Novritsch SSR63 A2 AR36K AEG

It's about time someone have the AR36 platform some pre-upgraded love! The Novritsch SSR63 A2 is based on the AR36K platform but has been given a full dress-up with CNC aluminium parts and a full complement of upgraded internal parts.

On the outside, the SSR63 A2 boasts a unique Novritsch-designed CNC aluminium handguard which combines 20mm Picatinny rails in crucial areas with M-LOK negative space attachment on the sides, top and bottom, giving you a lightweight and pointable front end which doesn't compromise on accessory options. The top rail is also a unique design which is CNC machined from aluminium, providing a modern, customised look with the extra rigidity necessary for precisely zeroed optical sights.

The internals of the SSR63 A2 are equally impressive, as we might expect from Novritsch. Following suit with the SSR4, the SSR63 A2 boasts a programmable MOSFET/ETU offering a variety of fire modes options as well as low voltage cutoff, cycle control and other functions which help maintain the impressive performance of the SSR63 in the long term.

Paired with the MOSFET we have a high-torque motor to deliver the torque necessary for an ultra-snappy trigger response and a truly beastly rate of fire. Speed and fancy features aside, the SSR63 A2 also has a CNC machined HOP-up unit with a Maple Leaf flat HOP-up bucking, promising accuracy far beyond a standard AEG. If you are in the market for a pre-upgraded Airsoft AEG but are bored with the M4 and AK style platforms, the fresh looks of the SSR63 A2 should draw your eye!

Starting at the tip of the 12.5-inch outer barrel we can find the classic AR36K four-prong flash hider which mounts to 14mm CCW male threading. The four-prong device is a hallmark of the K variant of the AR36, arguably the looker of the bunch, but it can be removed and replaced with a tracer unit or suppressor if you need an instinct-aiming advantage in CQB or you are more of a sneaky skirmisher.

Beneath the handguard, AR36 fans will notice something is amiss. The mock gas block and gas piston have gone missing! This wasn't a mistake made at the factory, but these non-essential parts have been deleted to reduce weight at the front of the rifle and allow for easier battery installation and room for larger batteries than the standard AR36K. As you might have guessed, the SSR63 A2 is a front-wired platform, and the battery compartment is inside the handguard.

Removing the handguard is a simple affair, only requiring the handguard pin to be pushed through and pulled out, after which the handguard slides forward and off the rifle. Inside, you will find a Deans battery connector to which you mount your chosen battery. We recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo battery for the SSR63 A2 but there is actually plenty more space for larger batteries, though you may be limited by the length of the pre-installed wiring. 

The handguard itself is constructed from aluminium using CNC machining, guaranteeing precise and in-spec rails and M-LOK slots, ready for all your mission essential equipment. At the 12 and 6 o'clock positions, the handguard has short sections of 20mm Picatinny rail built in, providing an ideal spot for a tactical flashlight, bipod or PEQ box to be directly mounted. Along the top and bottom, we also have M-LOK slots which can be used to mount vertical or angled grips or 20mm Picatinny rails for M-LOK if the built-in rails aren't long enough for your kit. The sides boast 2 rows of M-LOK slots, giving you more than enough options to set the SSR63 A2 up to your exact requirements.

Moving rearward we come to the receiver, which mimics the AR36K in almost every way, other than one. The modular magazine well assembly of the AR36 design has allowed Novritsch to add an M4/AR-15 magazine adapter to the SSR63 A2, allowing more common and compact M4/AR-15 mags, giving you access to more magazine options than ever before and plenty of compatible mag pouches. The downside to this design is that it prevents the ambidextrous magazine release of the AR36 from being used; instead, the mag release is on the left side of the magwell but can still be used by left and right-handed shooters with a bit of practice and technique.

The rest of the receiver keeps the impressive ergonomics which put the AR36 platform on the map, including its ambidextrous fire selector switch, ambidextrous charging handle and side folding stock mechanism. The fire selector offers 3 modes of fire; Safe, semi-automatic and fully automatic, with a 45-degree throw between each fire mode. Having a nice short throw between modes makes the SSR63 A2 fast to use and easy to switch modes mid-firefight; an especially useful attribute for those who practice the "sights on, safety off" weapons handling doctrine. The selector has a positive click when moved into each mode, meaning even if it gets bumped or knocked in the heat of battle it shouldn't move into the wrong fire mode inadvertently.

The charging handle is located at the top of the receiver, beneath the 20mm top rail and can be folded out to either the left or right for easy access from either side. When not in use, the handle sits flush with the receiver and inside the top rail, well out of the way of potential snags which can slow you down during an energetic advance. Pulling the handle rearwards and holding it in place provides access to the rotary HOP-up adjuster which follows the standard AR36 design format but is CNC machined for precise engagement and perfect air seal.

Adjusting the HOP-up will increase or reduce the amount of backspin applied to your projectiles and allow you to extend your range and tune for different ammo weights. As the SSR63 A2 sports a Maple Leaf flat HOP-up bucking, the range you get should be a fair bit more than the average AEG and as such we recommend either 0.25g or 0.28g BBs to take pure advantage of this.

The pistol grip mimics that of the real AR36K and is a fantastic ergonomic design which is set at the perfect angle and fits the vast majority of hands perfectly, as the real rifle was known for. The trigger guard is built into the pistol grip assembly, known as the "trigger pack" in real steel terms, and is enlarged to allow gloved shooters easy access to the trigger. Speaking of the trigger, Novritsch saw fit to install a flat "speed" trigger on the SSR63 A2 which combines with the ultra-short trigger travel for a seriously impressive trigger response on semi-automatic. Novritsch claims the trigger response is 25 milliseconds from pull to cycle, and although we aren't able to confirm this it seems about right!

Up we go to the top rail, where we will find one of the major external improvements of the SSR63 A2. The top rail is equipped with a 20mm Picatinny rail along its entire length, providing an uninterrupted 32cm of rail space; plenty of room for even the biggest scopes and red dot sights combined with magnifiers. The true advantage of this top rail is its CNC aluminium construction, making it absolutely rock solid with no chance of flex or twisting, which is unfortunately not true of many of the slimmer polymer top rails on other AR36 AEGs. This aluminium top rail does not have iron sights built in, but they can easily be added to the 20mm Picatinny interface if needed.

At the rear we can find the SSR63 A2 side folding stock which is patterned after the original AR36 skeleton side folder but with an ambidextrous QD sling point built-in, just above the folding mechanism. This gives you yet another sling mounting option and can be used as an alternative to the rear receiver sling point which is just in front of the folding mech on the left side. The original AR36 hit the market before QD sling sockets became prevalent so we are very pleased to see the SSR63 A2 has these built in to facilitate more modern sling setups.

Folding the stock is as simple as the legacy AR36; simply press the button on the base of the stock and fold it to the right side where it can be locked in place over the mock brass deflector. The stock locks in place very firmly and can take a fair bit of force to unlock but this means you can shoot with the stock folded in cramped conditions with confidence that your stock won't loosen as you shoot. With the stock folded to the side, you will notice the rear of the gearbox is visible through the receiver. This provides access to the quick change spring guide of the SSR63, allowing you to tune the power in barely more than a minute without disassembling the AEG or taking the gearbox apart.

Inside the SSR63 A2, we are treated to a full internal upgrade, with the highlights being the 24K RPM high torque motor and the programmable MOSFET/ETU. The MOSFET allows for programmable fire modes including burst mode and binary trigger and also offers 5 different settings for pre-cocking. The MOSFET also protects the battery from full discharge and overheating and provides full cycle control and active breaking; keeping your internals healthy and functional in the long run. The high torque motor pairs perfectly with the MOSFET to give the SSR63 A2 the torque needed for trigger response which puts most other AEGs to shame, and rivals the best in the business.

If you are put off the AR36 platform for its reputation as a gun for new skirmishers, forget what you know! The SSR63 A2 is absolutely in the same tier as pre-upgraded M4/AR-15 and AK options on the market right now but with a unique look provided by Novritsch's cutting-edge CNC aluminium furniture. No one will mistake you for a newbie when you are rocking the SSR63 A2!

Features

• Full metal construction - Mostly polymer like the real thing
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - CNC machined HOP-up unit, Maple Leaf flat bucking
• Programmable MOSFET pre-installed - Burst fire, binary trigger and pre-cocking capable
• CNC Aluminium M-LOK/20mm Picatinny hybrid handguard - Novritsch original design
• CNC Aluminium 20mm Picatinny top rail - Rigid and precise, a massive improvement over polymer
• Ambidextrous charging handle - HOP-up adjustment is easy for left or right-handed shooters
• M4/AR-15 Magazine well - Takes common M4/AR-15 AEG magazines, high-cap, mid-cap, low-cap and drums
• Ambidextrous fire selector switch - 45-Degree throw between modes, easy and fast mode changes
• Side folding skeleton stock - QD sling socket on either side and standard sling loop at the toe of the stock
• Ergonomic pistol grip with enlarged trigger guard - Comfortable design with plenty of space for gloves
• Flat "speed" trigger - Snappy double taps, nice short trigger pull
• 24K High torque motor - High rate of fire, super fast semi-auto trigger response
• Receiver sling point on the left side: Ideal for single-point slings, may require a keyring or paracord loop
• ETU/MOSFET Features:
  • 5 Pre-cocking levels to choose from
  • Active Breaking
  • Full cycle control
  • Overheat protection
  • Low battery warning alarm
  • Programmable fire controls: Burst/binary trigger

Package Includes

• Novritsch SSR63 A2 AR36K AEG
• 140rnd M4/AR-15 Mid-cap magazine
• Cleaning/unjamming rod
• User manual