS' latest unique sliding stock design. An AR with a side folding stock is quite the rarity in Airsoft, as is the presence of the 1913 interface, though the innovations in the Explorer 10" don't end here!

Inside, you'll find a unique version 2-based gearbox, known as the "Centaur". This is a split gearbox design, meaning it is far easier to work on and tune than standard gearboxes and the entire upper gearbox can quickly be swapped out, making power tuning almost PTW-easy. The Centaur also boasts a unique tunable sector gear, allowing pre-cocking to be adjusted mechanically using the included adjustment tool. Otherwise, we have the usual ARCTURUS compliment of reinforced internals, including 18:1 steel gears, a CNC stainless steel spring guide, a CNC POM nozzle with an internal O-ring, a steel quick change spring guide driven by a beastly 24K high torque Neodymium magnet motor. Techy Airsofters who appreciate a well throughout design will love the Explorer 10"!

Starting at the front, we are equipped with a modernised birdcage flash hider styled after real steel SF flash hiders, giving the front end a custom look. The flash hider mounts to 14mm CCW male barrel threads, meaning you can mount a tracer unit to light the enemy up in CQB or a suppressor if you prefer a more discrete playstyle prioritising stealth. A grub screw retains the flash hider, so make sure you remove this before attempting to unthread it. 

The handguard follows just behind, constructed from CNC-machined aluminium. This is a "free-float" handguard, meaning it doesn't make contact with the barrel along its entire length. This gives the platform an ultra-modern look and also means force applied to the handguard when steering the Explorer 10" won't mess with your accuracy. Visible through the handguard ports, we are treated to a realistic mock low-profile gas block and gas tube, an essential part of an M4/AR-15 replica which prioritises realistic externals. 

An M-LOK/20mm Picatinny hybrid design, the handguard boasts M-LOK negative space attachment slots at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock with short sections of 20mm Picatinny rail at the top, punctuated with additional M-LOK slots. The M-LOK section at 12 o'clock is reduced in profile to facilitate modern "C-clamp" grips and reduce weight, resulting in a fast-to-point front end ideal for engaging multiple targets quickly. The front 20mm rail section is ideal for a front iron sight, PEQ laser aiming module, RunCam or tactical flashlight and the rear section extends the receiver rail to allow for longer optical sights to be mounted with space to spare. 

Moving rearwards, we come to the receiver which should be a familiar sight to anyone who has handled an M4/AR-15 platform before, constructed from alloy and matching the real mil-spec M16A4/M4A1 receiver style perfectly. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well, a push-through design just like a standard M4/AR-15 AEG with a textured surface for optimal traction. As with all of the controls on the Explorer 10", the mag release is constructed from steel with a gunmetal grey finish applied, guaranteeing it will never wear out and adding visual interest to the external design. 

Just above the pistol grip on the right side, we come to the fire selector switch, offering 3 modes of fire with a 90-degree throw between each. The available fire modes are safe, semi-auto and full-auto, marked with the classic M4/AR-15 recessed text markings. This selector is nice and firm but easy to switch modes with quickly, meaning you won't run the risk of getting told off by a marshall when a sloppy selector gets bumped into full auto in CQB!

The charging handle can be found at the top rear of the receiver, a standard profile design with a latch on the left side. Pulling the charging handle back will pop the dust cover on the right open and retract the mock bolt, revealing the rotary HOP-up unit on the right side. The HOP-up allows you to adjust the amount of backspin applied to your projectiles and tune the Explorer 10" for different ammo weights, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. When you've completed your adjustments, you can slap the "ping pong paddle" style bolt release catch on the left side of the receiver to drop the mock bolt with a satisfying metal-on-metal "clank".

Moving down, we come to the lower receiver, fitted with an enlarged KAC-style trigger guard to provide easy trigger access for gloved shooters. The pistol grip is a cutting-edge design with a reduced grip angle and a filled-out backstrap, intended to reduce wrist fatigue when shooting in modern stances. The sides of the grip feature crackle texturing and the front and rear have linear grooves, ensuring you have a firm hold of the Explorer 10" in all weather conditions. 

The main change in this lower receiver design is its stock mounting interface, omitting the standard buffer tube mount in favour of a more modern alternative; the 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface. Effectively a 20mm Picatinny rail positioned vertically, this allows you to mount the most modern stock options on the market just like the ultra-modern MPX and MCX rifles. 

This is a big advantage when it comes to using minimalist stocks, visor stocks and other low-profile stock options for the 1913 interface, though with the pre-installed M4/AR-15 buffer tube, you don't lose access to the standard M4/AR-15 sliding stock aftermarket. The buffer tube offers 6 length of pull adjustment positions for the pre-installed stock, allowing you to set the Explorer 10" up for your body type and chosen stance. 

Being mounted to the 1913 interface also allows the buffer tube to fold to the side by positioning your thumb on the top of the receiver and pulling the tube up to defeat the spring-loaded locking mech. This is great for tight quarters or squeezing the Explorer 10" into a cramped gun case, though the locking mech is very firm and will take some practice to master. With the stock folded, you'll get a glimpse of the braided fabric wiring protector, ensuring your wiring doesn't get trapped when folding the stock as is the risk with other rear-wired platforms with side-folding stocks. 

The stock itself is a unique ARCTURUS design with some neat tricks built in. The adjustment lever is a low-profile example designed to reduce potential snags with an ambidextrous QD sling socket just in front, ready for QD sling swivels. The toe of the stock is removable via a pair of Allen bolts on the left side and can be swapped for either the included low-profile stock extension or the battery extension. The low profile extension is intended to reduce the chances of the stock toe catching on your gear and the battery extension allows you to fit far bigger batteries inside than the average AR buffer tube.  

To access the battery compartment you will need to remove the stock by holding the adjustment pin out until it protrudes through the bottom of the stock. With the adjustment pin poking out you will see a hole through it, we suggest inserting an Allen key through this hole to get extra leverage, then slide the stock off to the rear. With the stock removed you can then unscrew the battery cap on the rear of the buffer tube, revealing the Deans connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1200mAh LiPo battery in stick configuration, though you can use larger batteries using the included battery extension. 

Once you've removed the pre-installed battery cap, you can make use of one of the stock's slickest features, its quick-access battery compartment. To open the battery cap, press the button on the left side of the stock, just to the rear of the butt plate. This allows the upper section of the butt plate to hinge upwards, providing access to the buffer tube battery compartment, allowing you to change batteries in a flash without having to remove the stock!

Inside, the Explorer 10" is an extremely innovative platform based around a unique version 2 gearbox-based design known as the "Centaur". This gearbox is a split gearbox design, making working on it far easier than standard gearboxes and allowing you to source replacement upper gearboxes to tune power quickly. Inside, you'll find 18:1 steel gears, a steel quick change spring guide, a CNC POM O-ring equipped nozzle, a CNC stainless steel cylinder, an in-line MOSFET and a unique tunable sector gear which allows pre-cocking to be adjusted manually with the included tool. The default pre-cocking setting is "medium", and you can find more details on how to adjust pre-cocking on page 9 of the included instruction manual. 

The pre-installed motor is a high torque example driven using Neodymium magnets, boasting 24,000 RPM speed and an MIM steel pinion gear for optimal strength. The in-line MOSFET improves trigger response and electrical efficiency, meaning you won't get lockups when shooting semi-auto rapidly. With all this kit inside, the Explorer 10" is a cut above most stock AEGs and ideal for technical skirmishers who love an interesting, innovative platform!

If you're looking for an AR which breaks the mould, offers the most cutting-edge attachment and stock interfaces on the outside and is packed with exciting innovations inside, the ARCTURUS ARC X C.A.T Explorer 10" M4/AR-15 AEG is it. Built with the usual fantastic ARCTURUS build quality and styled to impress, the Explorer 10" does what we didn't think was possible; being an M4 AEG and being unique!

Features

• Full metal construction
• In-line MOSFET pre-installed - Snappy trigger response
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Detailed dummy gas block & gas tube - Visible through the handguard, very realistic
• CNC Aluminium M-LOK handguard - Ready for M-LOK accessories at 3, 6, & 9 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope
• Enlarged KAC style trigger guard - Plenty of room for full finger gloves
• Flat trigger - Great for rapid semi-auto fire, stylish design with bevelled edges
• Ergonomic pistol grip with reduced grip angle - Ideal for shooting in modern stances
• Functional mock bolt catch - Holds the mock bolt carrier open for HOP-up access
• 3 Position fire selector - SAFE - SEMI - AUTO fire modes
• 1913/20mm Picatinny stock interface - Mount 1913/20mm Picatinny stocks
• Side-folding M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Shorten your rifle for CQB or transport
• ARCTURUS X C.A.T Centaur Split Gearbox:
  • 18:1 Steel gearset
  • Mechanical pre-cocking tunable sector gear
  • CNC POM O-ring nozzle
  • CNC Stainless steel cylinder
  • Steel quick change spring guide
  • Microswitch trigger
  • 24K High torque motor w/MIM steel pinion gear
  • In-line MOSFET
• Rear wired: Deans connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in stick config. 
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - ARCTURUS Mags available here

Package Includes

• ARCTURUS ARC X C.A.T Explorer 10" M4/AR-15 AEG
• 30/130rnd Adjustable capacity mid-cap magazine
• Modular stock extensions:
  • Low profile extension
  • Battery extension