Specna Arms SA-E08-L EDGE™ Carbine AEG w/Light Ops Stock

The Specna Arms EDGE™ series are proven platforms at this point, rocking the reinforced Specna Arms ORION™ gearbox, a rotary HOP-up unit with a tightbore inner barrel and the fantastic Gate X-ASR MOSFET pre-installed. The difference between this model and the previous SA-E08 is the addition of Specna's new Light Ops stock, part of their SAAS range of innovative accessories.

The Light Ops stock improves on existing low-profile M4/AR15 stocks with a rubberised cheekpiece, a super grippy rubber butt pad and QD sling points on either side. The look of the Light Ops stock matches the overt aggression of the SA-E08 perfectly, and is one of the most comfortable stock options we have handled yet!

Starting at the front end we can find an alloy birdcage flash hider mounted to the 8.5-inch alloy outer barrel. The birdcage is a little "plain jane" for the enhanced looks of the E08 but it can be replaced with any accessory for 14mm CCW male threading, including alternative flash hiders and suppressors for the sneaky bois, or tracer units for the CQB players.

The handguard of the SA-E08 boasts a 20mm Picatinny rail along its entire 12 o'clock position, meeting the receiver rail seamlessly to allow for long optical sights to be mounted, including red dot sight and magnifier combos. The handguard is 8 inches in overall length, providing enough room for the most modern shooting styles while providing KeyMod slots around the clock, allowing accessories for KeyMod to be directly mounted or 20mm Picatinny rails for KeyMod to be added to make use of more common 20mm Picatinny accessories.

The handguard comes with 2 20mm Picatinny rail sections and a QD sling swivel pre-installed to the KeyMod slots but these can be removed and stashed if you prefer a slick front end. The QD socket does not appear to function with the QD loop we use for testing so if you are using this socket proceed with caution and test it thoroughly before entrusting it with the weight of the rifle.

The receiver of the SA-E08 follows the familiar M4/AR15 format and is constructed from zinc/aluminium alloy with the Specna Arms Nanocoating finish applied, and Rock River Arms trademarks engraved on the left side of the magazine well. The finish on the receiver is smooth and consistent and is strong enough to resist scratches more effectively than a standard paint finish but thin enough to show all the details through. The trademarks are crisply engraved and visible yet discrete, elevating the realism of this EDGE™ series replica above others with white laser-etched markings.

The fire selector can be found on the left side, positioned just above the pistol grip for fast access from a firing grip. The selector provides 3 modes of fire; Safe, semi-auto and full auto, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. The modes are all indicated in classic M4/AR15 style, with engraved markings in block capitals matching real MilSpec M4 receivers. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is easily reached from a firing grip with the trigger finger, allowing for super swift emergency reloads and the enviable handling the M4/AR15 platform is known for.

The mock bolt catch of the SA-E08 is located in the centre of the left side of the receiver, and while this is a dummy control which doesn't provide a function it is nonetheless a separate part to maintain the realistic appearance and avoid the tell-tale signs of being a replica. The dummy forward assist is present on the right side of the upper receiver, right where it should be. This control does nothing on an AEG, and some real AR shooters argue it does nothing on the real thing, but it is included on the SA-E08 to keep the rifle faithful to real M4/AR15 rifles.

The charging handle is located at the top rear of the receiver and doesn't need to be pulled before the first shot. It instead serves to retract the mock bolt carrier and open the dust cover on the right side of the upper receiver, giving us access to the rotary HOP-up unit inside. The HOP-up allows you to tune the flight path of your BBs and set the SA-E08 up for different ammo weights, looking for the flattest trajectory possible. The use of the rotary adjuster style is a nice touch from Specna and futureproofs the SA-E08 with the most modern HOP-up design for the M4/AR15 platform, boasting an improved ability to hold its setting under the vibrations of firing and being adjustable in finer increments than the older "gear" adjuster design.

The pistol grip of the SA-E08 sits right in line with Specna's leaning towards ultra-modern furniture and boasts a refined grip angle for greater comfort when shooting with the stock fully collapsed, and in more modern shooting stances. Each flank of the pistol grip includes fine Specna texturing, matching that on the stock and magazines, and the front has linear texture to ensure you have a firm grip on the SA-E08 in any weather conditions. The trigger guard is the standard M4/AR15 flat style, and the trigger has a curved MilSpec style trigger profile which will keep those with a Milsim leaning happy.

At the rear of the receiver, we come to the steel CQD style sling plate, which offers ambidextrous functionality with single-point slings; perfect for left or right-handed shooters. The steel construction of the sling plate practically guarantees no matter what you choose to mount to the handguard on the SA-E08, the sling plate will be strong enough to support the weight.

To the rear of the sling plate, we come to the M4/AR15 buffer tube, which is constructed from zinc/aluminium alloy and finished with the same flawless Nanocoating as the receiver. The buffer tube offers 6 positions of adjustment for the "Light Ops" stock, and also serves as the battery compartment for the SA-E08. To access the battery compartment you will need to pull the adjustment pin of the stock out slightly (located on the bottom of the stock). With the pin held in this position, you can slide the stock off the buffer tube to the rear, and connect your battery to the Deans connector inside the buffer tube. For the SA-E08 we recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo stick battery for a perfect fit and optimal performance.

Bringing up the rear of the SA-E08 we have the Specna Arms Light Ops stock which is part of Specna's new SAAS (Specna Arms Accessory System) line. This stock is based on existing low profile M4/AR15 stocks but with some choice refinements for improved comfort. The cheek piece of the stock is cylindrical, avoiding potential snags and has rubberised sections on either side with Specna Arms "SA" texture to provide a positive and comfortable cheek weld.

The butt plate is constructed entirely from rubber with deep linear serrations and an angled profile to more effectively grip the user's shoulder when wearing body armour. Either side of the stock boasts QD sling sockets, meaning if you add a QD sling swivel you can add and remove your sling in a matter of a second or less. The low profile adjustment lever of this stock is well out of the way and immune from snags, and has texture on its surface to allow for ease of use in wet conditions. This stock not only looks unique but functions fantastically, and the solid high density polymer it is constructed from feels like it could be used to beat whales to death.

Internally the SA-E08 is equipped with the same reinforced components present in the other replicas of Specna's EDGE™ line, including the Gate X-ASR MOSFET. The X-ASR functions as a "smart fuse", regulating the current draw from the battery and bypassing the trigger contacts to prevent corrosion and reduce resistance. The X-ASR is also protected against reverse polarity and helps raise the rate of fire and trigger response of the SA-E08 by more directly delivering power to the motor. The SA-E08 is also equipped with a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and the ORION™ gearbox which has a reinforced shell, the ESA™ quick change spring system, and a laundry list of reinforced parts to ensure the SA-E08 maintains its high performance for a lifetime of use.

If you are looking for a full metal M4/AR15 AEG with a modern external look and robust reinforced internals, the SA-E08 would be a fine choice if you need something a bit more compact. Its modern KeyMod front end, new snag-free Light Ops stock and rock solid ORION gearbox with X-ASR MOSFET make this the perfect blaster for a CQB skirmisher or an aggressive run and gun player who wants performance in a robust full metal package, with the added bonus of immaculately engraved Rock River Arms trademarks!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit
• Gate X-ASR MOSFET inside
• ESA™ Quick change spring system
• Specna Arms ORION™ V2 Gearbox
• 14mm CCW male threaded barrel - Tracer/Suppressor ready
• Ergonomic pistol grip with refined angle - Great for modern stances
• Ambidextrous "CQD" style sling plate - Steel construction
• Engraved Rock River Arms trademarks
• Flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Optics are a go!
• Buffer tube battery compartment - Deans battery connector
• KeyMod handguard with 2x 20mm rail sections - Ready for KeyMod or 20mm rail accessories
• 6-position M4/AR15 buffer tube - Compatible with aftermarket M4 AEG stocks
• Specna Arms "Light Ops" stock pre-installed - Low profile, rubber butt plate, rubberised cheek pieces
• QD Sling points on either side of the "Light Ops" stock - Ready for QD sling swivels

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-E08-L EDGE™ Carbine AEG w/Light Ops Stock
• 130rnd Medium Capacity S-MAG x2
• Stubby vertical foregrip for KeyMod
• User Manual
• Specna Arms Stickers