ARCTURUS AK-105 Draco Custom AT-AK01 AEG

If you prefer an AK from Florida to an AK from Izhevsk, the ARCTURUS AT-AK01 should be right up your street! This AK marries the mid-length AK-105's size with modern accessories born out of the US civilian tactical market, boasting an M-LOK handguard, UltimAK style railed gas tube, a modern ergonomic grip and an M4/AR-15 sliding stock. East marries west with what we have dubbed the "AK-105 Draco Custom", and the result is a perfect hybrid between the hefty feel of a full steel AK replica with the comfort and speed of cutting-edge ergonomic enhancements. 

Starting at the tip of the 12.4-inch outer barrel we can find a seriously aggressive looking multi-port muzzle brake which mounts to the 14mm CCW male threads. This muzzle device looks fantastic at the tip of this menacing, modernised AK, but if you want to mount a tracer unit for the phycological warfare factor in CQB or you like to sneak around with a suppressor on your primary this is easily done thanks to the common 14mm CCW threading. As with many AKs, removing the muzzle device requires that you hold the detent pin in the front sight inwards while unscrewing the device, but this has the benefit that it will keep the device aligned and prevent it from loosening over time. 

In classic AK-105 style, the combination front sight/gas block follows immediately after the muzzle device and is constructed from steel to provide heft and the appropriate balance for a realistic feel. This front sight is patterned after the real steel Century Arms Draco front sight/gas block and has an adjustable front sight post which is fully protected with a steel ring to avoid damage following a bump or scrape. The protective ring surrounding the sight post also has a hole in the top which is designed to improve light transmission and make the sight easier to acquire while maintaining the inherent strength of a circular structure. 

The finish applied to the front sight and several other parts mimics the anti-corrosion finish applied to real AKs almost perfectly, adding a nice bit of contrast and visual interest to make certain parts pop. Touches like these show that ARCTURUS is willing to go the extra mile to make their AK replicas look that much more real than rivals, avoiding completely the telltale signs of a replica gun by varying the finish across the piece as is commonly the case with real firearms. 

The gas tube of the AT-AK01 is a superb replica of the real steel UltimAK railed gas tube, constructed from Aluminium with a 20mm Picatinny rail machined into its upper surface. This allows for red dot optics to be mounted in a "scout" configuration which makes them faster to acquire and suits the AK's looks perfectly, especially if you are running a PMC-style loadout. This rail is approximately 15.5cm in length which is plenty of space for a micro red dot sight and offset mounted Scout tactical flashlight, which is exactly how we would choose to run the AT-AK01!

Following the gas tube we come to the steel trunnion block which also provides home for the adjustable tangent rear sight, the standard sight setup for full sized AK variants. This sight can be adjusted for range by pinching and sliding the sight "drum" back and forth on its base which will raise and lower the sight notch. Each range graduation is indicated with engraved markings, with the "n" looking Cyrillic marking denoting the "battle sight" position, which is the one to use for close range shooting. The sights of the AT-AK01 pair very nicely with the UltimAK rail as with a low enough reflex sight you should be able to get a co-witness between it and the irons which is oh-so-satisfying! 

The handguard is an M-LOK example, boasting slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, punctuated with weight reducing ports to keep the front end relatively light and pointable. The offset angles of the handguard also have linear gripping groves to improve wet weather handling and the machining is precise and smooth, making it a true pleasure to hold.

Accessories-wise, you have the option of either directly mounting M-LOK accessories to the handguard or adding 20mm Picatinny rail adapters for M-LOK to mount more common 20mm Picatinny accessories. This handguard is longer than the usual AK handguard, granting more room for mission essentials and allowing for the modern, effective and most importantly, trendy c-clamp/thumb over bore grip! 

Moving rearwards we come to the receiver which should definitely excite AK fans. This receiver type is the RPK reinforced receiver, complete with strengthening bulges on each side where the barrel and trunnion are mounted. This serves to improve the receivers strength and allow for higher volumes of sustained fire with less effect on accuracy in the real RPK, the support gun variant of the AK. These receivers are priced in the US civilian tactical scene due to the inherent accuracy improvement they provide, and it is nice to see that ACTURUS are staying current and paying attention to the small but essential details when designing their custom AK line. 

The receiver is constructed from steel and has all the realistic rivets and pins in all the right places, as well as the Russian AK style side rail mount over on the left side. The side rail allows for AK type Russian optics to be mounted but if you prefer a western sight you can use a 20mm Picatinny rail mount as long as it is the AK type( SVDmounts will not fit). 

The right side is where we find the fire selector switch which functions like any other AK but with an additional extension riveted on to allow the selector to be manipulated using the trigger finger without taking the strong hand off the grip. This is perfectly in line with modern western accessorised AKs and brings the old AK rifle into line with more modern platforms in how it is handled, making everything more natural and minimising unnecessary movement for extra speed. 

As with the other parts of the receiver, the mock bolt carrier is constructed from steel and has a very realistic look and finish and can be pulled back and released for a satisfying metal-on-metal "clank". The HOP-up unit of the AT-AK01 is located behind the bolt carrier and can be accessed when it is held in its rearmost position. This HOP-up unit is a unique ARCTURUS design and uses a rotary adjuster instead of the usual slider adjuster of the AK AEG platform. This has the benefit of holding its setting for longer under the vibrations of firing and provides a TDC-like effect, providing pressure directly to the top of the HOP-up nub and bucking for less side-to-side deviation downrange. 

The trigger guard/magazine release assembly is located on the bottom of the receiver and is constructed from steel, just like a real AK. The mag release can be accessed from either side, making weak-side reloads easy and allowing for effective left-handed use. The pistol grip is a modern ergonomic design similar to the real steel Magpul MOE grip and has linear texture on the front and rear and crackle texture on each side. The edges of this grip are bevelled for a smoother transition between the receiver, trigger guard and the grip itself which improves comfort and stops the AT-AK01 from tearing your hands up if you don't wear gloves. 

Inside the trigger guard, we are treated to a feature not seen on AK AEGs other than those by ARCTURUS. The small button on the left side of the receiver allows you to decompress the spring after a firing session which should prolong the AEGs life and prevent it from being stored long term in a "pre-cocked" position. This works by releasing the anti-reversal latch inside the gearbox, and is a great feature to have to avoid long term wear and tear!

The battery compartment of the AT-AK01 is located beneath the receiver top cover and can be accessed by pressing the button on the top rear of the receiver and lifting the top cover off. Inside you will see a Deans battery connector to which you mount your chosen battery. For the AT-AK01 we recommend a 7.4V LiPo battery in AK stick configuration but some of the slimmer buffer tube stick batteries will also fit. Just make sure you are careful not to trap any wires when you are reinstalling the top cover!

As we arrive at the rear we can take note of the steel stock tang, an essential part for a truly robust AK. An M4/AR-15 style buffer tube mounts to the stock tang via a steel castle nut, and the tube itself is constructed from aluminium as is the standard for AR buffer tubes. Mounted to the tube we can find a steel sling plate which is great for single-point slings but an also be paired with the sling point on the handguard to mount a two-point sling. A steel sling plate is always a nice touch to see and allows you to sling a hefty rifle like the AT-AK01 with confidence it won't fail as long as your sling is up to the task. 

The included stock is an A-frame style design with the adjustment lever protected from accidental presses within the A-frame shape, reducing the chances of snagging while keeping the adjustment lever easy to access. The butt plate is constructed from rubber and is curved at the toe of the stock to more effectively grip your shoulder when wearing body armour. On either side we are also treated to a QD sling socket, allowing you to make use of a QD sling whether you are left or right-handed. 

On the inside, the AT-AK01 follows the classic ARCTURUS format of focussing on strength and longevity, boasting a micro-switch trigger system to eliminate the chances of trigger contact failure and a plethora of low friction and strengthened gearbox internals to provide a long lifespan. The steel gearset is mounted on slide bearings for a smoother gearbox sound and less friction, the air nozzle is Teflon sealed for perfect air seal and improved consistency, the piston head is mounted on ball bearings to reduce rotational stress and the polymer piston is equipped with a full rack of steel teeth to keep it both strong and lightweight. To make matters even better, the AT-AK01 has a quick-change spring system, making power tuning possible without having to open the gearbox, and the spring guide itself is equipped with ball bearings in its base to reduce stress on the spring and gearbox shell. 

So, if you are a westerner at heart but you cannot resist the urge to run an AK, this should keep both sides of your dual personality happy! With a seriously hefty full steel build, the AT-AK01 ranks right at the top in terms of realism, and its upgraded and strengthened internals should give it a long life of superb performance. A perfect marriage of eastern utilitarian styling with modern western luxury, the AT-AK01 AK-105 Draco Custom sits in a pile of M4s thinking "they haven't noticed I'm not an M4 yet"!

Features

• Full metal construction - Mostly steel
• 6.03mm Steel tightbore inner barrel
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• M-LOK handguard - Ready for M-LOK accessories or 20mm rail adapters
• UltimAK style 20mm Picatinny railed gas tube - Ready for red dot sights
• AK style side rail mount - Ready for Russian AK optics or side rail adapters
• Century Arms Draco style front sight/gas block - Modern Americanised AK
• Adjustable open iron sights - AK Tangent sights
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Similar to Magpul MOE, very comfortable
• M4/AR-15 6-position buffer tube - Adjustable for any body type/loadout
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG stocks - Loads of customisation options
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Perfect for single-point slings
• Front sling point on the left side of the handguard - Ready for two-point slings
• Extended fire selector lever - Change fire modes without removing your hand from the grip
• Engraved Russian Cyrillic markings for each selector mode - SAFE - AUTO - SEMI
• RPK Style reinforced receiver with bulges - The strongest real world AK receiver type
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Easy reloads for left and right-handed shooters
• Rotary Adjustable HOP-up unit - A new design for the AK, loads of potential
• Quick change spring system - Easy power tuning without opening the gearbox 
• Teflon sealed air nozzle - Great air seal qualities, very consistent FPS
• Steel gears running on slide bearings - Smooth, unlaboured gearbox sound
• Ball bearing piston head - Reduced rotational stress on the piston
• Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack - Strong and lightweight
• Steel stock tang - Almost no chance of breaking
• A-frame stock with QD sling points pre-installed - Rubber butt plate for extra grip
• Spring decompression function via the Button inside the trigger guard - Prolongs spring life
• Compatible with AK AEG platform magazines - Low, mid, high-cap and drum mags!

Package Includes

• ARCTURUS AK-105 Draco Custom AT-AK01 AEG
• 30/120rnd Adjustable capacity magazine
• M-LOK Handstop
• Cleaning rod
• User manual