Ares AR-308S AEG Rifle w/Hard Rifle Case

The Ares AR-308S is styled to match high-end designated marksman rifles offered to Militaries and Law Enforcement Organisations and also to US civilian shooters if they are wealthy enough! The rifle is a highly modern design and is backed with the kind of ergonomic enhancements which separate it from the legacy SR-25 rifles. The AR-308S boasts fully ambidextrous controls, an M-LOK/Picatinny rail hybrid handguard, a modern, angular receiver profile and the uniquely designed Ares Pro Stock pistol stabilising brace to mark this AR-10 platform out as a design which is equipped for battle in the 21st century.

Starting at the tip of the 9.5-inch outer barrel we can find a steel muzzle brake which is finished in an attractive satin gun metal grey and boasts compatibility with the Ares AR-308 series suppressor via its built-in QD attachment system. The muzzle brake mounts to the barrel using its 14mm CW male threading, but can be replaced with any 14mm CW threaded accessory if you fancy a different look, or with a 14mm CW to 14mm CCW adapter you can mount the more common 14mm CCW threaded accessories such as tracer units. Connected to the barrel we can find a lovely touch of realism; a highly detailed dummy gas block and short-stroke piston system. This kind of thing is almost always left out of anything but the most cream-of-the-crop AEG replicas, and the fact that Ares included this shows they care about providing an immersive experience for Airsofters who like their kit to look real.

Surrounding the outer barrel we can find an M-LOK handguard with a short 20mm Picatinny rail section at the front, ideally positioned to mount a tactical flashlight for close-quarters encounters, or a bipod if you are building the AR-308S up as a DMR rifle. M-LOK attachment slots can be found at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, offering the ability to add M-LOK accessories or 20mm Picatinny rail adapters whilst keeping the base handguard light, slim and easy to point. On either side of the handguard just before the receiver, we can find a QD sling socket on either side. Unfortunately, the QD swivel provided with the AR-308 is not compatible with these sockets and only fits in the socket on the stock. It is possible that the handguard sockets are just for show, or are for a different size of QD swivel but we are currently unable to test this.

Along the top of the handguard, we have a 20mm Picatinny rail which runs back to meet the receiver rail seamlessly, offering a long sight base for the included flip-up aperture iron sights. The sights mimic the real steel "Troy" iron sights, and both the front sight post and rear sight apertures are protected on either side with protective wings. The sights can be deployed quickly by simply grabbing them and pulling them up and into position, and stowing the sights again requires pressing the button found on the left side of the sight base, after which the sights can be folded back down where they will lock into position. The front sight blade can be adjusted using an M4/AR15 front sight adjustment tool, and the rear sight offers two different apertures for aiming, both of which can be adjusted left to right using the adjustment dial found on the right side of the rear sight, either by hand or with a flat head screwdriver.

As we reach the receiver we can find a familiar layout; the AR-308S is like an M4 but bigger! The controls of this rifle will be easy as pie to adjust to if you have any experience with the M4/AR15 platform but also offer their own benefits. The fire selector, bolt release catch and magazine release are all ambidextrous, addressing issues with the original M4/AR15 design and making this rifle perfect for both left and right-handed users. The magazine release is located on the magazine well, with the right side release being a large and prominent easy access button, and the left side release being a paddle style extension in Knights Armament style. The bolt release catch is found at the centre of the left side of the receiver, and also on the right side, between the magazine release and fire selector. The fire selector can be found just above the pistol grip on either side of the lower receiver, and the right side switch has a relief cut on its upper surface to prevent it from digging into your hand when in the semi-auto position. There is a 90-degree throw between each fire mode, offering fast access without the risk of the selector being bumped or knocked into the wrong mode of fire.

The charging handle can be found at the top rear of the receiver and is a low profile design with a steel latch, minimising the potential for snags and offering additional strength where needed. Pulling the charging handle back will open the steel dust cover on the right side of the receiver and retract the exceptionally detailed mock bolt carrier, revealing the rotary HOP-up adjuster beneath. The trigger of the AR-308 is a flat "speed" type trigger with a low-profile ledge at the base to prevent your finger from slipping off. This trigger is constructed from steel, giving it the strength necessary for a lifetime of heavy use.

The mock bolt on the AR-308 series is really something special if you like a realistic look, and the best way to describe it is that it is far more 3 dimensional than other mock bolts in AR-style AEGs. The details are deeply machined and match perfectly with a real AR-style bolt carrier, and gives nothing away from the outside that this is an Airsoft rifle, not a real AR-10! Nerdgasms aside, with the bolt carrier locked back the rotary HOP-up adjuster will be accessible, allowing you to tune the AR-308 for your ammunition weight of choice looking for the flattest trajectory possible. Once the adjustment is complete, you can hit either of the bolt release catches and send the mock bolt home with an ear-pleasing "clank".

On either side of the magazine well the AR-308S sports precisely engraved markings, indicating the manufacturer, real steel calibre and the stylish new Ares X Amoeba logo on the left side. These markings are laid out to mimic those on real steel Knights Armament rifles and fit in well with the overall look of the AR-308S and its high-end DMR styling. The markings on the left read "AxA - ARES X AMOEBA 308 - CAL-MULTI - S/N 20L1023" and those on the right side read "RIFLE 7.62MM - AA 308 - ARES PRECISION LTD - FG HK". The precise engravings continue when it comes to the fire selector markings, and just above the left side selector we can see another "ARES PRECISION LTD" engraved in. Ares is very proud of the AR-308 series, and rightly so! There is nothing like crisply engraved manufacturer markings to separate out the normal AEGs from true high-end pieces such as this!

When it comes to the stock and pistol grip the Ares AR-308S is well equipped with unique Ares designed parts which take inspiration from real steel components whilst offering some impressive, Airsoft-specific functionality. The pistol grip is an ergonomic design with a filled back strap which encourages a more consistent grip in a similar style to the Magpul MOE grip, known the world over for its exceptional comfort for practically any hand size. This grip has a smooth external finish with a mildly grippy texture thanks to its fibre-reinforced polymer construction. At the base of the grip, we can find a nice, large motor height adjustment screw, which is always nice to see. The motor height will be perfectly set from the factory, but if you are the type that likes to upgrade this feature will come in handy, and is leaps and bounds ahead of some baseplate designs which provide very little in the way of adjustment. Not to forget the trigger guard, the AR-308S sports a polymer enlarged trigger guard with a helpful finger ledge with gives you somewhere to rest your trigger finger when it is tired from landing hits on the enemy team.

At the rear of the AR-308S we can find the Ares Pro Stock stabilising brace, offering 4 positions of adjustment in length to suit any body type or loadout. This device functions both as a stock and as a "stabilising brace", a device conceived for short barrelled "pistol" AR15s to allow them to be fired in one hand with better stability and thus better accuracy.

Using the Pro stock as a stock is as simple as putting it against your shoulder, and despite its lack of serrations, the rubber butt plate will grip your shoulder effectively in any weather condition. To use the stock as a stabilising brace you will need to unfasten the velcro strap, put your arm through the strap and the rubber "jaws" at the toe of the Pro stock and grip the pistol grip for some one-handed AR-308 action! This device is probably better used as a stock, but the "brace" functionality is a nice nod to realism as a real steel rifle on sale in the US would require a brace as opposed to a stock when its barrel length is below 16-inches. The adjustment lever can be found on the bottom of the stock and is a low profile design with texture on its surface for optimum grip. Just ahead of the adjustment lever we can find a QD sling socket with a QD swivel pre-installed. Both the socket and the swivel are constructed from steel to support the ample weight of the AR-308 with no chance of failure.

The battery compartment of the AR-308S is located inside the Pro stock, and can be accessed by removing the "brace" portion of the stock and unthreading the battery cap. The brace can be removed by pulling the adjustment lever out in a similar manner to a standard M4/AR15 stock, after which it can be slid off the receiver extension to the rear. With the brace removed you will see a threaded plug which can be turned counter clockwise to remove. With the plug removed you will find a Deans battery connector within, to which you mount your chosen battery. For the AR-308S we recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh battery for easy installation though larger stick batteries may fit. This compartment is a fair bit bigger than most buffer tubes, and is a big advantage, especially if you are pushing your performance up into DMR territory.

Internally the AR-308S sports Ares' EFCS gearbox, offering programmable fire modes with the Ares programmer (available separately), battery protection and active braking. The battery protection feature will disable the AEG if the battery's voltage drops too low, avoiding damage which would usually occur to LiPo cells which drop below a certain voltage. The active braking function ensures your piston completes a full cycle with every trigger pull, ensuring long-lasting performance and health inside the gearbox. The inclusion of the EFCS means you can lock the rifle to semi-auto for DMR use using the Ares programmer, and upgrade the spring to meet DMR limits via the AEGs which change spring system. With a high torque motor pre-installed, the AR-308S has all the juice needed to pull stronger springs for DMR use, but if you don't want a DMR the motor also provides an exceptional trigger response and rate of fire with the stock spring which is even further boosted by the electronic trigger unit.

To top it all off, the AR-308S is supplied in a hard rifle storage case which is constructed from olive green high-density polymer with a crackle finish on the outside. The case closes via 4 strong metal lift clasps, and the internal design is moulded to hug the AR-308S snugly and prevent it from moving around during transport. The case also has space for an additional magazine, a suppressor and a scope, marking this case out as more than an afterthought and offering some future-proofing to your case setup.

Make no mistake; the Ares AR-308 isn't just a pretty face, it's also pretty damned effective when it comes to skirmishing! Whether you are after something to turn into a DMR or if you want a big boy assault rifle with exceptional external quality and the performance to match, the AR-308S would be a superb option, if not the best option!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Exceptional build quality - Museum tier!
• Finely engraved trademarks and other details
• Steel muzzle brake with Ares QD suppressor compatibility
• 14mm CW male threading - Tracer ready with adapter
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit
• M-LOK 20mm Picatinny hybrid handguard
• Flip-up Troy style aperture iron sights included
• Ergonomic pistol grip with filled back strap
• Ambidextrous fire selector switch
• Ambidextrous magazine release
• Ares Pro Stock pistol stabilising brace
• Enlarged trigger guard with finger ledge
• QD Sling socket with swivel on the stock
• Ambidextrous bolt release - Great for southpaws!
• Supplied in a custom hard rifle case with space for a suppressor and scope
• Real-looking mock bolt carrier - The best AR AEG bolt carrier we have ever seen!
• Highly detailed mock gas block and short-stroke piston system - Very realistic
• Ares EFCS gearbox inside - Programmable with Ares programmer (available separately)
• Flat "speed" style trigger - Pairs perfectly with the ETU and high torque motor

Package Includes

• Ares AR-308S AEG Rifle w/Hard Rifle Case
• 130rnd Medium-capacity magazine
• Hard Rifle Case